Arx Fatalis

Those looking for some old-school RPG fun will find Arkane Studios' latest release worth its weight in gold.

An underrated gem.

The compelling story, gorgeous graphics, and innovative magic system are more than enough to make this journey worthwhile. [Jan 2003, p.86]

With its very tight storyline, great combination of features from several older games, challenging but not frustrating puzzles, good graphics and awesome sound: this game beats even "Wizardry 8" in its peer group.

If your system can handle it and you don't have any hang-ups with wandering around in dark places, you'll likely find a lot to like.

An intriguing and wonderful game feature is the magic-casting system. You find or buy runes and then memorize the symbol and using the control key in conjunction with the mouse, draw the rune on the computer monitor to cast the spell. The effect is stunning.

A very good tribute to an unquestioned classic, and well worth owning if you're a serious fan of role-playing games.

It sounds great, it looks even better, and it's the most original RPG not named "Morrowind" released in 2002. [Mar 2003, p.94]

Certainly not your run of the mill Dungeons and Dragons modeled game, Arx Fatalis reflects an innovative approach to the RPG genre.

The atmosphere, spell system, puzzles, voices, and story were good and interesting enough to give me a pretty enjoyable experience.

A sensational story-led RPG, giving fans of the role-playing genre just what they need to enjoy the ride it takes you on.

You can almost feel the damp and the cold; and the echoing 'plink' of unseen dripping water or disembodied moans and a myriad of dungeon clangs and creaks haunt your every step.

One thing that is nailed down tight is the visual style. Every area in Arx Fatalis is extremely atmospheric, and in a nod to the backstory, just feels right.

Underneath the technical problems is an innovative, creepy, and intense experience.

If you like first-person perspectives in RPGs and enjoyed “Morrowind” (an all-around better game), plus have a high tolerance for the aforementioned idiosyncrasies of Arx, then I would recommend this title to you.

A solid game and a good Adventure/RPG in the style of "Deus Ex" or "System Shock 2." Like those games, its real strengths lie in allowing multiple styles of play and multiple solutions to problems.

But for every warm fuzzy old-school feeling it invokes, there's an annoying old-school counterbalance, including a litany of bugs (some of whihch have been patched) and a tired, predictable plot. [Jan 2003, p.70]

So many little things were done right in Arx Fatalis that any fan of the computer role playing game genre owes it to them to pick this game up and give it a try.

In many ways this game is superior to "Morrowind"; although it doesn't have the initial appeal offered by that title's graphical splendour, it has a lot more depth and far less time is spent walking from place to place aimlessly.

The game's innovative plot and magic system, supplemented with a great deal of interactivity, will surely appeal to most gamers, while the sheer complexity and skill advancement should please RPG fans.

"Master of Orion 3: had better save me from all this crap, that’s all I’ve got to say.

There's plenty of deeply flawed RPGs from the late '90s/early '00s that actually people love despite their problems, to the point that it's almost a tradition of sorts. Arx Fatalis is one of those flawed pieces of software, which, like Morrowind, Gothic, and Fallout, has plenty of issues, but manages to be entertaining in its own special way. Having said that, it's probably one of the most problematic of the bunch. Try it out if a fan of the genre, if only to get a taste of its sweet, sweet atmosphere and strong immersion. Just be prepared to get a bit of bitter disappointment as well.

The gameplay loses its luster after a while, but there are some exciting moments to be had. Die-hard RPG players may be frustrated with the game’s unswerving linearity.