Eschalon: Book I

 PC
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 61
  3. Negative: 9 out of 61

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Nick
    Mar 30, 2009
    2
    This was an awful.... awful.... waste of my time. Someone else said it best in simply that, "It's turn-based with none of the depth, but all of the time inconvenience." You would think that a game lacking in graphics, layout, and decent sound could more than make up for itself with a DnD skill-like system. This, however, fails to do so by a very large margin. The game is ultimately This was an awful.... awful.... waste of my time. Someone else said it best in simply that, "It's turn-based with none of the depth, but all of the time inconvenience." You would think that a game lacking in graphics, layout, and decent sound could more than make up for itself with a DnD skill-like system. This, however, fails to do so by a very large margin. The game is ultimately linear, bland, and outdated. Not at all a recommended play.… Expand
  2. JC
    Dec 31, 2008
    4
    The first thing you notice when you open up this game is that the 800x600 graphics transports you back to the early 90's, then suddenly you realize it's 2008!!! The gameplay is pretty much the old school stuff you've played decades ago and the story is nothing special. This game is thoroughly old school in every aspect. I know that it's exactly what the developers have The first thing you notice when you open up this game is that the 800x600 graphics transports you back to the early 90's, then suddenly you realize it's 2008!!! The gameplay is pretty much the old school stuff you've played decades ago and the story is nothing special. This game is thoroughly old school in every aspect. I know that it's exactly what the developers have intended, but in this day and age, you can't expect people to pay 20 bucks for something that looks like it predates Planescape or Diablo series by a decade. This find game's been released late by about 20 years or so. I'm sure it would've been a game of the year contender in 1990, but now, this simply won't do.… Expand
  3. FurthestFlung
    Apr 7, 2013
    0
    If you have the slightest interest in this game, definitely play the demo first. I can assure you that there's nothing in this game for you to discover beyond the first 10 or so minutes of play, because it's just a rinse and repeat from there. It calls itself a strategic turn-based game that isn't "dumbed down for the masses" or based upon nothing but repeated clicking... and that'sIf you have the slightest interest in this game, definitely play the demo first. I can assure you that there's nothing in this game for you to discover beyond the first 10 or so minutes of play, because it's just a rinse and repeat from there. It calls itself a strategic turn-based game that isn't "dumbed down for the masses" or based upon nothing but repeated clicking... and that's simply a lie. Everything in this game is done through clicking, and combat is a matter of repeatedly clicking on a monster. It's Diablo with none of the depth even that game had, and made to take much, much longer because of how after everything you do, you have to camp for more HP or MP. Or, to put it even more simply, it's a dumbed-down Diablo made even more boring. It claims to be a "return to the Golden Age of RPGs" without any understanding of what made those games any good, and it comes off as slander to those games. The RPG genre is flooded with games much better than this one in any way imaginable, and there are even free games out there, like Elona or NetHack that you could be playing, instead. Don't play this game.… Expand
  4. Voyou
    May 27, 2021
    3
    Many years after the Infinity Engine success, this knock-off has learnt nothing, and regresses into interface retardation. Worst example is the movement scheme, and the fact that the game maker would rather waste time and resources implementing feedback warning you that you are too far away to interact with something, rather than getting you close to that something when you click on it.Many years after the Infinity Engine success, this knock-off has learnt nothing, and regresses into interface retardation. Worst example is the movement scheme, and the fact that the game maker would rather waste time and resources implementing feedback warning you that you are too far away to interact with something, rather than getting you close to that something when you click on it. Other niceties include the inferior visuals filling only a quarter of the screen. Or the complete uselessness of my rogue skills, a.k.a. the complete waste that was character creation.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. PC Format
    73
    The production values are far higher than many rivals, and anyone looking back fondly on the RPGs of yesteryear will soon be sucked in. [Feb 2008, p.115]
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    84
    A very nice surprise. In this age of good looking, but simplistic and short, easy games a touch of classic role-playing was really refreshing. I hope to see the remaining Books, too. [Jan 2008]
  3. CPUGamer
    50
    Despite the many warts, Eschalon is not without charm, as this game would have been an award-winning achievement in 1986 or so. Everything is done well, for that era, but, much like steam locomotives, I’m just not convinced this style really works nowadays.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »