Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues

 PC
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 45
  3. Negative: 16 out of 45

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  1. Topfpflanze
    Oct 15, 2018
    2
    I have been an early backer of the project of the times before Steam, but I can only say, the project went completely out of control. The development team wanted to make something like the ultimate RPG of all times, but they failed hopelessly because of their lack of technical knowledge and abilities. SOTA came out after long, long years with screamigly outdated graphics, ridiculous gameI have been an early backer of the project of the times before Steam, but I can only say, the project went completely out of control. The development team wanted to make something like the ultimate RPG of all times, but they failed hopelessly because of their lack of technical knowledge and abilities. SOTA came out after long, long years with screamigly outdated graphics, ridiculous game mechanics, dusty ghost towns owned and built by some early backer, clunky multiplayer mode, and so on. Erverybody was so incredibly disappointed to see Richard Garriott fail like a programming rookie overwhelmed by his own ambitions and all the time trying to convince everyone that the project will get better. No, SOTA won't get better.… Expand
  2. bgzz
    Apr 20, 2018
    4
    I'm not invested in this game emotionally or financially - not a backer. Ultimately the game is disappointing. The combat system with dynamic cards for decks is flat out dumb. Game feels extremely unpolished, buggy and clunky. The graphics are insanely dated. I played for just over a week and only spotted 11 different players - apparently population is pretty low and confirmed myI'm not invested in this game emotionally or financially - not a backer. Ultimately the game is disappointing. The combat system with dynamic cards for decks is flat out dumb. Game feels extremely unpolished, buggy and clunky. The graphics are insanely dated. I played for just over a week and only spotted 11 different players - apparently population is pretty low and confirmed my suspicion using steam charts. Maybe worth another look in a year or so when it's been heavily worked on and population is healthy.… Expand
  3. Kaldorei
    Apr 25, 2018
    2
    A game that I backed with a good contribution. Sadly it's turned out to be quite a poor game. Clunky controls, latency that shows players rubber banding all over the place, graphics that would have been mid tier 10 years ago but requires high end gaming rigs to run at low double digit frame rates .... Theres very little to it . The promised Ultima successor story is poorly written,A game that I backed with a good contribution. Sadly it's turned out to be quite a poor game. Clunky controls, latency that shows players rubber banding all over the place, graphics that would have been mid tier 10 years ago but requires high end gaming rigs to run at low double digit frame rates .... Theres very little to it . The promised Ultima successor story is poorly written, sparse and amateur, literally a bad fan fic written by a fan bought on board . Do yourself a favor and pass on this one .… Expand
  4. Shadowbox12
    Apr 21, 2018
    0
    I just bought this game a few days after it had released, having never heard of it, it looked good from what I read in the description of it rpg, mmo, pvp. Boy what a wreck of a game.

    This is quite possible the most disappointing game I've ever paid money for. The combat is clunky and unexciting, it's just an overall awful mess of a combat system that tries to be different but for no    I just bought this game a few days after it had released, having never heard of it, it looked good from what I read in the description of it rpg, mmo, pvp. Boy what a wreck of a game.

    This is quite possible the most disappointing game I've ever paid money for. The combat is clunky and unexciting, it's just an overall awful mess of a combat system that tries to be different but for no reason other than to bore you to death. Another annoyance is how xp works, you have to pool up xp while turning down skills and only work on a few at a time to get anywhere. I've never seen a game that makes you grind so hard for so little reward. Remember UO you could just be a gatherer and be a crafter if you wanted? Not in this game, you have to endure their awful combat system to gain anything.

    The mobs in this game are placeholder looking and so are their animations, very basic and unexciting, not to mention the loot, rusty worthless swords and boring loot that yields no real gold value.

    The questing is your basic, boring, overdone, go fetch me this and bring it back, except you have to trudge through endless, uninteresting text lines that reads as if a middle school student worked very hard to write.

    The character creation is very basic and everyone looks pretty similar, it's not very well done, much like everything in this game. The world itself is divided into small pockets of adventure areas and housing areas, full of loading screens. Any place you want to go in to will drag you into a loading screen that takes way too long and it's quite often, it breaks any immersion you might have had for a moment. I should have done my homework on this game before buying it, seeing that they have spent like 18 million on this, I think...it sure doesn't look and play like a game with that much money in it. This does not look and play like a quality released game, it seems like it's still Pre-Alpha. If I could get a refund I would. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. If you're looking for a good Rpg, this is not it, if you're looking for a good mmo, this is not it, if you're looking for good pvp, this is just not it.    … Expand
  5. RedTalonRedWate
    Apr 19, 2018
    2
    The game cannot seem to decide if it wants to be the Sims, a single player RPG, or an MMO. It fails at all three. Content is repetitive, quests are poorly written and unengaging, lots of loading screens and weird bugs, incoherent combat with few effective builds despite hundreds of skills, and a dev team that charges the player base cash money for recolored free assets from the Unity store.
  6. LordBush
    Apr 20, 2018
    0
    Not fun. Royal Founder here, the game was promised to be so many different things and it ended up being none of them. Dismiss the story, it's uninspired. The combat is no good. They overhauled combat so many times it's hard to understand where they're headed or when they'll say it's done. Playing the game is not fun and all you're left with is a grind economy that is run by predatoryNot fun. Royal Founder here, the game was promised to be so many different things and it ended up being none of them. Dismiss the story, it's uninspired. The combat is no good. They overhauled combat so many times it's hard to understand where they're headed or when they'll say it's done. Playing the game is not fun and all you're left with is a grind economy that is run by predatory RMT resellers. I was looking for something to quench my thirst for a modern UO, this isn't it.… Expand
  7. Shansation
    Jul 7, 2018
    0
    I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone I know. The gameplay itself is below average at best. I'm usually more forgiving about such flaws in MMOs but the development team behind the game is definitely more interested in the finances ($$$) of the game and how much it can get out of its players rather than how it can improve to attract more players.
  8. Weins201
    Apr 24, 2019
    1
    Do not Pay for this Game. Play it please, enjoy it, what there is and meet the Community. The players are all that can be said positive anymore. I was backing since day 1 and backed a lot. I did a lot and put in effort to try and help them along. Time goes on and they just continue to make the same stupid mistake. They introduce more and more yet there is way to much unfinished andDo not Pay for this Game. Play it please, enjoy it, what there is and meet the Community. The players are all that can be said positive anymore. I was backing since day 1 and backed a lot. I did a lot and put in effort to try and help them along. Time goes on and they just continue to make the same stupid mistake. They introduce more and more yet there is way to much unfinished and broken. They advertise soo much yet only deliver less than 30%. There is about 80 hours of true game play. After that it is nothing but Grind to accomplish very little. ALL OF THIS CAN BE DONE FOR FREEE. after that then decide if you think they needs your backing. Just remember that what they say is not what you will get. They failed on more than one thing to produce and or deliver. Read their forums sure but remember they make sure that it is only good things you see. Also remember that they have a very solid base of sycophants who will defend the game until the plug is pulled. Soo in the end go for it but be smart, PLAY for FREEEE, give it time, keep at it and after a month or two make a financial decision. You are so informed.… Expand
  9. Carewolf
    Apr 12, 2018
    4
    Disappointing.

    I was an original backer from 2013, and this game just doesn't deliver much of anything. The game on release is still very buggy, still has placeholder text and names, and stuff that in game states it is not done yet. On top of that the missions and world are super boring and lazy implemented, the controls are slugish and bad, the graphics is 10 years dated and music    Disappointing.

    I was an original backer from 2013, and this game just doesn't deliver much of anything. The game on release is still very buggy, still has placeholder text and names, and stuff that in game states it is not done yet.

    On top of that the missions and world are super boring and lazy implemented, the controls are slugish and bad, the graphics is 10 years dated and music and sound design seems to be absent.    … Expand
  10. Jarbinks
    Apr 20, 2018
    0
    Original backer, still waiting for the promised rich story mode Ultima type game. In my opinion its currently just a lifeless empty shell with no pull or reason to play. I get the impression while playing this game that they expect the player to just make up the game as they go along, what did I pay them for? I like that it does not hold your hand, but it's just so utterly dry, meaninglessOriginal backer, still waiting for the promised rich story mode Ultima type game. In my opinion its currently just a lifeless empty shell with no pull or reason to play. I get the impression while playing this game that they expect the player to just make up the game as they go along, what did I pay them for? I like that it does not hold your hand, but it's just so utterly dry, meaningless and what comes down to in my mind, a very boring grind fest. The great kick starter promised "story" just seems to be cobbled together at the very last possible minute, very poorly written and in a lot of places does not flow well at all. The UI is awful and clunky, graphics are not impressive by any means for today's standards, although it takes a very high-end graphics card to even run the game.

    Overall a huge disappointment, I cannot recommend this mess, although after all the years of waiting, i really wanted to like it.    … Expand
  11. KezAzzamean
    Jul 7, 2018
    0
    Take a look at it on Steam and you will see a million reasons on why this game is awful. It is an RMT's paradise - only if the game was actually GOOD. Which, unfortunately for them, it is not. Dated graphics, devs with thin skin, banning for giving critical feedback, moderation out of control, lies, lies, and more lies, broken mechanics, horrible combat, etc etc etc it goes on and on. StayTake a look at it on Steam and you will see a million reasons on why this game is awful. It is an RMT's paradise - only if the game was actually GOOD. Which, unfortunately for them, it is not. Dated graphics, devs with thin skin, banning for giving critical feedback, moderation out of control, lies, lies, and more lies, broken mechanics, horrible combat, etc etc etc it goes on and on. Stay far away from this dump.… Expand
  12. GamerLadyJules
    Jul 17, 2020
    0
    Not a successor by any means. Firstly it’s in the hands of an incompetent dev who will never hand this game over to someone that might actually be able to salvage it and make it shine. He regularly goes on the offensive and just can’t handle criticism. Seems he only cares about how much money lines his pockets.

    His ‘community manager’ (fanboi) silences any negativity and bans anyone    Not a successor by any means. Firstly it’s in the hands of an incompetent dev who will never hand this game over to someone that might actually be able to salvage it and make it shine. He regularly goes on the offensive and just can’t handle criticism. Seems he only cares about how much money lines his pockets.

    His ‘community manager’ (fanboi) silences any negativity and bans anyone with an opinion. There are a multitude of fake positive reviews on steam. Everyone gloats about the community being great, but they are fanbois that will white knight and gaslight. The game itself is a mess. It’s not going anywhere fast and has evolved into a barbie sims second life housing and fishing simulator with hot tubs and DJ dance parties, players grinding on each other, garish neon night clubs, floppy hats and stilettos. The run down:
    - The PvP is run with a carebear approach
    - Exploits and bugs galore (pink textures anyone)
    - No real death penalties - No item degradation or gold sink
    - Crafting is pointless
    - Adventuring is pointless
    - Loot rewards are rubbish
    - Grinding is worthless
    - No end game
    - Lacklustre story
    - No coherence or back history between areas of the game
    - No coherence in the theme (Darth Vader Samurai steam punk sims medieval Star Wars)
    - Pets are useless
    - Poor balancing in skills and items
    - Broken economy - No auction house or even seller search system
    - Dungeons attach to player house don’t even function properly
    - No originality in models used
    - Same set of creatures encountered in nearly every area of the game with no proper ai added
    - Stiff animations, bad textures and poor optimisations drag even the beefiest machines to 5fps
    - Couldn’t even fit a physical reward book in a box to send out to backers
    - Excuses, broken promises, shady business practices, and poor management of users personal data

    They are working on the second ‘episode‘ and so far the first priority has been implementing housing on a tiny set of islands before any actual gameplay is even live. That’s right, instead of releasing it once it’s a completely finished second game/DLC(what ever it’s trying to be), it’s being released live in an unfinished untested state just to please the big spenders who have (for some insane reason) spent hundreds and even thousands of dollars to move to this new area. Wait isn’t this meant to be a free to play game? /s

    And btw that’s how they work in general. Make money first always. Updates and bug fixes barely brush past the test server before being pushed to live. Test server bugs still make it to live constantly. Half implemented systems pushed to live and then forgotten or stated as ‘working as intended’. Development shown live on twitch as if its still in alpha state. The work ethos is ‘whatever’. Honestly not even indie, just bad.

    Every update ‘release’ is 80% items to make money, 10% game content and fixing, 10% unrelated Richard Garriott self promotion. Money is their main concern, once they have it, they cease caring. If your looking for a UO successor or an RPG with rich story and good gameplay that takes itself seriously, this is NOT it.    … Expand
  13. A1ucard
    Jun 18, 2020
    1
    это был развод на деньги фанатов великой Ультимы Онлайн. Я удивлен - что спустя столько лет, ктото еще тешит себя надеждой, что этот проект хотябы залатает основные баги)))
  14. Hayhaka
    Mar 17, 2021
    1
    I had high hopes for this. Unfortunately, when the shroud was pulled off of the game it was revealed that all that was under the shroud was a representation of a good game rather than the real thing... an avatar. The mechanics are a disaster for getting around especially. What I love about the game is that if you use skills, then only those skills get good. You won't become a great bowmanI had high hopes for this. Unfortunately, when the shroud was pulled off of the game it was revealed that all that was under the shroud was a representation of a good game rather than the real thing... an avatar. The mechanics are a disaster for getting around especially. What I love about the game is that if you use skills, then only those skills get good. You won't become a great bowman by chopping wood or swinging a sword. You won't be a great carpenter by shooting anyone or making potions. If you don't use a skill it will never improve. So, a master really has mastered whatever they are a master at. I also love all the things you can make yourself if you get the skills for what interests you. You can do great financially if you choose a craft to specialize in or if you do a lot of crafts and never get great at any but can make all the simple things. The rest of the game is an unmitigated disaster. It also has the same problem as like Civilization VI where the maker is constantly advertising their far-left political ideas rather than concentrating on making a good game for everyone to enjoy. Overall the game is horrible. The idea was great though. I hope someone makes something similar with good graphics and mechanics and no real life politics involved.… Expand
  15. obscurist
    Aug 23, 2022
    2
    Twenty years a ago it would have been a great game, maybe. Laggy servers and such would have been worse then, but maybe one could have taken the graphics as state-of-the-art. Would should I say what hasn't already been said? Clunky controls, clunky combat, indiscutable interaction. An unfinished game, and ghost towns created by early backers who preferred not to play anymore.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. CD-Action
    Jul 6, 2018
    40
    The title says it all. There is a corpse underneath the shroud and the virtues were indeed forsaken. The informal successor to the Ultima series proves that Tabula Rasa was not a one-time slip and Richard Garriott belongs in the past. [06/2018, p.70]
  2. 4P.de
    May 9, 2018
    59
    Quotation forthcoming.
    Read full review
  3. The Games Machine
    Apr 18, 2018
    50
    Simply put, Shroud of the Avatar is a wreck. It tries to be a single player experience and a MMORPG at the same time, and fails on both counts. Everything is out of time: the combat system is boring, the progression of the avatar is repetitive, and the the graphics would have been OK fifteen years ago.
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