Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 19
  2. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Imagine a murky graphics engine that blurs as it moves, is way too dark and missing a gamma setting, and gets frequently swallowed up by flashy spell effects.
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 23
  2. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. Oct 14, 2013
    8
    A fighting lion by today's standards. It's up there with Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights and Diablo 2. The loot, characters, story andA fighting lion by today's standards. It's up there with Dungeon Siege, Neverwinter Nights and Diablo 2. The loot, characters, story and atmosphere were put together really well. Also, near the end you get to fight a boss that will PERMANENTLY delete your characters if they die against him in combat (what an insane idea by the devs). THAT blew me away! I cursed and I screamed! I repeated the game and I was FREAKIN MAD. Oh how I miss those days! We need more 'real-man' games like this! Kickstarter anybody? Full Review »
  2. Nov 13, 2019
    9
    One of the finest equipment customization systems ever created, very interesting spells and a beautiful atmosphere. A massively underratedOne of the finest equipment customization systems ever created, very interesting spells and a beautiful atmosphere. A massively underrated game which beats many modern RPGs. Full Review »
  3. Mar 23, 2015
    8
    Very underrated at the time and stands up even today as one of the best ARPGs ever released on the PC. The setting and atmosphere is trulyVery underrated at the time and stands up even today as one of the best ARPGs ever released on the PC. The setting and atmosphere is truly unique and the game offers a tremendous challenge, and particularly the end boss who will wipe out your samurai permanently if he kills them. The design is very original too, which is both good and bad really. Some of the design decisions are somewhat weird and slow the game down a lot. Particularly this applies to the absence of a good way to replenish your chi. This leads to a lot of waiting, especially if you want your spell caster(s) to level up at the same speed as your other characters. And you really need him to if you want to use him. And you will because he becomes very powerful.
    Anyway, apart form this slightly tedious part of the game there is a novel and well implemented crafting system which never lets you have enough of anything really, except ingredients to use for it which can fill two full inventories after a while. But it means you have to make important decisions which is always good.
    If you can take the slightly dated graphics, which look pretty good still after 14 years, then Throne of Darkness is highly recommended. Make sure you can run it though. Compatibility issues abound with these old games.
    Full Review »