Much potential, unsatisfactory implemented

After I had loved almost to idolatry in the nineties Ultima Underworld 1 & 2 (EA and Looking Glass), I played with enthusiasm Arx Fatalis (from Arkane Studios - Arx Fatalis is indeed both unofficial successor to Ultima Underworld and unofficial predecessor of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic).

This game, by Arkane Studios, is designed a little differently; the engine of Dark Messiah Omm in combination with a story and a world like in Arx Fatalis or Ultima Underworld would (want!) absolutely gorgeous. Now I would not narrow-minded measure to other games, which is not explicitly linked to this game; but unfortunately the concept of actual game content is very much inferior to the basic ideas of what the player can want, and this was just sometimes even better resolved.

First of all, the game itself advertises the ability to follow the path of the warrior, the mage or thief, and you do not specifying at the beginning, but as the game can increase various skills like this already in Arx Fatalis was , But even more so than its unofficial predecessor it suffers from the fact that actually allows only a single orientation frustration free games: a warrior who can conjure a little (healing is something that really everybody needs).

I have tried this in the first run, and who keeps his eyes open a bit, will also soon enough equipment that allows the existence of the game without too much trouble; the last third of the game for me was almost a walk - some opponents were already dead before I had struck only once (hold pretty Equipment, eyes open and so ...).

Unfortunately, the orientation towards mage or thief more difficult or sometimes even an impasse (too expensive and poor skills - slamming one can endlessly, Mana is, however, after two spells empty). Of the various weapons are really only use swords to, ranged eh rarely used both with the bow and magic without much difficulty. In addition, the game is completely linear and virtually no branches are possible (especially when it comes to the story) - which end you get, depends almost solely on what you have done recently. This limits the replay value a solid.

Really great is indeed eagerly advertised possibility the environment in the struggle to exploit - from the basic idea here. Implementation will unfortunately completely arbitrary. That you can people occur sharps, they impale, is indeed an original idea, but there are in the game a few scenes where large metal or wooden frame appear consistent with regularly arranged spines; most sting scaffolds, suspended woodpile etc. speak formally to the players: "I have been specially placed here to make the people out flat." That makes me the mood unfortunately broken.

There were a few technical problems then also: Many a time the graphics at the beginning of each level was completely destroyed, exit the Task Manager, restart the game and load the saved game created automatically folded but then again without hesitation. Oh yes, you can also set 7.1 sound, but which was always deferred to me on Stereo.

Ultimately, I am left to say that I'd like to buy a successor of this game, but only if the aforementioned points of criticism are better resolved. Anyone toying with this game, but Arx Fatalis does not know, should buy the latter prefer.