It was a surprise release from GOG for me. Arx Fatalis was good game with unusual spell casting system - that is i what remembered most about the game.

I just bought it, installed it, got killed by a spider about 5 minutes in when my bone weapon broke... apparently poison is bad

I had to buy it too... brilliant game so far.
Now, if I can only figure out how to smash/open the "unbroken wall" in the goblin prison...

phanboy4, Arx Fatalis is one of the best RPG's you'll ever play. In my opinion, anyway.

It's a great RPG, but the actual gameplay is a mixed bag. The interface is horrible, there's not enough feedback available to the player, and the balancing and difficulty is.. well.. all over the place.
If you can overlook having to fight the game on occasion, it's fantastic. If you can't, it'll drive you crazy.

Sounds good. I figure if I can play though Bloodlines and still love it, I can love Arx Fatalis.

Bloodlines is easy, Arx Fatalis is not.
Arx Fatalis was an oldschool RPG released in modern times, a Ultima Underworld 2.0, as though the setting doesn't make that obvious enough. Because of that, it's harder, the balancing is a bit wonky because the developers simply didn't care if you were going to be challenged to an extreme degree.
That's the way I like it, beats Morrowind (which I never really liked) in my opinion, which was released near the same time if I recall correctly - little to no hand holding.

In my opinion, balance issues, ridiculously hard parts etc. are not always bad for an RPG - it kinda sticks more RP to it... It's kinda more immersive to me - and I know what I'm talking about, since Arx Fatalis managed to eat up a bit of my life :D Game's world is not asking you if you're ready - you just have to be. Or you won't succeed.
Oh, and the game has an awesome magic system - I loved 'mousing' my enemies do death :D