Posted December 05, 2009
Arx Fatalis offers a rich fantasy environment with a worthwhile and engaging story. while you spend an awful lot of time looking at dungeon walls, the game does a fairly good job of looking good while remaining the same. The sound is incredible, and in my opinion, more than makes up for any shortcomings in visual category. From the slapping of your feet on the stone floors and the gutteral conversations of goblins in the next room, to the dripping of water in underground pools and the ambient hum of tunnels, this game has audio that delivers more ambience than almost any game I've played.
The characters are well drawn, heavily styilized, and ulltimately very good. I like a game with a strong overall artistic concept, and Arx Fatalis really puts you in the world the designers have created.
I can't get behind the controls. I've tried and tried, but I just don't have the patience for them. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I think drinking healing potions or something during combat shouldn't involve fumbling around in you inventory while you're being beaten to death, unable to defend yourself. Obviously, plenty of people have managed just fine, so this is a personal hangup, but one I'm sure a few people probably share. If you're looking for the much more seamless interface of a contemporary like Morrowind, be prepared for disappointment. I personally come from the school of thought that says the game pauses when you open your inventory, but that's a matter of opinion.
I find the magic system of actually using hand motions to be clever, but ultimately more gimmicky than fulfilling. I'm a firm believer that bad/difficult control shouldn't be a substitute for genuine overall challenge in a game - it's a copout here, and doesn't really do much to set Arx apart from the pack.
If you can get beyond the frustrating controls, as lots of people have, this game is definately worth your time/money. If you're quickly frustrated by interface that is needlessly challenging, than you may (as another reviewer suggested) be better off with Morrowind.
The characters are well drawn, heavily styilized, and ulltimately very good. I like a game with a strong overall artistic concept, and Arx Fatalis really puts you in the world the designers have created.
I can't get behind the controls. I've tried and tried, but I just don't have the patience for them. Maybe I'm spoiled, but I think drinking healing potions or something during combat shouldn't involve fumbling around in you inventory while you're being beaten to death, unable to defend yourself. Obviously, plenty of people have managed just fine, so this is a personal hangup, but one I'm sure a few people probably share. If you're looking for the much more seamless interface of a contemporary like Morrowind, be prepared for disappointment. I personally come from the school of thought that says the game pauses when you open your inventory, but that's a matter of opinion.
I find the magic system of actually using hand motions to be clever, but ultimately more gimmicky than fulfilling. I'm a firm believer that bad/difficult control shouldn't be a substitute for genuine overall challenge in a game - it's a copout here, and doesn't really do much to set Arx apart from the pack.
If you can get beyond the frustrating controls, as lots of people have, this game is definately worth your time/money. If you're quickly frustrated by interface that is needlessly challenging, than you may (as another reviewer suggested) be better off with Morrowind.