Currently playing: Nox Archaist

July 30, 2015

4 years since start

Yet another year has passed with the blog but this last year has been a very silent one. At least the latter half. That is partly due to an increasing family but also because I have found very good current RPGs to play so I have not had any reason to look for older gems. 

Even though the posts has shrinked to 20 last year from 36 the year before and comments from 100 to 41, the growth has been the same and are at the time of writing almost exactly 180.000 pageviews. 

Only two games have truly been revisited: Arx Fatalis and Icewind Dale. The other games I have played like Legend of Grimrock 2, Lords of Xulima and Wasteland 2 are only reviews of current RPGs. But those three are also a resurrection and a tribute of an old genre. All three of them must be considered as a success for the developers.

With the exception of Risen 3 - a tragical decline of the brand - excellent titles such as Dragon Age 3 Inquisition and Witcher 3 has been released. Not to mention Pillars of Eternity. In summary I would say 2014-2015 was a very good year for all RPG fans.

July 11, 2015

Pillars of Eternity - A jewel or a disappointment ?

If you´re wondering if Pillars of Eternity is any good you probably have read a lot of reviews by now and most of them are very positive. I however, must agree to this persons review. Most of his criticism is something I share. Instead of writing my own review, you can read it for yourself here at RPGCodex.

But to summarise. PoE is a very generic and bland RPG although with good graphics and an ok interface. The story is nothing special, the writing uninspiring and there are too many long boring dialouges like for example, you could read other peoples souls and get information from their previous lives. This results in long texts that doesn´t add anything so I have stopped reading them. Instead of letting ordinary people have something to say you get these boring texts that never leads to any follow up dialogue anyway. This goes for the voice acting as well.

The combat also becomes pretty boring pretty fast since - even at normal difficulty - you most of the time select all party members and attack one target. No need to use potions, scrolls or other consumables. But increase the difficulty setting you might ask. Well, that only brings more opponents or stronger ones to the table, reduce my pool of camp supplies and only makes the game slower to progress in. Because you don´t get any XP for killing monsters if you have already met them before and filled up your bestiary. So there is no way to grind here. I am not saying that is bad, but since the combats are boring and you are not given any XP or interesting loot. Well, then it becomes quite boring after a while.

There are of course exceptions regarding combat. The tougher battles requires you to be fully rested and disposition your party properly but the majority of them is just cumbersome to wade through. Especially so when no XP is gained.

The crafting system is also boring and the loot as well. You could improve all kinds of weapons and shields but all originated from the same type of improvement so you can´t really do any unique stuff. The good thing is that you could use this ability anywhere but you often find items that are equally good so it is not much meaning in sacrificing essential ingredients.

There are very few really unique items in the world. Most magical items you find doesn´t bring much to the table so to speak. There are many different spells...on paper. In reality they don´t differ much at all.

The first 10 hours was very good but then the game started to repeat itself. Combat after combat after combat. It became boring. The story never lifted. There are a few sidequests that are intersting but most are very lame.

I really appreciate Obsidians effort and the graphics is very good but it just don´t bring any enthusiasm to the table. So in the end I am a little bit disappointed with the game. I have had about as much fun as I had with last years Icewind Dale. I had hoped for more regarding writing and combat in this game. I would still recommend it though if you like this kind of game. Just don´t expect it to be better than the the decades old originals.

Rating 3.5 of 5.


July 4, 2015

A good RPG year

This last year has seen many new good RPG:s and that´s why this blog have had very few CRPGS revisited. 

It first begun with the excellent Legend of Grimrock II which I recommend everyone to play that remotely liked Dungeon Master or Eye of the Beholder series. I am looking forward to yet another sequel. 

Then Lords of Xulima arrived and it was really a splendid typical CRPG game. Both vast and with great character development. I really hope for a sequel for that one as well.

Then it was time to try out Wasteland 2 and even though it is a solid game it not near the other fantasy based RPG:s that I have played so I quit in the middle of it to take on Dragon Age: Inquisition

Last night I finally completed it after over 100 hours. It is a fantastic, epical game with excellent story and cinematic effects and with great character story development. Even though I find the combat quite weak and not as controllable as I am used to the fantastic environments more than well makes up for it. It is truly the best in the series and the graphics is probably the best I have ever seen in an RPG. You get so much for your money there for I have never, ever seen such a huge game. 

Now, I have already started on Pillars of Eternity as well. That will keep me occupied for the rest of this summer. And if I against all odds would have any more time left to spend, I must of course pick up The Witcher 3. And if that is not enough I would like to check out the new CRPG Serpent in the Staglands.