Avernum – I choose you!

Avernum is a terrific "old school" computer RPG. There are a lot of missions to go forth on, many of which are not related to the story. It can be brutally difficult at times - there isn’t anything stopping the player from walking into a combat situation that is meant for higher level characters. That’s one of the reasons the game is terrific - a feeling like anything could be around the corner. Compare this to Pokémon, another RPG that is about the same age… In Pokémon you have a very linear world - the wild Pokémon around your hometown are feeble compared to every Pokémon you encounter afterward.

The graphics are a bit too realistic and plain at times and there are some user interface issues that bother me a bit. One is inventory management. I constantly have a full inventory and moving one item at a time gets irritating. There is a "junk bag" that is shared by the whole party and I probably played 20 hours into the game before I realized it was there because it’s just a text link inside inventory. I searched the web for hours looking for a list of magic spell levels, only to find there is a list tucked into the character sheet. Finally, boats often get stuck on land terrain while the same click going the same distance doesn’t typically hang up the party on land.

The terrific writing, atypical fantasy setting and often strategic gameplay keep those annoyances at bay. I’m looking forward to Avernum 2 and 3 being updated and rereleased.

PS - I love the artwork for skills (hover over each skill to see it). I wish the entire game had artwork in that comic book style.

erima about Avernum: Escape From the Pit