"Hey, just because its unknown and it's cheap, doesn't mean that it's bad!"

The story: 10/10

Play any stories lately? This game is a book in game form. The story builds as you play the game. First, the game starts off with a 7+ page book to introduce you to the game. You don't have to read it, but I did.

Long ago, there were Humans and Ahoul in constant war. Unfortunately, this war never stopped, and you have new enemies; several traitor humans called Sha'men joined the Ahoul to form an alliance called Sha'ahoul. The Sha'ahoul are slowly winning, and the seven human kingdoms are falling. In comes Avalon, a citadel where all kingdoms meet for the same cause: to destroy the enemy. As luck turned bad, the citadel is under siege for months and months without reinforcements or supply.

In comes you. You are on the way to Avalon, to deliver a message to your brother Corvus. You come in with a huge armada to bring in supply and reinforcements. During a storm, though, the only boat left afloat is the one you are on. After meeting with your brother, the game is up to you as you battle hordes of Sha'ahoul.

The graphics: 8/10

The graphics are very nice for a game like this. Very diablo-like, this game has graphics to perfection. Everything is viewed in a above-diagonal direction, and will stay that way. That means that you can't see behind walls. But, that is already covered. In times where you want to see behind the wall where you are standing, x-ray mode is one button-press away. Also, it is fun to see how customizable your character (and at later times, two partners) is. You can put on a robe in the inventory menu, and voila, your character is wearing it.

The sound: 9/10

Not much to say here. But, whatever the sound is, it is crystal clear and you know where it is coming from. Hear owls at night, hear drops of water in caves, and listen to the battle cries and cries of pain as you fight the Sha'ahoul.

The music: 9/10

Despite the fact that the music is slightly repetitive, it is very catchy. Sometimes, the citadel of Avalon is in dire trouble, and I find myself not defending it like I should. Instead, I was sitting in the main hall of the castle, listening to the catchy music. So what if it isn't 'cool' or 'happy' music? It really sets the mood of desperation in the game.

Gameplay 10/10

This is where it is at! Combat is extremely easy. Press Spacebar once, and you've got your weapon out. Click on an enemy to fight him. Simple. Most game actions are performed by the spacebar (for combat) and the mouse (nearly everything else). Magic isn't so simple. Once you have a spell, select it. Aim with your mouse, and right-click. Spell casted. Unfortunately, I sometimes accidentally right-click and hurt someone in the castle, which labels you as a traitor. Once that happens, game is basically over, since people will kill you instead of talking.

Games may be fun, but even the best of games have flaws. Sometimes, it is very major. Sometimes, you can't even equip something for no reason. You give it to your partner, who could wear it in 3 places! No, it isn't because of class or anything. You can wear (or hold) ANYTHING. (One time, I found out I could use a rose as a weapon! Weird, huh?) Sometimes very strange things can happen with AI. Like, you attack an enemy, but his buddies doesn't see you. Then, you go up to another group, and they attack you before you even see them. This is when you have the exact same Stealth stat!

Sometimes, loopholes can prevent you from continuing the game. It is really frustrating when a guy tells you to talk to someone, and that particular person doesn't even mention anything!

Difficulty: 8/10

Though not too difficult (especially if you take advantage of AI), this game has its fair share of challenges. Every once in a while, you will encounter a special enemy that could kill you in one hit.

Replay: 6/10

This game is pretty nice to play again, but unlike a good book, you don't really want to play it again. There is just too many small things to do in that game that require you to trek all the way through the castle. The real fun after you beat the game is if you edit the files so you can alter the conversations. That way, you can make an entirely new story!

Overall: 9/10

This game is great, despite its flaws. What else is there to say?

Buy/Rent

This is an absolute buy. It is found in large retailers sometimes, but don't count on it. If you do, then buy it! This is well worth the very low cost! At what I bought it for ($6!), I'd get it without a doubt even if the price was tripled.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/29/04