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Avernum: Escape from the Pit
Ah, 90's PC gaming. A
golden age of video game development where the only limits were
technical in nature, and new shareware releases by budding developers
were the advertising lifeblood of the industry. If you feel nostalgic
when you read the term "boss key", then you may just be familiar with
Spiderweb Software, creator of the "Exile" series. This now classic
indie franchise took the PC RPG template of the time and ran with it,
allowing players to control multiple party members and customize their
growth, exploring a vast underground world with a surprisingly intricate
story. Avernum: Escape From the Pit is essentially a remake of the
original Exile game of the same name. Escape From the Pit has been given
a graphical overhaul, utilizing the isometric view used in the Avernum
games released most recently by Spiderweb Software. The remake changes
more than just the graphics, however, and the result is a game that is
both the same and quite different from the original.
Something that should be mentioned first and foremost
is that if you're looking for up-to-date, modern graphics, you might as
well stop reading now. Avernum utilizes 2D graphics in an isometric
view, reminiscent of the original Diablo. Obviously this makes the whole
thing look quite dated. If you aren't immediately turned off by that,
then let me assure you that you will probably love this game. Noticeably
improved even over those of the most recent Avernum titles are the
character portraits, which are in fact quite beautiful. Otherwise, the
graphics are essentially identical to those of recent Avernum titles,
reflecting Spiderweb's low priority on steady advancement in that area.
This is something important to know because Escape From the Pit is a
game that will polarize RPG players depending on how important visuals
are to them.
Escape From the Pit offers several difficulty levels,
as well as the ability to adjust the difficulty at any time during your
game. This might come in handy depending on how quickly you want to beat
Escape From the Pit, because often you will find that enemies are just
too difficult and you need to go grind somewhere else before advancing
to where you want to go. Yes, Escape From the Pit does involve a lot of
grinding in dungeons, but Spiderweb Software has done a great job making
this experience far less tedious, with diverse and well-designed
environments that often use interesting tricks to create light puzzle
elements. The world of Avernum is by no means boring and progressing
through the game is both fun and challenging.
Audio effects are standard. They are reasonably well
done, but of course can get a little repetitive after a while. The music
is also quite good, but not always around. More often than not, you're
just listening to ambient noise. For most players that should be fine,
though. There's no voice-acting, keeping up with the no-frills style of
the game.
One of the better aspects of this game is the
opportunity to customize your adventuring party. Whether you want to
have a balanced group featuring every type of character or whether you
instead choose to enter battle with an entire team of tanky
sword-wielding knights; the game accommodates your decision. You are
also allowed to select an image avatar for each of your heroes (whether
it fits their class or not is up to you). That having been said, classes
make relatively little difference in your characters' long-term
potential, as every character can learn every spell and ability
regardless of their class. The way this works is that requirements to
wield spells are determined by the stats and skills that you develop for
a character - meaning that you can choose to make your units as
specialized or balanced as you please. Fan of sword-wielding battle
mages who can heal their team in a pinch? Not a problem. Want to throw
in a super-defensive tank that will soak up damage and demand enemies'
attention? Easy. Escape From the Pit allows for such customization
without over complication. A downside to this is the risk that
characters will become a little generic, but the multitude of
customizable aspects (stats, skills, spells, and "traits", which
function as passive boosts to a character's stats or abilities) help to
ensure each of your units is a unique personality.
The only real fault that I can find with Escape From
the Pit is the lack of multiplayer adventuring. There is no multiplayer
feature available, whether local or online. If some form of co-operative
play were incorporated into the game in conjunction with an easy-to-use
campaign editor (also missing from Escape From the Pit) I could see
Avernum becoming a popular world for fans of desktop RPG gaming. Escape
From the Pit offers a world of strictly-governed role play and
well-balanced formulas, and it's a pity not to appeal fully to such a
dedicated demographic.
Overall, Avernum: Escape From the Pit is a solid RPG
experience that combines classic style, a compelling story, and generous
content to create an indie game that is very much worth your time. If
you're looking for a complex single player RPG and value content at the
expense of visuals, don't miss this title.
-Josh Waters |
