Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Review

Each character can learn and develop skills. All these skills (prowling, lock-picking, traps, pick-pocketing, backstab) have been used in other games, but never in this way... In this game, you have to find someone to teach you the next level of your skill. For instance, if you want to learn lock-picking, you have to spend a certain quantity of XPs AND find an apprentice level tutor, then spend XPs again and find an expert level tutor, and so on... Advancing through a certain skill is also influenced by your primary characteristics (for example, lock-picking will require you to have a certain number of strength and dexterity points).

Mouse control is simple and like in all modern games, the interface supports hot-keys for practically anything. Space, for instance, is useful for switching from the real-time to turn-based combat mode and vice-versa. The only problem about the interface is the size of the maps you have to cross (I sincerely doubt that anyone would leave the "always run" option unchecked). You can set vectors to tell your character where to move on the map, but that system seems a bit faulty as he always aborts your orders if he happens to stumble upon an NPC roaming the map.

Magic is present in Arcanum in spite of the fact that it is slowly withering away. You can join more than ten schools of magic which will teach you various offensive, defensive, or support spells. The spells have been depicted using fantastic visual effects, but their concept is nothing new or different from the spells in other RPGs. Technological disciplines instantly gained my full attention, so I mostly concentrated on developing those skills in my character. I have to emphasize that magic and technology have not been properly balanced as many lower-level spells have about the same effect as some highly advanced technological gadgets. Still, the technical disciplines opened a whole new aspect of RPGaming. There are altogether eight technical disciplines: Herbology, Chemistry, Electrical, Explosives, Gun Smithy, Mechanical, Smithy and Therapeutics. Each of them is interesting and special in its own way. As you progress through a certain discipline, you will gain new blueprints for building devices (seven blueprints in each category) from items you can find or buy in Arcanum. My character started by specializing in explosives, and I spent quite some time rummaging around Tarant dumps in search of rags to combine with fuel so I could build Molotov Cocktails. There are also blueprints that you cannot gain simply be gaining a level (like the charged sword which is a combination of a large capacitor and a balanced sword) but they still require you to have a certain level in a specific category (like professor or doctorate).

The combat system is modular, and you can use real-time, fast turn-based, and turn-based mode to your preference. Each of the modes presents a challenge of its own sort, and you can switch them at any time in game. The XP and level-gaining concept is a bit unorthodox. The game offers an interesting but, unfortunately, poor XP system: each damage point you inflict on your enemies will grant you an XP. This can make strong characters (15+) advance much faster than others. What's more, I frequently had to leave my coterie behind while I deal with a group of zombies. Why, you may ask? In Arcanum, the friendly NPCs do not gain experience and levels in combat - they progress automatically with you. AND if they engage a battle, all they do by damaging the opponent is actually taking XPs you could have taken. They can be useful in massive battles, but the concept is silly nevertheless.

Sound in Arcanum is excellent, and that especially goes for the background themes. Every important NPC has a unique voice. The graphic design is not top quality, but that doesn't affect the overall experience.

World Editor and mod builder are a special part of Arcanum. The game contains an editor for designing maps that can be used for single and multiplayer adventures. This automatically improves replay-value, as we can expect to have a host of mods for the game. Arcanum is one of those games that deserve to be played for a long while.