I think most of all I’m disappointed in the general flow of the AF adventure. Again comparing it to a more than five year old game, the first Elder Scrolls, in that game I could go anywhere and do pretty much anything I wanted to. As a low level character I would sometimes wander into a dungeon way too difficult for me – I would have to come back later when I had more experience – but when I wanted to come back and take another crack was my choice. The claustrophobia of the AF caves extends to more than just the atmosphere – you often have only a single choice of where you can go or what you can do next. I can’t get through that gate until I show the guard a pass, I can’t get a pass until I search that area, so where do I go? I go to that area – I have no choice, no options, no adventure. This plot train rides on the rails with nowhere else to go – all aboard!

So, my first foray into the world of computer RPGs in years is a big letdown. Whatever cosmic forces that lead me to this, that shouted into my brain that this was the game that I wanted to play, is probably lying back and having a good laugh at my expense right about now. And to think that I took a break from reviewing the insipid O.R.B. to play Arx Fatalis, hoping it was going to be a step up, only to find that it was a different insipid game, not a better one. Oh yeah, I look like some kind of moron now. Master of Orion 3 had better save me from all this crap, that’s all I’ve got to say.