Rating: 
Summary: Great, but could be better
Review: Ever wanted to play a fantasy version of Fallout? Here it is. In Arcanum, the graphics, gameplay, and even little things like map movement and dialogue are quite similar. This should be no surprise, as the developers were from the original Fallout team. Since Troika's company logo says 'Art, Design, Code' on it, I'll critique along those lines.Art- If you're looking for a game full of eye candy, you will be sorely disappointed. While not ugly, it is obvious that this title is not big on graphics. If you don't mind seeing relatively bland combat, spells, and scenery, then this shouldn't be too much of a problem. However, be warned that some of the sound effects can get annoying when you hear them long enough. If you're patient, you will be rewarded with a handful of decent cinematics, but don't hold your breath. Design- This is the strong point of Arcanum. It has an excellent story that really draws you into the action. The game is challenging, but not in a stupid way (i.e. having to find some random place with no clues). Despite the size of the maps, navigation is quite easy, and the console provides plenty of welcome features to assist the user. It's difficult to get lost, and there's always a way to continue with the plot. For those familiar with Fallout, combat is even easier than before. It seems they 'Diabloified' it, allowing real-time combat (not much use actually), quick weapons, and one-click attacks. You don't have to reload weapons in a fight, and there are only two types of ammo: arrows and bullets. They even added durability, though it doesn't work like it does in Diablo. Code- Needs work. There are more bugs in this game than both Fallouts and a good size termite mound all added up. It's enough that you will be genuinely frustrated at times. Aside from some stability problems, waypointing sometimes doesn't work, and quests (though not the big ones) can sometimes be broken through no fault of the player. You cannot multitask while playing Arcanum, or the cursor will vanish and the graphics will get royally messed up. The load times for areas were, to my utter amazement, longer than even Baldur's Gate 2. I am at a loss as to how they could be this way, considering that the graphics are rudimentary in comparison. Additionally, the game loads only a relatively small portion of an area, which means you'll stop to load every once in a while when running around. It could get very frustrating if you happen to be running from something. You would think the designers would have left some options for caching areas, but there are none. I find that I have a very long wait every time I return to Tarant. As for the combat engine, which you will spend a lot of time using, it is average. You'll find the real time mode dangerous for anything but hacking up rats, since things just happen too fast for you to react. There's also a likelihood you can critical fail and drop a weapon, and not even notice. Combat also looks extremely dumb in real-time. My biggest complaint about the combat is that your companions are stupid. They get stuck on doors and are hacked to death one by one, and your summoned minions (if applicable) don't attack unless your character is personally engaged. If you have a thief in the party, you can't tell him to lead in a trap-infested area, so you'll probably find all the traps by stepping on them. In Arcanum, they made charisma and beauty extremely important. Some people won't even talk to you if you don't have enough reaction, which can be a very bad thing. It's advisable you have some way to raise it temporarily if you don't have permanently decent stats. Although, in general, combat is pretty easy, I have had an occasional 'dead-end' battle. There is an especially hard one you can get trapped into near the start of the game, which caused me to start over completely. Most of the hard ones aren't mandatory, but some are, so you had best know how to do something besides sweet-talking. Despite all these failings- many of which could be rectified in updates- Arcanum is a thoroughly engrossing experience. It really doesn't matter how annoying the bugs can be once you get into it, since it really does provide a true sense of adventure. The characters interact more or less in realistic fashion, and there are endless possibilities for customizing your character and going through the intricate plot. This is not an action game, and I wish they hadn't made a halfhearted attempt to make it play like one. It is a truly classic RPG experience, and a very excellent one when played as that.
Rating: 
Summary: Great game
Review: The game runs on my machine(600 PIII) with no problems. I have added the available patches. This game is different from many RPG's. It takes place in a world with great detail, combining technology and magic. I am about 1/2 way through the main plot, which is very well conceived. If installed on a properly setup machine(latest DirectX and drivers), it should run fine. It will look and sound great. I therefore highly recommend this game.You will be entertained.
Rating: 
Summary: It was released too early, like so many games
Review: It may not happen to others, but I get a total screen freeze
about every 10 minutes. I have a high-end game machine. I have the patch in, it doesn't help.
My other games don't have this problem. Sierra's tech support (the maker of Arcanum) are not helpful. If you like a pretty good RPG - it could have been a great one - buy it. Otherwise, keep your money.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtakingly Incredible
Review: To say that this game is incredible wouldn't even begin to describe it. It's dazzling ingenuity and shockingly massive replay value will keep even those with minute long attention spans on their toes. To begin, Arcanum is not a Diablo, Fallout, Baldur's Gate, or any other clone. It takes aspects from all of those games and adds incredible new levels. The first and most obvious is the presence of BOTH magick AND technology. However I think one of the most innovative things is the ability to do NEITHER and still be a successful character. You could be anything from a barbaric half-ogre to a smooth talking gnome politician to a world renowed theif. And if that wasn't enough, the character developement is such that EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IS UNIQUE. It is DIFFICULT to make any 2 exactly the same. If you think that the above is all that Arcanum has going for it, think again. In 1,000 words I cannot begin to describe it's glory. From the isolated capitol of Dernholm to the bustling industrious Tarant; from Slim Picken's general store to Madam Lil's brothel, this game is the most innovative and enjoyable games made for the computer. Period.
Rating: 
Summary: Horrible... Simply Horrible!
Review: Ugh!... First of all, the graphics are really dated and have no business being in a ($) game. Second the combat system is really bad in both turn-bases and real-time. The voice acting and NPC interaction is very poor. The only good point about the game is that it supposedly has a lot of depth. But, you'll never experience this depth since the game is so bland that you'll stop playing it after a couple of hours. Last point. This game is NOTHING like Fallout and in no way is it better. To even compare it to Fallout is a crime. Arcanum is quickly headed to the bargin bin of hell.
Rating:
Summary: A good time, worth the effort
Review: I have been playing Arcanum for a week or so. Its a lot of fun, and there is so much to do. I love being able to make a character with a real person's set of skills and "interests". Its a huge open-ended and enjoyable world. The sheer variety of quests and twists and turns is fabulous. I love it.
The downsides are some issues with it slowing down, and some places where you just cannot see what is happening. The graphics are somewhat dated, but I don't really worry about those, and the voice acting is great.
This a huge step up from games like Diablo where you hack monsters and open chests for hours. There is real thinking and problem solving. A great RPG, for all its lack of polish.
Rating:
Summary: Plenty of better CRPGs
Review: Lots of neat quests to keep you going, and the landscapes and cut scenes are really graphically impressive. However, character graphics/animation is sloppy. Only text based conversation with most NPCs--those that are not considered main characters to the story. Inventory management is difficult without more "stackable" items, and no "quick transport" from site to site without forking over 75 gold pieces a head or more to ride the train or sail in a ship. Overall, I'd rather play Diablo 2 or Baldur's Gate.
Rating:
Summary: What an adventure!!
Review: It has been YEARS since I had played a game so immersive. It is clear that a lot of thought and detail went into this game. I have been playing for 10 days and based on what I've heard, have barely scratched the surface of this game. By the way, it's true that the graphics are not great - if I want graphics I'll play Max Payne - the graphics are more than sufficient.
Rating:
Summary: ..........Another Sierra flop.
Review: Stuttering graphics, severe slowing during actions, cheesy graphics you'd expect from about 5 or 6 years ago......[PRICE]Not only that, multiplayer is practically nonexistant, the patches are extremely unreliable, game freezes AFTER the patches............Take my advice.........stay away from this and all other Sierra Products. Keep in mind, this is the same company that came out with the little gem Rage of Mages.............
Rating:
Summary: A mix of DII and D&D
Review: Although deffinately hopping on the bandwagon and trying to emulate games like Baulder's Gate and Icewind Dale (Who wouldn't want a game that popular?), Arcanum is very similar to the long drawn out, and what I sometimes find very boring world of RPG games like the two aforementioned. I tend to prefer the hack and slah without much thinking about it Diablo 2 style of play. In other words, I'm that friend who tried to kill all of the townspeople when you tried a multiplayer game of Icewind Dale. But Arcanum is somewhat different. I haven't figured it out yet, but for some reason, I happen to like this game, rather than spend $... on it, get frustrated 10 minutes into the game, and end up giving it to my friend's girlfriend like I did Icewind Dale. I think it was how the chickens fought back when you attacked them... yeah, that was hours of amusment for me.
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