Game News RPG Watch lifts the curtain - Eschalon: Book 1 first impressions

[Atrachasis]

If I remember correctly, the developers made a deliberate decision not to reveal details of the story before the release. Personally, I think that was a bad judgement call. Turn-based, many skills, extensive dialogs - that's all very nice, but what little we have heard of the story so far - goblins and amnesia - is a bit underwhelming, and is taking their old-school concept too far for my tastes. Same reservations about the amount of combat, no matter how well it's done. This uncertainty is the main reason why I will wait for the hive mind's verdict before deciding whether to pick this up. I am certain to give the demo a try, though.

Here's a revolutionary thought: How about a main character NOT suffering from amnesia? No need to withhold advance information on lore and story from potential buyers then either. Back in the days, I was voraciously reading the Compendium long before installing Ultima VI, and already making plans to visit this and that city. It contributed a lot to making me feel part of the world I was about to enter, and making it feel less generic. Having this information at hand didn't spoil my curiosity, it only served to whet my appetite. So I don't really get the appeal of the amnesia plot point and the surrounding lack of advance information on the setting and main quest... except to cater to those that don't bother with manuals and compendia anyway, of course, but that's probably not the target audience of Eschalon.

Although they seem to have succeeded at whetting quite a few appetites even on the Codex...

 

[covr]

If I remember correctly, the developers made a deliberate decision not to reveal details of the story before the release. Personally, I think that was a bad judgement call. Turn-based, many skills, extensive dialogs - that's all very nice, but what little we have heard of the story so far - goblins and amnesia - is a bit underwhelming, and is taking their old-school concept too far for my tastes.

The truth is that we don't care about it. We just want to play this fuckin' game. Years ago there was many games like Eschalon but we have played them all. That is the problem.

 

[Gwendo]

Playing the game in a tiny window or in stretched blury graphics in my 22" is underwhelming.

Oh well, we can't afford to skip an old school RPG, can we?

 

[GhanBuriGhan]

Playing the game in a tiny window or in stretched blury graphics in my 22" is underwhelming.

Oh well, we can't afford to skip an old school RPG, can we?

No, we can't. After all we never get tired of claiming its only the gameplay that counts. I wouldn't be too surprised if someone hacks it to a higher resolution within the next four months, however.

 

[Au naturel]

No, we can't. After all we never get tired of claiming its only the gameplay that counts.

Most don't. There are a few whores amongst the crowd however.

I am surprised the Codex hasn't recieved a copy for review purposes, has anybody asked?

 

[Jora]

No, we can't. After all we never get tired of claiming its only the gameplay that counts.

Most don't. There are a few whores amongst the crowd however.

I am surprised the Codex hasn't recieved a copy for review purposes, has anybody asked?

VD did, and then he was kicked out.

 

[Au naturel]

VD did, and then he was kicked out.

Well, does he have it? or did he ask for it? If he has it then please write a review or pass it along to a reviewer here. I support him fully in regards to the drama business, but I also want the Codex's impression (review done by VD even better) on the game.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Thomas offered me a review copy (when the game is released). I told that to Jarl and gave him Thomas' email. I told Thomas that I'm no longer a journalist here and thus will not be needing a review copy. I'll buy the game in a day or two and post my impressions here.

 

[Elwro]

Before I received news about that, I already volunteered to review a different game and started playing it, so someone else will have to step up. I wonder if Eschalon shouldn't be our priority right now, though.

 

[Joe Krow]

Thomas offered me a review copy (when the game is released). I told that to Jarl and gave him Thomas' email. I told Thomas that I'm no longer a journalist here and thus will not be needing a review copy. I'll buy the game in a day or two and post my impressions here.

Fuck DU. [/spam]

I'm sure i'm not the only one that felt a little pang reading this post though.

I'm going to give this game a try. Sure it's an Ultima clone but at least its done well. The graphics are certainly updated and hopefully the combat is a little more involved (still seems a little simplistic for the degree of focus it will get... we'll see). The exploration aspect is what will make or brake the game in my book. Hopefully they came up with a few suprises for us.

Does anyone have any idea what the play time on this game is? I'm hoping it's 20+.

 

[Deacdo]

Need the combat to be decent. I prefer TBed combat, but if it is weak it'll be worse than RT.

 

[VonVentrue]

I told Thomas that I'm no longer a journalist here and thus will not be needing a review copy.

I still find it difficult to accept...

By the way, who is responsible for writing the Codex review of the Witcher, then? Or rather - in current state of affairs, will we ever have the chance to read it?

 

[Palikka]

Does anyone have any idea what the play time on this game is? I'm hoping it's 20+.

from the FAQ:
Q: How many hours approximately will the main quest take to complete?
A: We are working to make the main quest come in at around 20 hours and have another 20 hours in side quests, so there'll be at least 40 hours of play time in Book I.

 

[Vault Dweller]

I told Thomas that I'm no longer a journalist here and thus will not be needing a review copy.

I still find it difficult to accept...

Nothing lasts.

By the way, who is responsible for writing the Codex review of the Witcher, then? Or rather - in current state of affairs, will we ever have the chance to read it?

If I have to guess, Elwro. He's a great poster and I'm looking forward reading his thoughts on games.

 

[Ismaul]

Turn-based, many skills, extensive dialogs - that's all very nice, but what little we have heard of the story so far - goblins and amnesia - is a bit underwhelming, and is taking their old-school concept too far for my tastes.

Actually I really like the goblin bit. It's quite rare that you see a setting accounting for how the monster menace is contained by the population, other than by calling on adventurers. Makes for a much more plausible setting, and therefore game and story, instead of a happy-fantasy-land overrun by monters that have no interaction with civilisation, waiting for the hero to end their lives.

Here's a revolutionary thought: How about a main character NOT suffering from amnesia?

Well, it's a common mechanic to make the player know as much as the character. It's clearly been used a bit too frequently and in an unoriginal manner, but it does have its use. Else, how would you deal with his past memories, especially since they are going to be different for each character? Past memories have to be dealt with by the designers in any RPG that gives you control over character creation, and any manner they tackle this it can be done well or not. Hopefully we get an interesting spin on it.

 

[Elwro]

By the way, who is responsible for writing the Codex review of the Witcher, then? Or rather - in current state of affairs, will we ever have the chance to read it?

If I have to guess, Elwro. He's a great poster and I'm looking forward reading his thoughts on games.

:doing my best:

Anyway, the problem is there's a shitload of things (day job, side job for a Big Software Company, PhD) I have to do right now. I can only devote so many hours a week to gaming and that's why I voluntereed for a more... modest title for my first review (I'm not saying the game's bad, mind you). I don't imagine myself finishing The Witcher before, say the 10th of December. We'll see. But hey, everyone's busy, so I should perhaps stop whining.

 

[Atrachasis]

Else, how would you deal with his past memories, especially since they are going to be different for each character? Past memories have to be dealt with by the designers in any RPG that gives you control over character creation, and any manner they tackle this it can be done well or not. Hopefully we get an interesting spin on it.

Indeed! A good tale can be spun even from an unremarkable beginning, so it is definitely too early for me to tell, and I will eagerly await the impressions of VD and any other official or inofficial verdicts coming from the Codex and the Watch.

No, my only regret, really, is that the somewhat unexciting amnesia setup and the decision not to release advance information on the setting and main quest both reinforce each other. Doing away with one would do away with the need for the other, and certainly raise my interest... but anyway, I am saying this not to bash what could be a long-awaited spiritual successor to Ultima VII, but just to explain why this is not a sure buy for me yet.

A few weeks ago, the amnesia issue already came up on these fora, and someone pointed out quite correctly that, in the old days, many games would resolve the problem of the player's infamiliarity with the game world simply by providing extensive game documentation. It's an approach that would have fitted in quite well with Basilisk's old-school design philosophy, I think. But then, maybe the amnesia issue really is an intrinsic and logical part of the plot, instead of a convenient plot device? Time, and hopefully VD, will tell.

 

[Gwendo]

People are talking too much about Ultima or worring about combat.

Eschalon, afaik, won't have the degree of interactivity that Ultima has. I don't even know if NPCs will have schedules.

On the other hand, Ultima had an horrible combat system, so it will be difficult for Eschalon to be worse.

So far, Eschalon makes me remeber Avernum, with a better game system and prettier graphics and interface. Probably Avernum has a better battle system, but I'll try Eschalon first before jumping to conclusions.

 

[Jedi_Learner]

Eschalon, afaik, won't have the degree of interactivity that Ultima has. I don't even know if NPCs will have schedules.

No- NPCs do not have schedules. I know starting back in the days of Ultima 5-6-7 and continuing through to Oblivion it has been a common feature to show that NPCs have their own schedule, running about doing their jobs and going to bed at night. While this is very cool, it doesn't add a whole lot to your gameplay other than make it inconvenient that the blacksmith is closed when you want to buy a new sword. We simply didn't have the time to develop our own "Radiant AI" system for Book I but we do have plans for Book II to have more dynamic NPC schedules." (Ref)

 

[Dhruin]

A singleton Avernum with *much* better interface and graphics is a pretty good reference point.

I can't say how good the amnesia plot is but I can say the amnesia is caused by being given a serum by some mysterious "benefactor", who had to hide you away or leave you behind or something like that. I think a good plot can be woven from that basis - time will tell if it is.

On a side note, I always love reading how there is no hive mind at the Codex but then someone says they'll wait for a consensus from the hive mind. There's a demo - make your own mind up.

 

[Shagnak]

On a side note, I always love reading how there is no hive mind at the Codex but then someone says they'll wait for a consensus from the hive mind.

Brian: You're all individuals!
Us: Yes, we're all individuals!

There's a demo - make your own mind up.

Can't wait, myself.

As for the possibility of the combat being "simple" I'm not too worried, as long as, like most of the Ultimas, there are aspects that make up for that. Sounding good so far.

 

[Saxon1974]

As for the possibility of the combat being "simple" I'm not too worried, as long as, like most of the Ultimas, there are aspects that make up for that. Sounding good so far.[/quote]

I think it will be fine, as long as it's turn based I think I will like it. Action points would be nice but don't make that much a difference to me. I thought the combat in the early ultima's 3 - VI was just fine, so if its the same as those I will be happy. Now, it has to be better than the real time chaos of Ultima VII.

 

[Ismaul]

Action points would be nice

Thomas Riegsecker: Book I's combat is turn-based, but the duration of a turn is governed by your character's Speed attribute. As it increases, the time it takes to cast a spell or swing a sword decreases, allowing you perform more turns in the same span of time than a slower opponent would be able to.

Looks to me like even if there isn't actual action points, underneath it's till the same thing that is happening. You have a set amount of time in a turn, and a higher Speed allows you to make more in that same amout of time, just like action points.

 

[Shagnak]

Aiieeee

It's available!

(And only ~60 MB)

 

[Kos_Koa]

I was just about to post the news. Oh well... carry on.

Aiieeee