Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura Review

MandaloreGaming・2 minutes read

Arcanum is an RPG set in a fantasy world with dark undertones and unique features, plagued by a problematic game engine but improved by an unofficial patch by Drog Black Tooth. The game explores the coexistence of magic and technology during an industrial revolution, delving into social issues and consequences while offering a deep and engaging narrative with multiple endings.

Insights

  • The game "Arcanum" explores a world where magic and technology coexist during an industrial revolution, affecting gameplay and societal norms significantly.
  • Character creation in "Arcanum" involves rich backgrounds impacting NPC interactions, with race and gender playing significant roles, offering varied gameplay experiences and unique quest opportunities.

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Recent questions

  • What is the main theme of "Arcanum"?

    Mix of emotions and tones reflecting character.

  • How does combat music in "Arcanum" sound?

    Percussion-heavy with lack of variety.

  • What is the significance of character backgrounds in "Arcanum"?

    Impact how NPCs interact with you.

  • How is XP earned in "Arcanum"?

    Through hits, not kills, allowing unique quest opportunities.

  • What is the central conflict in "Arcanum"?

    Humans' fear of death and technology's consequences.

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Summary

00:00

"Arcanum: Dark RPG with Troubled Engine"

  • "Arcanum" is an RPG set in a fantasy world created by Troika, known for the original "Fallout" games.
  • The game has dark undertones and unique features but suffers from a problematic game engine.
  • An unofficial patch by Drog Black Tooth fixes many issues and offers enhancements and new options.
  • The patch improves graphics, music quality, and allows widescreen play, but high resolutions can cause problems.
  • Despite bug fixes, "Arcanum" remains one of the buggiest CRPGs, even with the fan patch.
  • The game explores a world where magic and technology coexist during an industrial revolution.
  • Magic and technology interact in complex ways, affecting gameplay and societal norms.
  • The game delves into social issues and explores the consequences of magic and technology advancements.
  • The plot of "Arcanum" begins with the player surviving a blimp crash and being pursued by assassins.
  • The game's visuals are reminiscent of "Fallout," with a dark and gloomy atmosphere, while the audio features unique voice acting and music.

11:08

"Arcanum: Emotions, Crafting, and Persuasion"

  • The main theme of "Arcanum" is a mix of different emotions and tones, reflecting the non-heroic character you play.
  • Combat music in the game is percussion-heavy, with a lack of variety in combat tracks.
  • Character creation in "Arcanum" involves rich backgrounds, with the option to choose presets or customize your character.
  • Backgrounds in the game impact how NPCs interact with you, with race and gender playing significant roles in quests and interactions.
  • Stats, skills, spells, and schematics are chosen after character creation, with 16 skills across 4 categories and 8 technology disciplines.
  • Technology disciplines in "Arcanum" grant schematics for crafting useful objects, with the need to hunt down parts for crafting.
  • Magic schools in the game offer 5 spells each, with points allocated to stats, spells, skills, and technology fields.
  • Aptitude towards tech or magic affects gameplay, with advantages and disadvantages based on your leaning.
  • Skills can be trained outside of points, with master levels having special missions attached for varied gameplay experiences.
  • Persuasion in the game is based on what your character knows, with the ability to convince characters based on their knowledge and your arguments.

21:13

"XP, Combat, Quests: Unraveling Game Mysteries"

  • XP is earned through hits, not kills, in the game, allowing for unique quest opportunities and the ability to skip dungeons through dialogue.
  • Scammington, the main character, benefits from a squad of followers who collectively handle combat challenges that necromancer spells and zombies cannot.
  • Klug, a character, excels in combat and gains quests, compensating for the loss of XP from fewer quests initially.
  • Combat in the game is described as either too easy or frustratingly slow, with the option to switch between real-time and turn-based modes.
  • The game offers a wide range of combat options, but encounters can be tedious and uninteresting, often taking place in repetitive locations like sewers.
  • The game features a richly detailed world with numerous side quests, mysteries, and conspiracies to explore, offering a variety of ways to resolve situations.
  • The main quest involves finding a boy and delivering a ring, leading to discoveries about the ring's origins and the involvement of various characters like Gilbert Bates and Stennar Rock Cutter.
  • Bates, an inventor, has a complex history with dwarves and technology, leading to revelations about the steam engine's origins and the disappearance of the Black Mountain clan.
  • The quest unfolds into a series of mysteries and revelations, including encounters with unique characters like a half-ogre prisoner and the exploration of an ancient crashed submarine.
  • The narrative delves into themes of identity, acceptance, and the consequences of technological advancement, offering a deep and engaging storyline for players to uncover.

31:51

"Dark secrets unravel in fantasy kingdom"

  • The Wheel clan is led by a prince, acting as the "king-in-waiting," as the true king, Loghaire Thunderstone, has been absent for decades.
  • Loghaire exiled himself to the Dredge, a mud labyrinth, due to grief after the elves took away the Black Mountain clan.
  • Humans' fascination with technology stems from their fear of death and instant gratification, leading to unforeseen consequences.
  • Humans' efficient logging led to the destruction of elven forests, causing elves to threaten war on all dwarves if the Wheel clan didn't comply.
  • Convincing Loghaire to return to the throne involves understanding dwarven philosophy and locating the elves in the Glimmering Forest.
  • Dark elves, not the elves, may have been responsible for past events, with a book revealing their location.
  • A breeding factory on an offshore island run by powerful gnomes involves kidnapping women to birth half-ogres for bodyguard purposes.
  • The gnome council's involvement in the breeding factory led to the dissolution of the royal family and political turmoil.
  • Exposing the breeding factory through evidence to the press results in the disappearance of the journalist and removal of evidence.
  • The side quest involving the breeding factory unveils a dark reality in the game, overshadowing the main quest's narrative.

42:23

"Arcanum: Choices and Consequences"

  • Arronax, a villain, is revealed to be a puppet master manipulating events subtly.
  • Kerghan, a powerful villain, has been in the Void for a long time and has mysterious intentions.
  • Kerghan plans to obliterate all life in the world of "Arcanum" to end suffering and bring peace.
  • Virgil, a character who has died and returned, sympathizes with Kerghan's perspective but chooses to stand against him.
  • Players have various options to deal with Kerghan, including joining him, betraying him, or convincing him to change his plan.
  • Kerghan's ultimate conclusion is to end all life, but he acknowledges that not everyone shares his perspective.
  • The game "Arcanum" offers multiple endings based on player choices and interactions with Kerghan.
  • The game is praised for its rich setting and themes but is also criticized for its bugs and lack of balance, with calls for an Enhanced Edition.
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