Arx Fatalis

by The 3DO Company

Product Features

• Explore amazing cities, underground lakes & caverns, lava openings, evenlost civilizations
• Interact with multiple NPCs and work with a real-time spellcasting system
• Engage in realistic combat against the monsters who lurk in the shadows
• Discover Dwarven mines, where amazing puzzles and challenging obstacles are waiting tobe overcome

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000E32XO
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: December 23, 2003
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,020 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Arx Fatalis is role-playing in a medieval urban environment, where you'll fight dark and deadly creatures who challenge your people's survival! In the world of Arx, there is no more daylight. To survive in the eternal darkness, you'll have to do battle with goblins, trolls, rat-men, and other filthy beasts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you like Ultima Underworld this is your game!!!, April 2, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Arx Fatalis (Video Game)

The kingdoms of the earth have moved underground as the Sun has been destroyed. The entire game plays out as one huge dungeon with beautiful interconnecting levels. The game is first-person like Morrowind but much different. This game was obviously inspired by Ultima Underworld 1&2.

The magic system is killer. You collect runes and have a spellbook. You look in the spell-book which shows you street-fighter style combos to perform with your d-pad to cast your spells. This makes the game like a pen&paper rpg and adds tons of strategy.

Music is very dark & ambient and the game heavily relies on sound-effects. The first time you run into a Lich-Lord you will be scared to death.

Storyline is very dark. There are no dialouge options.

Graphics are very good...just not good by xbox standards. A little sub par compared to Morrowind.

This is an excellent first game developed by French Arkane Studios. The sequal is rumored to be using the Half-Life 2 engine.

The major flaws with this game would be the cumbersome inventory system(think Diablo instead of encumbrance). And you HAVE to have a FAQ to figure this game out. www.rpgdot.com has a really good one. Also NPC audio has lots of echo.

But you really should see the item-creation system. You can make pies, roast-chicken, potions, swords, a fishing pole.

All in all expect about 30 - 40 hours of game play with a FAQ. Without a FAQ you will NEVER complete this game!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Patience Pays Off, March 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Arx Fatalis (Video Game)

The above reviewer obviously had little patience. This game is worth the effort - the environment is dark and forboding, the options for your character far exceed those of normal RPGs, and the action/combat is challenging (even on easy setting). The plot of the game keeps your interest -- from the moment you begin to play you realize that this is not your normal RPG game. If you are into D&D and want an Xbox game that simulates that RPG -- I know of no other that does so this well.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little known gem, January 3, 2005

By 

Ethan A. Wilson (Winchester, MA,) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Arx Fatalis (Video Game)

I guess everyone's preferences are different, which accounts for a lack of high ratings for this game here. Arx Fatalis is certainly far from perfect, but it's still one of my top two or three favorite Xbox games. I got this on a whim because I remembered playing the PC demo and thinking it was interesting but nothing special. I was pleasantly surprised by the Xbox version. It has a good hand-to-hand combat system, a wide variety of weapons, equipment and items, and a lot of unusual, quirky features like the ability to make and cook food. The feature that makes this a great game, however, is the expansive, detailed, often creepy, always fascinating world the game creates and the enjoyable (if cheesy) story that motivates you to explore it. Its dated graphics and complicated menu systems may turn some people off, but I recommend at least giving it a try.