Avernum: And you thought Solitary was bad…
For those who stick to the more demanding and engrossing PC games that come out these days within the RPG genre, Jeff Vogel is likely to be a completely unknown designer, for the sole fact that all of his work has only been available online since 1994, not to mention it’s exclusive nature for the Macintosh. The PC conversion for all the games at Spiderweb software gives gamers a unique opportunity to play a truly unique and engrossing series of games.
Originally known as the Exile series, which used a 2-D bird’s-eye view of a customizable-party RPG in a expansive fantasy world in three numbered titles and a legendary editor, Vogel was dramatically expanded on this franchise with 3-D graphics, an easy-to-understand interface and gameplay elements, and even combined factors from the three original games to create Avernum, the subsequent remake plus one of the original series of role-playing fantasy games. A definite change from the normal, you find yourself in control of four characters (a great difference from the original games six) in the extremely expansive caves of Avernum, the aboveground Empire’s makeshift prison for those who speak against the oppressive government. Thrown through a one-way portal, the player finds that Avernum is far different than the horrible legends and rumors that they expected, and is instead a magical place filled with monsters, surviving inmates, and other sentient (and hostile) beings such as the Nephilim and the Slithzerikai. Three main quests involving the explication of revenge against the empire takes well into the forty-hour mark, with several different quests and the thirst for exploration of the caves; even in the shareware version, which only allows to learn of the three quests but not partake, the game is rather massive. Although there is no music to accompany the action in any part of the series except for the opening screen, the sound effects for spells, physical combat, entering towns, and even walking add a sense of realism to the game; after all, one could just use the music they collect on Winamp or ITunes for the background: It’s what I do.
Graphics are an impressive display of sprites and pale countryside as giant mushrooms, twisted trees created by magic, towers and cities dot the landscape. Although bland, the also contributes in a consistent environment of a world under the surface.
Avernum 2 involved new features, such as the choice of using the three primary races (Avernites, Nephilim, or Slithzerikai) against the Empire, which is actively at war with the underground after the events of the first game. The major plot twist comes very early on, with the introduction of the cave’s natural inhabitants, a truly alien-looking race, society and culture known as the Vahnanaiti. Different buildings, dungeons, and monsters wait as you travel between two distinct lands in a progressing world. One glaring aspect of the series continues to be its difficulty, which is a huge breather from the scores of simple RPG’s which have turned the genre into a much simpler kind of entertainment through highly visual, verbal, and musical methods. The matter of difficulty can be a blessing or a curse, since the game’s lack of music and highly appealing graphics serve to improve gameplay, but could be far too taxing a game for people to maintain interest.
As the series progresses into its third and fourth titles, more and more features and modifications are added, such as a Job Board, where renewable quests make themselves known, and the ever helpful ability of area-effect spells, which the series has not had since its predecessor. The most altered game from the rest is Avernum 4; with absolutely no difference between town, travel, and underground cavern, as well as a completely refurbished control scheme, the game has become a completely different kettle of fish as the players, new or experienced (The website claims that there is no need for the player to have played the other three, although I beg to differ for storyline purposes.) will partake of a much more believable environment as cave ambient sound-effects fill the speakers. With the improvement of sound, along comes the improvement of graphics in such a bland atmosphere as the immense caverns and the natural rock formations put things into perspective.
Overall, the series has come a long way from the original game, which was already a groundbreaking achievement. Besides graphical issues and lack of musical/sound effects which create the setting even more, All of the games have a background and ambience of a world which has its own unique nature and environment all its own, which no other game could emulate. A great game for those who spend 7-10 dollars for the full version, and addictive enough to allow for several hours each day. A true gem of the shareware world.
Judgment: 9.5/10
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