GoG sale: should I get Arcanum and Vampire Redemption?

[chuckman1]

So I've played through (or started and not finished) a couple of the Black Isle Studios, Troika, Obsidian, whatever the hell they wanna call themselves games like Planescape, Fallout New Vegas, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines, and I've generally loved what I've seen.

So right now gog.com is having a sale on Arcanum and Vampire The Masquerade Redemption, they're 3 dollars each. So my question to you is should I buy them? Have you played them and how were they?

 

[gostlyfantom]

If you dont, you will regret it the rest of your life.

 

[DoPo]

Redemption is no Bloodlines, but damn worth playing for the setting, at least. And Arcanum...I wanted to buy it for a long time, thanks for the tip!

 

[Wayneguard]

Just bought Arcanum. Appreciate the tip

 

[Tony2077]

damn you gog i bought it before the sale. I'm not sure about redemption is it worth getting since i have bloodlines

 

[DoPo]

damn you gog i bought it before the sale. I'm not sure about redemption is it worth getting since i have bloodlines

As I said, Redemption isn't Bloodlines. You won't get the same plot or characters from it. Not even the same gameplay -it's more Diablo-y. However, if you like the setting it's really good. Really awesome on the whole Vampire thing and to top it off it goes from Dark Ages to modern to show a broader spectrum of the World of Darkness. And the Disciplines are mostly in line with their PnP counterparts for a more authentic feel. The best part is that the multiplayer offers lots of tools to run your own chronicle.

Take that as you will. What I'm saying is that if you want more WoD, then go for it. And besides it's 3$, it's not like you're losing a lot.

 

[ms_sunlight]

Arcanum is an unregrettable game. There's just so much to see and do, so much customisation and choice. If you don't mind good old 2D sprite graphics, it's a winner. Buy it. (I have it on disc from when it was first released and I am not letting it go!)

 

[The Madman]

Arcanum yes, it's basically a steampunk Fallout and it's bloody brilliant in that regard.

Redemption... hmm, that ones tougher. If you're really into the setting it's certainly not a bad game, but it's not exactly great either. I guess at that price I don't see a reason why not to give it a try if you're interested, just don't expect it to be anything like or anywhere as good as Bloodlines was.

Incidentally if you do pick up Arcanum, be sure to download the fan patch available here. Like most Troika games Arcanum was pretty damned buggy and imbalanced on release.

 

[GiantRaven]

Arcanum is pretty much my go-to example of anything regarding videogames and awesomeness. It's a definite must play in my eyes, especially with a $2.99 price tag.

 

[Terrible Opinions]

Arcanum, yes. Redemption, no. Redemption isn't without its good parts, but it's just not worth the frustration. Play Bloodlines again instead.

 

[Darknacht]

Arcanum is the best steampunk CRPG ever made.

 

[likalaruku]

I wanted Arcanum a long time ago, but the reviews in magazines swore it was tedious with lots of bland lifeless landscape. I'd still get it if I ran across it though.

 

[LookingGlass]

I played through Arcanum for the first time recently, and for $3 it's well worth it, and then some. If I knew how good it was before playing it, I would've paid $100 for it. I absolutely loved it, right from the first time this played:
Video[/youtube]

It's a bit unbalanced, so you might not have an easy time of things if you pick a specific character build. Also, not having direct control over the rest of your party members hurts thing a bit. The world they've created though, and all of the quests with many different paths to success, are just incredible. Just make sure you play in turn-based combat mode, the real-time mode was tacked-on to please the publisher (apparently), and is pretty terrible and so fast you can't tell what's going on. Definitely get the fan-made patch and the HQ music/maps and High-Res patches as someone aboved linked to.


Haven't played Redemption but I deemed it worthy of my $3 to find out if it's any good.

 

[drthmik]

Vampire Redemption is a great story that unfortunately suffers from an old and sometimes obtuse and difficult to use control system (point and click adventure game) as well as 2-3 stupid teammates that will run into a room and, as often as not, die leaving you to do everything alone anyway. If they remade the game with bloodline's controls it would be the better game by far since the story is better.

bottom line;
It's a good game for what it is, and how old it is, with an interesting story good atmosphere and engaging characters, but it will feel clunky compared to bloodlines. and that is unfortunate.
for $3 I would buy it.

 

[Terrible Opinions]

Vampire Redemption is a great story that unfortunately suffers from an old and sometimes obtuse and difficult to use control system (point and click adventure game) as well as 2-3 stupid teammates that will run into a room and, as often as not, die leaving you to do everything alone anyway. If they remade the game with bloodline's controls it would be the better game by far since the story is better.

bottom line;
It's a good game for what it is, and how old it is, with an interesting story good atmosphere and engaging characters, but it will feel clunky compared to bloodlines. and that is unfortunate.
for $3 I would buy it.

Hell, it feels clunky compared to most any game that came out between 1990 and 2000.

I have a lot of patience for antiquated controls and inefficient UIs, but dayumn.

 

[ResonanceGames]

It's been a while since I played Redemption, but I do remember liking it. Arcanum is just flat out great, definitely pick that one up.

 

[DoPo]

I wanted Arcanum a long time ago, but the reviews in magazines swore it was tedious with lots of bland lifeless landscape. I'd still get it if I ran across it though.

Well, you're in luck! Right now it's only 3 bucks down from 6 on GOG.com - you can't get a better deal than that. Both about the price and about where you get it from.

Vampire Redemption is a great story that unfortunately suffers from an old and sometimes obtuse and difficult to use control system (point and click adventure game) as well as 2-3 stupid teammates that will run into a room and, as often as not, die leaving you to do everything alone anyway. If they remade the game with bloodline's controls it would be the better game by far since the story is better.

Oh god, don't remind me about the team mates. I usually turn off their AI and leave them behind while I run ahead with Christof. Those guys are fucking imbeciles. "Oh, there are two targets to attack and each of them will die if I hit it three times. Better burn off half of my blood to buff myself for the fight!". Every. Fucking. Time. It's like they'd activate half a dozen Disciplines if they needed to kill a fly. If you do get to control them in the fight, it's fine, but if not - they'll just go and do stupid things.

If you do face a tough fight, then yes, it's OK to leave them on their own...mostly. But the other times, just don't stress them with fights. It makes their brains melt.

 

[thomaskattus]

Buy now!!! You must do eeeeeeeet!

You will not regret it at all.