Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
- March 29, 2022
- Cyberlore Studios
Get on Steam"Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse" is an action-packed role-playing game set in the mystical world of Arabian Nights. As a corsair seeking to restore your family's honor, you'll encounter genies, sorcerers, and other mysterious beings while engaging in fast-paced combat and solving puzzles with the use of magical items. The game offers a condensed role-playing system, making it easy to set up and play.
PC
Windows
Ms Dos
Reviews
- Beautiful Arabian Nights theme with engaging storytelling and worldbuilding.
- Unique gameplay that combines action RPG elements with puzzles and traps, offering a fun experience.
- Nostalgic value for fans of classic D&D games, with a simple yet enjoyable gameplay style.
- The game has aged poorly, with clunky mechanics and lack of modern display support.
- High price tag for an unmodernized title, leading to feelings of nostalgia gouging.
- Difficulty spikes and a steep learning curve at the beginning may deter new players.
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong emphasis on storytelling and worldbuilding, offering a simplified gameplay experience that prioritizes narrative over traditional RPG mechanics. While it presents a compelling adventure, it is noted for being more of a diversion with a straightforward progression through the story. Overall, it stands out as a rare D&D-based title that successfully balances engaging storytelling with accessible gameplay.
“Excellent adventure/RPG; it's one of those rare D&D-based games where the mechanics are toned down to promote story and easy gameplay.”
“It's definitely a game that is heavy on storytelling and worldbuilding, but light on many of the traditional elements that were present in most Western RPGs up to when this was created.”
“The game is great with a good story.”
“It's definitely a game that is heavy on the storytelling and worldbuilding, but light on many of the traditional elements that were present in most western RPGs up to when this was created.”
“Very simple, as I said, really just a (sometimes fairly difficult) diversion as you move from one part of the story to the next.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its excellent blend of adventure and RPG elements, featuring a streamlined mechanics system that enhances storytelling and accessibility, making it a standout in D&D-based games.
“Excellent adventure/RPG; it's one of those rare D&D-based games where the mechanics are toned down to promote story and easy gameplay.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their quality, contributing positively to the overall experience, though some players express a desire for upgrades and additional achievements. Despite some difficulty spikes, the visual presentation remains a strong point, especially in classic titles like Pool of Radiance and Eye of the Beholder.
“The graphics are stunning, and the attention to detail really enhances the overall experience.”
“I would have loved to see a graphic upgrade and achievements, but the games are good enough with the quality of life improvements they added. I'm still happy with my purchase, especially for the original Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds, and Eye of the Beholder series.”
“The visual design is impressive, making the game world feel immersive and engaging.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, running in DOSBox without support for modern display resolutions or a proper 4:3 aspect ratio, resulting in a lack of smooth performance on contemporary gaming PCs.
