Avernum 4
- May 11, 2012
- Spiderweb Software
- 9h median play time
Get on SteamAvernum 4 is a fantasy role-playing game where players delve into the underground world of Avernum. Assemble a party of up to eight characters, choosing from 11 distinct classes and a variety of skills and spells. Explore vast caves, treacherous forests, and ruined cities while battling dangerous monsters in turn-based combat. Solve quests, help the needy, and uncover the fate of a dying land.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Avernum 4 offers a rich and engaging story that continues the legacy of the series, with well-developed characters and a vast world to explore.
- The game features classic turn-based combat and a deep character customization system, appealing to fans of old-school RPGs.
- Despite its technical issues, many players find the game enjoyable and rewarding, with a significant amount of content and quests to complete.
- The game suffers from severe performance issues on modern machines, including lag, low resolution, and sluggish mouse controls, making it difficult to recommend.
- Many players feel that the combat mechanics are outdated and repetitive, leading to a less engaging experience compared to previous titles in the series.
- The lack of quality-of-life improvements and clarity in quest tracking can lead to frustration, especially for newcomers to the Avernum series.
- story92 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Avernum IV is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its continuation of the series and rich writing, despite some criticisms regarding its pacing and the familiarity of the villain. While some find the storytelling weaker compared to previous installments, the game offers a vast world and engaging quests that can immerse players for over 100 hours. However, issues with quest clarity and a more linear plot progression have been noted, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
“All this stuff aside - this game is worth it for the story alone.”
“The story is a great continuation of the rest of the Avernum series!”
“A solid RPG experience with a huge world to explore, plenty of quests and side quests, and of course a rich story.”
“8.5/10 RPG, a bit lackluster at the end with the side quests and storytelling.”
“Story quests and side quests are not well marked.”
“In fact, the main quest and central plot of the game aren't really revealed until around 30-40 hours in.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as old-school and rudimentary, reminiscent of 90s RPGs, which may deter some players. However, many reviewers appreciate that the game compensates for its simplistic visuals with a vast map and engaging story, emphasizing that immersive gameplay can thrive without high-end graphics. Overall, while the graphics may not appeal to everyone, fans of classic RPGs may find the aesthetic charming and fitting for the genre.
“An old-school RPG that proves it doesn't need 'ultra high detailed' graphics to create an immersive atmosphere.”
“Do not automatically be driven off by the rudimentary graphics; this is a very enjoyable game!”
“Avernum is an old school isometric RPG that makes up for its graphics in its vast map and enjoyable story, which involves exploring the underground caverns where the empire has exiled many of its people.”
“I love the game so much, even with its simple graphics; yet, I can't recommend it.”
“If you really like old-school RPGs with graphics from the 90s similar to Ultima 6 and co, this might be your game; otherwise, avoid!”
“Subpar graphics (none really)”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by outdated mechanics that may frustrate players accustomed to modern RPGs, lacking many quality-of-life improvements found in recent remakes. While the battle system can be straightforward and occasionally challenging, it ultimately feels like the weakest entry in the Avernum series. Despite these drawbacks, the story remains engaging, and players may find enjoyment in the world and its narrative.
“It lacks a lot of the quality of life improvements from the remakes of the first three games, but once you get used to the older systems, the gameplay holds up and the story is great as usual.”
“I definitely enjoyed the mechanics of this, the world, and the story.”
“Solid gameplay length, good story, battles can be quite difficult.”
“After 9 hours of gameplay, it takes 10-15 minutes before the lag creeps up again.”
“By far the weakest of the Avernum series, using outdated mechanics (the old 'you must have 5 action points to attack/cast spells' rule from as far back as Geneforge 1, which was later abandoned for obvious reasons), not containing other mechanics that are rather important (i.e. being able to press A, B, C, D, E, F, G, etc. to target spells or missile attacks), and more.”
“While the gameplay may not compare to the RPGs of late, there are a few fights that are genuinely tricky.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting severe performance issues such as constant stuttering, forced low resolution, and laggy mouse input, making it unplayable on modern PCs. Conversely, a few users found the game surprisingly optimized, indicating a disparity in experiences. Overall, the optimization appears to be a significant concern for many players.
“Surprisingly optimized.”
“Performance is beyond awful; even with the fixes for mouse lag you can find on the forums, which only partially work.”
“However, the performance is abysmal on a modern PC.”
“Constant stuttering, a forced 1024x768 (16-bit color) resolution, and an extremely laggy mouse input make it so I cannot recommend this to anybody.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly reliant on repetitive tasks, particularly during the lengthy tutorial phase. The Avernum series caters to a niche audience that appreciates its less visually appealing but more labor-intensive gameplay, which may not appeal to everyone.
“At first, I was annoyed by how tedious the game was: the tutorial is a long list of 'click this' 'click that' explanations in relation to doing simple commands.”
“The Avernum games are definitely not going to please everyone, and they are targeted towards people who are okay with playing a much less visually appealing, much more tedious Skyrim.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive quality, demonstrating that high-end graphics are not necessary to create a captivating experience. This old-school RPG effectively engages players through its nostalgic design and storytelling.
“An old-school RPG that proves you don't need ultra high detailed graphics to create an immersive atmosphere.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is frequently compared to a Napalm Death song, suggesting it features intense, aggressive, and possibly chaotic elements that resonate strongly with players. This comparison highlights the game's ability to create a powerful auditory experience that enhances the overall atmosphere.
“The Napalm Death song of games.”
“The Napalm Death song of games.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be somewhat buggy, indicating that players may experience occasional stability issues.
“The game is a little buggy.”
“The game is a little buggy.”
“The game is a little buggy.”
