New Arc Line

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 179 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • optimization
New Arc Line Game Cover
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In "New Arc Line," players navigate a steampunk-inspired city filled with inequality and corruption, searching for a cure to a family disease. They must rise from the bottom, make tough decisions, and choose their path, whether it be through crafting gear, mastering magic, or using force or charm. However, the game is only available in English during Early Access, with more translations to be added later.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 179 reviews
story40 positive mentions
optimization10 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging steampunk setting combined with magical elements, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Arcanum.
  • The combat system is enjoyable and strategic, allowing for a variety of approaches and skill checks that impact gameplay.
  • The writing and story are compelling, with interesting quests and character interactions that keep players invested.
  • The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and performance problems, particularly in later areas.
  • Character customization options are limited, with only two races and two classes available, which may disappoint players looking for more variety.
  • The inventory management and UI are clunky and need significant improvement to enhance the overall user experience.
  • story92 mentions

    The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing premise and strong world-building, particularly the conflict between technology and magic, which adds depth to the narrative. However, many players express concerns about the execution, citing a confusing prologue, lack of character backstory, and incomplete quests that detract from the overall experience. While the potential for a compelling story is evident, players feel that it requires further development and refinement, especially in terms of dialogue and quest clarity.

    • “The story is fantastic, the idea is great, and it really keeps you interested.”
    • “At the core of New Arc Line is its story, which is deeply personal, but at the same time reflects broader social issues.”
    • “The story and characters right now are great, with some good breadcrumbs set up for later acts.”
    • “I can understand maybe why it was done for the story, but generally the answer just didn't feel like it was the right way to handle it.”
    • “The combat needs a lot of work; the story as it is presented right now is very confusing, and the voiced dialogue doesn't seem complete as of right now.”
    • “Moving through the story is clunky with very few guideposts, and I only discovered that side quests exist by accident about two hours in and have no idea if I even actually finished that quest or if I just wandered off halfway through.”
  • gameplay35 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of classic RPG mechanics reminiscent of titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Arcanum, featuring a unique alignment system between magic and technology that adds depth to player choices. However, the introduction is criticized for being confusing and lacking clarity on mechanics, with some players noting that tooltips are insufficient. While the combat and class systems show promise, the game is still in early access, with many features and content yet to be fully realized, leaving room for improvement in optimization and user experience.

    • “Its world and story are compelling, and its gameplay systems provide a solid foundation for a memorable RPG experience.”
    • “The alignment system between magic and technology adds depth to gameplay and story decisions.”
    • “Combat is a mix of turn-based strategy and RPG mechanics, with unique class abilities keeping things interesting.”
    • “It's a classic RPG for D&D to a degree, which is fine, but honestly, if you wanted my opinion, I would feel better if it went completely classless. During the intro, maybe you would acquire some demo powers or nothing at all since the prologue, if you want to call it that, really never introduced you to any of the mechanics in the game.”
    • “Additionally, its very limited scope in terms of length meant that many gameplay systems did not come into play.”
    • “- Lackluster tooltips that don't explain game mechanics in a comprehensive way (it took me like 9 hours to finally figure out what and where the magic vs technology meter is).”
  • optimization35 mentions

    The game's optimization is currently a significant issue, with frequent crashes, bugs, and performance stuttering reported by players, particularly as playtime increases. While some users noted that performance improved at lower graphics settings, the overall experience remains inconsistent and unpolished, indicating that the game is still in early access and requires substantial technical improvements before its full release. Despite these challenges, many players express optimism for future updates and fixes.

    • “Lots of potential here and I look forward to optimization, bug fixes, and new classes in the future!”
    • “I did run across several bugs and optimization problems; however, I feel confident that the devs will be able to address these issues in the near future.”
    • “The optimization of the game is quite good, taking into account the fact that the game uses Unreal Engine 5.”
    • “It crashed frequently, had numerous bugs, and suffered from poor performance.”
    • “Unfortunately, with its abysmally slow/unstable performance and severe lack of polish, it is definitely nowhere near ready, which is made extra frustrating by the frequency of crashes and terrible load times.”
    • “The worst part was the game started stuttering every 5-10 seconds roughly halfway through play, and didn't stop until right before the end of playable content.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of "New Arc Line" have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique steampunk aesthetic and beautiful world-building, while others criticize technical issues such as stuttering and low frame rates. The art style is often described as captivating and impressive, though some players note that the visuals can be inconsistent and in need of further refinement. Overall, the game showcases a strong artistic vision, but it struggles with performance and polish.

    • “The art style and world-building are top-notch, seamlessly blending the industrial tones of steampunk with the mysticism of arcane magic.”
    • “The world itself is stunning—even for someone like me, who typically doesn't focus much on visuals.”
    • “Visuals are pretty impressive for the price of the game.”
    • “It's extremely rough; the graphics need serious work.”
    • “In the first city on default graphics settings, I was averaging about 50 fps, which is insanely low.”
    • “When it comes to visuals, New Arc Line is about as pretty as it is pretty ugly.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, crashes, and long load times, which detract from the overall experience. Players have reported various glitches affecting movement, keybindings, and quest progression, leading to frustration. While many anticipate that these problems will be addressed before the full release, the game is still considered too unstable to fully enjoy in its current state.

    • “It's buggy; there aren't a ton of character options, and there are ages-long load screens to navigate, but I think most of those issues will be solved before full release.”
    • “Played through the slums after the doctor quest line; no other quests would register. It is way too buggy to enjoy in its current state.”
    • “Update: there's also a pretty annoying bug that hard-locks the game if combat starts while you are in dialogue.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the atmosphere, featuring a mix of melancholic melodies and dynamic battle tracks. However, some players have noted issues with sound balance, making it difficult to hear dialogue over the music, and frustrations with the inability to adjust keybindings or turn off the soundtrack. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, technical glitches and sound design inconsistencies detract from the experience for some players.

    • “The soundtrack stands out for its emotional composition, seamlessly transitioning from melancholic melodies to dynamic battle tracks.”
    • “Cool setting, great potential, and amazing soundtracks.”
    • “Big a+ to the music engineer for this game as well, sometimes you'll encounter live bands or settings with the absolute best ambiance.”
    • “Unless I'm missing something, there is only one sound bar, and I am having an incredibly hard time hearing voices over the music and environmental sounds.”
    • “The story might be good (didn't get that far), but not being able to change keybindings or turn off the music made it far too frustrating to keep going.”
    • “The same inconsistency can be heard in the new arc line’s energetic if repetitive soundtrack and mercurial sound design, which can go from this (*insert cool spell effect sound*) to this (*insert pitiful coal mining sound*).”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its captivating blend of steampunk and fantasy, featuring detailed character models and immersive environments. Reviewers highlight the well-written characters and an engaging story, despite some bugs and incompleteness. Overall, the atmosphere is considered strong, with potential for an epic narrative.

    • “The art direction captures the grimy elegance of the combination of steampunk and fantasy, with detailed character models and atmospheric environments.”
    • “The atmosphere is really nice, the characters are well written, and the story will get epic for sure.”
    • “The steampunk atmosphere is perhaps even better than in Arcanum.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is highly praised, with players noting it elicits genuine laughter, reminiscent of titles like Yakuza. The witty writing and attention to detail contribute to a comedic experience that enhances the overall enjoyment, despite the game's early access status and some bugs that add to the humor.

    • “I don't usually bust out laughing while playing games unless it's Yakuza or Like a Dragon, but this game has had me rolling.”
    • “The writing, the humor, the attention to detail in the game world... it all adds up to a potential grand slam, in my humble opinion.”
    • “A complex, strange, and funny fantasy/steampunk CRPG.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's strong replayability, highlighted by a visible good/evil alignment system that enhances the experience of playing as either a hero or a villain. Additionally, the game's value is reinforced by its length and overall quality, making it a worthwhile investment for multiple playthroughs.

    • “The visible good/evil alignment system, similar to Fable, really brings the hero or villain replayability to life.”
    • “Outstanding price tag, length, and replayability.”
    • “The game lacks a visible good/evil alignment system, which really diminishes the hero or villain replayability.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
    • “The choices you make throughout the game don't significantly alter the outcome, making replaying it feel pointless.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful soundtrack, which features a range of compositions that effectively shift from melancholic melodies to energetic battle themes, enhancing the overall emotional experience.

    • “The soundtrack stands out for its emotional composition, seamlessly transitioning from melancholic melodies to dynamic battle tracks.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
7-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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