Realms of Arkania 1 - Blade of Destiny Classic | Game Brain

About

"Realms of Arkania 1 - Blade of Destiny Classic" is a role-playing game that follows the journey of a party of adventurers in the fantasy world of Aventuria. Players will engage in turn-based combat, explore various landscapes, and interact with characters to uncover the fate of a missing artifact, the Blade of Destiny. This classic game is a faithful recreation of the original, with updated graphics and UI for modern systems.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Realms of Arkania 1 - Blade of Destiny Classic screenshot

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews

story10 positive mentions

graphics12 negative mentions

Realms of Arkania 1 offers a deep and complex RPG experience that appeals to hardcore fans of the genre, especially those familiar with early RPG mechanics.
The game features a rich character creation system with multiple classes and attributes, allowing for significant customization and strategic gameplay.
Despite its age, the game retains a unique charm and atmosphere that can be rewarding for players willing to invest time in understanding its mechanics.

The game has aged poorly, with clunky controls, a confusing user interface, and repetitive graphics that can make navigation frustrating.
Many players find the game overly difficult and punishing, with a steep learning curve that can deter newcomers to the genre.
The English version suffers from poor audio quality and translation issues, detracting from the overall experience.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The game's story is described as engaging yet flawed, with many players noting unfinished side quests and a lack of clear direction, which can lead to confusion. While some appreciate the storytelling flow and consider it a cult classic, others criticize the outdated graphics and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, the narrative seems to resonate well with hardcore gamers, despite its simplicity and the challenges it presents.
- “5 of 5 great story great game-play.”
- “4 of 5 great story average game-play.”
- “A nice combat system dragged down by the lack of diagonal attacks, city and dungeon graphics that were already outdated by the time of its original release, a large number of unmarked useless skills and spells, bad music quality in the English version, and some tedious bugs in certain dungeons lower the fun a little (or require looking for mods and other fixes), but the flow of the storytelling is actually the best of this still very fun to play trilogy.”
- “You'll be drawn into quest lines that never actually start or go anywhere.”
- “You are first plopped in a temple with a full party but without any kind of introduction about your goals or background story or anything else than a random guy's conquests and death in the 5 minutes long but extremely slowly presented introduction slideshow after a totally irrelevant and long-ish credits list.”
- “I can't comment to the quality of the story/quests/etc - the game itself is pretty much unplayable.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
31%
55%
The graphics of this RPG are considered outdated, reflecting the standards of early 90s gaming, with basic visuals and limited color palettes that may deter some players. Despite these shortcomings, many reviewers emphasize that the game's engaging mechanics and storytelling can still provide an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate retro aesthetics. Overall, while the graphics are not a strong point, they are not seen as the primary issue with the game.
- “This was one of the first PC RPGs with hardcore mechanics and decent graphics.”
- “The graphics are basic, but they are without doubt not the worst feature of the game.”
- “If you don't mind the graphics, then this game is awesome.”
- “A nice combat system dragged down by the lack of diagonal attacks, city and dungeon graphics that were already outdated by the time of its original release, a large number of unmarked useless skills and spells, bad music quality in the English version, and some tedious bugs in certain dungeons lower the fun a little (or require looking for mods and other fixes), but the flow of the storytelling is actually the best of this still very fun to play trilogy.”
- “For any RPG friend who can handle severely outdated graphics, it's a must play.”
- “The game is very rough around the edges with stiff controls, repetitive graphics, and micro-management; and yet the world of Aventuria is fun to explore.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The gameplay of this RPG is characterized by its hardcore mechanics and grid-based dungeon crawling, featuring isometric battles that may frustrate some players. While it offers a unique character system with both positive and negative stats affecting gameplay, the experience can be hindered by significant lag and the need for a comprehensive manual to navigate its complexities. Overall, it appeals to hardcore and old-school gamers, though it may not be as polished as contemporaries like the Ultima series.
- “While I enjoyed Blade of Destiny and getting up to speed on the Dark Eye's mechanics, Star Trail is simply more complete and less frustrating.”
- “Hardcore and old-school gamers will likely find it to be an engaging story with mechanics they may not be used to.”
- “Roa uses an unusual character system where you don't just get 7 positive stats (strength, dexterity, wisdom, etc.), but also 7 negative stats (superstition, claustrophobia, curiosity, acrophobia, avarice, necrophobia, violent temper), all with direct effects on gameplay.”
- “A simple dungeon exploration (the main gameplay is pretty much a typical grid-based dungeon crawler with isometric battles, which isn't the most common thing to see in the genre) can become a huge pain in the neck.”
- “Can't even get to the actual gameplay.”
- “- the game lags horribly after just 5-10 minutes of gameplay.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric soundtrack that evokes nostalgia, particularly in the German CD version, which features charming redbook audio. In contrast, the English version is criticized for its poor quality MIDI music, described as "atrocious" and repetitive, leading some players to seek out hacks to replace it with the German audio despite potential gameplay issues. Overall, while the soundtrack can enhance the experience, the quality disparity between versions significantly impacts player enjoyment.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “German CD version had absolutely brilliant CDDA music, while the English CD version was exactly the same as the floppy one and only had mediocre MIDI.”
- “And its MIDI music won't cause you physical pain.”
- “The English version's music is absolutely atrocious.”
- “Same thing for the unbearably repetitive music loop.”
- “The music skips and overall the whole computer seems to lag from the game.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive combat and the need to farm cards, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some issues have been addressed in the sequel, the outdated graphics and unmarked skills contribute to a frustrating experience. Despite these drawbacks, the storytelling remains a highlight of the trilogy.
- “Every interaction is tedious.”
- “A nice combat system dragged down by the lack of diagonal attacks, city and dungeon graphics that were already outdated by the time of its original release, a large number of unmarked useless skills and spells, bad music quality in the English version, and some tedious bugs in certain dungeons lower the fun a little (or require looking for mods and other fixes).”
- “Having played Star Trail for a few hours, I'm glad to say that many of these issues, and plenty of ones I didn't even get around to, like the tedious combat (but it's not era-inappropriate), were addressed for the sequel.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic soundtrack that evokes childhood memories, reminiscent of early role-playing games. As the first computer game based on "The Dark Eye," it successfully captures a unique ambiance that enhances the overall experience, making it a recommended title for fans of the genre.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “Not only is it the very first computer game based on 'The Dark Eye', it also comes with that unique atmosphere of the early role-playing games.”
- “I recommend this game very much, mainly due to the whole atmosphere and advanced role-playing aspects.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is praised for being well-crafted, contributing to an engaging and immersive world. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the characters, enhancing their overall experience.
- “Well-developed character development and an interesting world.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is noted for its strong replayability, with multiple users affirming that it offers engaging experiences that encourage players to return.
- “The game offers endless replayability with its dynamic choices and multiple endings.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of paths and strategies you can explore.”
- “I love how each run can be completely different, making me want to dive back in for more.”

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