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

Realms of Arkania 1 - Blade of Destiny Classic Game Cover

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 56 reviews

story5 positive mentions

graphics6 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 and effort into understanding its mechanics.

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

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
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 While some appreciate the depth and flow of the storytelling, others criticize the outdated graphics and bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, it appeals to hardcore gamers who enjoy intricate mechanics and are willing to navigate its challenges.
- “5 of 5 great story, great gameplay.”
- “4 of 5 great story, average gameplay.”
- “Hardcore and old-school gamers will likely find it to be an engaging story with mechanics they may not be used to.”
- “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
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
18%
55%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting the early 90s standards with basic visuals and limited color palettes. While some players find the graphics to be a drawback, especially in comparison to modern titles, others appreciate the nostalgic charm and emphasize that the gameplay and storytelling compensate for the visual shortcomings. Overall, those who can overlook the graphics may still find the game enjoyable.
- “This was one of the first PC RPGs with hardcore mechanics and decent graphics.”
- “If you don't mind the graphics, then this game is awesome.”
- “The graphics are basic, but they are without a doubt not the worst feature of the game.”
- “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.”
- “For any RPG fan who can handle severely outdated graphics, it's a must play.”
- “The graphics are basic, but they are without doubt not the worst feature of the game.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The gameplay of this RPG is characterized by its hardcore mechanics and grid-based dungeon crawling, offering a mix of engaging story and complex systems, including a unique character system with both positive and negative stats. While it provides a rich experience for old-school gamers, the game suffers from significant lag issues and can be frustratingly slow to engage with. Players are advised to utilize the game manual for a better understanding of its intricate mechanics.
- “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 can become a huge pain in the neck.”
- “The game lags horribly after just 5-10 minutes of gameplay.”
- “A must with this game is a copy of the game handbook/manual, as it will explain and clarify a vast amount of information with the game and gameplay.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric soundtrack that evokes nostalgia, particularly in the German version, which features charming CD audio. In contrast, the English version is criticized for its poor quality MIDI music, described as "atrocious" and irritating, leading some players to seek modifications to improve their experience. Overall, while the soundtrack can enhance the gameplay for some, it detracts from the experience for others due to its repetitive and low-quality nature.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “You can hack the German version's redbook audio (aka CD) music into the game, and you probably should since it's actually pretty charming.”
- “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.”
- “The English version's music is absolutely atrocious.”
- “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.”
- “Same thing for the unbearably repetitive music loop.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with combat mechanics and unmarked skills contributing to a lack of engagement. While some improvements were noted in the sequel, the overall experience is marred by outdated graphics and bugs, making interactions feel laborious. Despite these issues, the storytelling remains a highlight of the trilogy.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Every interaction is tedious.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic soundtrack that evokes childhood memories and captures the essence of early role-playing games. As the first computer game based on "The Dark Eye," it successfully immerses players in a unique and engaging environment, enhancing the overall role-playing experience.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “Not only is it the very first computer game based on The Dark Eye, but it also comes with that unique atmosphere of early role-playing games.”
- “I highly recommend this game, mainly due to its immersive atmosphere and advanced role-playing aspects.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features well-developed characters that contribute to an engaging and immersive world, enhancing the overall narrative experience.
- “The character development is incredibly well-crafted, allowing players to form deep connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
- “The rich backstories and personal growth of the characters add so much depth to the overall experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users generally agree that the game offers strong replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
- “The game offers endless replayability with its dynamic storylines and multiple endings.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh thanks to the diverse character choices and branching paths.”
- “I keep coming back for more because each run reveals new secrets and challenges.”