Realms of Arkania 2 - Star Trail Classic | Game Brain

Realms of Arkania 2 - Star Trail Classic Game Cover

About

"Realms of Arkania 2 - Star Trail Classic" is the second installment of the acclaimed Realms of Arkania trilogy, based on Germany''s popular pen & paper RPG. The game features a rich fantasy world with elves, dwarves, and orcs, and offers over 70 spells, 50 skills, and 350 types of items. With an autodiary and sophisticated automap, Star Trail was hailed as the best RPG of 1994 by multiple publications for its depth and complexity.

Genres & Tags

Role Playing

Play Modes

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

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 36 reviews

story6 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

A timeless classic with incredible depth and detail, appealing to fans of old-school RPGs.
The game features a rich and engaging story, with well-developed character progression and an atmospheric soundtrack.
Offers a unique and challenging gameplay experience that immerses players in a dynamic world filled with secrets and humor.

The game suffers from outdated mechanics, including cumbersome copy protection for saving and a confusing user interface.
Many players find the game overwhelming and tedious, especially without prior knowledge or nostalgia for the series.
Technical issues and bugs, along with a lack of modern quality-of-life features, make it difficult for new players to enjoy.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The story is generally praised for its depth and engagement, featuring themes of racism, war, and betrayal as players navigate a quest to unite dwarves and elves against an orc invasion. While some players find the narrative compelling, others note that the gameplay can be frustrating due to unclear quest mechanics that may hinder story progression. Overall, the game offers a rich narrative experience, especially for those familiar with the series.
- “This is the second game in the series, where your party must quest to find an artifact to unite the dwarves and elves against an army of orcs.”
- “Aside from the witty dialogue, there is an intriguing storyline revolving around issues such as racism, war, and betrayal.”
- “It has about five multi-level dungeons and five towns (one of which is quite big), each handcrafted with great attention to story detail and puzzles.”
- “If you're playing this through for the first time, I would definitely suggest using a walkthrough as there are many things that can prevent you from completing the story if missed or done incorrectly, which can be frustrating as these cues aren't obvious or even mentioned that they have happened.”
- “The short story is that you create, the hard or easy way, between 1-6 characters (or use the ones provided to you from the game) to travel the countryside in the background of a major invasion by the usual suspects.”
- “The story is a continuation of the first game.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; it appeals to players who enjoy meticulous micromanagement and realism, offering easy card farming, while others find it tedious and aggravating, particularly due to issues like a small window when alt-tabbing. Overall, it caters to a niche audience that appreciates its deliberate pace.
- “This game suffers from the same problems as the first game (the window becomes unbearably small when alt-tabbing), but this one has a feature which makes the game tedious.”
- “If such details sound tedious and aggravating, then pass by this game.”
- “For all people who like RPGs that are deliberately tedious in their micromanagement and realism, this is a must-have played.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, evoking a sense of nostalgia and enhancing the immersive experience of the vibrant world. The combination of beautiful artwork and enchanting melodies contributes to a dynamic environment filled with secrets and mysteries to explore. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements both the gameplay and the setting.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “Great soundtrack and combat system too.”
- “World of Arkania is very alive and dynamic, with beautiful artwork and enchanting music, filled with secrets to uncover and mysteries to reveal.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Gameplay in "Star Trail" is engaging, particularly for hardcore and old-school gamers, though the save mechanic can be frustrating without a proper manual. While it builds on the foundation of its predecessor, it offers refined graphics and gameplay mechanics that enhance the overall experience.
- “Hardcore and old-school gamers will likely find it to be an engaging story with mechanics they may not be used to.”
- “Star Trail follows in the tracks of the original game released two years earlier but is still different in several ways, with the graphics and general gameplay being slightly more refined.”
- “The save mechanic can be annoying, but it isn't a major issue if you have a proper/full copy of the manual (I'm lucky to have the original paper manual).”
- “Star Trail follows in the tracks of the original game released two years earlier, but it is still different in several ways, with the graphics and general gameplay being slightly more refined.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The graphics in "World of Arkania" are praised for their beautiful artwork and dynamic environments, enhancing the overall experience with a lively atmosphere. While the game builds on its predecessor, it features refined visuals that contribute to its charm, making it appealing, especially to younger players.
- “Star Trail follows in the tracks of the original game released two years earlier but is still different in several ways, with the graphics and general gameplay being slightly more refined.”
- “World of Arkania is very alive and dynamic, featuring beautiful artwork and fairy music, with a lot of secrets to uncover and mysteries to reveal.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever humor, featuring witty dialogue and amusing scenarios, such as interactions with prostitutes and quirky pub dances, which enhance the overall entertainment value.
- “This game has incredible detail imbued with a good amount of humor and a large dosage of entertainment.”
- “Some of the dialogue and descriptions are hilarious, such as when interacting with characters in humorous situations, haggling with women selling amulets, or doing the same boring dance in the pub.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmospheric soundtrack effectively evokes a sense of nostalgia, transporting players back to their childhood experiences.
- “The atmospheric soundtrack literally takes you back to childhood.”
- “The game's environment is so immersive that you feel like you're part of a living, breathing world.”
- “Every detail in the scenery contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that lingers long after you stop playing.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development is well-executed, contributing to an engaging and immersive world that enhances the overall gaming 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.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report significant stability issues, particularly during the character creation phase, where unclear instructions and potential bugs hinder progress. Many express frustration over the lack of guidance, leading to confusion about the expected actions within the game.
- “I couldn't get past character creation, and I don't know if it's because it's buggy, if it just breaks when doing things out of order somehow - since the order is unclear - or because there is nothing that lets you know where you're supposed to click. I just can't figure out what the game expects of me.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress. I've lost hours of gameplay due to unexpected shutdowns.”
- “I experienced constant lag and freezing, which ruined the overall experience. Stability is a major issue that needs to be addressed.”