Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny

47%
Game Brain Score Based on 33 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny Game Cover
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Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a faithful adaptation of the classic RPG, featuring turn-based combat and a complex stat system. The game is set in the fantasy world of Aventuria, where players must navigate political intrigue and dangerous monsters to fulfill their quest. With a strong focus on character development and party-based tactics, Blade of Destiny offers a deep and engaging RPG experience.

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Reviews

47%
Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews
story5 positive mentions
graphics6 negative mentions
  • The game offers a nostalgic experience for those who played it in their youth, with an atmospheric soundtrack that evokes childhood memories.
  • It features well-developed character progression and a rich, immersive world that appeals to fans of classic RPGs.
  • Despite its flaws, the game provides a challenging and rewarding experience for hardcore RPG enthusiasts who appreciate detailed mechanics.
  • The game has not aged well, with outdated graphics, awkward controls, and a confusing user interface that can frustrate new players.
  • Many quests are unfinished or lead to dead ends, and numerous bugs can hinder gameplay, making it feel incomplete.
  • The English version suffers from poor music quality and translation issues, detracting from the overall experience.
  • story13 mentions

    The game's story is described as engaging and well-crafted, drawing players into its quest lines, despite many side quests feeling unfinished or leading to dead ends. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and depth of the narrative, others criticize the overall execution and clarity of the quests, making navigation and progression challenging. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a highlight, even if the gameplay mechanics and technical issues detract from the experience.

    • “5 of 5 great story, great gameplay.”
    • “4 of 5 great story, average gameplay.”
    • “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 in a town, you have an area map, you have no idea where to go even if you know the building you are supposed to look for in your quest.”
    • “I can't comment on the quality of the story/quests/etc - the game itself is pretty much unplayable.”
  • music9 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with the atmospheric soundtrack evoking nostalgia for some players, while others criticize the English version's poor quality, particularly its MIDI tracks. In contrast, the German version's CD audio is praised for its charm, leading some players to hack it into the game despite potential bugs and text issues. Overall, the music is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from an otherwise enjoyable experience.

    • “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 crappy MIDI.”
    • “And its MIDI music won't cause you physical pain.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting their lack of appeal to modern players. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and acknowledge that it reflects the standards of the early 90s, others criticize the repetitive visuals and stiff controls. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, but they do not overshadow the game's enjoyable storytelling and exploration elements.

    • “I can recommend this game only to those old-timers who once played it on old computers in the last century; today's youth will hardly like it. Apart from the outdated graphics, the game is not too easy to learn and it takes time to get used to its specific interface.”
    • “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, but the flow of the storytelling is actually the best of this still very fun to play trilogy.”
    • “For any RPG fan who can handle severely outdated graphics, it's a must play.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay in "Star Trail" is praised for being more complete and less frustrating than its predecessor, "Blade of Destiny," featuring a typical grid-based dungeon crawler format with isometric battles. While hardcore and old-school gamers may appreciate the engaging story and unique mechanics, players are advised to have the game manual on hand to fully understand the gameplay elements. Overall, the experience can be challenging, particularly in dungeon exploration.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic soundtrack that evokes childhood memories and captures the essence of early role-playing games. Reviewers highlight its unique ambiance and recommend it for its immersive 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 the immersive atmosphere and advanced role-playing aspects.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of "Star Trail" to be tedious, with combat mechanics feeling outdated and hindered by limitations such as the lack of diagonal attacks. While the storytelling is praised, the overall experience is marred by unmarked skills, poor music quality, and bugs, leading to a sense of frustration during gameplay.

    • “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.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The game features well-developed characters set within an intriguing world, enhancing the overall narrative experience.

    • “Well-developed character development and an interesting world.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is noted for its strong replayability, with players expressing enthusiasm for returning to experience it multiple times.

    • “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 love how each run can be completely different, making me want to dive back in for more.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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