Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues

"Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues" is a fantasy RPG that offers a rich, immersive world with deep storylines and player choice. Players can explore a fully interactive environment, complete with quests, NPCs, and crafting systems. The game also features a unique multiplayer experience, allowing players to interact and form communities within the game world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,416 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

story46 negative mentions

Deep and complex gameplay with a rich crafting system.
Strong community support and player interaction.
Unique questing system that encourages exploration and conversation with NPCs.

Still in early access with many bugs and performance issues.
Combat system feels clunky and unresponsive.
High costs for housing and items create a pay-to-win atmosphere.

story
426 mentions
9 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story in "Shroud of the Avatar" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its depth and complexity reminiscent of classic RPGs, while others criticize it as disjointed and lacking engagement. Many reviews highlight the quest system as a significant flaw, citing bugs, poor design, and a lack of clear guidance, which detracts from the overall narrative experience. Overall, while there are intriguing elements and potential for a rich story, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to frustration among players seeking a compelling narrative.
- “The graphics and sound design are impressive, and the game features a deep and complex storyline with multiple paths and choices.”
- “The storyline was written in tandem between Tracy Hickman (D&D Dragonlance book series) and Richard Garriott.”
- “This game is very interesting because it intends to completely immerse the player in the storyline; this is not the normal point-and-click, cast-some-spells MMO RPG.”
- “The promise of a player-driven narrative also falters, with disjointed quests and confusing dialogue choices failing to create a captivating story.”
- “Overall it's very expensive to be great, too difficult to move, socially and politically crap, and the story is pure drivel, so just plain garbage overall for a game.”
- “Let me be very clear on this point, I have near 2,000 hours on record playing this game and have completed the main story line twice online and once offline and it is absolutely abysmal.”
graphics
294 mentions
18 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated and inconsistent, often reminiscent of early 2000s titles. While some appreciate the charm and aesthetic quality, others criticize the performance issues, graphical glitches, and lack of polish, suggesting that the visuals do not meet modern standards. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a significant area needing improvement, especially in comparison to contemporary MMORPGs.
- “The graphics are amazingly real to me, not cartoonish.”
- “The graphics are really nice and the servers (knock on wood) seem to be stable 99% of the time.”
- “Graphics 7/10 - it's a beautiful world, the textures and details are of a high standard.”
- “I bought this game when it first came out and it appears to only have gotten worse... performance, graphics, audio... none seem to be consistent. Some models seem out of place, like they were made for a different game, same as textures, sounds, and effects. Especially audio... some sound effects are loud and abrasive and out of place, while others sort of match the environment they're in.”
- “This game is a bloody mess, with no real point, terrible combat, and graphics that are subpar for anything made in the last 20 years. There are a ton of bugs even after all these years.”
- “I know this is early access, but after the absolutely horrid graphics, I had to return this game. Mechanic issues be damned, this game has worse graphics than EverQuest 1, and that game is 17 years old... and more interesting.”
gameplay
228 mentions
16 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Shroud of the Avatar" is a mixed bag, with many players noting its ambitious sandbox mechanics and rich fantasy setting, but also highlighting significant issues such as clunky combat, poor performance, and a lack of polish in various systems. Newcomers may find the complex mechanics overwhelming, while veterans of the genre often express disappointment over the game's depth and the perceived focus on monetization over gameplay quality. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the evolving mechanics and character development options, suggesting that the game has potential if the developers address its numerous shortcomings.
- “Shroud of the Avatar is a unique and ambitious MMORPG that combines a rich fantasy setting with sandbox-style gameplay.”
- “Amazing game mechanics from the overall housing and decoration system to an intricate and customizable combat experience.”
- “Sota is very playable and polished for an early access title despite there being many elements of the game that are either missing or are a work in progress; what is there works well and there are some interesting mechanics and systems that move away from the MMO norm.”
- “The game can be overwhelming and confusing for newcomers, with many complex mechanics and systems to learn.”
- “Glitches, bugs, and performance problems hinder gameplay and immersion, making it difficult to fully engage with the world.”
- “The gameplay is one of the worst in the genre.”
optimization
112 mentions
7 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been a significant point of contention among players, with many reporting persistent performance issues, including stuttering graphics, long load times, and crashes. While some users note recent improvements, particularly for mid-range systems, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, especially for lower-end hardware, and continues to suffer from bugs and inconsistent performance. Despite some quality of life updates, many players feel that the game's optimization is still lacking and needs substantial work to enhance the overall experience.
- “I'm loving the optimization and quality of life improvements that make the game much better without dumbing it down.”
- “There is still a lot of optimizations that need to happen which is the focus of the last two patches in reducing load times and speeding up frame rates.”
- “When you finally understand the basics of crafting, skills, and scenes, you notice that this game, if polished and optimized, is the last MMO I will be playing for a very long time and probably the closest experience you can get of the old typing RPGs and tabletop RPGs nowadays.”
- “Performance is terrible. So much wrong here. Sometimes loading the map for the first time when you load the game will kick you from the server or crash the game. Everywhere you go, whether in an instanced area or on the overland map, there always seems to be some processes in the background constantly doing some kind of serious work, either running calculations of worldly proportions or something, all in the main thread. So you always feel the full brunt of whatever unnecessary thing they are processing.”
- “There are still massive optimization issues, load times, the questing system and journal being broken, Kickstarter features and promises undelivered and broken, along with an offline single-player mode that is an afterthought.”
- “The performance is abysmal; with a high-end machine, you will get nothing better than 25 to 30 fps if you are lucky in a large city.”
music
104 mentions
25 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the extensive music system that allows for player-generated content and social events, creating an engaging atmosphere. While some find the original compositions enchanting and reminiscent of classic titles like Ultima, others criticize the quality of certain tracks and the prevalence of generic player-created music. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, enhancing both the social experience and the immersive world.
- “The music is lovely and quite enchanting and the whole world is beautifully designed.”
- “Right from the start the music and scenery create an enchanting atmosphere that instantly hooks a fantasy fan such as myself.”
- “I love music in real life and to be able to play all these different instruments and with other people is really awesome.”
- “With login music that sounds like something you would hear at a cheesy renaissance faire, to annoying overworld map music of the same woman moaning over and over again, I can't believe I had to turn this music off completely.”
- “The music, graphics, sound effects, combat, the gameplay, performance all terribad.”
- “More over, all music is player generated and I have already heard very generic Magix/Catooh samples in a lot of the player generated music.”
grinding
98 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game is heavily criticized for its excessive grinding, with players noting that much of the gameplay revolves around tedious resource gathering, skill leveling, and crafting that feels more like a chore than an engaging experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic, old-school MMO feel and the social aspects, many find the grind to be uninspired and frustrating, often leading to a lack of rewarding gameplay. Overall, if you enjoy grinding as a core mechanic, this game may appeal to you, but it risks alienating those who prefer a more balanced and varied experience.
- “You might be forgiven for thinking the game has a huge variety of different builds to try out, but in reality, if you're not grinding millions of XP every week, you pretty much have to go magic.”
- “However, if you love grinding thousands of hours in a game only to have them 'nerf' your character build in the name of balancing, then this is the game for you.”
- “Crafting is tedious and much like having a real job.”
- “Grinding for XP and materials will likely seem even more tiresome and unrewarding than expected because most of what you interact with looks and feels uninspired.”
monetization
58 mentions
5 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over its reliance on microtransactions and lack of meaningful content updates. Despite raising significant funds through crowdfunding, players feel that the game prioritizes profit over quality, leading to a perception of it as a poorly executed attempt to exploit nostalgia. Overall, the consensus is that the game's monetization practices detract from the experience and fail to deliver on initial promises.
- “The game feels like a free-to-play mobile game with in-app purchases.”
- “The monetization model is reminiscent of a free-to-play structure, heavily relying on in-app purchases.”
- “The game incorporates a free-to-play approach with various in-app purchase options.”
- “A shameless cash grab, with promises that will never be fulfilled.”
- “This game crowdsourced something like 144 million, and is put to shame by modern free-to-play cash grab games, and their money-making tactics are 'more fair' than anything this game puts out.”
- “I know game companies have to make money to develop games, but everything I see in the newsletters is more cash shop rubbish, no new mechanics or actual game content; it's a pure cash grab.”
stability
54 mentions
7 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay and immersion. Despite some players finding enjoyment and potential in the game, many describe it as feeling unfinished and rushed, with ongoing optimization challenges across various systems. While there are frequent updates aimed at fixing these issues, the overall consensus is that the game remains in a buggy and laggy state, particularly for those on lower-end hardware.
- “The game runs great at maxed out settings on my computer.”
- “Since the game is still in development, do not expect something that is perfectly balanced and bug-free (at the time of writing), but do expect an exceptional crafting system, a great community, and a development team who listen and act on the input of their backers.”
- “Glitches, bugs, and performance problems hinder gameplay and immersion, making it difficult to fully engage with the world.”
- “Current state is a buggy and laggy mess. We are two months away from the supposed 'final wipe' and yet the game is still a laggy, buggy mess.”
- “This game was rushed and released as an unfinished and buggy, boring mess.”
humor
28 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding amusement in NPC dialogue and graphical anomalies. Some users appreciate the absurdity of certain situations, while others highlight the developers' responses and community interactions as particularly funny. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted element to the gameplay experience, despite some technical frustrations.
- “There are other things like NPCs sounding stupid, but I find it funny like in ESO/Skyrim lol.”
- “Be sure to read the comments on Kickstarter... very funny.”
- “And at the moment there are many funny moments too, some intentional and others just due to graphical anomalies.”
character development
24 mentions
8 % positive mentions
79 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its open-ended and classless system, allowing players to customize their characters and master various skills over time, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Morrowind. However, some users note that the character design is limited and the initial gameplay flow could be improved to enhance the overall experience. Despite these critiques, the depth of character progression and the ability to shape one's identity in the game are highlighted as strong points.
- “Gameplay 7/10 - wonderful character development and progression, be who you want to be, choose any skills and practice them to level the skill up.”
- “I have been playing now for just about a full year, and have spent thousands of hours testing and building on character development and social/community building.”
- “Character development is utterly classless.”
- “I can see that there is some promise in the game but boy do they need to get their fingers out and bring some flow to the gameplay in the beginning stages of your character development, skill progression, and crafting skills.”
- “The character development is open-ended; you can master everything if you take the time, but it's no simple feat.”
atmosphere
20 mentions
30 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enchanting music and stunning scenery, which effectively immerse players in a detailed fantasy world. While many areas are noted for their captivating ambiance, some players feel that cities lack atmosphere and can become chaotic due to the prevalence of player-owned housing. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal, fostering a sense of community and engagement among players.
- “Right from the start, the music and scenery create an enchanting atmosphere that instantly hooks a fantasy fan such as myself.”
- “Some areas look fabulous, and nighttime with the lighting is very atmospheric!”
- “However, there's such a level of detail, and such a sense of time and place within the game, that it's easy to get fully enveloped by the atmosphere and the story happening around your character or avatar.”
- “- lack of atmosphere in cities, and utter chaos due to immense amount of player owned housing.”
- “I did start playing it a few months ago, and at first I appreciated the atmosphere and the lack of handholding - you have to figure out things for sure.”
- “However, there's such a level of detail, and such a sense of time and place within the game, that it's easy to get fully enveloped by the atmosphere and the story that is happening around your character or avatar.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Players note significant improvements in replayability due to recent quality of life updates and features, making the game more enjoyable and accessible, even on mid-range systems. The addition of musical instruments adds a unique layer of engagement, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Even in the last few months I was off playing other things, the game is a lot more playable with many quality of life fixes and features added. While not amazing performance, it's been much improved recently and is perfectly playable on a mid-range gaming system.”
- “The game offers a variety of experiences that encourage players to return, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “Even in the last few months I was off playing other things, the game is a lot more playable with many quality of life fixes and features added. While not amazing performance, it's been much improved recently and is perfectly playable on a mid-range gaming system (they are not kidding about the SSD bit, by the way).”
- “But it is way more playable than any game I've played in alpha.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, with users expressing feelings of disappointment and frustration, indicating that the experience left them feeling cheated.