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

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,280 reviews

story114 positive mentions

graphics93 negative mentions

The game offers a rich and deep crafting system that allows players to create a wide variety of items and gear.
The community is one of the best aspects of the game, with many players willing to help newcomers and engage in social events.
The housing system is highly customizable, allowing players to create unique homes and towns.

The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to low frame rates and long loading times, especially in populated areas.
Many quests are buggy and can be difficult to complete, often requiring players to relog or find workarounds.
The combat system is clunky and can feel outdated, with a lack of impact and responsiveness.

story
749 mentions
15 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story in "Shroud of the Avatar" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its potential but criticizing its execution. While some appreciate the depth and moral complexity of certain quests, others find the narrative fragmented, poorly written, and riddled with bugs that hinder progression. Overall, the game offers a sandbox experience with a focus on player-driven storytelling, but many feel that the main storyline lacks coherence and engagement, leaving players frustrated with its current state.
- “The story itself was just awesome too, the lore and background of this world was just so rich and engulfing, I couldn't stay out of it.”
- “The main quest itself is quite nicely done and you're bound to veer off doing completely new tasks, it took me about 6 months to finish the main quest just because I got lost in this world talking to all the other NPCs.”
- “The story is neat and interesting as well.”
- “The quest system is the worst aspect, so those looking for a solo 40-hour story to play through will be disappointed.”
- “The story line after 6 years is the most broken, boring, and childish I have ever seen in a game.”
- “The quests are poor and the combat is not fun at all.”
graphics
466 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, often comparing them unfavorably to modern standards. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and detail in certain textures, others criticize the overall aesthetic as lacking polish and coherence, leading to a disjointed visual experience. Despite ongoing improvements, many players feel that the graphics do not meet the expectations set by contemporary MMORPGs, resulting in a significant divide in player satisfaction regarding visual quality.
- “The graphics and sound design are impressive, and the game features a deep and complex storyline with multiple paths and choices.”
- “The graphics are more than acceptable for a casual romp.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the crafting is great.”
- “With visuals that seemed outdated even at the onset of development, the game's aesthetic fails to capture the enchantment of a modern RPG, looking more like relics from a bygone era rather than pioneering graphics.”
- “The graphics look 15 years behind their time, the FPS is horrible compared to a lot of modern and visually more stunning games, and the player-created towns and villages are empty, dead, or filled with a crazy amount of glittery crap that really takes one's immersion away in an instant.”
- “The graphics are old school, lame by today's standards.”
gameplay
361 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Shroud of the Avatar" has received mixed to negative feedback, with many players citing clunky mechanics, a lack of intuitive design, and technical issues that hinder immersion and enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth of certain systems like crafting and player housing, others find the overall experience disjointed and frustrating, often feeling that the game prioritizes monetization over gameplay quality. Newcomers may struggle with the steep learning curve and outdated mechanics, leading to a perception of the game as a disappointing blend of nostalgia and unfulfilled potential.
- “Shroud of the Avatar is a unique and ambitious MMORPG that combines a rich fantasy setting with a sandbox-style gameplay.”
- “The game plays fine, the world looks really nice, and the mechanics seem deep.”
- “The gameplay mechanics and economy seem to favor MMO mode over single-player mode, offering a unique experience.”
- “Clunky mechanics and a lack of intuitive design make the gameplay feel like navigating a labyrinth with a broken compass.”
- “The promise of a seamless blend of narrative and interaction was lost to gameplay that often felt as disjointed as a poorly rehearsed symphony.”
- “Bad game design and choices that all add up to unnecessary and annoying actual gameplay that becomes unplayable at points.”
optimization
187 mentions
8 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and long loading times, particularly in populated areas. While some users note that performance has improved over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, requiring a powerful system to run adequately. Frequent bugs and a lack of consistent graphical quality further detract from the experience, leading many to express frustration and disappointment.
- “From what I've read, it has been receiving more and more optimizations and has come far from where it was at first, so that's good to see!”
- “The game has been making significant improvements in both performance as well as the amount of new content added in the past few months.”
- “Performance, although it's not where it needs to be yet, is improving with each release.”
- “Even with low expectations, the performance is underwhelming, plagued by bugs and optimization issues that should have been resolved long before the game reached the hands of hopeful players.”
- “The worst optimized game I have ever seen in my entire life.”
- “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.”
grinding
145 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a polarizing topic among players, with many describing it as tedious and overly time-consuming, often feeling like a second job. While some appreciate the nostalgic, old-school grind and find satisfaction in skill advancement and crafting, others criticize the lack of meaningful rewards and the repetitive nature of farming for resources and experience. Overall, the game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, which can be enjoyable for dedicated players but frustrating for those seeking a more casual experience.
- “It is not very grindy, and you do not have to work hard to play casually.”
- “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.”
- “The game only rewards you if you treat it like a second job, ceaselessly grinding the same 3 zones over and over to gain XP just so you have optimal DPS.”
- “The result is an extremely grindy, boring, tedious, and extremely repetitive experience that seems like it's going towards some meaningful endgame but never does.”
- “With a development pace slower than xycraft mod for Minecraft, bugs o' plenty, graphics of a 2009 game, low number of spells, and annoying amounts of grinding just to do a simple thing.”
music
123 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the ability to create and share music using various instruments, while others criticize the repetitive and low-quality soundtrack. Many appreciate the player-generated music system, which allows for social events and performances, but some find the in-game music to be forgettable or even annoying. Overall, while there are highlights in the music experience, it is often overshadowed by technical issues and a lack of variety.
- “The music is lovely and quite enchanting, and the whole world is beautifully designed.”
- “I love music in real life, and to be able to play all these different instruments with other people is really awesome.”
- “The soundtrack is beautifully made and done by fellow players.”
- “The music is appalling in-game, something a dollar store would be ashamed of.”
- “The music is super repetitive; it was nice at first but quickly became annoying.”
- “The graphics, music, and combat are all terrible.”
monetization
99 mentions
2 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
77 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players feeling that the focus on microtransactions undermines the overall experience and community engagement. Despite being marketed as a free-to-play title, the high costs associated with meaningful gameplay elements, such as housing, have left users feeling exploited and disappointed. Overall, the game's reliance on aggressive monetization tactics has alienated its audience and contributed to its decline.
- “The kickstarter was just an attempt to avoid bankruptcy for Portalarium, but they never had any intention of building the buy-to-own, no microtransactions, plot-driven game described there; instead, they've created a real money trading MMO, where prices can go up to $30,000 for golden castles.”
- “Instead of a good game, the focus is on microtransactions to rival the worst in any freemium game and an insane choice of combat system which is so out of sync with the rest of the game.”
- “What truly drove me away, though, was the game's focus on monetization over community building.”
- “This pay-to-build model undermined the core spirit of creating a living, breathing in-game world and felt like a cash grab.”
- “For a game that transitioned to 'free to play', the cost of truly engaging with its world through microtransactions is prohibitively high, offering poor value for the financial and emotional investment required.”
stability
97 mentions
4 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and performance issues, even on high-end systems. Many describe it as buggy and poorly optimized, with significant glitches affecting gameplay and quest functionality. While some players find enjoyment despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial improvements to achieve a stable experience.
- “The game runs great at maxed out settings on my computer.”
- “In general, I will pay for completed games that are bug-free, well done, and fun to play.”
- “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.”
- “Either the game freezes, becomes so slow it is unplayable, or the game does not respond or operate correctly if it does still respond.”
- “It's a buggy, dysfunctional mess and it's a challenge just to get the game to not turn into a slideshow in a town with a lot of placed items.”
- “The developer laid off a good chunk of the staff right after release; the game is buggy, unfinished, and is on life support.”
humor
29 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of decent writing and amusing dialogue, with players finding entertainment in quirky NPC interactions and absurd situations, such as the chaotic nature of player towns and the game's combat mechanics. While some aspects, like character creation and combat, are criticized for being poorly executed, they also contribute to the overall comedic experience. Additionally, the developers' fundraising efforts and community interactions are noted for their humorous undertones, despite instances of censorship and player frustration.
- “Decent writing, with humorous dialogue.”
- “It's funny to go into a town and see notes posted for vacancies.”
- “The combat is hilariously bad.”
atmosphere
26 mentions
31 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its enchanting environments, attention to detail, and immersive sound design that create a captivating experience. However, some users note that certain areas suffer from performance issues and a lack of coherent storytelling, which detracts from the overall ambiance. While the game offers a rich sandbox world with creative freedom, opinions vary on whether it consistently delivers a strong atmospheric presence throughout.
- “I don't care that much for a big player count in this particular game, since I find that it adds to the atmosphere.”
- “Awesome game, huge sandbox world, cool people, beautiful atmosphere - do what you want, build whatever character you want... I don't know of any other current game that gives so much freedom, player-created content, and events.”
- “Right from the start, the music and scenery create an enchanting atmosphere that instantly hooks a fantasy fan such as myself.”
- “Story, atmosphere, and lore seem scarcely apparent in this game.”
- “Unfortunately this game lacks imagination, gameplay, and atmosphere :(”
- “But when you log in to the game, you realize that it has no atmosphere and detail.”
character development
23 mentions
17 % positive mentions
70 % 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 extensively and choose their own skill paths, reminiscent of classic RPGs like Morrowind. However, some users criticize the limited character design options and poor aesthetics, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these design flaws, many find the character progression and crafting systems satisfying and engaging, offering a compelling gameplay experience for those who enjoy deep character development.
- “Great open design, you have amazing control over character development.”
- “Endless options for character development and the ability to play the game as you want, to suit your own style of play.”
- “The character development is open-ended; you can master everything if you take the time, but it's no simple feat.”
- “But if the free-form character development process and mechanics don't keep you, not much else will.”
- “The character design is terrible due to the limited choices in creation and tones of hair and body.”
- “Character development is utterly classless.”
replayability
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is questioned due to its struggle to define itself amidst a crowded market of MMORPGs, with many players finding it lacking in unique mechanics and character customization. However, recent updates have improved its playability, making it more enjoyable than during its alpha phase, though it still falls short of expectations for a game that has been in development since 2014. Overall, while there are improvements, the game faces stiff competition and may not offer enough to keep players returning.
- “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, and whilst not amazing performance, it's been much improved recently and is perfectly playable on a mid-range gaming system.”
- “But it is way more playable than any game I've played in alpha.”
- “It is currently in a much more playable state.”
- “What replayability can there be in a world that struggles to define itself?”
- “There are at least over 5,000 English-language MMORPGs out there presently that are playable, and tens of thousands of roleplaying games to compete with SOTA's experience, many of which have unique worlds, easier to understand mechanics, and greater character build customization.”
- “I understand this is following numerous additions of content, but it should be more playable given this game was kickstarted in January 2014.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely negative, with players expressing feelings of disappointment and heartbreak over its transition to a free-to-play model that prioritizes microtransactions over genuine engagement. Many fans feel a sense of loss regarding the game's legacy, describing it as hollow and lacking the passion that once made it extraordinary. Overall, the emotional investment required feels unreciprocated, leading to a sense of being ripped off.
- “Even so, grouping with them made me feel like a kid brother tagging along.”
- “It's hollow, and sadly, that's heartbreaking for a fan of Ultima.”
- “However: without passion and heart, nothing extraordinary or touching will grow.”