Avadon is a good game, and sadly overshadowed by its older siblings, Avernum and Geneforge. While Avadon cannot match the highs of either of those games, it is still an incredible time. Jeff Vogel's writing is consistently high quality, and the storytelling found in this game is extremely impressive in comparison to the games out there that don't even try to say something interesting.

Your party is full of interesting people, people you can relate to and want to work with. There are several great twists and turns, and I enjoyed most of my time with Avadon.

The issues that I would bring up is that the ending is a little sudden (at least the ending that I got, dunno if there is any secret ones besides the obvious work for Avadon ending or go against it.). It doesn't really even culminate in a final boss fight, even after getting your entire party together for the first and last time in the game.

I would also say that a lot of the combat encounters in the mid to late game felt like padding. I was rarely in any real danger from common enemies, yet they still took some significant time to cut down, I do wish the common rabble were a bit more easily deposed of.

All in all, Avadon is a story worth telling, with fun and memorable characters, and is a pinnacle of the CRPG genre. Spiderweb Software really does provide a very specific experience you can't find anywhere else.

Good, lengthy CRPG.

The storyline is good but this is a very old school RPG which lacks much of the quality of life features. What shines is its good storyline and the moral choices to be made. It is trying to tell you what you see or hear may not always be the whole truth. Anyway i do enjoy it till the last area where all the enemies got haste? Thats a bit ridiculous. I give it a 7/10 rating.

Solid RPG! You're not playing for the graphics or sound but the story, which is really well done.

That said, you can bump up the graphics to 4K using an app called Lossless Scaling on Steam. I set the in-game graphics to 1920 x 1024 and then set Lossless Scaling's Scaling Mode to custom with a scale factor of 2. Looks perfect in 4K.

nice game!

Historically I have never liked CRPG's. I played a few here and there over the years and the current king of CRPG, BGIII. But I did end up refunding BGIII since it was a bit over the top with everyone constantly throwing them self at you PC.

Now review... YAH!

So I watched a GDC talk with the dev of this game talking about indy games ect. I retired a year ago and thought hey, lets make retirement souls like and painful for no reason. Lets Learn c++!

So I got Jeff's games, played it a bit and it is well done and actually fun. You dont need some odd love triangles, combo spells with crates and oil and such.

Take us back to when games were simple and fun again!

Engaging story line and interesting characters. It IS text heavy, but if you like story-rich games then that shouldn't be a problem. Spiderweb software made some my favorite games growing up!

These are some of the best cRPGs out there, along with the Avernum games. These updated versions are probably the way to go, though the original releases are also available. If you like turn based combat without punishing difficulty (or do, with the hard mode) and immersive, well written dialogue and story, and fun but simple art with varied environments and a somewhat open world if segmented, check this out.

Start by buying the first in Avernum or Avadon and go from there - on sale it's like 3 bucks, which is insane for the amount of game you get. 40-50 hours for the main story, plus another play through for the next difficulty or character class, then multiply by 3 for each game. So like 150 hours between one play through of 3 games for ten bucks with a lot of replay value and extra content. Geneforge is also supposed to be good though I havent gotten to it yet - you can build followers our of body parts in that or something lol.

Avernum and Geneforge have wildly unique premises, Avadon original for a classic fantasy story, but more standard than Spiderweb's other games. Avadon you start out a Hand, reliable and devoted soldier/agent of the Pact, and in turn Redbeard of fortress Avadon. But theres crazy stuff going on as soon as you show up, let alone what begins after you assemble a team and enact your duties across the land. Shadowy figures, lies, espionage, among much more. Unique and classic creatures and classes mix together for a very engaging experience even outside the quite solid combat and skill mechanics. Only thing missing is a charisma system I think.

Anyway, this is the longest review I think I have ever written on Steam lol... check it out! It's only 3 bucks for the first game - though you may regret not just buying all 3 in the series, regarding this or Avernum alike.

GOOD LITTLE GAME.

"Avadon: The Black Fortress" is a turn-based role-playing game that immerses players in a world filled with intricate political intrigue and captivating battles. In the game, players control a main character who can be joined by two out of four available companions, and by the end, they can control all five characters simultaneously.

The game features four character classes: warrior (a tank), shadow walker (a damage dealer), mage, and shaman (a summoner who calls animals). Players can choose any class for their main character, while the companions have fixed classes. The class system is standard for RPGs and does not offer any significant surprises.

Achievements in the game are set up in such a way that it is impossible to obtain all of them in a single playthrough due to mutually exclusive conditions. For instance, one achievement requires the successful completion of all quests for additional characters (who must be in the party during these quests), while another mandates playing only with the main character.

Battles in "Avadon" are turn-based and require a tactical approach. They are more challenging than in the Avernum series by the same developers, due to fewer forgiving mistakes and limited possibilities for healing and mana recovery during fights. This adds depth and tension to the gameplay.

The storyline of "Avadon" is more varied than in Avernum, although it remains linear. The game's ending can range from easy to extremely difficult, depending on the player's choices. Loyalty to the leader ensures a simpler ending, while opposing him promises tough challenges.

The game is set in a world where numerous states have united in the Pact, abandoning military actions against each other and committing to defending their lands from external threats. Avadon, a military organization based in the Black Fortress, was created to maintain order within the Pact. The organization strictly controls the actions of the states, magical experiments, and uses any means necessary to enforce order, including the destruction of entire towns.

Avadon's hierarchy includes "Eyes" (spies and scouts), "Hands" (combat force), "Hearts" (thinkers and analysts), and the Keeper of Avadon, the head of the organization. The player starts as a new recruit in the "Hands" and is immediately plunged into a series of crises.

One of the central figures is the current Keeper of Avadon, known as "Redbeard." This stern leader solves problems harshly and always acts from a position of strength. His decisions enhance Avadon's reputation as ruthless rulers, and as the game progresses, players realize that Avadon is more feared than respected.

The game's plot is rich with politics, diplomacy, espionage, and detective elements. The player must unravel numerous crises, understand their causes, and decide whether to leave Avadon as it is, reform it, or destroy the organization. Each choice has its pros and cons, and there is no clear right path.

"Avadon: The Black Fortress" offers an exciting journey through a world filled with intrigue and danger, making it an excellent choice for fans of tactical RPGs.