AoD is one of the best RPGs I've played.

[Coocoodas]

Starting with Fallout 1, I've been playing many RPGs, and AOD is no doubt the best among those.


What is a RPG about? To me it's all about immersion and role-playing. A cyber experience that is realistic and plausible for me to play the role of a character, pondering over each decision and carefully navigating the world as if it were real.


There is a strong ongoing trend of casualization in RPG and qualities I seek in RPG have long disappeared for many years. Most of so called AAA RPGs have an abhorrent level of writing, flashy but shallow characters with no depth, plots that are either childish to the point of cringeworthy level or that contradicts itself within the game, an extreme hand holding and accommodations to let gamers do whatever the hell they want even if it is going for the final boss at level 1. For that reason, Mass Effect2&3, Dragon Age 2, and (especially) Skyrim didn't have an appeal to me.


I can't get much immersion from an ancient evil hellbent on world domination, prophecies of the chosen one(which always happens to be you), and a superhero main character who can do everything at his/her whim without so much as a minor setback as a consequence.


To make an analogy of these settings in real life, it would be as if there were an evil alien invasion to conquer earth, second coming of Jesus(which happens to be me, by the way), and I having an sexual intercourse with every woman I lay my eyes on and winning every lottery I purchase. Does that make sense? No, that's plain ridiculous. Then why should we be treated as such in video games? I know it's a fiction, but give me a plausible one that I can actually believe and immerse myself in.


I don't want an ancient evil without a plausible explanation. I don't want every female character to sleep with me when I click a dialogue with a heart icon on it. I don't want to be the stupid chosen one foretold by prophecy. I don't want to be a superhuman capable of miracles. I don't want characters that speak as if they were in a elementary school theatricals(go away Skyrim).


I want villains to have reasons for their actions and act smart. I want everyone with brain to have their own agenda instead of being a decoration to the grand journey of the main character. I fully expect character to deceive and backstab me should they see my vulnerability or weakness, and I don't expect a divine punishment that magically leads those who wronged me to my path so I can reclaim the stolen money. If I've been tricked and they ran away, so be it. I want factions to have more interactions without player's intervention. I want choices to matter. I want the game to smack me full in the face if I make wrong decisions and I want situations sometimes presented without obvious answers.


Where most RPGs failed to do these, AOD did all of these perfectly and more.


On top of being the ideal RPG I dreamed of, the game adds brutal and realistic combat, multiple ways to solve quests, meaningful skill checks that far surpasses what was shown in Fallout 1,2 and New Vegas, great plot variations.


AOD is the single best game in terms of plot diversity; there is not a game that comes even close; neither Alpha protocol, the Witcher, DA, or ME. It opens up role-playing possibilities to the level never seen in other games before.


I can see how much effort has been put for the 12 years of the development and in that respect this game is unique; I don't know if I will see a game like AOD again.

The only grudge I have against this game is the long development time. I do not like dungeon crawlers so I am not really looking forward to the sequel. It may take another 10 years for the folks at the Iron Tower Studio to produce something of AOD calibre, or perhaps never if the game doesn't sell better. It makes me sad that a hidden diamond such as AOD is not recognized by broader audience. This is a game that should sell at least half a million copies since there must be millions of hardcore RPG fans around the world. Iron Tower will most likely remain indie considering the sales figure revealed in the post release update, and I am truly sad that I won't have another experience like AOD for many years even if Iron Tower keeps making great games.


For those who enjoyed the game like me, you should try Expeditions:Conquistador. It provides a similar experience to AOD although AOD is much deeper and diverse.




Is it just me or is there anyone who shares my sentiment?


I will say it one more time: Age of Decadence is the greatest RPG ever among over 100 RPGs I've played in lifetime; it's even better than games that I loved and enjoyed such as Fallout 2, Baldur's Gate 2, Planescape:Torment, Arcanum, Vampire:Masquerade, Neverwinter Nights Mask of the Betrayer, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, The Witcher, Skyrim, Wasteland 2, Divinity Original Sin, and many more.

[Axa]

Originalmente postado por Coocoodas:

I want villains to have reasons for their actions and act smart. I want everyone with brain to have their own agenda instead of being a decoration to the grand journey of the main character. I fully expect character to deceive and backstab me should they see my vulnerability or weakness, and I don't expect a divine punishment that magically leads those who wronged me to my path so I can reclaim the stolen money. If I've been tricked and they ran away, so be it. I want factions to have more interactions without player's intervention. I want choices to matter. I want the game to smack me full in the face if I make wrong decisions and I want situations sometimes presented without obvious answers.

Well said.

Originalmente postado por screeg:

I can't understand how the writing for all the AAA games is so widely praised, when even compared to an everyday fantasy novel it's predictable dreck.

Why use your imagination when you can use what's worked and sold before?

One day there'll be a game about vampire elves having romances with zombie dwarves + ancient prophecy + a world that can only be saved from utter destruction by bringing a wizard his slippers.

[MrSean]

Three thumbs up.
You should create an ez mode though and award 2x skill points and 8 more stat points for newbies.

[Lexxx20]

Originalmente postado por MrSean:

Three thumbs up.
You should create an ez mode though and award 2x skill points and 8 more stat points for newbies.

Nope, bad idea, IMHO. This game shouldn't be easy on newbies. Just like its setting it's merciless and unforgiving.

[screeg]

Originalmente postado por Lexxx20:

Nope, bad idea, IMHO. This game shouldn't be easy on newbies. Just like its setting it's merciless and unforgiving.

I don't think the game or the devs would be out anything if an Easy mode was released three months from now. It could act as a sort of re-release for the feeble and uncommitted.

[Lexxx20]

Originalmente postado por screeg:

Originalmente postado por Lexxx20:

Nope, bad idea, IMHO. This game shouldn't be easy on newbies. Just like its setting it's merciless and unforgiving.

I don't think the game or the devs would be out anything if an Easy mode was released three months from now. It could act as a sort of re-release for the feeble and uncommitted.

I'm pretty sure they wont do it. It's against their philosophy of game design. Do you really think feeble and uncommitted would play this?..

[screeg]

Originalmente postado por Lexxx20:

I'm pretty sure they wont do it. It's against their philosophy of game design. Do you really think feeble and uncommitted would play this?..

Obviously I think that. They're playing it right now, then complaining about the difficulty, when the difficulty (by way of Skill Point distribution) has already been scaled down several times.

I just want the game to do well. They've made the game they wanted to make already, and once they've reached their primary audience and sales fall off, why not open it up to the less-hardcore? I'm not going to call them 'casuals' because even Easy mode for this game would still be Nightmare for Wasteland 2. "Oh my god, my guy died! If I wait awhile, he's going to get up again, right?"

[Maze]

I'm no graphics @$##% but I admit, that was what turned me off about this game. For most of my gaming life, I have always preached graphics isn't everything, but it holds some kind of weight. If a game is fairly decent with good emphasis on gameplay, then I'll try it. I really am all about the gameplay, and I do have a liking to RPGs. And from what I've read here in steam forums and some comments from review sites, many seem to truly praise this game as the ultimate RPG that's a breath of fresh air. Key points that intrigues me is how choices matter.All I can think about is how disappointing it was to play some previous games where choices and consequences was supposedly their strong points (Walking Dead / Life is Strange / Mass Effect), but end up being fooled one way or another. Another is stats and buffs that really affect combat as you would expect it to.

I won't sit here and tell you my experience in past RPGs, as I don't have a long list like some of you. But as I said, if the game is really good in terms of content, game mechanics, and decision making that truly affect my character and others around him, then I'm all for it.

I will try the demo and see if I like it enough to get the full game. Next would be to try the game and hope to be immersed into the story/content as many of you have.

I stream as well. I might want to stream AoD if I do get the game. That is if Iron Tower doesn't mind me doing so. I always try to stream games that are forgotten, underrated or hidden gems.

[screeg]

Originalmente postado por MAzing87:

I stream as well. I might want to stream AoD if I do get the game. That is if Iron Tower doesn't mind me doing so. I always try to stream games that are forgotten, underrated or hidden gems.

Devs have already stated they have no problem with streaming. I can't really understand why the devs for any game would.

[Vince]

Confirmed: no problem with streaming.

[Maze]

Originalmente postado por screeg:

Originalmente postado por MAzing87:

I stream as well. I might want to stream AoD if I do get the game. That is if Iron Tower doesn't mind me doing so. I always try to stream games that are forgotten, underrated or hidden gems.

Devs have already stated they have no problem with streaming. I can't really understand why the devs for any game would.

I had to agree to some disclaimer with Ubi for the open beta..not to stream it. So I gotta always ask.

Originalmente postado por Vince:

Confirmed: no problem with streaming.

Thanks for the blessing. I will download the demo momentarily.

[Takkik]

Hi.
Since a long time I wonder why develope a RPG with 3d or even 2d isometric engine, when most people are here for enjoying the story/choices/RP aspect? Personaly I play game like Fallout 1&2 with hight int/cha so the game play like a choose you're own adventure game with tactical combats some time.

AoD, and it's not a complaint, have an aged 3d look, like fallout & co got dated visuals at their time. Wouldn't be better to just concentrate on text and good 2d illustrations only?

A 2d topdown map is enought for combat + 2d token for characters. The only 3D that is really an added value is in the character sheet, so you can see your char with his stuff on it. But even this can be handle in 2D (ultima 7).

Vince, if you could go back in time with you're actual experience, will you still choose the same approch?

[Vince]

Yes. We picked 3D for one simple reasons - it allowed us to make the game of the highest quality (for a small team without a budget). I know that our visuals won't win any awards but I assure you that 2D or crude illustrations would have looked far worse.

A game that relies on illustrations (and have the same scope as AoD) must have hundreds of illustrations. We couldn't afford it. Still can't (talking about future games).

[timmo4444]

bought this the other day, and i was minutes away from hitting refund, and suddenly the game clicked for me and im hooked. I look at the game as interactive fiction, and its more fun with less combat.

[Lexxx20]

Originalmente postado por timmo4444:

bought this the other day, and i was minutes away from hitting refund, and suddenly the game clicked for me and im hooked. I look at the game as interactive fiction, and its more fun with less combat.

Combat is insanely good though. You just need to learn it for a bit. Try different styles and combinations.

[attiladafun]

Hey Vince, I wrote several reviews and read some of the negative ones. The only thing that I think had a point is the ending seems a little anticlimactic and can be improved. I don't think you should change the stories but is it possible to have a screenshot of your characters in game outcomes? Or even a short animation? I imagine a legionaire marching in a line, a mercenary standing as the arena champion, an assassin stabbing his next victim, a questor on the throne of Ganezzar, a drifter traveling with a caravan, etc.
And it doesn't have to be dependant on your class, just where you ended up with your story line ending. I think a folder that collects ending screenshots might appeal to more visual players as a satisfying ending.