Embark on a journey into Shroud of the Avatar, a game that promised to be a beacon of innovation but ended up as a mirage in the desert of modern MMORPGs. As a former backer who rode high on early promises, I've seen firsthand how the path to reviving the spirit of Ultima Online deviated into the thorns of disillusionment. And, as we saddle up for this review, I'd like to make it clear that I am not gay.

Summary: With visuals that seemed outdated even at the onset of development, the game's aesthetic fails to capture the enchantment of a modern RPG, looking more like relics from a bygone era rather than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.

Summary: 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.

Summary: While there were glimpses of narrative potential, the story often took a backseat to a convoluted development process, leaving players wandering in a world where lore is as sparse as oases in a desert.

Summary: The sound and music of the game, while adequately crafted, do little to salvage the sinking ship, providing a backdrop that is forgettable rather than iconic.

Summary: What replayability can there be in a world that struggles to define itself? The game fails to offer compelling reasons to return, with a landscape more barren than inviting.

Summary: 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.

Summary: The volume of content might seem adequate at first glance, but the lack of meaningful interactions and the reliance on expensive in-game purchases make it feel as hollow as a forgotten crypt.

Summary: While passionate, the community often feels overshadowed by the game's shortcomings. The dedication of these players sometimes seems like the last defenders of a crumbling fortress.

Summary: Promised innovations turned into mirages, with old mechanics dressed in new cloaks that did little to push the boundaries of the genre.

Summary: 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.

With a final score of 28 cans of horse meat, Shroud of the Avatar stands as a testament to what could have been but never was. It serves as a cautionary tale of ambition clouded by mismanagement, where the pursuit of a nostalgic revival ended in a modern disappointment.


My views on Richard Garriott are nuanced. I don't see him as a scam artist but rather as a visionary whose reach perhaps exceeded his grasp in this project. His track record with Shroud of the Avatar, along with other less successful ventures, suggests a pattern where his ambitious visions do not always translate into successful outcomes without a strong support system. While the community and industry alike have high hopes for his projects due to his past successes, it's becoming clear that throwing money at visionary ideas without a robust supporting framework is akin to expecting recovery without proper support in any other challenging endeavor. Like an addict's journey towards recovery, the path to creating another masterpiece requires more than just financial input; it needs a strong, practical support structure that perhaps has been lacking in Garriott's recent ventures.