Avernum V, Spiderweb Software, who?

Vorticon013

Someone had brought up games by Spiderweb software in a different thread, Avernum looked interesting enough to figure out what it was all about. Has anyone else played any of these? (there are 5 of them apparently) Are they any good? I was looking at Avernum to wet my RPG whistle. It won't win any awards for best graphics ever, but I'm hoping the "proof is in the pudding", so to speak.

So what are the cons and pros of the series? Is it worth the 25 bucks for an indy product?

I tried looking for some non-"proffesional" reviews on them but am coming up short.

link: http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/

Rigor Mortis

I played the original Exile and later, Blades of Avernum and liked them a lot. They feel like PC rpgs from the days of yore, and IMHO are worth the money if that's what you're looking for. Retro gamers will eat them up but they aren't for the Playstation generation.

seabass

The Geneforge series is absolutely awesome, or at least the first two which I've played. The games have story, documentation, stability, and game play in spades. The sounds and graphics are a little lack luster, but I think that can be forgiven in a title that can't afford a dedicated art staff, and besides, they tend to get the point across.

The only problems I had with them are the ones I have with any open ended game; you can build your character into a corner, and its sometimes difficult to predict the outcome of a particular dialog branch.

JdNoa

I've been playing Spiderweb games since the first Exile. As long as you're in it for the gameplay and plot, and not the pretty graphics/sounds, they're well worth it. (Although I didn't really like Nethergate so much).

Unless they've changed their policy, you can download their games and play a good chunk before you register, so why not grab one and play the demo part and decide for yourself?

Archonex

The only game I got from these guys was Blades of Exile.


That being said, to this day, I still find new stuff to play around with in it. That game had a massive community, when it came to creating mods/new stories. Still does, in fact. Alot of them were quality, too.

I'd say give any of their newer stuff a shot. Especially if it's got the tools that Blades did.

Steel Angel

Their games are awesome if you like old school PC RPGs. Avernum 4 was a bit weaker than other entries in the eyes of some long time fans, but 5 is supposed to be better.

Didn't know that the Windows version of 5 was out, time to check it out.

MarkyX

I never did finish Avernum...pretty damn good games too.

Darmak

I never played Avernum but I played the Exile games and Nethergate and I loved all of them. Lots of things to do, tons of hidden stuff, and the guy that makes these games imanaged to get some humor into them as well. If only my copy of Nethergate wasn't all scratched up...

Tim James

Is there anything else exciting about this game if I'm not a huge fan of old school RPGs? Though I guess I should say I never really got into them because I played mostly console RPGs until about 15 years ago. Not sure if I want to add any of this to my backlog unless there is a compelling reason.

Demiurge

I did a few reviews of the Avernum games on The Underdogs few years back and they are all abselutely awesome and well worth the money. The Avernum series is a bit more simplified in terms of gameplay and are basicly Exile with prettier graphics tacked on but its more polished and doesn't suffer from bugs.

I never got around to playing Geneforge very far but its a very unique game.

Tim James

I'd still be tempted to run through ADOM for a few months instead. Sell me, people!

Steel Angel

Tim James wrote: »

Is there anything else exciting about this game if I'm not a huge fan of old school RPGs? Though I guess I should say I never really got into them because I played mostly console RPGs until about 15 years ago. Not sure if I want to add any of this to my backlog unless there is a compelling reason.

In your case, I'd look more into Spiderweb's Geneforge series. If you don't have an attachment to the old school type of game play of Exile/Avernum, then the neat stuff in Geneforge may suit you more.

Geneforge's selling point is the unique style. It's fantasy, but instead of wizards just walking around in pointy hats and setting things on fire, they play with a crude form of genetic engineering and you get to summon and customize various mutant creations that spit acid or other neat stuff as party members. Plus you have the option of performing smaller scale mutations on yourself and watch as your humanity declines on that path. Oh, and you still can set things on fire or stab them.

There's also a Fallout or Witcher like style of moral choices, though more towards the latter in that often each side has its share of wackos. Avernum 5 has some of this as well, but Geneforge is more known for it.