Avernum: Escape From the Pit HD - (by Spiderweb Software)

[dannythefool]

Originally Posted by ponyboy

I'm on the fence regarding Avernum. It would be an instant buy for me if the graphics didn't look identical (at least from the screenshots) to Avadon. I'm sure the story and quests are different, but personally I'd prefer unique graphics to keep me engaged.

If you play games for the graphics, Avernum is probably not for you. I've seen some of these tiles and sprites in games over a decade old. This is basically one developer who's been making this kind of game for twenty years for a very specific niche audience. If you're primarily interested in engaging graphics, then you are not in that audience.

Avernum is for you if you like RPGs with a huge world to explore and can live with using your own imagination to make it come alive. If you want and can do that, this game is a very good deal. If you can't, then you'll get bored.

[Yerac8]

Cant wait to start playing this one. I loved Avadon so have been hanging out for more of this type of game.

[ponyboy]

Originally Posted by dannythefool

Avernum is for you if you like RPGs with a huge world to explore and can live with using your own imagination to make it come alive. If you want and can do that, this game is a very good deal. If you can't, then you'll get bored.

Thanks for clarifying what to expect with Avernum. I do like RPGs and the elements that are included (story, leveling, training, especially turn-based combat) but I do prefer when devs change the graphics in new releases. It just overall helps make the experience "new" for me. I played The Quest and expansions through to the end which at about 90% through felt all too familiar. I had to finish to see how the story plays out. I guess my taste in RPG games is changing or maybe I need a break for a while. I am looking forward to Baldur's Gate though.

I'm thinking Avernum is not for me given the hours I invested in Avadon to where it just started getting monotonous. However, I would certainly recommend to gamers with at least some interest in RPGs to give Avadon or Avernum (being similar in scope to Avadon) a shot. The dev really does a nice job with the story and the RPG elements are awesome. I like the D&D-type descriptive captions when entering certain areas too. Really helps get the imaginative fluids flowing.

[jonnycache]

Bought last night without a second thought as A) Avadon was superb and B) this fixes what I disliked most about Avadon which were your party members.

Allowing you to have a full party of four you've chosen yourself is bliss!

[Tuxedosteve]

After the fun I had with Avadon this was an instant purchase for me.

[dannythefool]

Originally Posted by ponyboy

I would certainly recommend to gamers with at least some interest in RPGs to give Avadon or Avernum (being similar in scope to Avadon) a shot.

"Similar in scope" doesn't really do either game justice. Avadon is a modernized, streamlined ARPG that has old-style graphics. Avernum is a classic, complex CRPG, much closer to what RPG fans think of when they say "old school".

[Royce]

Originally Posted by Gabrien

Now, obviously both games are ports, and I've no idea how they fall chronologically as far as their original releases go, or indeed how many others have been churned out with the same cookie cutter.

These aren't really ports. They are Spiderweb's two most recent games, released on iPad around the same time as PC and Mac. Avadon was the first of a completely new trilogy. This game is the first game in the third Avernum trilogy. There was a readworthy short article about the developer a little while ago on joystiq. A community that supports indie devs should definitely be behind this guy, who's been doing it since before it was cool

[icepulse]

Originally Posted by dannythefool

"Similar in scope" doesn't really do either game justice. Avadon is a modernized, streamlined ARPG that has old-style graphics. Avernum is a classic, complex CRPG, much closer to what RPG fans think of when they say "old school".

They use the exact same engine and graphics, and Avadon has a TB combat system.

Are you sure you're not mistaking Avadon for Aralon?

[ponyboy]

Originally Posted by icepulse

They use the exact same engine and graphics, and Avadon has a TB combat system. Are you sure you're not mistaking Avadon for Aralon?

Thanks. I was going to ask the same question. I installed the Avernum demo for the Mac and it plays (to me) exactly like Avadon. The fact that you can create a party up-front is cool and the story is different (still engaging) but everything else seems similar to me.

[Isilel]

Originally Posted by ponyboy

Thanks. I was going to ask the same question. I installed the Avernum demo for the Mac and it plays (to me) exactly like Avadon.

Now, I didn't play Avernum and have only played a bit of Avadon demo on Steam, but the way I have heard it, is that Avernum is a much deeper game, with more choices and consequences, more tactical and challenging combat, more scope, several interweaving narratives, etc.
Avadon is supposed to be "stream-lined" by comparison and indeed the bit of the demo that I have played seemed quite linear, IMHO.

Anyway, personally, I am picking up Avernum as soon as I finally get an iPad of my own. I have always wanted to try a vintage Spiderweb game and iPad seems to be an ideal platform for them.