Gameplay

Realistic Fighting!

That's right, you heard me. I, Binky, the resident psychotic bitter crank, was impressed with the fighting in this game. Beyond the plethora of fighting options already mentioned - three attack strengths, the ability to dodge and parry, etc - are many nice, obviously thought out touches. Below is a list of just some of the neat things I encountered throughout the one-level demo:

• Not all monsters fight the same: little goblins will scurry around you, then jump on you when you're vulnerable, while huge golems will slowly lumber after you and, if they catch you, stomp on your head.
• Since the golems are slow, getting in a swing or two, then leaping out of the way before they can attack is a very effective move. Try it on those little goblin buggers, though, and you'll find them beating you at your own game.
• Not only are there special moves, but there are special finishing moves - finish an Ogrok with your 2nd most powerful attack while wielding a bladed weapon, and you'll behead him!
• Area spells, such as the one that creates a circle of fire that blasts enemies around you, will expand to limits beyond what you can necessarily see. Sometimes, you'll find a 'bonus' of enemies you didn't even know you'd killed.
• Mages can't take their own medicine! Attacking the magic user that casts fireballs at you with a fireball of your own will wipe him out in one hit. Booyah.
• Not everybody gets along. If a goblin wanders in while you're fighting a golem, there's a good chance that the golem will start attacking him instead. Just hide behind a tree, wait, and collect the loot.

The only annoyance I found in way of fighting was that attacking NPCs (or at least, the barman) has no effect; they don't even notice.

A head for detail

Acrobatics

What about pacifism?

What about it? A bunch of tree-hugging hippie crap, if you ask me. As far as the non-fighting part of the game, well, the demo didn't really showcase much of it. The only exploring there is to do is in the bar, which serves no apparent purpose in the demo. You can talk to the barman to find out about the town and the evil cult attacking it, or you can try and mack on the bodice-clad table-dancer. At least in the demo, though, you don't get very far with her; she leaves you with a promise of, "I'll see you later, sweetie." As for the barman's ramblings, well, the demo is more an example of the game engine than the plot, so you don't get to save the day. Bummer.

One nice thing about the demo is that it casts a glimpse into the awesome variety the game promises. With three different armor types (and five different body coverings per type), a variety of spells, from heal to lightning to charm, a bouquet of weapons both blunt and sharp, you have a lot of choice as to how to play your character. Will he be a magic user, relying on a clumsy hand-held weapon only when his mana is depleted? Or will he be a huge, iron-clad barbarian, swinging a large club and bashing in heads wherever he goes? The choice is yours. And, it would follow, if the game gives you the power of choice, then playing the game would mean that Now, You're Playing With Power.

Take it off!

Nice outfit