Idk, Arcanum came out 23 years ago and seems to have more options/controls at first glance. More hotkeys, choose between real time/turn base, better (or more informative) UI.

This demo was just disappointing.

- Terrible optimization. 3080ti and I'm stuttering at ~35 fps?
- Nonexistant QoL features like moving stacks
- Uninformative UI (Where are my MP?)
- Bugs? I started combat, guy had 32/47 health or something like that. I hit him for 17 damage and he dies? Passes out? I don't even know wtf happened there.
- Other bugs. Soul bound two enemies so they share damage. Damage was not shared.
- Immersion breaking lack of freedom & game choices. Why am I finding salmon in every trash bin, and then selling like 6 trash salmon to the local food vendor? Why can't I just blast some prostitutes or bums to practice the combat? Why am I just getting randomly jumped by 3 dudes, no explanation, and there is absolutely no reaction from nearby civilians.
- Only played 5 minutes and already felt so on the rails I wanted to stop. I'm casting spells and getting mage corruption? Granted I don't fully know what it is but like... I just picked a class and it feels like already, that simple choice has me fully strapped in for one specific story/playstyle/outcome.

I was apprehensive about the game since these devs haven't made anything similar. This is a pretty good rough draft, but it's a very rough draft. It's almost like they saw the success of BG3 and decided to reach back in CRPG history to revitalize arcanum, but instead of finishing the assignment for that A+ polish they stopped at C- profits.

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

Only played 5 minutes and already felt so on the rails I wanted to stop. I'm casting spells and getting mage corruption? Granted I don't fully know what it is but like... I just picked a class and it feels like already, that simple choice has me fully strapped in for one specific story/playstyle/outcome.

Did you not watch the cinematic? It explains that magic in this world dangerous and corruptive. One of the main story points seems to be magic and technology interacting in some way to create that magical plague you deal with the consequences of in the demo.

Originally posted by Ammo Donkey:

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

Only played 5 minutes and already felt so on the rails I wanted to stop. I'm casting spells and getting mage corruption? Granted I don't fully know what it is but like... I just picked a class and it feels like already, that simple choice has me fully strapped in for one specific story/playstyle/outcome.

Did you not watch the cinematic? It explains that magic in this world dangerous and corruptive. One of the main story points seems to be magic and technology interacting in some way to create that magical plague you deal with the consequences of in the demo.

Oh, so, really on the rails, just shoehorning the story in and limiting player freedom/experience. Really sounds like you're just reiterating my points in your perspective. You can be story oriented and think of it as a positive. I am not and do not.

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

Oh, so, really on the rails, just shoehorning the story in and limiting player freedom/experience. Really sounds like you're just reiterating my points in your perspective. You can be story oriented and think of it as a positive. I am not and do not.

...it's a demo that's not even 30 minutes long. Your expectations are wildly unrealistic.

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

Oh, so, really on the rails, just shoehorning the story in and limiting player freedom/experience. Really sounds like you're just reiterating my points in your perspective. You can be story oriented and think of it as a positive. I am not and do not.

You have freedom. Sometimes freedom has consequence. That's not "on the rails."

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

Idk, Arcanum came out 23 years ago and seems to have more options/controls at first glance. More hotkeys, choose between real time/turn base, better (or more informative) UI.

This demo was just disappointing.

- Terrible optimization. 3080ti and I'm stuttering at ~35 fps?
- Nonexistant QoL features like moving stacks
- Uninformative UI (Where are my MP?)
- Bugs? I started combat, guy had 32/47 health or something like that. I hit him for 17 damage and he dies? Passes out? I don't even know wtf happened there.
- Other bugs. Soul bound two enemies so they share damage. Damage was not shared.
- Immersion breaking lack of freedom & game choices. Why am I finding salmon in every trash bin, and then selling like 6 trash salmon to the local food vendor? Why can't I just blast some prostitutes or bums to practice the combat? Why am I just getting randomly jumped by 3 dudes, no explanation, and there is absolutely no reaction from nearby civilians.
- Only played 5 minutes and already felt so on the rails I wanted to stop. I'm casting spells and getting mage corruption? Granted I don't fully know what it is but like... I just picked a class and it feels like already, that simple choice has me fully strapped in for one specific story/playstyle/outcome.

I was apprehensive about the game since these devs haven't made anything similar. This is a pretty good rough draft, but it's a very rough draft. It's almost like they saw the success of BG3 and decided to reach back in CRPG history to revitalize arcanum, but instead of finishing the assignment for that A+ polish they stopped at C- profits.

I think the demo has issues but overall this game has promise, but thats me Im a nobody

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

This is a pretty good rough draft, but it's a very rough draft.

Originally posted by Aliceskysareblue:

I think the demo has issues but overall this game has promise, but thats me Im a nobody

It does but that's what I'm saying, I'm skeptical of this dev team to deliver. And Arcanum was my first so it's going to be like existentially insulting to me that they don't get it "right" (read: my opinion of right)

Arcanum's world building was phenomenal. This feels more like a parasite that's latched on, and I wish people would be way more critical of that rather than handing over their hard earned money to someone because they half-assed a game with popular ideas in the wake of a major game studio revitilizing the genre. I want people to think, critically, about my criticisms, about their own, and realize higher standards for themselves. Demand a quality product.

I'd reserve judgement until this game (New Arc Line) reaches live/full release. Arcanum itself was full of bugs on release and many were never fixed (RIP Troika). It was also notable for having some of the most broken combat mechanics (Harm is/was forever the best attack spell). Turn-base action points based on speed (lol, haste, tempus fugit + max dex and you' have 40-80 APs depending on equipment). The game also permitted a dummy pure melee-dodge build that in such a combination, a player in turn-base mode could kill any enemy before they even took action.

But Arcanum itself was definitely full of amazing stories and characters that we may never see again combined in one game. The only "rail" Arcanum puts the player was forcing the zeppelin crash start and always ending in the void to confront the true villain. Also, anyone who has played Arcanum knows the player as the "living one" (sure doesn't sound as good as good as the "Chosen one").

Granted, I must say storytelling and world building hasn't been a strong suit for many RPGs, but likely has to do with the fact older players have seen enough that most modern stuff seem like cliche or rehashes of past tales.

I'm following the game, if it is any good, I'll definitely pick it up eventually.

It certainly looks promising.

Idk, I played and loved Arcanum and a number of other cRPGs, also loved Disco Elysium. I believe there is a game out there that is similar to both. I have to say I like the atmosphere and the graphics/looks of the Demo and the Illustrations are nice.

However the Demo itself is a little... how shall I say... limited, poorly explained, and well you are just 'thrown into it', which isnt nessecarily bad if done right, but it did seem weird that in far too many cases you are very limited in your Dialogue options, which in my opinion alongside the story is the meat and potatoes of a good RPGs (granted, a good combat/magic/crafting system is the seasoning and side-dishes, but still!).

I have seen a video recently that claimed that this game would be/could be Arcanum's spiritual successor, however other than that it is indeed a Steampunk setting I am not getting too much of that truth be told.

In Arcanum, you could dabble in both magic and technology and be a jack-of-all trades. To excel you had to specialise in one or the other. High magical aptitude would interfere with technology skills and vice versa. It was a pretty open system. As others have noted, you could create an overpowered character or end up with a poor build if not careful.

I doubt the demo would run on my system but I'm pleased to see a new game inspired by Arcanum!

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

You are doing fine as a pillar, stay strong!

Edit: If you think this game is a cash in on BG3 you need to share some of those drugs.

Also, the build number is .12d ...

Originally posted by Babbles:

Originally posted by Fx3.髭男:

You are doing fine as a pillar, stay strong!

Edit: If you think this game is a cash in on BG3 you need to share some of those drugs.

Also, the build number is .12d ...

I’m just saying it’s a possibility, and that it helps to keep an open, critical mindset.

But you clearly have a hill to die on so… get on with it, thanks.

I never played it back in the day, and I don't have enough interest to getting it up and running properly and dealing with the older mind set of how games functioned through UI and other aspects.
That's not me saying it's garbage, from what I've viewed of videos covering it it seems like it genuinely tried to try some unique ideas that are rarely tried in most any other rpg game. Props to them for that.
I just have a hard time going back to older games I never played back in the day is all. I tried at one point, but I just wasn't feeling it. I do hope New Arc Line can hit a good line with all these things and be enjoyable for similar reasons to Arcanum.

Arcanum is probably my favorite RPG of all time. I put so many hours into the incredible world Troika built. I can still remember almost the entire game almost 20 years later. I'm definitely a day one purchaser here because of that.

Will it live up to that? Probably not, but it sure looks like it did a decent job based on the videos I've seen so far.

Here's to hoping.