Released in 2001 for PC, this is a single-player action role-playing game set within a dark, medieval world. Players find themselves in the Valley of Mines, a penal colony where prisoners are tasked with mining magic ore for the kingdom. A magical barrier has been erected, trapping everyone inside and leading to a tense society divided into distinct factions.

Gameplay

The gameplay emphasizes player choice and the consequences of those choices. The core loop involves completing quests, battling various creatures, and developing the protagonist's skills. You can join one of three camps – the Old Camp, the New Camp, or the Swamp Camp – each offering a unique path through the game, complete with different quests, alliances, and specialized skills.

Character Progression

Character progression is tied to finding trainers within the game world. Skill points are earned by completing quests and defeating enemies. These points can be spent to improve attributes, learn combat skills with one-handed or two-handed weapons, bows, and crossbows, or master magical abilities. Mages have the potential to learn up to six circles of magic, while other factions may face limitations on their magical progression.

Environment

The game features an interactive environment where actions have tangible effects. Hunting animals provides raw meat, which can be consumed for healing or cooked to provide increased benefits. You can also engage in activities such as playing musical instruments or stirring soup pots, adding to the immersive nature of the game world.

Skills

The main character completes quests and slays wild animals and monsters to earn skill points, which are used to increase basic attributes, improve skills, and learn trades. These points are spent by finding the appropriate teacher. Several skills have only one "level" (Sneaking, Acrobatics), while the fighting skills (one-handed weapons, two-handed weapons, bows and crossbows) have two proficiency levels. If the Hero chooses to be a Mage (or joins the Swamp Camp), they will be able to learn Circles of Magic; of which there are 6. The main attributes are increased in 1 or 5 point increments, starting at 10 and capping off at 100. The cap can be surpassed with the use of potions.

Interactivity

The game places a special focus on the interactivity of the environment. For example, hunting wild animals can earn the player raw meat. This heals damage and can be sold. However, by using a stove or frying pan, the player may also choose to turn this into grilled meat, which heals much more effectively. Similarly, most of the activities other characters can be seen doing (playing musical instruments, stirring soup pots, urinating etc.) can be done by the main character as well (although with the exception of forging weapons these activities have little bearing on the game).

Factions

You can choose which camp to join, although quests get increasingly linear and the distinctions between different factions wane in the latter parts of the game. The major difference is that Swamp Camp members cannot become mages, because they are limited to 4 magic circles (out of 6). However, they gain access to magic earlier.