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Arcanum Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura       

 Gameplay is a mixture of the familiar and the new. Fans of the Fallout series will recognize Tim Cain's touch as project lead for Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura. Fights happen in conventional real-time or turn-based formats, although the later makes battles much more manageable. Travel across Arcanum takes place on a Fallout-styled map, standard fare that works well. The ability to combine found items into powerful weapons through the use of schematics is an example of the features that revolutionize gameplay. There are literally hundreds of magical, technical, and mundane items to aid you, almost to the point of sensory overload.

          With the familiar RPG format comes the usual shortfalls. Rather than a plot with entirely different paths to follow, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura provides different ways to accomplish the same goal. Granted, actions and alignment change the NPC responses, but eventually you still battle the same end boss, be it with magic, technology, or words. The many side quests available add a bit of variety, but distract from the main story. Computer AI is nominally better than similar games, but party members have a tendency to rush headlong into battle, requiring you to rescue them more than a hero should.

          It is worth noting that the Sierra On-Line website message boards are filled with a segment of players who have problems running the game despite meeting system requirements. One note of caution for those with space limitations on the hard drive: the game requires a whopping minimum of 1.2GB of install space. Regular upgrades, updates, designer notes and mod-builder (world editor) information is available at both the developer and publisher sites.

          While gameplay shines with a treasure trove of options and customization, the graphics vary in quality. The urban and sylvan areas are nicely designed locations filled with attractive architecture. Items on the ground, however, may require serious hunting and clicking, especially in the dark dungeons and sewers, but, as in Fallout, they highlight when the cursor finds them. The introductory movie sequence establishes the atmosphere, but later animations are missing. Showing the classic steam engine marvel, the locomotive, pulling away from station the first time would have been worth watching.

           Sounds are fully realized, masterfully combining effects and music. The soundtrack moves appropriately from soothing and haunting to frantic. Gun reports and resonating spells emphasize the battle lines drawn between technology and magic, and growling animals and death squeals seem realistic.

            Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is reminiscent of Shadowrun, full of the adventure and intrigue. New features and a solid storyline should keep even the most veteran players busy for quite sometime. While the game isn't flawless, it surpasses most competitors in the genre, and holds up well in the field of fantasy adventuring.