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The first in a planned trilogy, Eschelon is definitely old- school RPG style at its finest. Released by Basilik Games, it is definitely a worthy choice for the old-school RPG addict who lives to explore dark, dreary dungeons , fend off evil creatures, discover treasure, and combine elements to form potent potions. Think NES Ultima or Might and Magic, but with the better graphics and sound of today.

Game Play 3/5

Movement around the world takes some getting used to as it can be kind of clunky at times. After that, it becomes easier to navigate this interesting world. It can be a little frustrating to try to open treasure chests or barrels by repeatedly pressing certain keys however you are always well rewarded. The introduction explains things quite well and extra hint and tips menus can be accessed for even more assistance. The bird's eye view didn't always allow for a good enough look, leaving me often to wonder if I had missed anything.

Sound 4/5

A beautiful musical score lured me in. The background song fit the medieval time period perfectly. The creatures sounded OK as well, with their growls and snarls.

Graphics 3.5/5

A stunning introduction that gave way to an earlier type of RPG left me feeling a little nostalgic for "Zelda" and NES "Final Fantasy," and forced me to score up. Of course, Eschalon: Book One has farsuperior graphics to both of those. No square blocky shapes here! It is also clear and usually easy to see. The world is very detailed with flickering dungeons, dense forests, and a ransacked village that was nicely arranged and organized.

Creativity 4/5

The well written intro story has me wondering what comes next but the non linear aspect of this game gives me creative leave to wander where I want. The character creation screen was really entertaining as you had to "roll" the dice to choose his attributes. The turn based game play isn't anything new in itself, however, the options the character eventually gains to finish off a creature makes it particularly enticing. Dabbling in alchemy is a fun and interesting perk of the game as well.

Innovation -4/5

The menu design is the unusual and truly innovative feature of the game. Creating a character was quite fun and I was hoping for more than one person in my party just so I could play around with the system a little more. The player chooses where the character is from, religious beliefs, and occupation. There are 8 attributes that "Rolling" the on-screen dice automatically assigns points to for characteristics like strength, intelligence, and dexterity on a 7 - 14 scale as well as supplying bonus modifiers. Choosing from 24 interesting special skills even the arming and clothing of the character was unique and challenging. It is really important to spend time on the character since Eschalon: Book One doesn't adjust itself to how you play so it is up to you to make the most of what you have and plan your character accordingly.

OVERALL 4/5
I did not originally care for the game at first glance. But, something about the game drew me back and made me want to try again. The key is to spend time customizing the character and getting a feel for the controls before diving head first into battle. As an RPG on its own, I really dig the old school styling and am ready for more. I highly suggest it to anyone who likes to leisurely explore big worlds and fight battles with a nod to the past. It is not for the graphics junkie. I intend to purchase Eschalon: Book One and am looking forward to the sequel!

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