DraSa: Phileasson's Secret - Poor GameStar Review

Sir_Brennus points out the first review of Drakensang: Phileasson's Secret that we've come across, with GameStar handing down a low 55%. The article is German, of course, but a quick Google translation yields a summary that says the addon achieves "no semblance of the quality of the original game".
More information.

Ouch. I guess I will wait until a friend of mine played it and check his opinion.

Some details. The new city offers nothing except nice textures in an ancient egyptian style. The city consists of very few locations, has no sidequests, and one trader who has nothing interesting to offer.

The plot is described as confusing. Most of the game consists of repetitive combat., the new enemies do not feel inspired.

Music and voice acting are described as very satisfying.

This sounds very bad, and if the review trurns out to be accurate, this would mean that Radon Labs' problems very likely had a severe impact on the project. The sad thing is that Philaesson's Secret is probably the last real Drakensang RPG. Who knows what Bigpoint will do with the franchise.

As I understand the reviews it would be okay as a 10 EUR DLC.

Sounds like Radon Labs had to more or less cancel the project.

Yep, for a "Full-Price"-AddOn it's certainly to short.

shit - I already bought it

Originally Posted by Grandor Dragon
The plot is described as confusing.

This is because the reviewers don't know too much about Aventurian history, I assume.

I'll buy it anyway, but unfortunately I can't afford it right now.

I don't know, Alrik - there is also a lot of disappointment in the official forums. Looks like I will pass.

Yes, I'm reading the forum.

But I want the story to be finished, no matter what.

To me as an author, there's nothing or at least few worse than an unfinished story/ending.

The whole German DSA P&P scene seems to fall apart. An editor at Ulisses was fired, 4 others left because they don't like the business path pursued by the publisher, Alveran stops reporting news.

Originally Posted by Gorath
Sounds like Radon Labs had to more or less cancel the project.

I don't like to say it but it sure looks like Radon Labs did not get to finish this addon. It reeks of being rushed out the door as soon as Radon Labs got in financial troubles.

Originally Posted by Alrik Fassbauer
This is because the reviewers don't know too much about Aventurian history, I assume.

Knowing about Aventurian history does not help as Phileassons Secret disregards plenty of it and the entire plot is based on a retcon. So even if you know, you'll still be confused. It also completely gets Phileasson wrong (e.g. Phileasson talks like a Middenrealmian noble and not like a Thorwalian. In the P&P game Phileasson is notorious for breaking propper etiquette due to this).

Originally Posted by Gorath
The whole German DSA P&P scene seems to fall apart.

No just some fanboys crying.

Originally Posted by Gorath
An editor at Ulisses was fired,

No, the guy was a freelancer who was informed that the publisher is not going to have him work on the game anymore, due to the fulltime editors requesting it. Even though the reason for this was not made public, it sounds like creative differences.

Originally Posted by Gorath
4 others left, because they don't like the business path pursued by the publisher

No 2 other freelance editors and 2 freelance authors left because they are close friends of the above ex-freelance-editor.

Originally Posted by Gorath
Alveran stops reporting news

Thats because Alveran is, and has always been run by the above ex-freelance-editor.

Originally Posted by HiddenX
shit - I already bought it

Same here. But I don't really care. Firstly, I think I just want to play this to complete the Drakensang series and secondly even if it sucks really, really bad, well, then I'll just consider my EUR 21.98 as a good-bye gift to Radon Labs for bringing us two awesome DSA games .

@Noctrun : A retcon ? well, there *are* a few things deeply buried within Wiki Aventurica … For example this item was long there before the Add-On was even thought of : http://www.wiki-aventurica.de/index.php?title=Kazak Only that this entry is commonly not very much known.

But since I've not played the game yet, I of course can't say too much abouut it.

@Gorath: Noctrun is basically right about that Alveran stuff. As far as I can see it.
It isn't pretty nevertheless.

Originally Posted by Moriendor
and secondly even if it sucks really, really bad, well, then I'll just consider my EUR 21.98 as a good-bye gift to Radon Labs for bringing us two awesome DSA games .

That's also the way I'm thinking.

Originally Posted by Alrik Fassbauer
@Noctrun : A retcon ? well, there *are* a few things deeply buried within Wiki Aventurica … For example this item was long there before the Add-On was even thought of : http://www.wiki-aventurica.de/index.php?title=Kazak Only that this entry is commonly not very much known.

But since I've not played the game yet, I of course can't say too much abouut it.

Well, I know about it from the old Phileasson P&P campaign and it is a retcon:

Okay … thanks.

I already knew there would be a "Globule", but never having read the Campaign, I had to deduce several things from out of discussions, other publications etc. …