Arx Fatalis - Gameplay Footage @ Matt Chat

In Matt Chat #303 Matt Barton looks back at the classic Dungeon Crawler Arx Fatalis:

Ever heard of Arx Fatalis? It's a great CRPG, but don't feel bad if you don't remember it—you were probably too busy with Morrowind or Neverwinter Nights to notice it! The good news is that it's not too late to enjoy it today! It holds up surprisingly well for a 2002 game, especially if you install the right patches. Just don't forget to douse it with wine first!!!

More information.

I'm still waiting for Arx Fatalis 2…

I disagree with Matt that it got overshadowed. Perhaps in terms of mainstream interest and pure sales, but those who can see through the shadows, saw it well enough and knew of its excellence. Also, most keen RPG fans would have played all of the games he mentioned in the opening.

I do think it's a pity that Bethesda has Arkane studios working on Dishonoured 2 rather than working on a sequel to this great underrated game. I also wonder if Raphael Colontonio is still keen on the idea? I certainly hope so.

Once we see Otherside Entertainment return to the mantle of this specific type of RPG experience with Underworld Ascendant, perhaps then we'll see if it inspires other companies to follow suit.

I'm still slowly making my way through Arx (for the fourth time since 2003!) with the Arx Libertatis mod. Its humor and unique atmosphere and dungeon exploration (those crypts!) remains quite captivating. Plus the continuation of the Ultima Underworld traditions is very welcome.

i really want to like this game but the spell mouse stuff really turned me off.

I liked the game a lot, but I felt it got sort of boring around half-way through. Never felt it lived up to UU, but maybe that was just me.

Originally Posted by HiddenX
I'm still waiting for Arx Fatalis 2…

Most likely never coming….didn't they move on to dishonored?

Originally Posted by cptbarkey
i really want to like this game but the spell mouse stuff really turned me off.

I didn't really like the mouse/spell mechanic either. So I played a warrior type which steeply reduces the need to deal with magic (though you have to do magic in certain parts but mostly I was able to ignore magic).

Arx Libertatis makes signing spells easy. It was the only way I could get them to work.

Hmm, I didn't have any difficulty with casting the spells with some practice. It's a little clunky and awkward sometimes to hold "control" at first so that you can save them, but after awhile it became second nature. Casting in a pickle with a Ylside on your tail tho' can be awkward at the best of times.

All three archetypes are valid characters; (warrior, thief, mage) though I probably had the most fun with my stealth build. Hybridizing to some degree is also kind of inevitable.

Originally Posted by Pessimeister
All three archetypes are valid characters; (warrior, thief, mage) though I probably had the most fun with my stealth build. Hybridizing to some degree is also kind of inevitable.

I definitely hybridized a little too much when I played Arx, because I remember a lot of my skills (like lockpicking) were too low level-wise to be of much use. My one major complaint about the game was how low the level-cap was.

Not saying I wanted to be a jack of all trades, but a few more levels to flesh out certain skills would have been nice.

I played a warrior/mage hybrid just fine, iirc. It was fun, I liked the story and setting (dying sun, everything is underground, if you try to leave, you take MASSIVE cold damage). A sequel would've been great. I really wanted there to be actual Dwarves on the lower levels….