Demons Age: Video Review Games

Step-by-step party RPG in the traditions of the old school, inspired THE TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL And Baldur’s Gate, – It seemed that such a game in the present conditions, when “Old School”, which is called, in the trend, there are all chances of at least a local success among the sympathetic public. However, in the face Demons Age We received a rare example of the case when the authors were still overwhelmed with Oldskomul.Even such giants do not deliver special problems.

No chance without options

I already wrote previews on the earlier version Demons Age, But did not say then that the game is made on the desktop OGL 3.5, which is well known and compatible with AD & D. However, all fans of such advanced role mechanics will rather disappointed.

Detailed character generation as it was not in the early version, so no and in full. Only the opportunity to choose a race, having received starting bonuses and fines: half amenities, for example, get +2 to agility and -2 to strength, and dwarves – +2 to the physique and -2 to Harizme. There are also people, elves and their dark conifers. Classes of only five – thief, ranger, cleric, warrior and magician.

No special creative experiments with “pumping” are not provided – at each new level, the main characteristics increase automatically. Plus we can lift them with an equipper. In Preview, I hoped that we would be allowed at least to determine what the ability to learn at the new level, but this was not given in the end – the characters will receive new abilities independently. And if the magicians and clerics really are gradually opening some interesting spells, the soldiers and shooters were clearly sentenced – in addition to the standard attack, they allow them to use the full one, with which two or three blows are happening at once. Generosity, agree, incredible ..

Incoming Party

We begin in the proud loneliness, but then other characters can join the hero. Basically, we buy mercenaries in taverns, which can be reached by global map. Do not wait at the same time some prescribed individuals with your skeletons in the closet, opinions on all occasions and personal quests.Periodically you need to solve simple puzzles to open some door.
Maximum you must take into account their personal preferences in relation to relations to other races. That is, someone, for example, does not like dark elves or considers all half amenities, someone himself comes from goblins and offended when they are killed, and someone in general the pacifist and believes that every life is sacred. And in the first fight, when you see the goblin, it can betray you and move on the side of the enemy. All this must be taken into account, pick up the party so that no one stifies the knife in the back. This is perhaps the only really interesting and in its own way a unique feature Demons Age.

Demons and criminals

Approximately the same level of diversity is waiting for us in the plot. The story is classic for alert – perhaps even too classical. As usual, the demons are trying to break the barriers that contain them from penetration into the world of people, elves and dwarves. And we must stop all this and save all.

An interesting detail here could be the fact that we play for the criminal (or criminal), which was carried on the ship to jail. Then, as usual, the storm began, and our hero was almost the only surviving. Each of the sixteen possible characters you can create at the start, your list of crimes and your punishment. But in the future it does not start in any way – they say, take the first two orders, and we will all forgive you and all will forget.

And went, went – kill King Goblins, then the king of the orcs, then some Lord who made the king and allowed the demons to hurt his mind. Side quests that can be taken on the bulletin board in taverns, also do not differ in diversity – find three necklaces / five pumpkins / two rare ingredients, collect five secret letters and so on.

Walking in full 3D on a global map in Demons Age Also quite boring – there are random clashes, especially frequent, when the party is automatically located with a sunset. But on this, everything is some more interesting meetings, such as merchants or quest characters, no. Take care of the resources, feeding the coarse during the night or about the protection of the camp too.Replicas in the dialogs cannot be chosen.

Magic all stronger!

In fact, all of the above is not so scary if we are talking about adapting the classic desktop module according to the rules of the advanced role system. Yes, linearly, yes, without special delights and moral diles, the plot is concentrated around the battles. Even automatic “pumping” can be forgiven – if you play and fight really interesting. Especially since the competent selection of the party and the equipment here nobody canceled.

However, the problem is that it is interesting to fight and difficult in Demons Age Only at first. Step-by-step battles themselves are not too whims from a tactical point of view. You can move to your turn, apply the skill or spell. Features of the landscape, difference in altitudes, traps, some special conditions when you need to hold out so much moves or protect an important character – there is nothing here.

But seeks the situation of the imbalance. Take in the party of two magicians, and life will immediately improve. All the way, they will use two or three spells that decide the outcome of almost all battles, – to train with poison, to run fiery balls, applying a huge damage in the area, and in time to increase endurance from “tanks”. And all – nothing more needs, all fights turn into a routine.

I will not smash – I passed at the normal level of difficulty. On “suicide”, perhaps in this regard, more and more interesting. But, you see, the game in which all battles are turned into a routine on the “Norm” – it is no longer good.Graphics in the game looks, to put it mildly, outdated.***
Demons Age Could become a real inventory for connoisseurs of classical step-by-step RPG, burned on the stands of the “Oldskul” stands, – without an omnipresent moral choice and spectacular rollers, but with complex tactical battles and interesting “pumping” characters. However, just interesting, variable role and combat systems are not here – everything is too primitive and monotonous.