Arx Fatalis

Dungeon-crawling, item-trawling fun for Xbox role-players!

Released for the PC last year, Arx Fatalis was Arkane Studios? homage to Ultima Underworld and the golden-oldie days of computer RPGs. Though well reviewed, it was overshadowed by Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights in a terrific year for the genre. Now the Xbox port faces a similar threat.

The preview build of Arx Fatalis is a mixed bag and in need of significant sound and graphics work before the October release. The keyboard full of commands once available to PC gamers just doesn?t fit nicely into the unwieldy Xbox controller, and this creates some frantic, frustrating moments of surfing through menus within menus. Still, the sophisticated interactivity that enables players to create their own potions, forge and repair weapons, and even bake apple pie demonstrates unique potential. Also interesting is the spell-casting system, where rune combinations create magic effects. But with heavy-hitters Fable and Baldur?s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 coming to the Xbox, Arx will be up against stiff competition.

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