I have been playing Nethergate Resurrection and it is a much better game than the first one. There are a number of improvements. The Romans are definitely a lot more conqueror types than they were before. Right now, I just finished the demo section with them. It is not the graphics which are great but the variety of every day items is really incredible and well done. I'd say it is considerably better than Avernum 4. The combat is much smoother. The best part is the amount of hidden sections in the game. You really have to go over the map with a fine tooth comb to find everything.

I hope there is a decent amount of hidden stuff in Eschalon. I kind of like wall bumping to find things. It is the little tricks like bread in the oven or the goblins saying "Not humans again" that often makes Spiderweb's games good.

From what I've gathered from the screen shots and comments from BasiliskWrangler, I think there will be lots of that kind of thing.

I, too am enjoying the new, improved Nethergate. I am playing Celt on my laptop and Roman on my big computer (Mac G4). I've heard there a couple of hidden dungeons (sort of Easter eggs) hidden somewhere too.

Right now I'm killing time by playing a cute little hack&slash game for the Mac called: "Dinky Dungeon". It's in Beta version at this time, their trying to get all the bugs out and creator is taking comments from the players to find them. 6 magic pearls have been stolen and you have to find them to save the kingdom, along with a few side things to find, like people and objects. 50 level dungeon with really, really bad guys at set levels (somewhat like Angband). I've managed to get down to level 14 so far. If you die and you want to continue, you loose half your gold and half of your food. Food is VITAL, it replaces lost hit points, besides potions and scrolls to help you too. It's okay for its type but I'd much rather be playing Escalon!

I like the Spiderweb games, but the only turn off for me is that all things come down to combat. Is this the same is this game? Are there any alternatives to combat?

I have played through quite a bit of Avernum 4, a good game but again....all combat.....

This thing is even more combat oriented than the other Spiderweb Games. There is a lot of hidden stuff as well. Romans are almost completely melee, and the celts use magic.

Darn, not sure I will get it. I don't mind alot of combat, its just that there is no other options presented, so its gets old after a while for me.

I will keep playing Realms of Arkania STar Trail until Eschalon comes out.

I just dug out Divine Divinity, but Star Trail would be great. Any problem playing it on WinXP? I seem to recall a game-stopping bug towards the end, but maybe that was Win98.

I was recently looking up the Arkania games and found myself quoted in an old Shadows of Riva walkthrough. Blast from the past.

Not sure it will run in XP. I use Dosbox and it runs fine with that, or at least it has so far. Hope I dont hit a game stopping bug later on.

So I tried the Nethergate demo that came out recently. Just couldn't get in to it. The art direction is terrible, the gameplay dull and the graphics completely lack interest.
Perhaps I expected more from it, but it seemed a bit goofy rather than taking advantage of a rich subject matter.

Is this in comparison to other spiderweb games? Did you play Avernum 4?

I think I have similar taste in games to you Gallifrey and respect your opinions so was wondering if you had played the other games......I have not decided yet if I want to get Nethergate.....free demo though......

No, it's not in comparison to any other Spiderweb games, which I have never played. I've certainly looked at them, but they just never interested me, which was why I was curious about Nethergate. The subject matter is appealing, and Spiderweb has a great reputation, so I thought if any Spiderweb game would catch me, it'd be this one.



Thanks
As I said, there's something about the Spiderweb games that have just never appealed to me, usually the art direction, but the settings themselves just didn't pique my interest.

Gotcha, thanks Gallifrey. I enjoy the spiderweb games but there are 2 main things that usually keeps me from finishing them. I have played Avernum, Avernum 4 and Geneforge all only a portion of the way through.

The main reasons being I dont like that there is no animations for characters and NPC's in the game. Graphics are not everything to me, actually they dont matter that much, but im real surpised they have not added some animations by now. The other gripe is as I said before about the combat, its basically clear one area out after another, with pretty generic kill stuff quests....so I usually get bored after playing for a day or 2.

Yeah, I'm with you on the lack of animations thing. I don't need amazing graphics, but I do like a good art style, and I do like movement animations. If I'm not going to have a game that gives the impression of being alive, I'd rather play tabletop games with miniatures that at least look good.

From what I played of the Nethergate demo, it does suffer from the clear one area, move to next and so on, so I suspect it may not be the game for you, either.

The format could work if the story were stronger or taken more seriously, but it just isn't. There's an indie gamed called Tudogar & The Alliance With Rome which is very rough and clearly indie, but the subject matter is much stronger and the overall gameplay better.

Interesting, I have seen Tuedogar before but dont recall playing it. Im gonna check it out. Is that the Ultima VII engine?

You know, I'm not sure what it's built on. I think you're right, though.