I didnt watch the full review, but I also replayed it a few years ago and did a review (german only though).I should really replay this one day. Stonekeep along with M&M6 were young me's first cRPGs, but I never really got very far. As far as I remember, it was all somewhat confusing and I didn't have time in those days to really hunker down into a game.
This reviewer *really* doesn't like the game While his criticisms are warranted, it's unfair to look at a game from the 1990's with 2023 QoL glasses.
I didnt watch the full review, but I also replayed it a few years ago and did a review (german only though).
And while I loved it in the 90s, I did apply todays standards judging the game.
It's not like stuff gets worse over time. There are just more games which show how it's done in a better way.
Imho Stonekeep is quite strong for about the first 2/3 of the game, even though the combat is pretty terrible during that time as well (as mentioned in the review).
The last third of the game however, the graphics get worse (the textures for the last area are terrible) the puzzles become worse, and you will now need to do tons of boring fights which take forever.
So my rating with todays standard was only "neutral".
If it's an option for you then...just play the first 2/3 of the game and then drop it
But as mentioned its not like everything which is old is automatically worse now. I am also currently replaying Jagged Alliance 1, which was released around the same time. And that one is still a great game. It had great mechanics back then, and so it still has great mechanics today.
I remember this was at a time when game developers were notorious for rushing out games right before the holiday.The last third of the game however, the graphics get worse (the textures for the last area are terrible) the puzzles become worse, and you will now need to do tons of boring fights which take forever.
Yeah, although here I doubt its the case, because it was reworked over and over and also released several years too late because they were adapting to new tech all the time.I remember this was at a time when game developers were notorious for rushing out games right before the holiday.
I remember this game had a notoriously long development time. Delayed for years. I did enjoy playing it when it was finally released though I was never able to get to the end. What saddens me, is they were working on a sequel, which I was really looking forward to, then it got cancelled. I had hoped that when Brian Fargo left Interplay, he might try to do Stonekeep II again when he felt the time was right.Yeah, although in this case I doubt its the case, because if was reworked over and over and also released several years too late because they were adapting to new tech all the time.
Same goes to the Musical PerformanceHighly recommended amazing game to play!!! Also custcenes are magically good!!
Gnomes group-singing and dancing in best-ever The Bard's Tale PC were waaay more fun! Excellent graphics and glorious narration: aged very well!!Same goes to the Musical Performance
Unfortunately the Humor was the only bit of that game (Bards Tale) which worked well (if thats your type of humor actually)Gnomes group-singing and dancing in best-ever The Bard's Tale PC were waaay more fun! Excellent graphics and glorious narration: aged very well!!
Not really, they were already mocked back then. The issue is that Stonekeep has already been in development for far too long when the game released.Stonekeep is nearly three decades old. The graphics were good for its time.
I never made it to the end. 2/3 is probably right around where I stopped playing for whatever reason. I didn't think the visuals were that bad though, and the game was already quite old when I played it. I probably had lower expectations due to its age.Personally I found them to be ok for the first 2/3 of the game. The last section though with the pinkish walls looks quite horrible.
The FMV Style of the models ofc is also down to taste