Each core category and the auxiliary category Combat also have related
Should Have conditions; the reviewer should make a comment if a sub list item is not fulfilled. Should one or more (SH) not be fulfilled the game is most likely a special CRPG (see Tags) or a CRPG light.
If all (SH) are fulfilled too there's no further discussion necessary -- the game is a true CRPG.
1. Character Development
Describes ways to create, change or enhance your characters in order to increase their effectiveness in the game.
- SC1: You can create your characters. No -- Pick one of 5 classes, enter name, go.
- SC2: Pre-planning is required for character development Yes
- SC3: Tactical use of abilities is required (➙ primary means of problem solving, gameworld interaction and overcoming challenges. The player's physical coordination skills are secondary.) Yes -- Different skills for different purposes, pretty important in later difficulty levels.
2. Exploration
Includes how you can move through the game world, as well as everything you can find, see, manipulate or interact with, like locations, items and other objects.
- SE1: You can find NPCs (➙ non-player characters who you can interact with.) Yes
- SE2: You can choose a path (➙ there is at least some branching.) No -- Depends. In campaign mode, no: You simply move from area to area. In adventure mode: maybe.
- SE3: You can interact with the game world (➙ e.g. you can pull levers, push buttons, open chests, hack computers, ... appropriate to the game's setting) Yes -- There are some levers and stashes.
- SE4: The gameworld can affect your characters' conditions or circumstances such that you have to learn and adapt to overcome these challenges (➙ e.g. weather, traps, closed doors, poisoned areas, ...) Yes -- There can be environmental damage you'd better avoid, like flamethrowers or poisonous blood.
- SE5: Inaccessible areas can be reached due to character enhancements or by solving quests or puzzles (➙ e.g. unlock locked areas, overcome obstacles, repair bridges, dispel barriers, ...) Yes -- Need to get stronger to get past bad buddies (campaign) or unlock later game areas (adventure).
3. Story
Concerns all narrative elements like setting, lore, plot, characters, dialogue, quests, descriptions, storyline(s) and similar, including how you can interact with them.
- SS1: You can interact with information sources (➙ e.g. NPC conversations, riddle statue questions, ...) Yes
- SS2: You can make choices in those interactions. No -- Just click and listen.
- SS3: Some of those choices have consequences. No
- SS4: Thinking is required in order to progress (➙ e.g. irreversible choices, moral dilemma, riddles, ...) No -- Everyone tells you what you need to do.
- SS5: The story is influenced by your decisions and your characters' actions and stats or abilities. No
4. Combat (Meta)
Describes how combat (or more general: conflict resolving) corresponds to elements of Character Development, Exploration and Story.
- SF1: Combat is influenced by character stats or abilities (➙ e.g. amount of damage, chance to hit, weapon access, ...) Yes
- SF2: Combat involves random elements (➙ e.g. game internal dice rolls.) Yes
- SF3: Combat provides some challenge (➙ e.g. requires preparation, use of tactics or environment.) Yes