Dhruin
SasqWatch
2404.org has kicked up a short review of Eschalon: Book 1. The score is a harsh 5/10 but it's clear from the start the author isn't impressed with the idea of an "old school" game. Here's a snip on coping with the darkness:
More information.The game makes much of light, and combat in dungeons or at night is usually frustrating, as enemies are “partially hidden by darkness,” making it difficult to land a blow. Your character has little choice but to keep at least one hand free to hold a torch; granted, slimes and such might battle in pitch darkness, but it’s rather odd that human enemies don’t seem to care about needing light. Torches are plentiful, at least, though players wishing to use a shield or two-handed weapon will find the preoccupation with light to be most annoying. Merely exploring in darkness is unpleasant as well; turning up the brightness on your monitor will be more rewarding than lighting a torch.