Jarrett Riddle of True PC Gaming published the next review I found for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls this month. He didn't give the game a score but recommends buying it.

With a price tag of $19.99, Avernum 2: Crystal Souls provides more entertainment than most $60 games. Though I’ve played at least 32 hours, I still have many more obstacles to overcome before I see the end of the game.  Every person, every conversation, and every detail contains the heart and soul of the developer. I would most definitely pay full price for this title. If you are still on the fence, I reccomend downloading the demo from the Spiderweb site.

Spiderweb Software announced today that Avernum 2: Crystal Souls will release on the iPad on April 15th. Here are the details from the press release.

Avernum 2 HD Coming to iPad April 15th

A beloved classic's mobile makeover!

March 16^th, 2015 – Spiderweb Software, makers of the Avernum, Geneforge, and Avadon series, are bringing the second chapter of the hit Avernum saga to mobile devices. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic fantasy tale in an enormous, war-torn underworld. It is an acclaimed indie retro role-playing adventure, with 93% positive reviews on Steam and an 81% Metacritic score.  Find out more at their website at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/ .

The end has come. Years ago, your people were imprisoned in the underworld, doomed to end their lives in the darkness. Then that was not enough. Your captors have invaded your caves, determined to kill you all. They are winning the war.

The surface world is commanded by the tyrannical Empire, the eternal power that controls all known lands. Everyone who spoke out, misbehaved, or didn’t fit in was cast into the dark, volcanic pits of Avernum, far below the surface. They were meant to die. Instead, these exiles survived, gained power, and struck back. They assassinated the lord of the Empire.

Now the Empire will have revenge. They have invaded Avernum, seizing cave after cave and destroying your people. Your land needs a hero, and it needs it now. If you can’t find a way to stop them, and soon, you are all doomed. 
Screenshots and more information are available at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic fantasy role-playing adventure in a unique, massive world, full of strange caves, cunning dungeons, and the alien inhabitants of the underworld. Fight to complete up to three game-winning quests. Explore a massive nation of tunnels and caverns, seeking over 100 towns and dungeons. Master over 60 spells and battle disciplines and hunt for hundreds of magical artifacts. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is a total, ground-up rewrite of the award-winning indie hit Avernum 2.

Avernum 2 is a Pay Once & Play game. Enjoy the whole thing with no in-app purchases. It will be available on iPad devices Apr 15, with the Mac and PC versions already available at on their website at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/   or on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/337850/.

Digitally Downloaded published a new review this week for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. The reviewer gave the game a final score of 4/5 , and called it an excellent title.

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an excellent title that really serves to remind RPG fans what matters most. This is a throwback title with visuals that likely will not appeal to everyone, but if you have never had a chance to journey through Crystal Souls, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. If like me, you just enjoy a quality story and a few dozen hours spent exploring and battling through turn-based combat, then Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is worth coming back to as well.

Chalgyr's Game Room has the latest review I could find this month for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, and the reviewer gave the game a very good score of 9.5/10.

I did not know how much it is that I missed the classic roleplaying game style; the isometric 2D models that are well animated, the massive world and sprawling dungeons, the sheer number of skills and spells to master, everything about Avernum 2 screams triple-A title out of a small indie game studio. When I dove into Avernum I was transported into a rich world of terror and complacency, joy and sadness, justice and injustice, and best of all, a world full of real people struggling with real issues in a fantasy land where oppression is the norm. While the graphics will appeal to the older generation, the sheer storytelling and gameplay mechanics can bring in new players and introduce them to the golden age of CRPG games. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is without a doubt, the best computer roleplaying game I have played in years, if not in over a decade.

Staff member Fluent posted a new video preview of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls.

Hello folks! In this episode, we check out the first 40 minutes or so of the indie CRPG - Avernum 2: Crystal Souls!

Avernum 2 is a game made by Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, and is an indie RPG. The game takes place in the underground empire of Avernum, and features some open-world type mechanics, customizable party members and full-on tactical, turn-based combat. It's a very slick combination of classic, traditional and old-school mechanics that makes for a very interesting game to play.

I take it for a spin (blindly) and play the first 40 minutes of the tutorial. If you like this game, please support the devs and pick up Avernum 2: Crystal Souls for Mr. Vogel's own website here - http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/index...

As always, I hope you enjoy the video and please comment/like/subscribe for more! Ciao!

He also needs your help to fund future videos on his Patreon Page.

Here are two more reviews for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls I missed this week.

Game Industry News - 4/5

The bottom line for a remake like this is that Exile was a fun game to play, especially for lovers of deep RPGs, but it never worked quite right on modern computers. It doesn’t hurt that Crystal Souls was arguably the best title story-wise of the series. As such Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is also fun to play since it’s basically Exile in a brand new shell but with the same heart. It will of course appeal to people who played Exile many years ago, but you don’t need that experience to enjoy Avernum. All that is required is a love of those old school, deep dungeon diving experiences of the past – now made new again and ready to impress former players and a new generation alike.

Softpedia - 7.5/10

Overall, it's among the best indie role-playing game experiences ever crafted, and if low-fi visuals and reading don't scare you, it's well worth the purchase, especially since there is just so much content to enjoy, as well as added value through replayability.

Dealspwn has the next review this week for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, and the reviewer gave the game a final score of 8/10. Here is a short sample why he did.

The Short Version: Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an enormous, expansive and peerlessly written RPG that succeeds both on the strength of its world and its innovative campaign structure. So long as you're willing to read and exercise a little imagination, that is. Spiderweb have refined their winning formula over the last two decades and the result is pure roleplaying quality.

Michael Anderson of Geardiary known as txa1265 on our forum posted a new review for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. If you have any questions I'm sure he will answer them.

Long-time fans of the RPG genre have certainly seen branching elements in games pruned significantly through the years. It has been explicitly stated by game company executives that it is simply too expensive to produce the assets required for a number of branches that will never be used. As a result you see what I call ‘phantom branching’ in many AAA RPGs – small things that look like significant choices but that all lead back to the same point and use the same core set of assets.

I had commented on the first Avadon game that I felt constrained, and in the sequel felt much less constrained … but as a comparison I referred to the Avernum and Geneforge games. Obviously there are times when you essentially ‘run out’ of quests because the game is pushing you to the next chapter, but in general the game feels open to allow you to make the choices you want for your party throughout.

I have to say that it is a breath of fresh air that you truly make changes and choices in Avernum 2. There are three different and distinct endings, and you can explore any of all of them. It is a wonderful experience to see the world change as you explore and make decisions, and as you make more and more choices in one direction or the other they add up, your reputation is altered and the world before you subtly shifts. It is wonderful to have a game so focused on your experience as a gamer.

GameWatcher has the first review that I can find this month for Jeff Vogel's latest remake Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, and the site gave the game a positive 8.5/10.

Although much of Crystal Souls that deserves praise is a product of the close-knit development team and cohesive vision, this inevitably gives rise to its own problems. The absence of a substantial budget to finance extensive playtesting ensures that the game doesn’t always run smoothly – on more than one occasion, Crystal Souls crashed my computer on the title screen. Additionally, there were two instances in which an irreversible bug would take me to my inventory every time I attempted to open a door, forcing me to load up a previous save and repeat the section again. Luckily, the difficulty can be dropped down on the fly to alleviate some of the frustration.

Nevertheless, these technological hiccups – try as they might – couldn’t taint an otherwise rewarding journey through the divided lands of Avernum. For those who are already fans of the series, I’d suggest Crystal Souls is an essential purchase. For those none the wiser to Spiderweb Software’s extensive back catalogue, there’s no better time to join the fight.

 Jeff Vogel posted a new blog post with his thoughts on Avernum 2: Crystal Souls.

We have just released our newest game. It's Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. It is a huge indie RPG for Windows and Mac (iPad coming soon), on Steam, GoG.com, Humble Store, and our own website. You know.

It came out yesterday and early sales are very strong. Thank you, kind customers!

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is, like half of what we do, a rewrite. This particular story is arguably the one loved most by our fans. (Avernum 3 is the other contender) The previous incarnation, Avernum 2, came out way, WAY back in 2000, so I am utterly unapologetic about releasing a rewrite.

My main goals when doing these rewrites is to respect and maintain what made people love them in the first place. This is made so much more important by the fact that I can't write new games like this anymore.

Less than 24 hours in our new RPG already sold over 2000 copies. A big deal for a tiny company like ours. THANK YOU!

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is now available for download if you already per-ordered the game, or you can purchase the game now on Steam, or GOG.

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic, indie fantasy role-playing adventure in a unique, massive world, full of strange caves, cunning dungeons, and the alien inhabitants of the underworld. Fight to complete up to three game-winning quests. Explore a massive nation of tunnels and caverns, seeking over 100 towns and dungeons.

By now most of you probably know about Avernum 2: Crystal Souls getting released this month, but here is the official statement form Spiderweb Software .

Avernum 2 Launches Jan 14th for Win & Mac

Famed RPG coming to Steam, GOG, Apple, Humble Store, and direct from SpiderwebSoftware.com

Jan 12^th, 2015 – Spiderweb Software is excited to announce the second game in the Avernum series, the retelling of the classic Exile franchise from 1996. More information is available at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/ or the Steam page at http://store.steampowered.com/app/337850.

The end has come. Years ago, your people were imprisoned in the underworld, doomed to end their lives in the darkness. Then that was not enough. Your captors have invaded your caves, determined to kill you all. They are winning the war.

Spiderweb Software, Inc. announced today their return to their epic Avernum saga, to continue the story of the underworld Avernites and the war against their oppressors. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is the second chapter in this indie fantasy role-playing saga, a tale of desperate exiles and their battle for survival and a land to call their own.

The surface world is commanded by the tyrannical Empire, the eternal power that controls all known lands. Everyone who spoke out, misbehaved, or didn’t fit in was cast into the dark, volcanic pits of Avernum, far below the surface. They were meant to die. Instead, these exiles survived, gained power, and struck back. They assassinated the lord of the Empire.

Now the Empire will have revenge. They have invaded Avernum, seizing cave after cave and destroying your people. Your land needs a hero, and it needs it now. If you can’t find a way to stop them, and soon, you are all doomed.

Kordanor once again notified of me an update for the release date for Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. According to a tweet form Spiderweb Software it's now Mid -January.

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls should be out in mid-January. That's the plan, anyway.

Thanks to Kordanor we now have an update on the release of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. It was supposed to be December, but the website now says January 2015.

Windows and Mac Release Dates are now listed as January. Later in 2015 a iPad Version will follow.

Jeff Vogel has a new post on his blog that tackles the recent outrage of his raising the price of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls to $20 instead of the usual $10 price point.

He also talks about the new reality of game development.

We have finally announced our next new game. It's Avernum 2: Crystal Souls. It's a complete, ground-up rewrite of Avernum 2, which came out in 2000. It, in turn, was a rewrite of Exile 2: Crystal Souls, which came out in 1996. We at Spiderweb Software are about nothing if not integrity.

You can see a trailer and other info here. Avernum 2 is probably tied with Avernum 3 for our most beloved game, and I know a lot of fans are looking forward to a reboot. Now with better design (I hope), a better interface and graphics (in my opinion), and the ability to run on tablets (yay).

We don't half-ass our rewrites. This one is taking a full year. New material, new quests, a new dungeon, more dialogue, actual boss fights. You might not like our work, but you can't fairly say we're not trying.

But enough self-promotion. I've said a lot of overly self-assured stuff over the last few months about the state of the indie games biz. Now that I'm having to actually make hard choices and release games, I wanted to talk a little about how I'm adjusting to the New Game Reality.

Well we all knew it was in development, and today Spiderweb Games has officially announced Avernum 2: Crystal Souls in a new press release.

Spiderweb Software Announces Avernum 2: Crystal Souls, A Fantasy Role-Playing Game for Macintosh, Windows, and iPad.

September 4, 2014 – (http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/) The end has come. Years ago, your people were imprisoned in the underworld, doomed to end their lives in the darkness. Then that was not enough. Your captors have invaded your caves, determined to kill you all. They are winning the war.

Spiderweb Software, Inc. announced today their return to their epic Avernum saga, to continue the story of the underworld Avernites and the war against their oppressors. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is the second chapter in this indie fantasy role-playing saga, a tale of desperate exiles and their battle for survival and a land to call their own.

The surface world is commanded by the tyrannical Empire, the eternal power that controls all known lands. Everyone who spoke out, misbehaved, or didn’t fit in was cast into the dark, volcanic pits of Avernum, far below the surface. They were meant to die. Instead, these exiles survived, gained power, and struck back. They assassinated the lord of the Empire.

Now the Empire will have revenge. They have invaded Avernum, seizing cave after cave and destroying your people. Your land needs a hero, and it needs it now. If you can’t find a way to stop them, and soon, you are all doomed.

Find screenshots and more information at http://www.avernum.com/avernum2/

Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is an epic fantasy role-playing adventure in a unique, massive world, full of strange caves, cunning dungeons, and the alien inhabitants of the underworld. Fight to complete up to three game-winning quests. Explore a massive nation of tunnels and caverns, seeking over 100 towns and dungeons. Master over 60 spells and battle disciplines and hunt for hundreds of magical artifacts. Avernum 2: Crystal Souls is a total, ground-up rewrite of the award-winning indie hit Avernum 2. It will be open for adventuring in Q4, 2014.