I wrote a review for Avernum: Escape from the Pit which is the first installment of this game series. I will keep this review shorter and will try to not repeat things I noted in the earlier review because the game play and mechanics are so similar.That said, this second installment in the Avernum series is just as good as the first. I don't think you'd need to play A1:EFTP in order to enjoy A2:CS but there's no reason to skip the first game – play it first if you can. A2:CS has a story which is just as rich, provides even more lands to explore, slightly improved gameplay, and very satisfying conclusions.I liked the "final quests" of this second game more than the first; more than the first's quest to kill the emperor, anyway, as I found that rushed and pressured with no opportunity to fully explore (and loot) that area.I think I enjoyed the start of the first game a bit more (you're a troublemaker who's been thrown into this weird underworld) than the start of the second (you're in the underworld's military and immediately have to fight a kind of long running battle) but they both work to introduce basic gameplay and learn a little about the environment you find yourself in.I do wish that I had been warned that there'd be no turning back once I started on my way to the second major area of this game because while you do eventually go back physically there are several quest sequences that have to be abandoned the moment you make that decision but you don't find out until much later. Also, I was lower level than might be ideal for doing that when i started it, which made it much more difficult and take a lot longer than was probably intended by the developer. A "hard gate" to prevent a player from proceeding there prematurely or at least a serious in-game warning would be a good thing to add.As before, a great old-style computer RPG that I greatly enjoyed and kept me immersed for many hours over several weeks. I balked at the $20 price tag compared to the first game's $10 but now I find myself hankering for even more Avernum and looking at Avernum 3 for another $20!

Wish the developed would take a game design course. There’s so much repetitive traveling back and forth for quests that I decided to delete the game before I died of boredom. If there’s water that I have to travel, why are theyre so few places that sell boats? The boats of course get trapped in areas because of waterfalls and then you have to find another boat seller. Shouldn’t every town have a place to sell the stuff you’ve acquired so that you can get gold for training and new gear? I’ve spent less money on other games and had a much better playing experience. Most developers evolve their games and game play over time. This is the same game that I purchased years ago when I bought my first Mac - nothing really new. I played D&D games when Commodore 64’s ruled the earth and had better gaming experiences.

It was really fun. Reminded of my Ultima days. The story line is great, and levelling up is done very well.It is gradual and at a good pace.My personal strategy was just to quest all around (for like 60 hours literally)And then I spent the last 10 finishing the game and the final three quests.But I had a great time doing it.Great job!!

For those of you that aren’t familiar, the previous Avernum: Escape From the Pit, and this sequel are renovated updates of the eponymous flagship dual trilogy from Spiderweb Software. They use an isometric point of view and allow for complete control via the cursor, though keyboard shortcuts are included. These new releases feature improved graphics, new content, polished game mechanics, streamlined game play, and a completely revamped interface. While the story arc parallels the originals, and long-time users will experience nostalgia in uncovering familiar areas, the new encounters add depth and flavor such that it is a new and refreshing experience.With that glowing general endorsementout (I swear I’m not getting any kickbacks :p) out of the way, here are a few specifics:New players should find the gameplay easy to pick up, and the storyline engaging from the start. The graphics aren’t flashy or a strong point of the game, but it is still enjoyable and complemented by the stylized art.Returning players will be pleased to know that Spiderweb took suggestions from the forums to heart and have made different the character growth choices viable. Example: shields now give higher bonuses to parry as their quality increases (e.g. 10% parry on a bronze shield to 12% on an iron shield). It’s nice to not feel pigeon-holed into only a few character builds on higher difficulties. For those familiar with the original series, slith and nephilim are once again playable, and are (thankfully) without the experience penalty. Humans now receive a bonus trait selection every 4 levels, while slith and nephilim characters receive flat % bonuses to their weapon specialities and element resistances (polearms+fire and missiles+cold respectively).Overall I’m very happy with the game as a standalone, and the fact that Spiderweb is continually improving the gameplay (actually just noticed that they updated some of the mechanics in Avernum: EFTP) is icing on the cake.