Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura is one of the best games I've ever played but never finished.

I've started to play it probably six times now. The most recent time just a couple of days ago on my Macbook Pro (Bootcamp).

The latest patch (from 2003!), 1.0.7.4, makes some welcome improvements from the earlier versions. The largest change is a full screen mode (no static interface that takes up half the screen), and the missions seem a bit more balanced.

Amazing Atmosphere

The best thing about Arcanum has to be the setting. Unlike your standard fantasy fare, or the post-apocalyptic, nostalgia-future setting of the Fallout series, Arcanum aims right down the middle, mixing wizards and locomotives, halberds and repeating rifles, trolls and tesla coil hats (seriously).

It's the only truly realized steampunk computer RPG that I'm aware of.

This duality between magic and technology isn't just a plot gimmick. Throughout the game, a meter will track how far between the two you lean. Your choice to pursue a gruff, machinist dwarf will send you down entirely different path than if you choose a charismatic, half-elf sky mage.

With such a wide range of skills, character races, physical and mental attributes, missions of both the technological and magical variety, and a wealth of interesting NPCs, Arcanum is a game with an great degree of replayability.

It's About The Story

Playing Arcanum again, I'm amazed by the variety and depth of the myriad plots and sub-plots. Even in simple, one town missions, I've found three or four ways to complete them, and not with just one "best" result.

Right from the beginning the missions test your ethics and character motivations. Your choices affect who will follow you, where you can go and who will know of your deeds.

While I love the aforementioned Fallout series (a more celebrated contemporary of Arcanum) I think the latter has a better balance of character choices and more consistent writing as well. You have a sense that everyone and everything is driven by real motivations making you, the player, really think about every action you take in this world.

When was the last time you felt as though you were actually role-playing in a single player RPG instead of clicking "next" over and over?

No Grind, All Glory

Arcanum is difficult and long. I don't know the average hour count, but there's a reason why I've never finished it.

For that reason, it's the first game I've ever broken my personal oath to not play on Easy mode. Some of the battles are deviously difficult, but you can always switch between real-time and turn-based battles by hitting the space bar.

The level progression is fair and balanced. You never feel as though you need to slay the pit of rats to get that extra level in melee weapons, or that you have no other way of proceeding to the next plot point.

The brilliance of the character system is variety. You can build a smooth-talking, socialite, brilliant but mad inventor, classical elven ranger or generalize and fill out your skill gaps with a wide range of talented, if moody, followers (NPCs).

I just love dumpster-diving for spare parts (in the game) to craft my incendiary weapon or herb-picking to sell back to the naturalist for a jacked up price.

Arcanum Lives!

There's a very strong fan following for Arcanum neigh 8 years after its original release. Fan sites like Terra Arcanum are still up but not regularly updated.

The developer of Arcanum, the now defunct Troika Games, produced a number of sleeper hits with a devout, almost cult-like following. Their last two titles were Temple of Elemental Evil (based on the AD&D campaign of the same name), and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, the first RPG built on the Source engine.

It's a shame that Troika is no longer, but the games are still around. If you haven't yet, you can find dozens of well-crafted hours of RPG goodness in any of their titles.

Conclusion

Install, play and cherish Arcanum, if you can get a hold of it.

At first glance it may seem like another isometric Fallout clone, but once you get into the story and gameplay, you'll find a deep, sometimes moving and often funny epic. It's a real gamer's game, and an experience you'll remember along with your favorite childhood movie or genre novel.

Maybe I never finished Arcanum because I feared it would end. This time I'm committed to see it to the end.

Why can't a game be like a movie or novel? something treasured you dig out every couple of years to enjoy over and over again. Arcanum just may be that game for me.