Silverfall gets PC gamers back into action mode.
It has been a while since PC gamers have had a good Diablo-style action role-playing game, and though Silverfall can be a bit quirky, it does bring new elements to the table.
The first thing you'll notice is the incredibly detailed towns and landscapes. The world seems hand-drawn by master artists, complete with black outlines around the characters, almost like a comic book. (The outline can be disabled.) Fires glow, water reflects and the sky turns slowly from day to night.
The second thing you'll notice is the factions within the game world. There's a real mix of science, nature and magic. As you advance, you must choose whether your character follows the path of science, with firearms and steam-powered backpacks, or nature, with its ability to transform people into werewolves. Choosing one path limits the other, though magic exists with both. You will find some cities completely devoted to nature, while others are technological gems. If you played 2001's role-playing game Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura, you'll feel at home with the competing factions.
In Silverfall, the beautiful title city has been overrun with the undead and other monsters. You must save refugees, retake the city and help rebuild. Your character is not in a specific class, but instead you put points into different skills as you build a melee, magic or ranged character. As many as two companions journey with you. You will find lots of weapons and armour on your adventure, and using them can change your character's appearance, sometimes significantly, which can be fun.
Unfortunately, the game has quirks. The mini-map is disorienting; you will run into enemies fairly often.
When you die, you must run back to your gravesite to retrieve your equipment and can fully save your progress only in towns.
Silverfall plays almost like an online-only game, which is odd given the single-player focus, though you can go online. It's also dreadfully difficult early in the game (monsters level up with you) before you become more specialised in your chosen field.
Despite its flaws, Silverfall is a great game if you can get through the first couple of hours to find the intriguing mainstream plot.
Silverfall is available on the PC Windows XP platform and comes with a Teen rating.
