Age of Decadence - Public Beta 2 Released

[RPGWatch]

The promised updated release of The Age of Decadence Public Beta is now available, offering a slew of fixes and improvements. You can grab the updated version via these links:

AoD Public Beta Release 2:

• Download from RapidShare
• Download from Atomic Gamer

Torrents:

• thepiratebay.se

...and this thread has the full changelog if you need a reminder. A small snip from the lengthy list:

Exploration

- Added a new encounter with a gang in the slums.
- Added a character you talk to in the graveyard.

Improvements:

- Added the option to leave screens by pressing the same key that you use to enter it.
- You can access the crafting screen by pressing R.
- You can switch between screens with the hotkeys (from inventory to character screen, for example).
- More buttons with sounds.
- Better formating for the description text in the character screen.
- You can resize and move the textbox in the main gui.
- Added synergy and background description to the character creation screen.
- Added tooltips to the tabs.
- Q and E now rotate the camera.
- Character creation is now tailored to resolutions between 900h and 1080h.
- Added new dialogues screens, with bigger fonts, darker background and better formatting.
- Anisotropic filtering now also affects all weapons, armors and some minor items.
- Now you get a rank if you are part of a faction.
- Notices in dialogue (text between *) now are centered and with a different color.
- Added expanded dialogues about the world with the Inkeeper and Feng.
- Now there is a list with all locations on the right side of the map.
- Now there is a menu from which you can select which bodies you want to loot when 2 or more are in the same place.
- Added sitting animations to filler characters.
- New look for the lorica segmentata.
- All screens fit higher resolutions better.

[Taluntain]

Is anyone playing this? Seems like something IE game fans would enjoy.

[Darion]

I tried the latest build and it works nicely.

There are still some graphical-glitches and problems, that tend to annoy. Clipping, tearing, flickering also z-buffer I'm looking at you.
Nothing really game breaking. But it strains.

The game has some decent graphical options and can look quite pretty if maxed out. HDR- Bloom- SSAO- AF- AA.
All there.

The mood is fitting and the somewhat 'retro' (not saying old...that would be too harsh) graphics don't bother me at all.
It's pretty.
he World and 3D space are richly designed and the musical score carries the mood just as well.
Being an audiophile, the music managed to charm me, even before the loading bar was done.

There is plenty of text and that means reading. The well written introductions and hints are a smooth read, and fit in without breaking the flow of the game.

Skills and skill-checks everywhere. A nice change, to see all the invested points pay off in a small or big way.
It makes the RPG heart beat faster. An there are plenty of skills and attributes to pool from.

Inventory and the spreadsheet look nice enough, although still a bit minimalistic.

Combat is harsh. I felt like playing the Tactical-Mod from BG. Even though battle and encounters are tuff in every sense of the word, it's also rewarding.
Tactics and a healthy sense of the situation will get you far.

I like it so far. And As soon as they fix the graphical glitches I can see myself buying this.
Because as far as this title goes, it sure looks promising.

One of the downsides is that the game is also pretty demanding on my system. Feels like good ol' NWN2 in that regard. Didn't expect it to be like that, for a game with modest looks.

But nothing some optimization can't fix.

[Taluntain]

Cool, thanks for the review!