Avernum: Escape From the Pit - Review @ The Indie Mine

[RPGWatch]

The Indie Mine has reviewed Avernum: Escape from the Pit, with the author primarily finding immersion difficult because of the repetitive graphics and the tilesets' inability to represent the setting in detail. The score is 3/5 and here is the summary:

It might sound like I didn't get much pleasure from Avernum: Escape from the Pit, but that's not the case at all. I've enjoyed my time with it, and found that it grows into a more involving adventure with time. If I were to summarise it in one word, though, that word would be 'dry'. I was drawn into the game because I had made a decision to play it and nothing discouraged me enough to stop. If I had just seen it in passing or heard its name and decided to give it a try, though, I think the experience would be an unappealing one. From the grim grey-brown graphics and samey town design to the walls of text and blank slate characters, Avernum is a type of role playing game that will be very appealing to a certain type of audience, and about as enticing as dry toast and gruel to everyone else. Personally I found its somewhat tactical combat, faintly Morrowindian tone and steady stream of optional side-quests engrossing enough to press on with. Maybe that's enough. Maybe Avernum doesn't need to appeal to anyone beyond dyed-in-the-wool veteran roleplayers. If you're curious and want to give it a try, be forewarned that it might need a conscious decision to persist. If you do persist, you might find the challenge and freedom of wandering the caverns of Avernum quite enjoyable in spite of all its efforts to the contrary.