Betrayal in Antara - PC Review - Gamecenter

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Betrayal in Antara
Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best

CNET Gamecenter Review
By Hugh Falk
(8/21/1997)

Game at a Glance
Ups: Clean and refreshing environments and features
Downs: The game's confused as to if its an RPG or adventure
Multiplayer: NA
Single player: Good
Demo: Available
Patch: NA
Forgive me if I wax philosophic during this review, but the nature of this game has forced me to contemplate my own existence. Sierra's Betrayal in Antara is so many things at once (good and bad, RPG and adventure, yin and yang) that I find myself confused and seeking guidance. After perusing philosophies from Aristotle to Voltaire, I have found some wisdom that settles my soul. In the words of Kwai Chang Caine, best known for his work in Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, "I feel as I have always felt, with all of my emotions--both the good and the unpleasant. For without one the other cannot exist."
In 1994, Dynamix strayed from its golden path of sports and flight simulations to produce its first role-playing game, Betrayal at Krondor. In a year when RPGs were scarce, Krondor was a hit. Its first-person perspective, open air movement, three-quarter perspective, and strategic combat system made it unique. Three years later, Sierra is now attempting to improve upon the original with Betrayal in Antara. Although it is no longer based on Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Legacy, most of the original features remain intact.
Exporing the Great Outdoors
Antara is a much larger game than Krondor. The Antaran Empire spans three CDs, and the player is given free range to explore. Briefly visiting every city could take weeks of real time and years of game time. Like Krondor, the player's party moves around Antara in first-person perspective. What makes this series different from most first-person games is that nearly all of the travel takes place in the great outdoors. Players start their trek with Aren, the apprentice mage, and William, the noble's son. Betrayal in Antara New party members can be found during their travels. If you are looking for a Tolkienesque outdoors adventure, Antara will suit you well.
How much you like the game will be determined by whether you focus on positive or negative aspects, and Antara is filled with both. On the positive side, the graphics are well done. Antara also has a lot of little touches that other RPGs overlook. I like the fact that bodies don't just disappear after a battle. Carcasses remain, and their use as landmarks makes up for their lousy conversation skills. I also like the first-person perspective, which gives players a feel for what medieval travel is like--slow and dangerous. Healing is also handled well. Without magical help, healing on the road isn't easy. Many RPGs would have you believe that eating a piece of cheese will heal a sword through the stomach. Healing in Antara can take several days' rest, and if characters want to be healed fully, they better find an inn with a comfortable bed.

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Betrayal in Antara

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