At this point, I’m starting to wonder if there’s some unspoken rule regarding fantasy RPGs, how they must take place in a crumbling world. Because that’s been the case for so many I’ve stumbled upon in recent years, and Avernum 3: Ruined World is no exception. It is also the end of Spiderweb Software’s Exile trilogy though, so who knows – maybe this one is wrapped up with a ‘happily ever after’? Then again, maybe not. Anything is possible in a world this vast.
Oh, and speaking of the game world: you’d better not spend too long simply waiting around, because dungeons and towns will change as time passes, crumbling in the end. As for exactly what this means or how it’s integrated with the story, I do not know. With “over 60 hours of gameplay” and more than 150 locales, missing a few places/optional quests is likely inevitable, however. And I don’t really think that’s going to be much of an issue, seeing how you’ll still be quite busy simply surviving the main story!
Your people long to escape from their underworld prison, but the surface world is being destroyed. Fight plagues of bizarre monsters and win your freedom.
Speaking of, did I mention how you, the player, can actually buy a house and/or become a merchant in this second remake of 1997’s Exile III (the first being 2003’s Avernum 3)? Plenty of depth to the combat too, which is a good thing considering the amount of fighting you’ll end up doing, as everything falls apart around you. Character traits, spells, battle disciplines, equipment, positioning and more all combine for a rather tactical, turn-based affair. One in which, well, the winner takes it all. Literally. Because everyone else will be dead.
Now, another interesting tidbit related to the release of Avernum 3: Ruined World is that… there’ll be an iPad port. What makes this interesting is that, back in 2015, Spiderweb Software had abandoned on iPad development, following the release of iOS 8.3 (far from the only developer with iOS 8.3 issues, I might add). Fortunately, this was resolved mere months later, as detailed on Jeff Vogel’s blog, meaning Avernum: Escape From the Pit HD and Avernum 2: Crystal Souls HD will be joined by Avernum 3: Ruined World (HD?) in 2018. Very groovy stuff!
Avernum 3: Ruined World will be out on Steam ($19.99?) and iPad ($9.99?), in early 2018.