Grimbeard - Arx Fatalis (PC) - Review 

he... he didn't ask "What's up Goth Gamer Nation?"

Hooooo boy. That "Arkane is doing well for themselves" hasn't aged very well...

I can’t wrap my head around that weird bait and switch EA pulled with the competition. You’re opening up a new location, not finding an heir for the chocolate factory.

Love you, Grim. This world wouldn't be as interesting without you.

The ambient sound design in this game is so good, I kept being reminded of it in the real world. I swear the Rat Men tunnels sound like the staircase and cellars in my old institute.

"I'm hungry" "You... you do that?!" Man, things like this brighten my day, seriously.

"suckin mushrooms straight of the dirt, dude" is one of those things that's gonna be stuck in my head for days. And someone around me is going to use a vacuum cleaner or something and I'm going to giggle and when they ask me why I will have no hope of explaining.

Damn, Fatal fortress was that pen and paper RPG personnel on Talos 1 played in Prey..

There's a great open source implementation of the engine called Arx Libertatis, makes the game run much better on modern Windows, natively on Linux and I think MacOSX as well. I believe it also lets you scale the UI so your inventory isn't ridiculously tiny on current display sizes as well.

Phone goblin should be a recurring character

I was just about to run dangerously low on goth juice and gamer fuel. Thanks for the pick me up grimdaddy

That Legacy of Kain callout got me in the feels. Here's hoping it's recent acquisition can produce something interesting.

"EA usually ends up being the monster" Yep.

I had to watch it twice, couldnt stop staring at the shadowplay indicator.

Arx Fatalis was a really good game. It seems like one of the last RPGs which were closed-world in nature, where each area required some form of puzzle solving to progress, similar to an adventure game. This style dropped out of favor, with the more open-world Elder Scrolls style becoming the norm. It was a very different experience than modern RPGs. For example, there were a fixed number of enemies in the world and when you cleared an area it remained empty. This made sense since the entire adventure is underground. It also meant that every combat was more involved, difficult and meaningful, unlike modern RPGs where you fight hordes of respawning enemies. The downside of this style of the game is that it was easy to get stuck, where you did not know what to do next to progress, and you end up wandering around talking to NPCs and searching for hidden passages that you might have missed. I guess the closest game in style that many people are familiar with is Dark Souls, where you progress through increasingly difficult areas, except Arx Fatalis focused more on general RPG elements rather than just combat. The best thing about Arx was probably the atmosphere, with many interesting unique rooms and NPCs - none of the generic repeated stuff like in open world games.

About hunger mechanic, I had a similar experience. I didn't realize hunger is a thing until I discovered a spell for satiating it. And I think it was largely because of how immersive the game was. Eating something every now and just came naturally, even after I no longer needed it for healing (similarly to you I started as a thief, ended up using magic for pretty much anything). Incidentally, I knew I'm in love with the game, when I baked my first loaf of bread.

I love getting updated on all the intriguing games I passed on in years gone by.

Did you mention King’s Field: The Ancient City? You know what that means.

Oh shit New Grim, should I save it for tonight? Na I'll watch it now AND tonight!

One of my favorite games by my favorite goth gamer. Bro, you’re well on your way to big things. And the quality of your content... as long as you upload, you will have my undivided attention.

I could imagine a version of this games magic being cool in VR

Maybe the real Arx Fatalis were the friends we killed along the way

I remember the moment Arx got to me... there was a tower of astronomy or some sort and it had a tiny window you could see outside to the mountainside covered with snow. You could hear the wind howling and feel the coldness. It made the game for me.

YO I came home from work, made a cup of coffee, then fell asleep until midnight without drinking the coffee, and I wake up to a new Grim Beard video?! Hell yes.

Grim, youre easily the funniest RU-vid game reviewer out there but what doesnt get enough cred is how well you write. Kudos on your scripts, my dude+

Phone Goblin is my favorite character.

Yay! Grimbeard, your depression makes me happy.

One of my favorites! Love Arx Fatalis! I remember buying a copy at the store.

A Grimbeard new video right in my birthday. Best gift so far!

My man your Videos caried me through this years ramadan, thank you so much, I hope that you'll be granted paradise for that

Huge part of my childhood, can't wait to watch this later.

Just discovered your channel, already a huge fan of your game-selection, wit and dry humor. Instant subb!

You really get across confusion and surprise with your camera control in-game. It's endlessly enjoyable to watch.

My favorite Arkane game, even if that side quest to save that missing kid from the cultists is still janky as hell two decades later.

a grim bread review yay :) makes my day better

Ok,finally 2 of my Favorit Things come together.Waited so long for this.

For anyone interested, Arx is currently on PC Game Pass, which can be had for $1.

I really don’t know what I’d do without your videos grim

Loved Arx Fatalis. By the way, the majority of the old guard of Arkane, including the founder, has left the studio after Prey because Bethesda was interfering with their work so much demanding safe AAA streamlined crap, so don't count on Deathloop being as awesome as Dishonored or Prey, as it's not the same Arkane we used to love that is developing it. However, they founded WolfEye Studios and are currently working on an incredibly promising isometric immersive sim/CRPG hybrid by the lovely name of Weird West, independently (well, published by Devolver).

i just came across your channel tonight and i love your content and style, will probably watch every video. good job dude keep up the great work.

Love that game. Love your style and reviews. Great vid

Arx Fatalis is amazing. Literally went through it again earlier this year and its still very fun. Lots of great stuff in there.

Delving down through the levels of catacombs beneath the town was an amazing experience I remember. I played through it late at night when I was errr a bit "suggestible" and I got the fear real bad a few times.

dood , legendary review ; subbed

I really love your videos man. You're style of comedy paired with the impeccable skill to form a cohesive narrative and getting your point across is outstanding, i wish you the best and keep up the great work.

I remember the magic system with the gestures was super cool, if a bit unwieldy. The memories are good. Good caves.

dope review Grim, cant beat your perspectives

Great video on one of my favorite games of all time. What I liked about Arx the most is its DIY feel. It’s a textbook case of cleverly and creatively using minimal assets and resources and frankensteining them into something special that stands out

Awesome video, thanks again!

@7:17 a perfect British peasant accent.

So, I think I follow. Octo-Bachto, McGatto-Barako, and Cerebrus Reebus Jesus are after an artifact called the Theatmaximum Overdrive. The Snake Lady is there. So are rats, and this is very deep. UmChigar Zenon the Dark Marcus is the hero and he can bake a mean nut bread, or as the game calls it, Yeastavious breavely doughmeevy. I'm right there with ya, too easy.

Not only are your videos great, they serve as a great substitute for watching a 20+ hour playthrough. Thanks!

This game has the best bread mechanics. Imagine it combined with Yakuza 7 bread graphics.

It's a good thing there are so few arrows in this game, as the entire second half is designed to show you that archery is utterly useless. With the armored cultists you can either a: try and shoot them with 50 arrows, b: fight them in melee if you manage to live long enough, or c: just shoot 3 fireballs with minimal allowed magic stats. Yeah, game balance.

Now thats a good-ass video. I am glad that this Supernatural channel is doing game reviews too.

clicked on your new album link to see your album/page art at the top. Glad to know you are a true man of culture, Kino is just fucking priceless man

I can't believe i have never heard about this game before, it looks fantastic, i'll def add it to the "to-play" list

Man, the sound design and music in this game is so cool.

Hey, loving the content. Been really pumping them out recently! Just be sure you aren’t burning the candle at both ends bud. Get your rest and don’t burn yourself out!

Reviews like yours and Avalanche Reviews are what gets me through the graveyard shift. I love the passion you, even for games that are a pain to review. Thanks for all you do man. I like learning about games I've never heard of.

GRIMDADDY HAS DONE IT AGAIN ☠️🖤

My favorite reviewer is on a roll babay! Stalker and now Arx Fatalis?! If you do Gothic and New Vegas that is like perfection Wassaaaa Goth Gamer Nation

Also a huge fan of caves! And I appreciate you as well, stay safe Grim.

"spoiler warning" proceeds to throw a lot of weird names and in game jargon at me for 10 minutes. Me: struggles to comprehend what the hell was spoiled 😅

That "shortages of resources" bit around the 7 min. mark had me dying, dude!

Your intros make me feel so nostalgic for something I dont know even exists

Right on time my man

On a roll. Don't stop creating! Whatever it is neighbor.

Good news about Legacy of Kain, the IP got acquired by a new publisher so now there’s hope for that series

Dude, rat is my favourite theme. Rad video man

A lot to appreciate!

Next Dark Messiah and dedicate half of the video to Xana

I played the Arx Fatalis demo so many goddamn times it was my own little immersive sim, I knew the ins and outs of every corner of that demo.

I was having a shitty day, I couldn't find my compass, and my hammer was too small. Luckily Grim-daddy had a new video up, so its a good day. Keep up the great work!

I love settings like in this game, where the Sun has gone or some other incomprehensible catastrophe that forces people to live underground

Good stuff, as per usual. Hope you have a good one

Oh boy! I really should play this game! I missed out on it but it looks pretty dang fun! I mean, as fun as a post apocalyptic fantasy story can get. Great review as always, Mr. Beard!

Yay new Grimbeard video

That phone conversation with the goblin is genious!

Man when I saw this title pop up on your channel I had a real and visceral rush. Arx Fatalis rocked my pagoda but it kicked my ass too.

I am not always commenting on your videos, sorry, but I am always enjoying them! Thank you!

So excited for Monomyth coming out soon, reminds me a lot of Arx Fatalis!

Valentina Cortese in the background it is a nice touch, love u got gamer

Arx Fatalis: 'Deep and complex magic simulator." - You draw magic signs to cast magic. - You learn more signs that you can use. - You'll spend fifty hours trying to cast the first spell, alone. - There's no MP, you can spam it because it's magic, not an orgy. - You'll play through the game a second time, absolutely certain that you'll never pick up magic ever again, instead, opting for a stealth archer build. Because the spells are too inconvenient to use.

I love your vids. You have the best taste.

highly pogged video champ. i adore this game.

One of my new favorite games! I love dishonored and knew about this for a while, but I kinda thought it wouldn’t be my thing. I love your vids, and this one got me super interested. I’m just absolutely loving it! I dunno what to say, thanks!

The grim lord had struck again! And with another immersive sim review no less! Dis gona be good

I own this game digitally and it's been figuratively collecting dust forever. One day I will play this.

When you said all those weird words during the info dump I felt my brain powering down.

To your point on "they don't make them like that anymore". I think a lot of it has to do with there being so many standards in place these days. First it was FPS control standards with Halo. Next came 3RD person camera "perfection" with Resident Evil 4. With the next generation combining 3rd person camera and shooting standards with Gears of War. Then the worlds started becoming standard after Assassin's Creed 2 if it was open world, except maybe RPGs. Now, almost everything you see in one game you'll see in the next, leaving so much creativity at the door. With the compromise being "Well they put this world together better than XYZ Game did." I think it's why BOTW gets so much love for certain things, but not really mentioning the fact it does what a lot of other open world games do. The way the world was designed was monumental in the open world setting, but that was it. It's the way it all coincides that makes it great. Yet, 5 years later, we're still stuck in the same cycle.

Yaaaay. Thanks Grimby.

What I like about Am Shegar being some stoic, nonplussed dude is that in lore that's the point, he's some physical deity figure who isn't really human but more or less a homunculus of heroism.

omg I forgot to watch a Grimbeard video. must watch now !

Have you seen what happens when you open the Door to the outside World in ARX FATALIS?

Goth boy returns and all is well with the world, welcome back.

Yes yes yes yes!!

love it!

Grimdaddy, you are literally the best video game review channel on youtube.

Just finished binge watching all ur reviews for the 100th time and like a ritual I have no understanding in a new Grim Beard review appears... hold on, he's started screaming again...