Dawn of Magic Preview

Just when you were lamenting the lack of old-school RPGs for the PC, along comes Dawn of Magic, a game that is a bit melee but mostly magic driven. It is reminiscent of the armchair type of adventure … you know the ones – you get comfortable in the overstuffed chair, cup of tea beside the keyboard and snuggle in for an adventure that follows a plot but reveals it in layers.

1C Company,  Deep Silver, Sky Fallen and Atari are behind Dawn of Magic, an old-school RPG that fakes three-dimensions with the isometric viewpoint, but is a two-dimensional real-time title. This is a point-and-click title with a camera that can zoom in as well as an interface that seems more complex than it is. Actually, once you become accustomed to it, everything is within easy click reach and you can navigate it effortlessly.

You begin the game by selecting from four available avatars, a weird gypsy (their description), an awkward scholar, the baker’s wife, and the fat friar. Each comes with an alignment (all good, by the way) as well as ratings in energy, intellect, strength, maximum chi and maximum weight. You do get to name the character, which is about as far as the customization goes at the game’s onset.

Like most games of this nature, carrying too much weight will slow down your avatar.

The game begins with a Shakespeare quote from Henry the Fifth about war and preparing for it, and then shifts into a cut scene that is somewhat esoteric in nature. The lip sync is not very good, but sets the stage about a meeting between the immortals and someone named Modo. The ancient ones condemn Modo to life on the living world, entrapped in the body of a child, to live out the life of a mortal and then die. But Modo is more than a being of bone and flame and states that his followers (as well as his power) are beyond the understanding of the higher beings.

The opening cut scene ends with Modo, as a baby, in the world. Then you are transported into the world, to an academy of magical studies. You are dropped into the midst of learning magic by seeking out and three professors and choosing from a variety of magical abilities. Of course, you have a final test to accomplish, and you can take the spell scrolls from the professors you have spoken with and move them into your hot bar.

You start off with six spell points to drop into your abilities, and by using the spell book to interface with abilities, you can allocate points to bump up skill levels.

Your first task, in this title, is a timed mission. You have to kill fire termites and collect their eggs to heal a sick student. While out in the world you will run into mobs that you can attack with ranged magic abilities, or if you have summoning magic, you can call up a pet to aid you in your battles. There are random crates and chests laying about the landscape that you can plunder.

Movement is point and click; you can also point to a location on the map and you will run there as well. This is particularly handy. If you point to a location on the ground outside of a building you are in, your character will path to the spot. This was done many times without the character running into environmental objects and hanging up. In addition to running about, there are teleporters.

As you kill, you can fill up a blade icon. When it is full, you will get buffs in your trek. There is a story that underscores the adventure, and there are several progressive missions you can undertake.

The graphics are reminiscent of those of five or so years ago, with maps that are bordered by invisible walls. There are different areas that you can teleport to, but each scenario is a map unto itself without a seamless transition. Expect load times, though they are small. The game’s sound was rather sparse in the build received. There are some environmental sounds and a sprinkling of music while the vocal work is average – going from nicely done to ‘hmm, Ok, I guess’ in style. The game also supports crafting in both the alchemic arts as well as repairing and/or embellishing existing items you may possess.

When launched, the game will boast an online element as well. From what was seen, it appears that the Network Play element is a cooperative adventure.

Dawn of Magic is a game that is easy to understand. Nothing truly new has been brought out in this title, it is more of a return to that which defined the genre so many years ago. While this is not a game that will enthrall hardcore, graphic-driven RPGers, those new to the genre might get a decent look at the way the genre used to be and those who like the kind of adventure that slowly unravels as you journey the landscape may find this a pleasant diversion.