Nethergate: Resurrection

I originally played this game many many years ago as a child. My grandpa had an iMac in his basement, and the demo came in one of those compilation CDs - was it a MacAddict one? My sister and I would play the demo over and over again together for hours during the summer, and finally we convinced my grandpa to pay for the full release. We loved this game- it had clever writing, an engrossing setting, and endless secrets. My grandparents are long gone and my sister and I are now middle aged, but every few years I still run through - always as the Celts. It's a treasure and transports me back to childhood.

Nethergate: Resurrection is one of those role-playing games that feels like a relic from a different age, not just because of its graphics, but because of the way it approaches storytelling and player engagement. Developed and published by Spiderweb Software, the game revisits the studio's original Nethergate with a larger scope, enhanced content, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. Set in a mythical interpretation of Roman-occupied Britain, it presents a conflict between the expanding Roman Empire and the native Celts, weaving historical elements together with folklore, magic, and ancient mysteries. The result is a role-playing experience that stands apart from the crowded fantasy genre by embracing a setting rarely explored in games. What immediately distinguishes Nethergate: Resurrection is its two-sided campaign design. Players can either command a group of Roman soldiers carrying out the Empire's will or lead a band of Celts fighting to preserve their traditions and homeland. These campaigns are more than alternate perspectives; they feature different quests, encounters, abilities, and narrative developments. Playing both stories provides a broader understanding of the…

I bought this on sale expecting a mildly interesting half-hour or so satisfying my curiosity about Jeff's very early games. I wasn't expecting to play the whole thing. Even in its embryonic form, the addictive magic of the Avernum series (and this is very much an Avernum-like, far more than any of his other series) kicked in and that was that. Obviously, it has its weaknesses compared to later games. The most glaring is that there's no "click to move here" pathfinding; you have to move step by painful step, and in some situations e.g. dense forests this can be excruciating. The world map is severely lacking, as is the quest log and explanation of many game mechanics. But it still has the satisfying combat and munchkin-bait item collection we know and love, and the knack of subtly ordering things so that difficulty feels hand-tuned without making you feel railroaded. Plus it loads instantly and runs on a potato. If you've never played a Spiderweb game, I wouldn't start here. (Personally the Avernum series are my faves, but tastes vary. ) But if you're already a fan, this is well worth a look.

I played this as a kid. Bought it because I probably didn't buy it when I was a kid. It's dated, for sure. But what do you expect for a game well over 20 years old at this point? It is a tactical RPG with surprisingly good combat for the time, and even today. Plus you get to kill goblins and that's always a good time.

I'm blown away by this game, very good writing and surprisingly accessible for an RPG from this era. Real Rome-heads out there do yourselves a favor and pick this one up.

Nostalgia... I played this game thoroughly back in the 90s on early Windows systems, and was thrilled to find it still existed on Steam. The graphics are pretty ok on a new system and the story remains amazing. The RPG and text driven play style feel surprisingly 'modern'. It is nice to play a game where reading is a major way of developing through a story, having to talk to people to learn about the world. It is basically a historical novel with some visual elements. The game is pretty detailed: there is a lot to think about when creating a party, choosing skills, using strategy to defeat enemies, and the lore is huge. Ready for some diving in.