Runes of Avalon - Path of Magic

Their first game was much better. This game uses the carbon copy of the first game (even the map is same) just to add "Magic talisman" mechanic. They just stripped the story script, voice-acting lines, slapped a half-baked "look! now you have a few more ways to cast spells" mechanic, and released it. I don't know why they did not put the first game on steam instead of this second downgrade version. I've just bought this game for the sake of nostalgia, and giving it a thumbs up, for the sake of first game (that is most unfortunately not on steam)

I am apparently the only person in the world that remembers this game being packaged with the Hoyle Board Games CD from the early 2000s or it even existing. I may be going at this from a nostalgia basis... scratch that, I 100% am. However, let's try to look at this objectively. Graphics: Simple. Definately one of those bargain-bin Puzzle games. Don't expect Astarion from BG3 to pop out and give you a massage as you wildshape into a bear. Graphics are just still images. That's it. Gameplay: Good. I will be honest in that I actually got frustrated in moments about how hard some of the puzzles can be. But I always feel like it was something I did, not the game screwing me. I think that's one of the things always bringing me back. Music: Eargasm. Okay, I'll be honest here. Whoever wrote the music for this game went HOG-WILD. There is no conceivable reason a game that cost about the same as a Whopper meal should have music that was stuck in my head for 20 years. That is the only reason I sought this out after that long. It is actually some of my favorite fantasy music tracks and the fact that there's not an album makes me want to rip my arm hair out with a spoon. I am so angry…