player agency Archives

AppWizard

August 8, 2025

Somebody spilled some Minecraft in this hardcore first-person RPG, and I love the result way more than I ever thought possible

The demo of Nox Mortalis initially disappointed the player due to its cryptic nature and frustrating melee combat mechanics, including a reliance on a parry system and the absence of a compass. However, after reviewing the in-game manual, the player discovered that crafting a compass was part of the gameplay experience. The game incorporates resource management, requiring players to gather materials like wood, coal, and metals to craft weapons and unlock treasure chests. The crafting system is intuitive, with recipes unlocking automatically as players collect materials. The demo allows for approximately four hours of gameplay, including exploration of side dungeons and the initial levels of a central megadungeon. The player experienced a satisfying progression, starting with basic crafting and advancing to more powerful weapons. There is concern about whether the developer can maintain the engaging gameplay loop in the full release, which currently has no set date, as feedback from the demo is being gathered. Players can wishlist the game and access the demo on Steam.

AppWizard

July 18, 2025

I’ve been obsessed with a single dialogue choice in an underappreciated Obsidian game for 10 years, so I tracked down the guy who wrote it to learn everything about my favorite joke in RPG history

In Pillars of Eternity's expansion, The White March: Part One, players encounter a character named Zahua, a martial artist hiding in a barrel of fish as part of his quest for self-debasement. Upon meeting the player, Zahua asks, "Are you real?" This interaction offers various dialogue choices, including responses like "Yes," "[Lie] Yes," and "There is no way to be certain." The character's introduction was designed by Eric Fenstermaker to convey Zahua's detachment from reality and to allow players to explore their interpretations of reality. Fenstermaker emphasizes the importance of player agency in RPGs, suggesting that if an NPC can reject reality, so can the player. He also reflects on the need for dialogue to facilitate self-expression and discovery for players, recognizing the diverse motivations they bring to the genre.

AppWizard

June 28, 2025

Hellblade 2 is getting an enhanced edition that brings back the fake permadeath system from the first game, but there’s every chance it’s real this time

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 will receive an enhanced edition on August 12, featuring improved graphics, including a new "very high" graphics setting. The update will reintroduce the Dark Rot mechanic from the first game, which grows with each death and can lead to losing all progress if it reaches Senua's head. The enhanced edition will be Steam Deck Verified and will include improvements to the photo mode and developer commentary. Critics have noted concerns about the game's focus on gameplay mechanics and Senua's character feeling disconnected from the story.

AppWizard

June 20, 2025

These 7 games need a remaster, and they need it now

Fallout: New Vegas, released in 2010 by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda Softworks, is a unique RPG praised for its player agency, writing, and world-building, making it a candidate for a remaster to fix technical bugs and improve visuals. Dragon Age: Origins, released in 2009 by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts, is regarded as the best in its series, but a remaster seems unlikely due to a lack of familiar staff. Black & White, a 2001 game by Lionhead Studios and published by Electronic Arts, is not available on major platforms, and a remaster could enhance its AI and gameplay. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, released in 2004 by Troika Games and published by Activision, is a classic RPG with bugs and unfinished elements that could benefit from a remaster to fix glitches and restore content. No One Lives Forever, a 2000 game by Monolith Productions and published by Fox Interactive, is unavailable due to rights disputes, but a remaster could modernize its visuals and controls. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, released in 2004 by Obsidian Entertainment and published by LucasArts, is an unfinished narrative that could be improved with a remaster to restore missing content. Freedom Force, a 2002 game by Irrational Games and published by Electronic Arts, could benefit from a remaster to improve compatibility and support user-generated content.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

Atomfall is getting a spooky DLC set on an offshore island that also lets you blast pretend pirates with a blunderbuss

Atomfall, launched in March, has attracted players with its depiction of the Lake District and the mystery of the Windscale Power Plant, despite initial criticisms of its combat and mechanics. A new DLC, Wicked Isle, will be released on June 3 for £15, introducing Midsummer Island, featuring folk horror elements like druids and a wicker man, along with new locations such as a dilapidated abbey and the Jolly Angler pub. The DLC aims to enhance the narrative and integrate new story threads that intersect with the main plot, offering players more choices and potential endings.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

We called its first cyberpunk setting ‘cooler than Night City,’ and now the studio behind The Ascent says it’s making ‘the kind of game that every developer wants to work on’

Neon Giant, the Swedish developer known for the co-op shooter The Ascent, is working on a new first-person game that emphasizes "player agency" and creativity. The project features a distinctive aesthetic with retro technology and is described as "ludicrously ambitious." The studio, founded by a small team of over 20 individuals, aims to maintain its autonomy and creative freedom, ensuring that team members can contribute to the vision without traditional management constraints. Many staff members have prior experience in director roles at major studios. The new game is expected to focus on creating a believable and reactive world, moving towards immersive simulation. Further details and updates from Neon Giant are anticipated soon.

AppWizard

February 17, 2025

The new game from The Witcher 3’s director revives the best tradition of Morrowind by letting you kill off ‘really important NPCs’

The Blood of Dawnwalker allows players to kill important NPCs, significantly diverging from the narrative restrictions of The Witcher 3. The game emphasizes player choice and a sandbox nature, aiming to create options while maintaining good storytelling and lore. The ability to eliminate characters can lead to alternate outcomes and cut-off questlines, introducing consequences that players must navigate. The protagonist's blood hunger at night can result in unintended fatalities, enhancing the game's exploration of darker decision-making.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

‘Avowed’ Review (PC): An Excellent ‘Elder Scrolls’ Intermission

Avowed is a role-playing game set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, allowing players to engage without prior lore knowledge. Players assume the role of a "Godlike" character on a quest in the "Living Lands" to confront the Dreamscourge, a blight affecting the landscape and its creatures. The game features a small party of companions with unique abilities, including a fish man, a rabbit girl, and a human healer. Avowed consists of interconnected zones with distinct environments, encouraging exploration and discovery. The main story and side quests take approximately 30 hours to complete, offering a fulfilling experience without the lengthy commitment typical of other RPGs. Combat is engaging, with various build options available, and meaningful choices impact the narrative, enhancing player agency. The game simplifies some RPG mechanics, which can be both a strength and a weakness. The writing quality compensates for less complex character interactions. The game received a score of 9/10.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

That was fast: a modder already added an ‘unlimited save game’ feature to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Modder EddieShoe has released a modification called Unlimited Saving 2 for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, allowing players to save their game by pressing the F5 key, bypassing the need for the Saviour Schnapps potion. Traditionally, saving requires sleeping in a bed or using the potion, which was designed to prevent save-scumming and maintain the game's challenge. The mod enables saving at any moment typically allowed for potion use, enhancing convenience and sparking discussions about game design and player experience.

AppWizard

December 16, 2024

‘I’ve spent my entire career trying to recreate the feeling I had when I played D&D for the first time,’ says immersive sim godfather Warren Spector, with new game Thick as Thieves going multiplayer because ‘you don’t play D&D alone’

Warren Spector, co-founder of OtherSide Entertainment, discussed the studio's upcoming multiplayer title, Thick as Thieves, which shifts from traditional single-player immersive sims to a live service PvPvE multiplayer format. Spector has long envisioned multiplayer as the next logical step for immersive sims, aiming to capture collaborative storytelling akin to Dungeons & Dragons. He emphasized the importance of player agency and creativity in creating surprising narratives. Project lead Greg LoPiccolo noted the dynamic interactions that can occur in multiplayer settings. The game's success will depend on ongoing support and community engagement, distinguishing it from other titles like Anthem and Redfall. Players can wishlist Thick as Thieves on Steam or Epic, although a release date has not been announced.