Caves of Qud

This game is the answer to the question: What if Gene Wolfe was more of an Old Testament guy? Much like The Book of the New Sun, the series of novels from which Caves of Qud draws heavily, this game is a favorite of mine. The world building prose is the best I've read in any game. It may be the best in any piece of media I've ever consumed, Wolfe notwithstanding. Descriptions of items, places, and characters are so quaint and poetic. Even the description of something as simple as a fan you might stumble upon in some ancient ruins takes you somewhere far away, to another place and time where things you can't even imagine were happening without you. You almost get the sense that the developers are seeing everything for the first time, and you are too, or that they're translating what they've seen through some long-lost language. Everything mundane around you is actually fantastical. There's an aura of mystery about everything. Everywhere you go, you find yourself asking, "what happened here? Who were these people? What were their works?" Yes, I'd say this game is somewhere between The Book of the New Sun and Ozymandias, with some Old Testament thrown in. Oh, the gameplay is decent - it's pretty fun, but can be frustrating. Turn-based roguelike. There are plenty of playstyles and a good variety of weapons and items. It's pretty fine-tuned at this point, but there are still some things that will instantly kill you if you're unlucky enough to stumble into their parasang. I don't bother with the roguelike mode, because I want to explore freely and experience the world. The soundtrack and the soundscape in general fits the world so well. Wailing parade horns when you enter a city. The haunting, revving roars of beasts or machines when you're lost in the jungles. Playful low-key xylophonic tinkling when you're speaking to the local tinkerer. Now that the story is complete, I can say that this game is a must-buy. If it sounds interesting to you at all, I guarantee it will not disappoint you.

This is maybe a twice-in-a-lifetime experience. Maybe thrice. I'm not a numbers guy. Maybe quince. Qaves of Qud, quince in a lifetime.

>3rd rust-well >descend into the pits below >going good, found a shotgun at red rock >large rock deep down >"always fear large rocks." >You died. You were killed by a bloody slumberling. yeah, I love this game. Pirated it 100 hours ago. had to buy it, not even done. Live and drink, traveler. [edit] i got my first victory, genuinely beautiful game. anyone who likes RPGs should play this.