Aveyond: Lord of Twilight

At this point, I think that we (the independent gaming community) have just about perfected the classic RPG genre. There has been a swell in RPG-maker RPGs lately, and they've been only increasing in quality. A fine example would be the latest in the Aveyond series, Aveyond: Lord of Twilight.

It's not really proper to call this game Aveyond 3, since this is but the first chapter in this particular installment of the series. But it's still 10 hours, which is a fair indication of how long this story's going to be. We've got another epic on our hands, here. SWEET.

The story of Aveyond, like every RPG, is of major importance, and is your main motivation to get things done. The game stars Mel, a young and orphaned (of course) thief who is hired to steal an "heirloom" for a mysterious client. Things get out of hand, and she ends up on the run with a vampire from her assailants: more vampires. And these aren't the sparkling supermodel variety; they're more like the traditional lords of the undead kind. Anyway, Mel goes into hiding by attending an RPG hero school (a school for swords and sorcery). She soon discovers that she is the descendant of the most evil mage that ever lived; who, incidentally, tried to bring about the destruction of the human race back in the day. And so, the plot begins and charges onward like a runaway carriage.

A.L.O.T. has great dialogue and an exciting plot, with characters that are well rounded and believable. And it manages to not take things too seriously, which is great.

Gameplay is pretty typical: walk around, get stuff, fight monsters, make dialogue with the NPCs, and repeat. The formula is tried-and-true. Battling is standard as well: fight, use skill, use item, don't run out of health or you die, kill the bad guys, play victory music, the end. A little detail that affected the gameplay more than I would have thought: you have to use an item to run, and they're rare. You have to pick and choose your battles (which aren't random, thank God), otherwise you'll get screwed over pretty quickly. Also, rather than the game automatically handing over whatever spoils the enemies were carrying, you have to search the bodies for the goods. I just thought that was a nice touch.

The presentation of A.L.O.T. is another standout. The character portraits are well drawn and expressive, and the environments are vibrant. Everything looks like it's straight out of an early Final Fantasy game, but better. The music is scarily catchy, but it's atmospheric at the same time. Some of the darker tunes (like the vampire forest) were so perfectly matched that I found myself just sitting and listening to the music. The sound effects are brilliantly integrated: a splashing waterfall gets louder as you approach it, birds squawk overhead, and the wind rustles through the forest as Mel & company travel the land.

It bears repeating that RPGs are becoming more prominent in the independent gaming community. And, when they're as awesome as A.L.O.T., it can only be a good thing. If you're in the mood for a quality adventure, or if you just want to kill 10 hours, then snag a copy of Aveyond: Lord of Twilight. Now, for the next episode! Let's have it!

Graphics:
Classic and vibrant, the graphics are some of the best I've seen in an RPG-maker game. The character portraits are great, with multiple expressions.

Music/Sound:
The music is fantastic, and almost painfully catchy at times (which comes with the territory, I suppose). They fit perfectly with the game, and provide a great sense of atmosphere. The sound effects are the best I've heard in a long time, with dynamic nature sounds and background noise. It makes the game very immersive.

Gameplay:
A.L.O.T. represents absolute mastery of the formula. Everything feels familiar and easy to use, but it doesn't let up on the player.

Concept:
I've said this before: the old-school RPGs revolve around the same concepts and the same formula. Nothing new here, even if it's polished to absolute perfection.

Value:
While it's not expensive (ten bucks), there are other RPGs that are much longer for just as much (and this is only the first chapter).

Fun:
It's hard not to love a good RPG. This is a good RPG. If it's not your cup of tea, you probably haven't played it for more than ten minutes.

Overall:
The Aveyond series has quite a following, and this latest game will add quite a few members to the ranks. It's accessible for a wide spectrum of gamers, and it's the pinnacle of the genre. So, stop twiddling your thumbs, buy it, and witness the rise of an old-school RPG king. Then, get addicted, and fuel the RPG revolution!