Enclave

I picked this game up for $13 at Target a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, best $13 I ever spent. I figure it's time for a thread, seeing as how it's been recently released on PC and will soon be released on GC.

To start off, what an utterly beautiful game. The textures, designs, character models, and environments are astounding. A lot of time and effort was put into the aesthetics of this game, and it shows. The combat is clunky, yes, but still manages to be rather fulfilling. The most glaring flaw is the lack of a checkpoint system within the levels, which is especially infuriating when you die at the end of a LOOONG level. Luckily, the levels are quite well-designed and I personally found it rewarding to play through a level multiple times, seeing as how there are a lot of hidden items and paths to discover. After I'd found them all and still keep dying at the final area, though, it was considerably less fun. A bit of perseverance pays off, though, as there are a lot of missions and a whole second campaign to play though.

Yeah, it's got it's flaws, but I would say it's definitely worth a purchase at under $20. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Any word on whether some of these problems have been corrected in the PC and GC versions? If so, I'd say it's defintely worth full price. Also, are there any new additions (characters, levels) to the ports?

Well, I'll give you that the game looks wonderfull. The environments, character models and fx are excellent, and game has very cool fantasy setting and style.

It could have been much better game, if the developers didnt screwed up the combat system, and bothered to add check points to some of the very long levels.

While long range combat is decent(sometimes its as tricky to get the right aim as in close range), the melee combat is pretty bad, as you will end up relying on running away and trying to attack again, since your character ends up blindly swinging its sword(or other kind of weapon you might have) trying to hit the opponents, who's aiming and fighting skills are better than yours, and they dont miss as often.

Also the most of the levels are long and filled with ton of enviromental traps that will hurt or ultimately kill you. And then you start all over. Would have it really hurt to have a check point in the middle of the long level, or at least have character have couple of lives/tries? Eventually you get bored of endlessly trying to beat the level, just be be killed by the cheap trap right next to the exit.

Badly placed controls is another flaw, but thanks god you have an option to be able to select from a few controll variations, since original layout that has Jump action mapped to Right Analog click is awfull choice and makes game almost unplayable. Just try to play it with that set up and see if you can make it across the spear trap in the level one without hopelessly falling on to the spears, as you try to jump over it.

I seen it a Target for $13 and at that price the game worth getting, but NO WAY it was worthy of full $50 back in the day.

I'm not sure about check points or whatever, but I know you can play as the dark side from the beginning in the PC version.

I also picked it up a couple weeks ago at target & I have enjoyed it immensly. I must say though, the Dark campaign has utterly defeated me. That shit is tough!

JM

Yes, the PC version has checkpoints. Haven't played it, but read a review of it. I like the game, but it plays dirty too much of the time. To finish the game, it relies way more on memorization than actual skill, which isn't fun for me.

Hmm, If PC version does have checkpoints, I might pick it up instead, and finally be able to finish it :)

I think the GC version will have checkpoints as well, I saw on ad for it in one of the more recent game mags

I may pick up the PC version of Enclave soon. The pc version so far has been getting very favorable reviews and I noticed that almost every review I have read all say what an improvement it is to use the keyboard/mouse combo to control the character. They say the game plays much smoother because of it. Since games like this dont sell to well I'm gonna give it a couple of weeks before it drops to the $20 to $30 range, which should be soon.

I really enjoyed it as well. Worth playing for the artwork and level design alone.

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Also the most of the levels are long and filled with ton of enviromental traps that will hurt or ultimately kill you. And then you start all over.

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Instant kill traps are in the definite minority, and I can't think of a single one that wasn't placed at the very start of a level. I really didn't find this to be an issue.

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Originally posted by Mode7
Instant kill traps are in the definite minority, and I can't think of a single one that wasn't placed at the very start of a level. I really didn't find this to be an issue.

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Well, I did :)

Level 2, the trap I mentioned in my first post. It happens at the end of the level, after you accomplished all the objectives, and ready to exit. Its not even in the optional area, like some treasure you "might" want to get. It right there on your way and you must get around it. Combined with bad control set up, game makes this sequence unnecessary hard,

Also from what I remember Level 5 is pretty long, and have ton of falls traps, most of which in the mid and last sections of the level.

Don't cry about the control set up if it is easily changed. Pretty much a non-issue if you look at the instruction booklet before you play.

JM