I was excited to try out Age of Decadence because, in a world of real-time dragon-slayer RPGs, this title touted itself as an isometric turn-based role-playing experience. Add to that a wide variety of character options, considerable combat difficulty, and an overall impressive level of game depth, and this could be the next big RPG for the PC.
In development since March 2004, and more recently greenlit by Valve in January 2013, Age of Decadence is loosely based on the fall of the Roman Empire. Boasting 8 character backgrounds, 23 total character skills, 7 in-game factions, and a non-linear world easily on par with Bethesda Studios’ well-known hits, Age of Decadence puts players in a world where there are multiple choices in each situation, and no one way to do anything. While magic plays a minor role, conversation and politics take its place – there is often more to reveal about certain characters or situations through attempting to manipulate someone. That said, the right character background, combined with wise skill development and enough sense to survive far enough into the game, can create a powerful character capable of taking on a group of enemies. You just have to choose wisely enough to make it there…
The real magic of this title is in the writing – if you’re not a fan of reading, Age of Decadence is not for you. Extensive details about the political, commercial, or factional details of a city can be gleaned from a long conversation with a simple merchant (assuming you have the necessarily developed skills to speak to them). Walking around an area such as a city will trigger events that can contain a small booklet’s worth of information, and in this world of political intrigue and power struggles information seems your most reliable weapon. How one deals with this knowledge can lead to further revelations, or possibly a fight where the odds aren’t in your favor.
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“The real magic of this title is in the writing – if you’re not a fan of reading, Age of Decadence is not for you.”Â
Lore also figures large in Age of Decadence – it’s filled with items and characters that reference the little-known esoterics of the pre-downfall days, so much so that Loremaster is one of the backgrounds players can select for their character. This is a huge part of the game, as figuring out how these ancient secrets can be revealed, and ultimately used in your current binds, propels many parts of the game.
While deep conversations and ancient relics are a pillar of Age of Decadence, good old-fashioned fighting has its place, too – it’s just not that easy. Gone are the days of wading into a crowd of foes, handling some while you easily CC the rest. Combat is highly tactical and based on an AP system – players and enemies can maneuver around each other and use various attacks, all with a certain point cost. But, just as there isn’t any one correct way through a situation in the game, there is never just one way through a fight – with multiple combat-oriented backgrounds for players to choose for their characters; an arsenal of weapons, armors, upgrades and abilities; and even the ability to target specific body parts of your enemies at a certain level, Age of Decadence offers combat that easily parallels the depth and complexity of the rest of the game.
Having had just a taste of this gem, I can’t wait for the fully-polished end product to be released on Steam. While Age of Decadence offers vast choices for players to build characters, there seems to be no restriction as to what any character can ultimately do or become given enough time – an Assassin can eventually become skilled in the intricacies of political subterfuge, or a Merchant can have a behind-the-curtain role as a hired killer, tipping the scales of an economy in his favor with a well-place dagger. Though in Greenlight-limbo for the last few years, and aesthetically unpolished, I expect Age of Decadence to make a big splash when it hits the regular market, hopefully by the end of 2015.
***An early access code was provided by the Publisher***
