ADOM Deluxe Review

In some ways, ADOM plays like those tabletop RPGs of old, complete with massive amounts of text to read through regarding rules, descriptions, and backstory, as well as an endless array of strategies to use within a broad framework. Like a Dungeons and Dragons tabletop experience, you are forced to work within the boundaries of an elaborate, yet rigid set of rules controlled by an in-game programming logic that works with countless pieces of information, statistics, and probabilities. You are granted a somewhat random set of assets right off the bat, each with designated sets of stats. You will notice the descriptions of your weapons and armor provide a series of characters that seem to resemble math equations more than RPG statistics. One example would be (+1, 2d5+3), which means your weapon would give you one point of damage, plus additional points based on the total sum of 2 5-sided dice, plus 3 more damage points... Seems elaborate and strange at first glance, but put simply, it is just the game’s method of melding predetermined attributes with an element of randomness.

Your armor will come with two main statistics - DV and PV. These are essentially different varieties of defensive abilities, the former of which is similar to what many more common RPG fans would recognize as “evasion,” while the latter is more like your typical defensive power. These numbers depend not only on the item itself, but also draw from a hodgepodge of factors from your race, to your class, and even some seemingly miniscule stats such as your satiation level. Then there are spells, which bring a truly convoluted looking algebraic-esque equation that, in short, factors in a combination of the player’s level, willpower, spell efficiency, and distance to travel to its target. You can quickly see how this game adheres to more to the more technical and strategic side of gaming rather than the more linear flashy and cinematic-heavy games that populate the modern era.

The combat takes on a sort of Final Fantasy Tactics vibe, placing static enemies within a grid and allowing movement in only one of four directions within a turn-based system. Yet, despite ADOM stressing the tactical and the complex in many aspects, the fighting mechanics are actually quite basic in many ways. This is ironic considering you will spend the majority of the game taking on a massive and diverse pallet of enemies. The simplistic nature of combat nearly reaches a disappointing level, as the bulk of it consists of taking turns landing swift shots at the opponent, which are laced with extremely minimalistic animations (though some of the spells look mildly neat). In all fairness, I still generally found these swift battles fun despite the repetition, though a large part of it could be attributed to my giddy anticipation for much needed experience points, and the random assortment of treasures you are gifted following a victory. And considering how frequently the enemies are randomly thrown at you, perhaps having quick and easy fighting mechanics is the better way to go anyway.

You will need that extra time to constantly monitor your character’s situation, analyze your intricate stats and identify items, chat with NPCs who give you subtle bits of a surprisingly entertaining backstory, detect traps and hidden doorways, create potions, and generally plan your attack for the next dungeon crawl and/or quest. You can even spend some time at the casino or take on farming if these sorts of activities are your forte. Assuming you live long enough to take advantage of these diverse experiences and abilities, ADOM provides an almost Minecraft-esque level of both personal customization and freedom.

Make no mistake about it, ADOM has the potential to offer near endless replay value if you are up for the prevalent (yet often rewarding) onslaught of abuse. A large amount of time could be spent simply playing around with the massive amount of various race and class combos, as there are an absolute plethora to choose from, and everybody will find a different preference. But that is only the beginning of the critical decisions the game throws at you. As you progress, you will tweak your skills, abilities, and even get to choose your path, Fable style, towards either a “lawful”, “neutral” or “chaotic” alignment. These alignments affect your abilities, circumstances, and overall experiences throughout the game. Between the randomized dungeons scattered throughout the perilous grassy and mountainous overworld, as well as the random items you are given each playthrough, you could see how ADOM ensures a truly unique experience every time you set forth for a new adventure.

Unfortunately, it was sometimes difficult to summon the desire to dust myself off and set forth for that new journey after investing hours in a failed one that preceded it. While the game gets far more interesting and unique as you progress, you will generally find yourself having to go through the same motions again to kick off your adventure, at least during the first couple hours or so. This includes basic tasks like gathering enough food, talking to the same NPCs to earn the same quests (which generally include slaying some boss or NPC) and uncovering the same familiar landscape on the overworld. Things like this bring the game to the verge of feeling like a chore at times after repeated playthroughs. And its cruel nature almost guarantees that you will be starting over and replaying these first couple of hours repeatedly, particularly if you are going into it without doing a fair bit of online research and/or are unfamiliar with the strange and unforgiving intricacies of the rougelike dungeon crawler.

The absurdly random and relentless difficulty is a barrier that will ultimately act as near immediate dividing line. While the spruced up graphics and more palatable interface at least partially help to provide a less intimidating and more casual friendly RPG experience, this game still will only appeal to a rather small niche. You will likely either “get it” or you won’t. For those who do get it however, the game's brutality and the trials and tribulations that await even the most hardcore of gamer ironically acts as one of ADOM’s greatest appeals. It is such a difficult challenge to master enough to the point of gaining real progress, let alone complete, that it provides virtually endless replayability.

On top of this, it also brings out that competitive spirit of trying to outdo your last performance and reach that nearly unreachable zenith of finishing the game; a notion almost as rooted in fantasy as the premise of the game itself. The addition of the leaderboards, along with a surprisingly detailed list of your in-game action and achievements, further adds to this characteristic of self-competition and provides enticement to commence a new journey with a new race and/or class. And for those gamers who are intrigued enough to keep their ADOM experience going but are too frustrated to carry on in the main game and the vulnerability that comes with it, the Steam version also includes a weekly challenge mode that throws different situations and goals at you. There is also an “exploration mode” which will grant you a handicap in the form of a wand from which you can summon any in-game asset or ability. This inevitably allows you to venture farther and reach those more interesting moments that you may have spent months pulling out your hair to fight your way to otherwise.

These little additions offer a nice diversion and change of pace from the typical ADOM grind, though the main single player mode will provide more content and gameplay than you will ever need anyway, as long as you have the patience and the stamina to keep trying. Even though I perished countless times, it was reassuring that I usually found myself progressing at least a tad farther, and ending with a higher score each time. You continue to die, and you learn from your experience, which increases your chances (however slight) to make a significant run next time around. If I were to keep pressing on for several months, who knows? Perhaps one day I could possess the ADOM expertise gathered from my hard lessons of heroes that have long passed on, and reach the gaming holy-grail of ADOM by conquering the vast Caverns of Chaos while achieving an “Ultra Ending.”

ADOM is an experience that some will cherish, and others will loathe. But if your style of gaming includes challenging obstacles that reward cunning and persistence, while tossing hand-holding simplicity aside; and if you crave a rougelike RPG as deep as your imagination and your patience allows, you will likely find ADOM more that suitable to fill your needs.