Summary
- Release Year: 2018
- Genres: Adventure, Indie, Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Portalarium
- Publishers: Portalarium
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is a computer role-playing game created by Lord British (aka Richard Garriott), creator of the genre-defining Ultima series of computer games, Starr Long, director of Ultima Online, and Tracy Hickman, author of the Dragonlance series. It was released on March 27, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.
The game is set in the fantasy world of New Britannia, which was first introduced in the Ultima series of games. Players create a character and embark on a journey to explore the world, complete quests, and fight monsters. The game features a deep and complex crafting system, a player-driven economy, and a variety of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment content.
Gameplay
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is a sandbox MMORPG that offers players a wide variety of activities to engage in. Players can choose to focus on PvE (player-versus-environment) content, such as questing, exploring, and crafting, or they can engage in PvP (player-versus-player) combat. The game also features a robust housing system that allows players to purchase and decorate their own homes.
The game’s combat system is action-based, and players can choose from a variety of weapons and abilities to use in battle. Players can also group together to form parties and take on more challenging content.
Crafting
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues features a deep and complex crafting system that allows players to create a variety of items, including weapons, armor, clothing, and furniture. Players can gather resources from the world and use them to craft items at crafting stations. The game also features a player-driven economy, so players can sell their crafted items to other players for profit.
Player Housing
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues features a robust housing system that allows players to purchase and decorate their own homes. Players can choose from a variety of different house styles, and they can place furniture and other items to create a unique living space. Players can also invite other players to visit their homes.
Setting
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is set in the fantasy world of New Britannia, which was first introduced in the Ultima series of games. New Britannia is a large and diverse world, with a variety of different biomes, including forests, deserts, mountains, and swamps. The world is also home to a variety of different creatures, including humans, elves, dwarves, and orcs.
Story
The story of Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues begins with the player character waking up on the shores of New Britannia. The player character has no memory of their past, and they must set out on a journey to discover their identity and their place in the world.
As the player character travels through New Britannia, they will meet a variety of different characters and factions. They will also learn about the game’s rich history and lore. The player character’s choices will shape the story, and they will ultimately determine the fate of New Britannia.
Development
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues was developed by Portalarium, a game development studio founded by Richard Garriott. The game was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. The game was released on March 27, 2018, for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Reception
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the game’s deep and complex gameplay, while others criticized its technical issues and lack of polish. The game has a Metacritic score of 75/100 based on 35 reviews.
Overall
Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues is a deep and complex MMORPG that offers players a wide variety of activities to engage in. The game features a deep and complex crafting system, a player-driven economy, a variety of player-versus-player and player-versus-environment content, and a robust housing system. The game’s story is rich and engaging, and the world of New Britannia is large and diverse. However, the game’s technical issues and lack of polish may be a turn-off for some players.
Review Score
7.5/10