The Endless Abyss is an epic RPG with real-time combat, an amazing story-line, side-quests, items & much more!
>>>>>>>>>>REVIEW
=Stats=
*Price: 80 MSP
*Developer: AngelofOsmond (Rickettz Studios)
*Rating: 10/10 "The Endless Abyss, a tale of one warrior and an entire world to explore and defend. In this Action Role Playing Game adventure, take on beasts, wizards and bandits as the player traverses all four corners of the land known as the continent. Utilize swords, spells, bows and quick fingers to stay alive and beat the enemy to dust." --XBL Indie Game Marketplace Description
==Foreword== I want to first thank "Angel of Osmond" for developing and publishing this fantastic game--it is truly an underrated gem in the rough of XBLA Indie Games. I believe that a companion website may bring more attention to gamers and game sites such as IGN.com and others. With only 34 RPG's in XBLA Indie Games, The Endless Abyss is easily among the top 10 for best Indie RPG game (in my opinion it'd be among the top 10 for best Indie Games of all time).
==Review==
This RPG has familiar elements from classic games such as the first Zelda for NES with its overall look and during fighting, yet has a fatigue system (the green "Fatigue" meter) that functions just like that of The Elder Scrolls series (as every single swing of the Sword/pull of the Bow takes away from this meter, just like in ES).
I won't delve into the storyline, as I don't want to ruin the game for others and don't want to provide spoilers, however I will say that The Endless Abyss takes place in medieval times, and that there are kings and castles and kingdoms as well as a changing monster bestiary so fighting doesn't get old.
For a mere 80 MSP, 'Abyss offers more than a dollar's worth of gameplay and fun; two unique weapons that, when used in strategic tandem, can thwart any evil monster--the Bow which stuns enemies and the Sword that delivers the killing blow once the enemies are stunned.
The Endless Abyss also offers a unique system of equipping spells and potions: at any one time, any combination of two potions or spells can be equipped, however you can't change them when in-battle so it's best to make wise decisions beforehand. The spells are all unique and upgrade automatically during level-ups, and there are about three grades of each spell; low, med, and high, with each grade requiring higher "Soul" (the blue magic meter) amounts respectively.
With Shops to aid you when you're running low on either kind of potion (those that refill magic and health) or to trade in the loot that clutters your inventory, 'Abyss offers a very adequately structured Role-Playing Game that all game veterans will recognize and enjoy. There is an Adventurer's Guild, as well, that offers side-quests and rewards--equip-able Gear that can't be found anywhere else or new Spell Tomes to add powerful spells to your collection.
The game is very original and I've come to enjoy it quite a bit--as you play the spells get better and better, and quests get harder and harder, but that's what I've come to expect from RPG's throughout the years. The music as well as the low-resolution graphics make me feel as if I've entered another world--albeit one with NES-style graphics and sound, yet these elements actually add a sense of nostalgia from my early gaming years instead of negative aspects.
Basically, The Endless Abyss is a classic low-res adventure that delves at the heart of what makes all RPGs fun and enjoyable for veteran gamers or newbies alike. The best part of this game, in my opinion, is it's overall function and design--it runs like a true medieval magical adventure and flows like a classic Role-Playing Game to provide hours of entertainment.
One of the best parts of the game, too, is that ANYONE can play it and enjoy it. There are no confusing puzzles or riddles or annoying quests that you can't figure out--however that is not to say that the game doesn't make you think and strategically plan magic-use during battle. Young or old, The Endless Abyss is a sure way to enjoy a great RPG, and for 80 MSP, you can't go wrong.
==Links==
>XBL Indie Game Marketplace Page-->http://tiny.cc/TEAbyss
>Game Dev YouTube Channel--> http://tiny.cc/OsmondYouTube
>Game Dev FaceBook Page--> http://tiny.cc/RickettzFB
==Wrap-Up==
Well, as they say, that about wraps her up. All in all The Endless Abyss is a must-have XBL Indie Game for all RPG fans out there especially those that enjoy medieval adventures that expand as you progress. At the incredibly low price of 80 MSP, The Endless Abyss is worth every single cent of that dollar.
I hope this review helps those that are skeptical, and if you still can't decide for yourself, visit the XBL Marketplace link provided above and download the Free Trial Game to try it yourself. You won't be disappointed (unless you're a harsh critic or you don't like RPG-adventure games).
=Contact Info=
Deeke@XboxLive
Deeke777@GameAssembly.com
dek777@gmail.com
If you enjoyed this review and generally enjoy Xbox Live Indie Games, especially those in the RPG genre, then consider joining my XBL Indie Gamers Group on Game Assembly.com!
>XBL Indie Gamers @GA.com--> http://tiny.cc/XBLIndieGamers Or check out my XBL Indie Games Blog!
>XBL Indie Gamers@Blogspot.com--> http://tiny.cc/XBLIGBlog
Don't forget to Rate this game on the XBLIG Marketplace and others from Rickettz Studios, and to Subscribe on AngelofOsmond's YouTube Channel to receive automatic updates about upcoming games and other news!