There's one game currently on sale that I'm torn about whether I should get, and that's Darklands.

From my standpoint, pros and cons look something like this:
+: Growth system that isn't level/XP based.
-: Real time with pause combat
-: Witches appear as enemies but aren't an option for party members and (to my understanding) don't appear as friendly NPCs

So, any thoughts on whether I should get this particular game?

i say yes if it intrigues you, but its been far far cheaper and has been bundled on steam (more than once I think), so only buy now if you want to play now. If you might need those spare $$$ for something else, take it into consideration.

Myself I got pretty confused with it (not having played it before / being unfamiliar with similar games from the era) but i DID find it highly engrossing nontheless.

Thats pretty much the only advice I have!

Yes, it's one of the classics. You can't go wrong with those.

The CRPG Addict blog had a good playthrough of the game, here's a link to the final summary post with commentary on the various systems of the game. Maybe that will help determine if it's the style of game you like?

(You can find the individual 10 blog entries of the playthrough from the list page.)

I play this game only when I'm in the mood. It is different from what you would see today in games. One thing I love is the art style, they really did a great job. There are definite drawbacks to its age with how restricted the inventory is and some of the choices with inventory. Also, the map is really ugly, even when it was released they remarked how ugly the map was.

One of the best parts of this game is that is its setting. It is set in medieval Germany, there is no magic, only potions from alchemists. It has a great character creation system that still inspires games today.

Due to its age the combat looks and feels clunky.

But still I will pull this out and play it from time to time, it has a real charm that is very hard to find elsewhere. They did a great job in nailing the aesthetic of that time and place.

I haven't played it yet, but I got it for 5,49 € to 1,39 € and I find it overpriced on sale at 6,99 € to 4,69 €

Yes.*
















* Terms & Conditions apply. No warranty is expressed and none may be implied; sometimes one might not want to play but other times may be different.

The witches thing is due to the fact the game is set in 1400's Germany or the area that would become Germany and the dominant religion at the time was Christianity (I believe the branch was Roman Catholicism) and it reflects the thinking and beliefs in Germany at the time and I think there is only one or two witches in the entire game in which you can ask for information about an ingame event after defeating them and then choose their fate? its been a while since I played I suggest if you want a spoiler heavy view of that stuff i n the game I suggest you checkout Darklands.net and make your decision from there.

It's medieval Germany at a time when witch-burnings were at their height, you wouldn't be able to even enter a town as a witch.