Aveyond

Now Updated to Version 2

Vicky: What's that? It looks like Final Fantasy.

Me: No, it's a game called Aveyond.

Vicky (after watching for several minutes): It looks fun. Can I play?

Vicky's right; Aveyond does play a lot like Final Fantasy--maybe about V, since the graphics are 2D sprites in an oblique overhead view. It's a game you wouldn't be surprised to find on your SNES or Genesis.

Which is unusual, actually; PC RPGs tend to derive from Dungeons & Dragons, and the Western RPG tradition that runs from the Ultima series through Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights. They have complicated character generation systems, complicated combat strategies, and lots of stats. Console RPGs, by contrast, followed a separate path, with games like the Final Fantasy series, Zelda, and Dragonquest, where there is no character generation (the game choses your hero/ine), combat is fast and simple, and the emphasis is more on story and less on min-maxing your characters.

Aveyond is very much in the latter tradition, even if the developers are American, and it's a PC title. You always know what you need to do next to advance the story; there are lots of side quests; combat is turn-based, with you selecting an attack or spell for each party member each turn--very Final Fantasyesque; and your ultimate goal is (of course) to save the world from a big butch bad guy who wants to destroy it.

If this is your kind of game, this probably sounds like fun to you already. It is, too... graphics may be a little retro, but in terms of story-telling and sheer depth of gameplay, there's a lot here to like.

Bonus Music with Purchase

As an added incentive, when you buy the game, we'll send you a link that allows you to download the Aveyond Music Pack, which replaces the MIDI-quality music in the demo with CD-quality music.

The Developer Says
50+ Hours of gameplay, 60+ quests!
Fight monsters and explore a medieval world! Aveyond is packed with more than 60 quests, hundreds of places to explore, and over 50 hours of game play.

Rhen Darzon is a young girl who lives in the small village of Clearwater. One day while Rhen is outside playing, a mysterious Priestess appears and asks for Rhen's help.

Shortly after, a slave trader comes to the village and mistakes Rhen for the Priestess. He captures her and sells her into slavery. For several months, Rhen remains in slavery until one day she accidentally casts sword magic on the son of her master.

Rhen is sent to the Shadwood Academy to train as a Sword Singer. While she is there, Rhen learns of a plot to destroy her land and she is drawn into a quest to stop a dark prophecy.

Reviews

"An amazingly deep game with an engaging story that will quickly draw you in..."
   - Game Tunnel

"But all in all, this is a very good game..."
   - Quandary

"Good solid fun."
   - Game Plasma

"I absolutely love this game; it's beyond addictive."
   - Gamer God

"My god this game is cute. From the moment this little 8bit style RPG wonder starts its opening sequence you're hooked."
   - Strategy Informer

"Aveyond is a great purchase for the price..."
   - Game Overdrive

"I'd highly recommend giving the game a try."
   - Just RPG

"...you'll be blown away with how uniquely fun this old-school RPG is."
   - Grrlgamer

Awards

Game of the Year: Sound, Game Tunnel