Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
This is a turn-based game right? Not like Baldur's Gate or Icewind Dale or Planescape and so on?
Correct. When combat starts each participant is lined up in order of their initative & modifiers and take their turns accordingly. Everyone has an "hourglass" which will drain according to how far they move and what actions they perform in their turn.
TOEE's most serious gameplay flaw it is the fact that it followed the original D&D module too closely. The game gives you an opening quest based on your alignment which is just a basic reason to eventually find your way to the temple. It doesn't really give you much of a sense of accomplishment because the storyline isn't really there. In the sense of a computer RPG this is probably bad, but if you have a background in D&D it isn't too horrible. Also some of it's interpretations of the D&D rules are a little annoying. A wizard must pay component costs each time he casts identify, which is the same cost as paying a merchant to do it. There isn't a deep description of many magic items & weapons(even after being identified) which basicly leaves you to look it up on the net if you aren't sure what effects SO-N-SO's blessed hammer has.
Some of the strengths are
excellent graphics, the combat engine, and replayability. The graphics are killer, the spells look sooo good and all of the characters and monsters are animated with a very high attention to detail. One of the characters in my party was the town drunk, every time he would stand idle he would sway back and forth like he was about to pass out:beer:. As far as replay value there are tons of things affected by you alignment, and many different quest options are opened by your secondary skill choices and levels. I didn't even begin to dabble in magic weapon or wand crafting, but I understand you can create some pretty potent equipment.
If you are already familiar with the 3.5 rules you should have a good idea as to how to swing combat in your favor in most instances. I would tell you to get it, it is well worth the $18 you would pay. Make sure you apply the patch, and check out the Circle of Eight patch that DefDC mentioned to see if it addresses anything you might be bothered by(I used it myself to help curb the "greed" of some NPC's).
