40%PC

I just finished avadon 1: the black fortress. I gave it 2.5 / 5.
Its an isometric turn-based and party based RPG published in 2010 by spiderware software.
Turned out that there is nothing tactical about it simply because tactics with 3 characters is a joke. I am really shocked when developers don't realize very simple things. Tactics need minimum 6, ideally 7 characters.
Anyway, battle was not very enjoyable and it was reduced to the "i hit you, you hit me" routine.
Character development very simple. Classes were also bizarre, my sorceress had an ability to open locks and her spells were actually just 3.
Not an awful game but could be boring for many people. At least it was about 35hours, if it was a 80h game i would have dropped it.

80%PC

Cozy rpg with good balance of combat and story. To me, the game seemed like a slice-of-life story within Avadon, with not much of an overarching story. However, the twist at the end with one of the Hearts was interesting.

70%PC

Fun but it drags near the end.

90%PC

Actually, a great game, different compared to the others Spiderweb's productions (simpler, somewhat more condensed & very “fight-oriented”).

The storyline is nice, the background quite terrific really, and the fighting system is quick enough (once you’ve took some level up). It reminds me of Baldur’s Gate, but with some cut in the budget, obviously.

Though, it won't appeal to everyone. It's very long (not boring if you don't mind reading a lot), very poor visually (I don't mind the setting too much, it's clean and efficient, but there is a huge issue with the... charisma of the characters: they should be memorable for a game which count so much on its storyline, but they are quite bland, with generic artwork and few original scenes).

The worst is most certainly the sound design, or lack thereof. No talking, no music, no sound effects; it lighten the atmosphere of the game.

An interesting game, sadly I wouldn’t recommend it unless you are sure to appreciate it (I mean, if you miss the golden era of the 3D isometric & Black Isles productions) because it’s very long and you can’t just play it halfway.

70%PC

Good old-style rpg. Good story, interface and keyboard controls (sometimes lack of) make it a bit awkward, but fun nonetheless.

50%PC

This is an indie rpg, not an AAA title. The game is pretty interesting, the writing is quite nice and the setting has a distinct flavor that you hardly find on current big budget rpgs.
The sound design is horrible: no music beside the title screen and annoying short loops of ambient sounds. So I have played this game while listening to classic music but that kills a bit the atmosphere of the game.

What made me quit this game after 8 hours was the fighting: endless trash mobs fights. That gets really boring. You have access to only 4 classes of characters and the skill trees are dull.
I suppose that if you love the Icewind Dale series (I have not been able to finish them too) you might like Avadon a lot though.