I wouldn't say this game is objectively poor. I think, if the player trying it out is a big fan of old-school point/click adventure type games, they may actually find a lot of enjoyment out of this one. Especially if they enjoy grinding through menial tasks for the sake of a higher level of realism.
However, for fans of more modern RPGs, this won't have the same impact. The beginning is dreadfully slow and poorly designed. Not only is the combat (melee specifically) absolutely dreadful, but the enemies are also in high volume within all the starting areas. Sitting through the combat is almost tortuous, and that's coming from someone who loved the KOTOR series (not all that different in its gameplay niche).
Normally, I can put up with sub-standard gameplay (although typically far, far better than the quality here) for an RPG's story and immersive world, but in this case, I found the world a torture to experience as well. The only credit I can give the exploration is the soundtrack, which might be the only element of this game that stands the test of time. Otherwise, it is every bit as dreadful as the combat. Exploration feels like traversing a lifeless, colorless void. I love the newer fallouts, but their feeling of traversing the waste, while still dark, is a positive sort of isolated wonder, danger, and feeling of dread. This game's version of that is more what I'd call ugly and uniform without much of an atmosphere beyond the soundtrack. Not an immersive element, just another chore to put up with. Even the towns feel dead and utterly lack immersive quality.
Overall, there are some positives to the story, but not enough to outweigh the fact that the main gameplay cycle (exploration and combat) is an absolute pain for me to experience. I understand this game has its niche fanbase that drives the "classic label", but I'm not in it, and I think the fans of it need to at least acknowledge some of the drawbacks in game design rather than just going everywhere touting this as the best RPG ever (often while directing hate towards newer RPGs). There is definitely a difference in taste between me and them that explains the contrasting opinions, but also some very, very rose-tinted glasses.
However, for fans of more modern RPGs, this won't have the same impact. The beginning is dreadfully slow and poorly designed. Not only is the combat (melee specifically) absolutely dreadful, but the enemies are also in high volume within all the starting areas. Sitting through the combat is almost tortuous, and that's coming from someone who loved the KOTOR series (not all that different in its gameplay niche).
Normally, I can put up with sub-standard gameplay (although typically far, far better than the quality here) for an RPG's story and immersive world, but in this case, I found the world a torture to experience as well. The only credit I can give the exploration is the soundtrack, which might be the only element of this game that stands the test of time. Otherwise, it is every bit as dreadful as the combat. Exploration feels like traversing a lifeless, colorless void. I love the newer fallouts, but their feeling of traversing the waste, while still dark, is a positive sort of isolated wonder, danger, and feeling of dread. This game's version of that is more what I'd call ugly and uniform without much of an atmosphere beyond the soundtrack. Not an immersive element, just another chore to put up with. Even the towns feel dead and utterly lack immersive quality.
Overall, there are some positives to the story, but not enough to outweigh the fact that the main gameplay cycle (exploration and combat) is an absolute pain for me to experience. I understand this game has its niche fanbase that drives the "classic label", but I'm not in it, and I think the fans of it need to at least acknowledge some of the drawbacks in game design rather than just going everywhere touting this as the best RPG ever (often while directing hate towards newer RPGs). There is definitely a difference in taste between me and them that explains the contrasting opinions, but also some very, very rose-tinted glasses.