* BrokenBase: Primarily in regards to if the game's NintendoHard nature is handled well or bogged down by FakeDifficulty. The many skill checks that [[NonStandardGameOver instantly kill you if you fail]] are also a major point of contention among critics.
** In general, opinions fall into three camps. Those who enjoy the game specifically for being so ruthlessly difficult, those who want a fun and easy-going experience, and those who want a realistic and difficult experience but feel this game sacrifices the former for the latter.
* NintendoHard: Loading screens for the game often say that “You will die. Save often.” They really do mean it.
* SelfImposedChallenge: You can go through the whole game without being on the combat screen even once. You can still kill a surprising number of people with sneak attacks or by turning ancient traps against them.
* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' and the many others that are also spiritual successors to it (such as ''VideoGame/{{Arcanum}}'' and ''VideoGame/TheFallLastDaysOfGaia''). It's also quite similar to ''VideoGame/{{Darklands}}'' in several aspects, being based on a low-magic pseudo-historical setting with a brutal difficulty curve.
----