A lot of people didn't even know that they had made a video-game based
on Robert Jordan's "Wheel of Time" novels. Although it received
generally favorable reviews on its release - almost a quarter of a
century ago, in the far-away year of 1999 - it wasn't a game that had
much longevity. Despite having a solid single-player campaign and some
unique twists to its multiplayer gameplay, it pretty much disappeared
from gamers' radar after only a few months. I only remember it because
it had a few memorable levels and an excellent soundtrack which I
ripped to MP3 and have been listening to ever since.
But it was also one of those games I /knew/ would never make a
comeback; it was too niche, too forgotten, and too saddled with a
third-party licenses to make its resurgence worth the effort of a
resurgence (as is common with licensed titles). It was a game, I was
sure, would only be remembered by the scant few who still owned their
original CD-ROMs.
Well, I thought that right up until the day I learned they were making
a TV show based on the "Wheel of Time" franchise, at which point I
realized it was only a matter of time before the rights-holders
dredged this old game out of the shadows of history in order to make a
quick buck. And lo and behold, that day has come, because "Wheel of
Time" is now available on GOG.*
Although I'm quite happy to see it made available, I am not rushing
out to buy the game again. At $10USD, it's just not worth the price - especially since, as I've said, I already own and have played the
game. If I do buy it, it'll be largely for the convenience of owning a
digital, downloadable version of the game, and that luxury is only
worth a dollar or three to me (your price point may differ).
But neither can I recommend the game to others. It was an innovative
title in some ways, and - as an early licensee of the Unreal engine -
stood out from its peers with its large and colorful levels - but from
a modern perspective, it's not all that much fun. The controls are
clunky, the combat mechanics are inaccurate, and its visuals haven't
aged gracefully. It has a moment or two of spectacle (I personally
remember traversing the haunted city of "Shadar Logoth" quite fondly,
even if its map was infuriatingly mazelike) but on the whole it lacks
so many of the quality-of-life conveniences that make modern gaming so enjoyable and effortless. "Wheel of Time" does have some nifty ideas -
it has a fairly wide array of weapons, and there's a bit in the middle
part of the game where you set up traps and soldiers in an early
attempt at tower warfare - but on the whole the lack of polish is
problematic. There is, after all, a reason this game was largely
ignored by most gamers, and it's not because of any grand Anti-Robert
Jordan conspiracy. The game was average at best, even when it was new.
23 years later, its innovations are all old-hate leaving its flaws all
the more prominent.
The music remains excellent, though.
Still, if you have fond memories of the game (or want a look at an
early 3D FPS, or just love the license) and never got a chance to play
it back in '99, the game is now available again. I'm just happy that -
whether its worth playing or not - it's no longer abandoned as too
many games of that era are. Whether you're interested in the game or
not, be glad you have that opportunity, even if you don't chose to
take advantage of it.
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*
https://www.gog.com/en/game/the_wheel_of_time
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