Year: 2002 Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox Arx Fatalis is a classic example of poor timing. This first-person RPG, featuring open-ended gameplay, impressive graphics and intuitive spell casting, could have been totally revolutionary were it not for one tiny thing: it was released only months after The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind and Neverwinter Nights. It's a shame, because Arx Fatalis had high ambitions. While the world and questing didn't approach the quality seen in Morrowind, there were a number of features that bested any other 3D open-world RPGs at the time. For example, the crafting system was immensely detailed, allowing the player to create things like a fruit pie by combining dough, a rolling pin, bottle of wine and an apple. It was also possible to complete objectives in many different ways, while the main quest could be defeated in a non-linear fashion. If Arx Fatalis had only released a year earlier, it would likely be considered a timeless classic to this day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRKML57vcTI
