Arcanum Underworld could have been a first-person RPG based on Half-Life 2 engine

A pitch document for Arcanum Underworld: Journey to the Center of Arcanum emerged online. The canceled sequel to Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura could have been a first-person RPG based on Source Engine.

Fans of Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura lay their hands on a pitch document for a sequel that never actually saw daylight. As it turns out, Troika Game’s Arcanum Underworld: Journey to the Center of Arcanum was planned as a first-person perspective RPG built on Source Engine, best known from Half-Life 2. You should remember though, many other ideas for the game were witten down and discussed in early development stages, reminds Tim Cain from Obsidian Entertainment on RPG Codex forum. According to this particular description, the next Arcanum was to be heavily inspired of Half-Life as regards construction of world and puzzles, Thief, in terms of stealth gameplay, and Ultima Underworld, when it comes to roleplaying mechanisms. The Word document, dated back to August 2001, can be found here.

Arcanum Underworld could have been a first-person RPG based on Half-Life 2 engine - picture #1
Arcanum offered a unique combination of magic and technology.

The first Arcanum, released in 2001, featured an interesting world that combined magic and technology. The game was developed by now dissolved Troika Games, who later created The Temple of Elemental Evil and Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines, all three successful RPGs.

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