Big set pieces, fluid animation, high-resolution character models, and impressive lighting and special effects add to the overall atmosphere and immersion factor. Visually speaking, the game is impressive. At least the controls are smooth and easy to learn. But be forewarned: The difficulty ramps up after an hour or two, making the game quite challenging there's only one difficulty level in the game (more than one would have been ideal), with some save points that are too far and few in between, which is frustrating at times.

The level design can be hit or miss, but the ones that are well-crafted levels (pardon the pun) are memorable and very replayable strafing between columns while exchanging fireballs with skeleton warriors is also inherently exciting - especially with the lights off and speakers cranked. Even better, the bosses aren't simply level fodder they serve as an additional challenge to your spell-slinging skills. Many of the demonic enemies are smart, so you'll need to master the art of defense. Once you get the hang of it, it's a blast to run around this magical world while mastering all the different crafts and spells. You may not have heard of Lichdom: Battlemage, but it's a unique and gratifying experience, especially if you're used to first-person shooters.

This bloody and violent adventure is a surprisingly fun and different kind of experience for mature action fans.

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