Etrom 20th Anniversary Edition
to Etrom – The Astral Essence’s 20th Anniversary Edition, an immersive point and click action RPG set in a dark future where societies are not only divided by walls, but also laws, secrets, and the treacherous Void Lands.
In a dark futuristic Middle Ages, between arcane rituals, endless wars and bloody fights with techno-mystical blades, you will play the role of Etrom, a former HWD (Human World Defense) attacker who has suffered the mysterious call of the Astral Essence.
As an elite soldier turned fugitive, you must navigate through hostile cities, ancient civilizations, and otherworldly realms to uncover the truth about the enigmatic Astral Essence and your own existence. With a multitude of locations and settings, each brimming with rituals, secret-service plots, and dark spells, Etrom offers a rich and captivating world to explore.
Please Note: The game features a proprietary style of controls, so players should be prepared to familiarize themselves with a gameplay experience which was both revolutionary and controversial for its time, a truly unique way of experiencing RPG, point and click gameplay that divided the masses, and left critics reviewing the game from 2/10 to 9/10!
Engage in intense battles against hordes of enemies, from humans to monsters and extradimensional beings, fighting will be gruelling, bloody, and constant! Use a variety of spectacular Astral Powers, such as Meteor and Lightning Storm. Depending on the choices you make in game, you’ll be able to unleash incredible transformations, becoming a fearsome Demon, Draconian Guardian, or an Abyssal Knight. You can also learn to pilot powerful war mechs and experience the thrill of strategic combat against formidable adversaries.
The voice of the Gods resonates in the astral worlds and you can now hear their Call. Will you have the courage to answer it and discover the secrets that lie beyond the gates of a dark reality, to follow your path of Truth and Justice?
Key Features:
- 20th Anniversary Edition of Etrom – The Astral Essence, first announced in 2003
- Unique Proprietary Controls – Experience an alternate way of playing point and click RPGs
- Includes the first episode of the novel written by Fabio Belsanti and CyberScrivens!
- Seven possible endings, shaping the fate of the parallel dimension
- Over 70 huge environments with a total of approximately 50 hours of gameplay
- Pilot powerful war mechs and engage in strategic battles
- Discover secrets and unravel the mysteries of ancient civilizations
- Encounter demons, secret divinities, dragons, and intelligent entities
- Over 500 types of weapons, armor, rings, magic amulets, and more
- First-person sniper mode for precise targeting and deadly accuracy
Developer’s Technical Note
We regret to share that bugs and system crashes, both during game launch and during gameplay, can happen frequently on some hardware and software configurations.
In our last internal playtests in 2023, 20 years after the game’s launch, we have found at least one incidence of major bugs and/or crashes on approximately 30% of PCs running windows 10 and 11 operating systems.
Etrom was first developed by a group of young dreamers from southern Italy who, mad as they were, decided to begin by creating a proprietary engine, which they then used to develop the game. The game, made by AgeofGames (known at the time as PMStudios Italia) should therefore be considered an Artifact, a piece of the Independent Videogame Archeology from the beginning of the millennium. The proprietary engine, developed by a single programmer, was imperfect back then, and likewise right now, as hardware configurations have swiftly evolved.
Players should also note that the game cannot be saved until the first level is completed. The first level takes between 15 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on skill and the amount of each player’s interaction with the enemies in the map.
Some antivirus systems may also block the game altogether. Not being able to update the code in the engine in any way, we will not be able to solve the problems that will be reported to us.
We remind you that you can easily request a refund here on steam. If you are one of the 30% of folks who will not be able to run the game, please request a refund within 2 hours of gameplay, as unfortunately the game may continue to crash.
One thing we did manage to fix was the English dialogue (only dialogue not Etrom’s journal unfortunately), which has been overhauled by the award winning science fiction writers of the CyberScrivens collective.
We have decided to republish Etrom at a symbolic price despite all these problems because we believe that the setting and the overall narrative structures of the project are still very valid and fascinating today and we hope, also thanks to the addition of a free extract of the novel, that new and old players can immerse themselves for a few hours in this parallel universe that we want to be able to expand in the future with modern technology and development programs.
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
Etrom 20th Anniversary Edition is a re-release of an ambitious action RPG originally created by AgeOfGames, bringing a forgotten cult classic back to modern platforms two decades after its debut. Set within a bleak science-fantasy universe where advanced technology coexists with supernatural forces, the game tells the story of a warrior named Etrom whose destiny becomes intertwined with a mysterious power known as the Astral Essence. While many remastered releases attempt to modernize every aspect of an older title, this anniversary edition instead focuses on preserving the original experience, allowing players to revisit or discover a game that was notable for its creativity and scope long before indie RPGs became commonplace.
The game's greatest strength is undoubtedly its setting. The world of Etrom is an unusual mixture of cyberpunk aesthetics, dark fantasy themes, religious symbolism, and cosmic mythology. Massive cityscapes stand beside ancient ruins, while futuristic technology exists alongside magical powers and supernatural creatures. The narrative explores political conflicts, secret organizations, extradimensional threats, and philosophical questions about power and destiny. This combination of genres creates an atmosphere that feels distinct from most traditional fantasy or science-fiction RPGs. Even years after its original release, the setting remains one of the most memorable aspects of the experience.
Storytelling plays a significant role throughout the adventure. Players follow Etrom through a lengthy campaign filled with conspiracies, betrayals, mysterious revelations, and world-altering events. The narrative is ambitious in scope and attempts to build an intricate mythology around the Astral Essence and the forces competing to control it. While the storytelling occasionally reflects the limitations of its era, the sheer amount of lore and world-building demonstrates an impressive level of ambition. The game clearly aims to deliver an epic journey rather than a simple action-focused experience, and fans of expansive fictional universes will likely appreciate the effort invested in creating its mythology.
Gameplay combines action-oriented combat with role-playing progression systems. Players engage in battles against a wide variety of enemies using swords, ranged weapons, magical abilities, and powerful special attacks. Combat can initially feel unusual due to the game's point-and-click style control scheme, which differs significantly from modern action RPG standards. However, once players become familiar with the mechanics, the system reveals a surprising degree of depth. Success depends on managing abilities, positioning carefully, and understanding how different powers interact during encounters.
Character progression forms a major part of the experience. Throughout the adventure, players gain access to new abilities, equipment upgrades, and transformation mechanics that dramatically alter combat effectiveness. The transformation system is particularly noteworthy, allowing Etrom to assume different forms that provide unique advantages and visual changes. These transformations add variety to combat and contribute to a satisfying sense of growth over the course of the campaign. As players become more powerful, they gain access to increasingly impressive abilities capable of dealing with larger groups of enemies and tougher opponents.
The equipment system is equally extensive. A wide range of weapons, armor sets, artifacts, and magical items can be collected throughout the game. These items influence both combat effectiveness and character customization, encouraging experimentation with different playstyles. The constant pursuit of better equipment helps maintain player motivation and reinforces the traditional RPG progression loop. Combined with the lengthy campaign, this system provides plenty of opportunities for character development and optimization.
Another aspect that deserves recognition is the game's variety. Beyond standard combat encounters, players encounter unique mechanics including specialized combat sequences, alternate gameplay perspectives, and numerous exploration opportunities. The world contains a large number of environments ranging from futuristic settlements to dangerous wastelands and supernatural realms. This diversity helps maintain a sense of discovery and ensures that the journey rarely feels repetitive despite its considerable length.
Replay value is enhanced by the inclusion of branching decisions and multiple endings. The choices made throughout the story can influence the outcome of key events and ultimately determine which conclusion players receive. This structure encourages multiple playthroughs for those interested in exploring alternative narrative paths and uncovering every aspect of the game's mythology. While the branching system may not be as complex as those found in modern RPGs, it adds meaningful variety and reinforces the game's focus on player agency.
Of course, Etrom's age is impossible to ignore. Many aspects of the experience reflect design philosophies and technical standards from the mid-2000s. Animations can feel stiff, controls may seem awkward compared to contemporary action RPGs, and technical limitations occasionally become apparent. The anniversary edition improves accessibility for modern systems, but it does not completely reinvent the original game. Players expecting a fully modernized remake may find certain elements dated. However, those willing to approach the game as a preserved classic will likely find its rough edges easier to appreciate within their historical context.
What makes Etrom 20th Anniversary Edition compelling is not flawless execution but its remarkable ambition. The game constantly introduces new ideas, explores unusual concepts, and attempts to build a world far larger than many independent projects of its era. Even when some mechanics show their age, the creativity behind the design remains evident. It feels like a product of developers determined to create an epic role-playing adventure regardless of technical limitations.
Etrom 20th Anniversary Edition ultimately serves as both an entertaining action RPG and an interesting piece of gaming history. Its expansive universe, ambitious narrative, extensive progression systems, and distinctive blend of science fiction and fantasy create an experience that remains surprisingly unique. While modern players may need patience to adapt to its older design choices, those willing to do so will discover a memorable adventure filled with imagination, lore, and a level of creative ambition that continues to stand out years after its original release.
Rating: 6/10