My young teenage self really, really loved this game. I was totally oblivious to the shortcomings described in the article (digitized characters, 'disconnect' between main story and character building, etc.). Instead, I just played and played, seeking new chests for new riddles (simultaneously curious and fearful of not being able to solve it), new combats, new artifacts.

One of the few fantasy games that kept me glued to the PC monitor for logn stretches of time.