FATE is one of the best action role-playing games for the PC that I've played this year. The game isn't particularly innovative and doesn't really bring anything new to the genre but what it does do is deliver a solid and fun game experience for all ages.

FATE is an action role-playing game that lets you create a boy or girl character and a companion pet (cat or dog) and head off into a dungeon for randomized encounters, truckloads of loot and treasure and progressively difficult enemies as you descend into the 50 level dungeon to battle a big bad foozle. Fate offers cute graphics, and borrows a lot from other games like Diablo and Dungeon Siege. The game is simple to pick up and play but offers a challenge for both novice players and hardcore RPG fans alike.

Beyond plowing through the various levels of the dungeon, players can take on a myriad of quests from the townsfolk that could include anything from retrieving a valuable item or two and killing a boss enemy to eliminating a set number of monsters on a given level. While these quests aren't always original or unique they make up a good portion of the game's activities and most of the time they prove to be entertaining.

FATE doesn't deviate too much from the tried and true conventions of the genre - you have your pack mule style companion, a town portal spell for traveling back and forth to Grove, treasure hunting and loot reselling and twitch based combat that is very easy to handle. But what it does do is deliver all of the usual suspects in a cute, enjoyable and fun way. The graphics, art, music and character design just look great and the light and sunny atmosphere makes it the kind of game that you won't mind letting your kids play. There's also no blood or gore (though there is animated violence and death scenes but it's no worse than letting them play a fighting game on a console).

There are a few things that set FATE apart from other RPG's. For one thing the combat is twitch based, meaning you have to hit your left button every time you want to attack (you can hold the button for a continuous attack). Another interesting element of the game is your pet. Your cat or dog can aid you in fights and can carry things for you, but you an also send it back to town to sell your goods. But the most interesting thing you can do is feed it fish to temporarily (or permanently) change it into some other type of monster. Your pet also earns experience points as it kills things just like you do and can evolve into a more powerful helper. And unlike most other games, your pet doesn't die - if it takes too much damage it'll simply run away.

Another thing that is neat about the game is that you get choices when you die. Upon your demise Fate will appear and give you choices for returning to life. You could return a few levels above or nearby and lose some gold or experience - the closer to your location the more the penalty. This isn't a new idea but it sure gives the game an old school kind of appeal that i find refreshing.

But the real fun is in all the randomness found in the game - from Merchants hawking fish on random levels to statues and altars that can randomly do things to you or your weapons. The game's dungeon is also completely random, with each new visit to a given level an all new experience. Interspersed within all that are fishing spots where you can grab fish for your pet or very rare items, a myriad of monsters and lots of other little touches that makes the game so much fun. And to top all of this dungeon delving goodness is the ability to retire and pass on a bit of your prestige and an heirloom of your choice to a descendant - basically allowing you to create a new character that has a slight advantage at the beginning.

After playing the final version of the game for a lengthy amount of time I have to say that Fate is one of the best dungeon romps I've played this year. The scale of the adventure may not be epic but the overall package is pure unadulterated addiction. If you like role-playing games then you'll love FATE.