The combat system is real-time, very similar to titles such as Eye of the Beholder and Lands of Lore. The game features a rich bestiary, and being aware of the abilities of each creature is important to be able to overcome them – enemies can be poisoned, given diseases, paralysed, stunned, explode upon death, or cast certain spells. While most creatures can be defeated using normal weapons and spells, some require a special approach. For instance, desert trolls can only be killed by acid, fire or water, and the three greater mummies in the game are so powerful that they cannot be destroyed by normal means.

There are few friends to be found among the frightened and superstitious inhabitants of Muhar, who believe the party to be responsible for the plague and the storms. Nonetheless, many NPCs contribute to the quest with interesting conversation and bits of history that add a lot of atmosphere to the game.

Some of these NPCs are willing to join the party, believing that they stand more of a chance to leave Har'Akir as part of a group effort than on their own. These NPCs range from regular humans to exotic creatures such as a wemic, a desert troll, an undead warrior and even a jackalwere.

Choosing which NPCs to keep is a strategic decision, as each of them has his strengths and weaknesses. For example, the desert troll is an excellent combatant, especially during the earlier stages of the game; however, he can't gain experience, has a very limited inventory space, and can't hold anything in his hands.

The inventory is very elegant, with a simple drag and drop interface and mannequins that display your current equipment and held items with nicely drawn artwork. The inventory capacity, however, is quite limited, both in slots and in maximum weight.