Outstanding D&D Action, One of the First Action/Adventure Games
And So It Starts...
You are three flashing dots on a large map (by INTV standards). You move using the arrows on the template, but obstacles will block your way: green forests, blue rivers, and black locked gates. The only way to pass these obstacles is to obtain tools that you can only get by fighting monsters within the mountains. There are four types of mountains, indicated by color:
Color --> Monster guards Item, Use of Item
===================================
Grey --> Rat guards Arrows, used as ammunition
Red --> Snake guards Axe, used to cross Forests
Blue --> Demon guards Boat, used to cross Rivers
Purple --> Dragon guards Key, used to open Gates
Once inside a mountain, you are left with your trusty bow and arrow as the only weapon you can use. Your goal is to make it from the left hand side of the map to "Cloudy Mountain", the large mountain on the right. Once there, you must kill two winged dragons and combine two crown pieces to complete a crown. I assume that reassembling the crown makes you king/queen of the world, but I am still waiting for my throne!
Control
You use the disc to move and the buttons on the controller to shoot, giving you 8 possible directions to aim. The control is very smooth, and with the small caverns of the game, it is very easy to aim at your desired target.
Moving on the main map is a little more stilted, as you must use the arrow keys. The dots (representing your lives) will jump from one space to the next, instead of the fluid motion that you see as a character in the dungeons.
Graphics and Sound
For its time, this game is amazing. There are several different monsters, including: indestructible blobs, arrow stealing spiders, and noise dampening bats. Some of the monsters make noises that you can hear as you approach them: (e.g. snakes hissing, dragons snoring), but the bats can drown them out.
The most awesome part of this game is the randomly generated dungeons. In an era when it was rare to have more than 4 or 5 playable screens, to have created a game that randomly generates dungeon layouts is amazing. It gives the game a very high replay value, even for those of us who have beaten it many times on the highest skill level.
Will This Gather Dust?
I replay this game at least once every few months. The overall feel of the game, the ambiance provided by the sound effects, and the fright I get when a dragon comes storming around a corner trying to attack me make this the ultimate "survival horror" game for me!
Overall Recommendation:
Buy this if:
* You liked Adventure.
* You like Dungeons and Dragons.
* You played it when you were young. It's still as good.