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Lucern · 09-04-2004, 03:32 PM

I liked the game a lot, with reservations of course. It was released too soon, but the patch isn't nearly as attrocious in size as some. Under 20 megs I think.

Anyway, the game comes the closest to any Dungeons and Dragons game to actually having the Dungeons and Dragons combat engine, and it does it in 3.5 edition as well. This said, you control a party of 1-8 (though, good luck with only one!), and you'll fight turn based battles. I give them points for lots of detail in the graphics (albeit dark a lot of the time), achieving a computer based version that stays true to the D&D game, having multiple ways to solve things, and for implementing the character generation and advancement with enough of the in-game skills and feats to keep you happy with that aspect. Being 3.5 D&D based, character generation and advancement is flexible. I won with a party all under 3.5 feet tall! Halfling and gnome power! My fighter was a sight to behold, wielding his longsword as a 2-hander felling ogres, giants, and elementals.

They lose points because it's a short game, because you HAVE to have the patch, because you spend most of your time in a dark dungeon that didn't port as well to PC as it worked out in a D&D tabletop module. I got along with the interface just fine, but the radial menu thing did get to me ocassionally. At least you're not doing it in real time like in Neverwinter Nights.

Some would take away more points because it's turn based, but I give it more points for that. Keep in mind that I'm also a fan of Steel Panthers, Silent Storm, XCOM series, and Jagged Alliance series, all varying degrees of heavy turn-based strategy. I also have the patience to play the ancient "gold-box" series of D&D games, having finished 5 of them. This one is often very light compared to those in terms of the strategy and the waiting.

So, I had fun with it, and I hope more turn-based D&D games are made. Don't pay $50 US for it though. It's approaching a year old and it didn't fare all that well. You can easily find it used online or otherwise.

09-04-2004, 03:32 PM	#5
Lucern Quintesson Join Date: August 28, 2004 Location: the middle of Michigan Age: 43 Posts: 1,011	I liked the game a lot, with reservations of course. It was released too soon, but the patch isn't nearly as attrocious in size as some. Under 20 megs I think. Anyway, the game comes the closest to any Dungeons and Dragons game to actually having the Dungeons and Dragons combat engine, and it does it in 3.5 edition as well. This said, you control a party of 1-8 (though, good luck with only one!), and you'll fight turn based battles. I give them points for lots of detail in the graphics (albeit dark a lot of the time), achieving a computer based version that stays true to the D&D game, having multiple ways to solve things, and for implementing the character generation and advancement with enough of the in-game skills and feats to keep you happy with that aspect. Being 3.5 D&D based, character generation and advancement is flexible. I won with a party all under 3.5 feet tall! Halfling and gnome power! My fighter was a sight to behold, wielding his longsword as a 2-hander felling ogres, giants, and elementals. They lose points because it's a short game, because you HAVE to have the patch, because you spend most of your time in a dark dungeon that didn't port as well to PC as it worked out in a D&D tabletop module. I got along with the interface just fine, but the radial menu thing did get to me ocassionally. At least you're not doing it in real time like in Neverwinter Nights. Some would take away more points because it's turn based, but I give it more points for that. Keep in mind that I'm also a fan of Steel Panthers, Silent Storm, XCOM series, and Jagged Alliance series, all varying degrees of heavy turn-based strategy. I also have the patience to play the ancient "gold-box" series of D&D games, having finished 5 of them. This one is often very light compared to those in terms of the strategy and the waiting. So, I had fun with it, and I hope more turn-based D&D games are made. Don't pay $50 US for it though. It's approaching a year old and it didn't fare all that well. You can easily find it used online or otherwise.