Darkspyre cover
Darkspyre xgame front cover

Darkspyre

A very interesting DOS game was released by Event Horizon Software, Inc. in the year 1990. The game was called Darkspyre. You can now play it online.

Darkspyre description

The gods had claimed they would return. No one believed them. Until now...

... And then the splash screen with the logo of the game... What was it? This is the launch video that introduces the game's plot? Unfortunately - Yes. But, after the game, all those fifteen seconds add up to one story - of course, the story of saving the world from evil, but still very uncommon. Before you is one of the first role-playing games with псевдо3D-isometry, created in the Wake. There is much talk today about how a young industry, but looking at this game, we can say that this is not true: rather, it stands still lost in his youth.

Judge: the development team is gathered together around his idol, console igroseriala Castlevania, creates a game built by the canons of the beloved of the universe, finds a publisher, sells it, and, moreover, it is quite a decent debut, which existed the notorious Dream Forge, which later became Event Horizon Software. Very similar to the fate of the modern development of Eastern Europe, including Russia, is not it?

The game itself is similar to that employed on the New Year Santa Claus: it comes, brings joy, fun, but forgettable as soon as it leaves the threshold. DarkSpyre attracted in the first place is an interesting mixture of all the finds in the RPG genre, known at the time. Lone hero, a lot of different items, a large variety of ammunition (several types of armor, remote and melee weapons), magic (6 classes of spells), advanced system development skills. It is based on the principle of "the more you cut/poke/wave/conjure - the more the skill develops".

The only thing that upset - not so much role-playing system, how the interface I was not able to look at the individual things they can be compared, only wearing. To put on can character armor, helmets, amulets and handing in one subject or the weapon in his hand, which the hero (which makes sense) two, but then the player itself to help his "alter ego" - the mouse cursor is a third hand, which can take an extra shell, a roll or a very difficult thing.

The gameplay itself consists not only and not so much the destruction of monsters on the whole level has about ten pieces. The developers of no less importance was paid to the puzzles locked with a key door locks with puzzles and the levels themselves are made in the form of a fairly intricate maze. The keys and items necessary for the transition to unavailable room, knocked out of the monsters, the habits which I failed to recognize: these inquisitive creatures chasing you and being in an unfamiliar place, go to explore the area, totally forgetting about his potential prey.

As I mentioned, to get acquainted with the plot of this game I failed for the reason that it fits in one sentence: the hero must become the champion, having been tested seven forces: muscles, magic and wit, and save the earth.

Visually, the game looks good, but somehow the graphics, the developers decided to leave 16-color, although, of course, switching to the VGA she'd be very hurt. And still a little confused by the screen, slowly trudging after the hero.

In General, the game deserves its place in any collection if only because it's one of the first RPGs of the 90-ies of XX century, became, nevertheless, a milestone in the history.

Not sure how to pass your time, why not play our classic videogame Darkspyre online? And the best part, it is for free!

Source: Archive.org, Mobygames.com

Darkspyre

Genre:
Action
Year:
1990
Publisher:
Electronic Zoo
Platform:
DOS
Developer:
Event Horizon Software, Inc.
Perspective:
Top-down
Gameplay:
Action RPG