CRPG Addict - Review Roundup (Part Eleven)

This roundup starts off with the first entry in SSI's popular and mostly AD&D based Gold Box series, an engine that was used for no less than fourteen games over four different series (plus three standalones): Pool of Radiance (Forgotten Realms), Savage Frontier (Forgotten Realms), Dragon Lance and Buck Rogers.

Pool of Radiance (1988)

You don't need to read to the end to get to the important news: Pool of Radiance is the best game I've played since starting this blog. I knew it would be from the second or third day. The variety of encounters is rivaled only by Might & Magic, and the tactical combat system is unparalleled. I loved it. (..)

The final score of 65 puts Pool of Radiance at the top of the heap, 5 points above its next-nearest competitor (the first Might & Magic). We won't be away from the Gold Box series long: Curse of the Azure Bonds comes up in less than 20 games. I remember it even less than Pool of Radiance--I'm not sure if I ever finished it as a youth--so I really look forward to it.

1. Game 57: Pool of Radiance (1988)
2. The Story Begins
3. First Expedition
4. Heroes!
5. Combat
6. Clearing the City
7. Holy and Unholy
8. The Great Outdoors
9. Cleaning Up for the Show
10. Won!
11. Final Rating

Questron II (1988)

The only real option you have when creating your character is the name. Leveling occurs at fixed intervals and in response to progress on the quest, not slaying monsters or building experience. You have no choices when leveling. (..)

The final score of 26 almost seems too high. I think I might revisit my system soon to allow for a "discretionary" category where I can add and subtract points based on particularly well-done (or hated) features.

1. Game 58: Questron II (1988)
2. 2
3. Massacre
4. Won!
5. Final Rating

Scavengers of the Mutant World (1988)

I can't deny that it's fairly original--this might be the first post-apocalyptic CRPG (I don't know if Wasteland from the same year is before or after). The state of the land and your quest is fairly clear (..)

This brings the final score to 26, the same as Questron II, which was bad for different reasons.

1. Game 59: Scavengers of the Mutant World (1988)
2. Flying Fish and Laser Vision
3. Still Scavenging

Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic (1988)

The sum of the individual scores is 38, but we have to talk about some adjustments before we go. First, we're going to deduct a point for the final "battle." That and BattleTech vie for the stupidest endgames I've ever experienced, and I docked BattleTech a point for it, so it would only be fair to do it here. Second, there's the writing. I've rarely encountered such distractingly bad writing in a game. It couldn't have been any worse if Malcolm Trandle had sent a message to the federation that "all your base are belong to us." (..)

In any event, I'm lowering the final score of the game to 36 based on these two factors. I forgive you if you think I've been a little hard on the game. It does have its charm, as a rare science-fiction CRPG and one that at least attempts something original.

1. Game 60: Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic
2. Reboot: Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic
3. Foreign Soil
4. Magic?
5. Careful What You Wish For
6. Slogging
7. Won!
8. Final Rating

Star Command (1988)

[Star Command] appears largely overlooked in the history of CRPGs. (..) I felt that [it] was a fairly good game, especially in the opening stages. Although the plot veered into nonsense towards the end, it held together better than Sentinel Worlds. (..)

That gives us a final score of 44, which outperforms every game I've played since Wasteland. That feels right. It was an interesting game with innovative ideas and good moments, and it motivated me to play to the end, even if the overall package is a bit flawed. It didn't really stand out in any one category, but neither did it completely fail in any one category.

1. Game 61: Star Command (1988)
2. Making the Galaxy Safe for Democracy
3. Reboot: Star Command
4. May Day
5. Disease and Danger Wrapped in Darkness and Silence
6. Upgrading
7. Won!
8. Final Rating

Times of Lore (1988)

I'm not so stubborn as to keep playing such an unrewarding game just because I don't want it to beat me (although I admit it is a bit galling). (..) Like Wizard Warz, another difficult-to-maneuver game with a tiny window, this game feels like it simply wasn't meant to be played with a PC keyboard. 

Final Score: 18. Almost the exact same score as the aforementioned Wizard Warz, to which this game felt very similar.

1. Game 62: Times of Lore (1988)
2. A Chore
3. A Quick Rating

 

Explanation of the the final score: The GIMLET.

Update: The walk through Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic was rebooted later on, so I updated the quote and links accordingly.