I played this game when it first came out on my faithful old C64. It was the first real role-playing game I had played and I was stunned. Now, all these years later, it still stands high in my regard. It is based around a Museum full of exhibits that require special coins to access - some let you visit dungeons, others give you quests or objects, others let you visit towns like Thornberry, and give you some spending money.
There is a wide landscape to explore, containing different terrains with different food costs, time, monsters and even affects like poisoning in swamps.
I played this game when it first came out on my faithful old C64. It was the first real role-playing game I had played and I was stunned. Now, all these years later, it still stands high in my regard. It is based around a Museum full of exhibits that require special coins to access - some let you visit dungeons, others give you quests or objects, others let you visit towns like Thornberry, and give you some spending money.
There is a wide landscape to explore, containing different terrains with different food costs, time, monsters and even affects like poisoning in swamps. Some monsters are edible and can be added to your food count, but you must be careful, as some can make you very
sick.
The towns contain many shops and activities. You can gamble (but you can't save in towns, so if you're looking for easy money you must save outside and then walk in). If you're feeling strong you can try robbing banks, but then you have to fight all the town guards who are rather hefty. The usual shops are there, like weapons, amour, spells and food, and it's a good idea to visit them all, as every now and then you will be offered a special coin to buy, for use in the Museum. Also, the inventories change as your character advances, so constant visiting provides ample rewards.
You can also train your attack and defense abilities in towns by playing two rather fun little arcade-y games that increase in difficulty as you get better. Well worth the effort, I found. There is also a castle to explore, with lovely chests full of treats and gold to open. Unfortunately, this alerts the guards, so you need to be fairly strong before you get too far there. You end up getting through the castle in stages.
The graphics are pretty primitive, as you might expect, but at least they are easily recognizable for what they are. Always a plus, I think! One slight hassle is that you don't have a very big inventory, and as you can buy weapons and amour in the wilderness from passing peaceful monsters, you can run out of space fairly quickly. Health herbs, food and spells stack, so they're not a problem.
Overall, it was a well justified instant classic when it was released, and it still is.
