Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

"RPG action that stands the test of time"

This is the game that made Atari's Adventure look like dogmeat! Advanced Dungeons and Dragons was way ahead of its time, with random maps and dungeons, and lots of heart throbbing, blood pumping action with the earliest incarnation of a satisfying monster whacking killing spree that makes the PC game Diablo and its sequel so outstanding on the charts.

Premise: You control a warrior who must vanquish the evil dragon(s?) that live in the Cloudy Mountain and reclaim the crown. The task is not so simple, since you have to obtain an axe to chop down the trees to cross the forest, a boat to sail across the river, and finally a key to get to the mountain to whoop some scaly dragon butt. Different enemies inhabited the different color mountains, and each had their own certain amount of arrows to refill your quiver with. Unlike the stereotypical 'warrior' character, our hero does not use a silvery blade to whack down the evil, but instead opts for a bow and arrow, which suits the game.

Graphics: Crisp and sharp for an Intellivision title, the most notable thing is of course inside the labyrinths. When you start off in each mountain area, the only thing visible is a little yellow patch around your character (which is a not very detailed stick figure, but its better than the blockier graphics of an Atari 2600). As you move around, the golden areas scroll out, revealing pathways that jut in every direction. This ups the tension tenfold, for you never know what lies further down the road. The enemies are recognizable as bats, spiders, demons and of course the stars of the show, the dragons. There are visual hints to what kind of monster could be in the area, like the tracks of the demon. These are a very nice touch that keep the player guessing what is going to leap out next, and from where.

Control and Sound: The thing that really gets the player into the game is the high level of tension that goes along with the unique and at-the time innovative way the dungeons are revealed. Amazingly, its the sound that puts you IN the game, for you can hear the distant roar of a dragon as you approach closer to his lair. There's the tick of the arrows that lets you know how many you have left to do battle with, or the irritating flap of the bat. The control is quite good, even using the Intellivision's odd controller, its easy to get into and playing seems second nature. Very precise and responsive.

Replayability: Very very high! I enjoy the game as much then as I do now, a modern update of this would be just jaw dropping (but then again there's always Diablo..). The real time action, and the frenzied feel of stumbling upon a lair of dragons that come after you with a series of devestating roars and trampling you to death is just amazing. The blood really gets pumping in the claustrophic labyrinths. While the object of the game is the same upon each play, the fact that the 'world map' of mountains, lakes and forests are arranged differently each time, present a variety of ways to get into the dragon teeming mountain, and there is a little screen that is a reward of 'beating' the game. High scores are not an option! Its a nice change from having score based games that go on into infinity.

The Final Word: A fun little title that deserves all the praise it recieved then, and even more now. It ranks up at the top of the truly classic console gaming crop along with Pitfall and River Raid. Those that wish to see how RPGs advanced along with the ages, should check this game out, even if just for a bit of nostalgia.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/11/00, Updated 09/11/00