Crystal Dragon
| Developer: Magnetic Fields | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Black Legend | Sound: |
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| Year: 1994 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Role-playing game | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
7/10 | |
This is a late clone of Dungeon Master, entirely conventional in both its mechanics and its storyline (chasing down an evil sorcerer in the heart of his fortress).
Its only distinguishing feature is, in my view, a drawback: you can only control two characters (compared to the traditional four in this type of game, or sometimes even more). While you can choose their class (from six options) and customise their stats, the limited party size means fewer possibilities over the course of a playthrough.
I started with a warrior and an assassin. I found the game challenging, mainly because of the lack of resources (water, food, torches). It’s a relentless race that forces you to save frequently, map the dungeons, then reload earlier saves to avoid wasting precious time. There is an automatic map system, but only the easy mode keeps it active at all times. That said, I can’t imagine playing a dungeon crawler without a pencil and grid paper—assuming you have time to sketch. My biggest frustration was the torch shortage. I like to take my time exploring every last inch, but the game clearly doesn’t approve. Ending up in pitch darkness after a cautious yet extended foray is infuriating, because your only option is to start over (oddly enough, the guards on the early levels don’t seem the least bit bothered by the dark).
The interface is simple, albeit a bit clunky at times (having to click “Encamp” and “Resume” to leave the inventory screen, for instance, really grates on me). On the other hand, I’ve no complaints about the automatic map—it’s well presented (yes, I eventually switched to easy mode on my second attempt and brought along a magician with a “light” spell!).
As for the labyrinths, they’re sprawling and perilous, filled with secret rooms, illusions, and traps of every sort. Overall, there aren’t many surprises, but the devious puzzles will keep you busy for quite a while. By the way, if you get stuck, press “P” to pause the game and click on the runes to reveal some invaluable hints.
If you’re planning to play on an emulator, here’s a little gift: disk 4, used for saving. While it’s quicker to save using the emulator, the game still insists on having this disk at the ready.
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