Curse of the Azure Bonds
| Curse of the Azure Bonds | |
|---|---|
| Studio |
 SSI
|
| Publisher |
SSI
|
| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1989 |
| platform | Amiga , Apple II , Atari ST , Commodore 64 , DOS , Mac OS , PC-98 |
| Game engine | GoldBox |
| genre | Computer role playing game |
| Subject | Dungeons and Dragons |
| Game mode | Single player |
| control | Mouse & keyboard , joystick |
| medium | diskette |
| language | English |
Curse of the Azure Bonds is a computer role-playing game by the US game developer Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) from 1989 and the sequel to Pool of Radiance . Like its predecessor, it is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons ( AD&D ) role-playing game rules and uses the gold box engine , but has expanded the scope of the game compared to its predecessor. Curse of the Azure Bonds was released for the Amiga , Apple II , Atari ST , Commodore 64 , DOS , Mac OS and PC-98 platforms .
action
The game shifts the action to the Talländer (English: Dalelands ) south of Phlan , the starting point is the Tilverton settlement. The group of heroes wakes up from a magical sleep and finds that they have no memory of any kind and that all their belongings have been stolen. Instead, all characters wear five blue, tattoo-like body markings, the so-called Azure Bonds . They are the expression of a curse that weighs on the characters and that needs to be lifted.
In the course of the game, the group travels the entire area, including the Elven Forest, Zhentil Fortress, the Temple of Yulash and the Hap Citadel. The game ends with the final confrontation in Myth Drannor, where the curse is finally lifted with the victory over the boss.
Gameplay
Curse of the Azure Bonds takes over the gameplay of its predecessor unchanged. It combines turn-based game world exploration from the first person perspective with tactical, also turn-based battles from a gentleman's perspective . The basis is the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons RPG set of rules , which the game has implemented close to the original. Players of the predecessor Pool of Radiance or of the offshoot Hillsfar developed in parallel as a commissioned work by Westwood Associates can import their hero troops at the beginning. Alternatively, a new group of six heroes can be created as before. Compared to its predecessor, the class selection has been expanded to include the paladin and the ranger in addition to fighter, magic users, cleric and thief. In addition, there are six player races to choose from (human, half-eleven, elf, dwarf, halfling, gnome), for which - with the exception of humans - class combinations are also possible. New characters receive 25,000 experience points right from the start, which means they start at character level 5.
In contrast to its predecessor, the hero group travels the region with the help of an overland travel map, on which the relevant travel destinations can be found. Random encounters such as raids may occur during the trip.
development
In addition to the two additional character classes, the selection of spells has been expanded by 30. The graphics were also slightly improved, with the exception of the Amiga version. The upper limit for experience points has been raised, the operation has been revised and side quests have been introduced. Like its predecessor, the cover motif was designed by the American illustrator Clyde Caldwell , who was also responsible for the design of other D&D products.
Republication
On August 20, 2015, GOG.com re- released many Goldbox games after years of non-availability in digital distribution , including Curse of the Azure Bonds in the second "Forgotten Realms: The Archives" collection.
reception
Like its predecessor Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds received the Origins Award for “ Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1989 ”. Allen Rausch from the US online game magazine GameSpy described Curse of the Azure Bonds in its 2004 retrospective as a “more than worthy continuation of the series”.
In Curse of the Azure Bonds on the preceding year, two more thematic successor, Secret of the Silver Blades , and Pools of Darkness .
novel
- Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb: Azure Bond . TSR , 1988, ISBN 0-88038-612-6 .
The novel formed a prelude to the game and is the prelude to a trilogy of novels called Finders Stone Trilogy , which is based on the books The Wyvern's Spur ( ISBN 0-88038-902-8 ) and Song of the Saurials ( ISBN 1-56076-060- 5 ) by the same authors was continued.
Web links
- Curse of the Azure Bonds at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://amr.abime.net/issue_2949_pages
- ↑ a b Allen Rausch: SSI's "Gold Box" Series ( English ) In: GameSpy . News Corp . August 16, 2004. Retrieved January 2, 2009.
- ^ Matt Barton: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part 2: The Golden Age (1985-1993) ( English ) In: Gamasutra . UBM TechWeb. February 23, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
- ↑ Forgotten Realms: The Archives brings 13 D&D classics to GOG on PC Gamer Jordan Erica Webber (Aug 20 2015, English)
- ↑ Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two on gog.com (English)