Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
| Ravenloft: Stone Prophet | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio |
 DreamForge Intertainment
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| Publisher |
SSI
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
1995 | ||
| platform | MS-DOS | ||
| genre | Computer role playing game | ||
| Subject | Dungeons and Dragons | ||
| Game mode | Single player | ||
| control | Mouse & keyboard , joystick | ||
| system advantages preconditions |
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| medium | CD-ROM , download | ||
| language | English | ||
| Age rating |
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Ravenloft: Stone Prophet , informally also known as Ravenloft 2 , is a computer role-playing game and the second adaptation of the Ravenloft campaign world by Dungeons & Dragons published by SSI . Like its predecessor, Ravenloft: The Curse of the Count was developed by DreamForge Intertainment and published in 1995 for MS-DOS .
action
In terms of content, Stone Prophet is not a direct continuation of the predecessor The Curse of the Count , but puts the player in the Egyptian-inspired scenario of the Har'Akir desert. The trigger is an order from Lord Dhelt to investigate a mysterious wall of fire that transports the group of adventurers to the desert island. The inhabitants of the desert are terrorized by the mummies of the last pharaoh Anhktepot and his high priest Hierophant, who himself was imprisoned by a magical wall in his former kingdom and mutated into the undead due to a curse of the sun god Ra . He now uses the life energy of his remaining subjects to keep himself alive. It is the player's task to break this curse and free the inhabitants of the country from their misery. However, the player cannot defeat the opponent in the final battle, the game ends incompletely at this point with a strategic retreat.
Gameplay
The gameplay of the predecessor was adopted without any major changes. The player begins with a self-assembled, two-person group of adventurers, which can be increased by two additional companions in the course of the game. The two self-created hero figures of the predecessor can be imported. In contrast to The Curse of the Count , the game is structured less linearly and the player can explore the area freely according to his own ideas. Although provided with a few puzzles, the second part is also more combat-heavy.
Unlike in the first part, the player no longer has to select the attack buttons of the group members individually for attacks, but only selects the opponent to be attacked. The selection of spells has been supplemented by some scenario-specific spells, and there are also teleport stones for faster progress in the game world. The previously problematic use of spells during combat has been simplified by the fact that the game is briefly paused when the selection menu for spells is called up.
development
Stone Prophet uses the same engine as its predecessor, which has been graphically revised and expanded to include additional capabilities such as flying and levitation. The user interface and the battles have been streamlined, and the selection and backgrounds of the accompanying characters have been revised. Otherwise, the functions largely corresponded to the CD-ROM version of the predecessor, including speech output.
reception
| publication | Rating |
|---|---|
| PC Games | 75% |
| PC player | 69% |
| Power play | 83% |
| Joystick (FRA) | 82% |
| PC Gamer (US) | 79% |
Tester Volker Weitz from Power Play praised Stone Prophet as a “mature product” that solved the problems of the predecessor Der Fluch des Graf and the technically identical title Menzoberranzan . He particularly emphasized the improved graphics, the sound, the less click-intensive user guidance and the unspent scenario.
Tester Scorpia from the US game magazine Computer Gaming World criticized not only the unsatisfactory end, but also some technical problems that made it difficult to solve the game, as well as some cumbersome puzzles. Still, the game is a significant step forward compared to the disappointing AD&D releases Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager and Menzoberranzan . She particularly emphasized the improved magic system and the free exploration of the game world.
GameSpot authors Andrew Park and Elliott Chin adopted this view for their AD&D computer game retrospective. According to their judgment, The Stone Prophet was not as good as its predecessor, but significantly better than the Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager and Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse, previously published by SSIs . Although the game is good and entertaining in most respects, according to Allen Rausch ( GameSpy ), it suffers from a disappointing ending. Nevertheless, he described it as "recommendable work by SSI and DreamForge". Similar to its predecessor, the game failed to achieve great financial and critical success.
Web links
- Ravenloft: Stone Prophet at MobyGames (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Andrew Park, Elliott Chin: Gamespot's History of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft: Stone Prophet ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . Archived from the original on November 11, 1999. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ↑ a b c Scorpia: Scorpia in the Sand . (Article scan) In: Computer Gaming World . No. 131, June 1995, pp. 75-78.
- ↑ a b Allen Rausch: A History of D&D Video Games - Part IV: 1995 ( English ) In: GameSpy . News Corp . August 18, 2004. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ↑ Volker Weitz: Pretty wrapped up: Stone Prophet . (Article scan) In: Power Play . No. 06/1995, June 1995, pp. 40-41.
- ^ Matt Barton: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part III: The Platinum and Modern Ages (1994-2004) ( English ) In: Gamasutra . UBM plc . April 11, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2013.