Stonekeep

Stonekeep is a 3D computer role playing game from Interplay Entertainment . After several postponements of the publication date and a multiplication of the original production costs, it was finally published in 1995 , after around five years of development. The distinctive element of the role play is the combination of blue screen film technology and pre-rendered 3D backgrounds.

The development of the successor title Stonekeep 2: Godmaker was stopped in 2001 after several years of production.

Game description

The player takes on the role of Drake, who was the only child who survived the destruction of Stonekeep Castle ten years ago. Now he has to destroy the evil shadow king Khull-Khuum and free the earth goddess Thera who he kidnapped .

During the game, various puzzles must be solved and monsters killed in the 25 levels . A maximum of three non-player characters can accompany Drake (there are 80 NPCs in total).

At the end of the game, the deities' orb stones that correspond to the planets must be placed in the correct order.

Characters

Drake, (actor Nicholas Franchot)
Khull-Khuum, the Shadow King (Michael Espisito)
Thera, the earth goddess (Lisa Parker)
Wahooka (Wesley Yanagi)
Enigma, an elf (Scott La Rocca)
Iaenni, goddess of fairies (Robin Lee)
Ice Queen (Colleen Moroney)
Farli Mallestone, Karzak and Dombur, dwarfs
Ettin (Tom Decker and Bill Dugan)
Vermatrix, a dragon

In addition to dwarfs, elves and fairies, there are throggs ( trolls ), shargas ( goblins ), zombies, skeletons, spiders, snakes, ants, wasps, slime and the like. a.

service

It is operated with the keyboard and the mouse. You run with the cursor keys , with doors opening automatically if they are not locked. Objects can be picked up with a mouse click and thrown differently. Fighting is also done with a click of the mouse, in real time , with various weapons being used in the course of the game (bow, ax, dagger, hammer, bat, sword and fists). There are also shields and armor for defense.

Magic system

In order to be able to cast spells , runes throwers and runes (magic spells) must first be found. There are human, throg, fairy and meta runes. These must first be entered in a journal and can then be written to the rune throwers. In addition, mana is required, which can be recharged through magical sources.

The various combat and magic skills increase with use.

particularities

Novel “Thera Awakening” (128 pages), supplement to the game

Elaborate and expensive intro video (around $ 500,000)
Pre-rendered graphics with live action - animation of real actors in the game
First person view with gentle scrolling while running, automapping
Book about the game; In 1999 the novel The Oath of Stonekeep by Troy Denning was published in the Stonekeep world

Furnishing

The packaging was elaborately designed: it was slightly larger than usual and had a hologram showing two skeletons with swords. In addition to the CD-ROM and a mouse pad, the novel Thera Awakening (in the original "Thera Awakening"), which was written by Steve Jackson and David Pulver and tells the story of the game, was also included.

Awards

Best RPG 1996, Editor's Choice Award (PC Entertainment)
Best RPG 1995 (Computer Player)
RPG of the year 1996 ( Computer Gaming World )

Web links

Stonekeep at MobyGames (English)
Test report from PowerPlay on Kultboy.com
Official support page of Interplay with sound samples (link leads to archive.org from October 3, 2017, original page no longer available)
Entry on Giantbomb with further information
Picture gallery on oldgames.sk

Individual evidence

↑ Vaporware Hall of Shame ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . July 30, 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
↑ Thomas "Brother None" Beekers: Tales of Torment, Part 1 ( English ) In: Interview with the developers Chris Avellone and Colin McComb . RPGWatch.com. July 30, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
↑ gamefaqs.com: Stonekeep 2: Godmaker Release Information for PC , accessed July 27, 2011.

[1] Vaporware Hall of Shame ( English ) In: GameSpot . CNET . July 30, 2007. Archived from the original on May 16, 2009. Retrieved July 27, 2011.

[tales_torment1-2] Thomas "Brother None" Beekers: Tales of Torment, Part 1 ( English ) In: Interview with the developers Chris Avellone and Colin McComb . RPGWatch.com. July 30, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved February 16, 2011.

[3] qs.com: Stonekeep 2: Godmaker Release Information for PC , accessed July 27, 2011.