Major blast from the past (Darklands)

[Philippe]

Back in the day Darklands was my favorite computer game, bar none.

It was ugly as sin, buggy, and the game system was full of holes.  Big ones.  Every character in the game, for example, was equipped with a backpack that could carry an infinite amount of loot. 

But in spite of that I loved it, and wandering around medieval Germany was a blast.

I've just noticed that you can buy at Gamersgate and it's currently on sale at Steam.

What I think I really want is for someone to do a modern remake, but of a little better quality than the Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny that is snarled in a legal tangle between tits developer and first publisher.

[Nefaro]

It's been on sale at GOG for a very long time.

I got it there a couple years ago (or more?).


http://www.gog.com/game/darklands

[Barthheart]

Also one of my favourites. I also bought it from GOG some time ago.

[airboy]

If you decide to purchase, I would buy on GOG because it has no DRM and does not require any internet connection once you have downloaded the game.

[gameleaper]

I went to gog to look at it and , I thought it was worth the price, went to buy it and hehe I own it , I had it since 2011 but never played it :) I will now thanks for your reminder

[Toonces]

You know, call me crazy but I think I'm going to pick this up.

I saw this before and was completely put off by the graphics.  I just watched some gameplay videos and, while the graphics still hurt my eyes, I wonder if I can get over that and enjoy the game?  It is very, very highly rated by cRPG geeks.

[Shelldrake]

Even a modest graphics upgrade would really help Darklands. We can only hope that someone will take up the challenge.

[Greybriar]

I agree, Shelldrake. Graphics in Darklands weren't the best when the game was released and are in need of an overhaul. The text screens aren't all that bad, but the combat scenes haven't aged well.

[airboy]

Darklads is very, very old school.  The play is more "theater of the mind" than "see it in detail on your screen."  But the context of the game is so different than most it is very interesting.

I bought the game this year.  I read the manual and also a number of strategy guides.  It is a very deep game.

[Toonces]

Man alive is this game hard!   :o

[vyshka]

I remember getting it back when it came out in the 90s (ah remember the days of decent sized boxes and manuals), and thinking how awesome it was to have a rpg based on the beliefs of people in Medieval Germany. I also loved the open aspect of it where you were just going around doing things and trying to become a legend.

[Philippe]

Darklands is the reason I kept my old Dos computer for what seemed like ten years longer than I really needed it.  (The other reason is probably that I'm a pack rat).

The medieval content in the game was pretty high for a computer game but could have been higher.  I was pretty much a medieval studies minor in college and ended up marrying a medievalist, and knew a lot of people who had the calling, or knew where to find them.  My fantasy was to put together a team for the remake that could iron out the historical and cultural glitches (though back in the day I could have done a most of it myself).

When you get comfortable enough with the game to play around with it, it can be a wonderful role-playing vehicule.  Write a story of who the people are who meet in the tavern on the first day in your head, without any reference to whether or not they'll be an effective party or not.  My favorite story was about four girls who had been locked up in a convent but who busted out so they wouldn't have to become nuns.   They should have stayed in the convent, because the gargoyles got them.

[Toonces]

^ Yeah, those pesky gargoyles got me, too.  Followed by wolves.

I read a little of the hint book and it seems I am venturing out of the safe zone WAY too early.  Slow and steady is the way to go.