[Kristyn]

I'm wondering if pple who profess their utmost devotion to fantasy, sacred genre of books, do play fantasy-themed games. I have tried playing a few, watched pple play them or at least know of their existence.
Strange that it seems most of the time fantasy-themed games aren't very popular... (I think.), especially games based on fantasy books (bks like Lord of the Rings, Betrayal of Krondor, Death Gate Cycle, Wheel of Time)
Sadly, I've not been able to try out any of them... Anyone play any of those related games?
The only experience I have in gaming is Nox and Quest for Glory 3 & 4.

[Cellandros]

Actually I have played the following:

Death Gate
Shannara
Betrayal at Krondor
Return to Krondor

The problem with most of these are that they were made 5 or 6 years ago. Needless to say the graphics don't look so hot now, and you've really got to do a little work to get your puter to run them correctly. Most were simply adventure/puzzle games that took the trappings of the novels to set the story-lines in.

The only one I could really reccomend is Betrayal at Krondor (probably the oldest one on my list) because at the time it really was innovative and captured relatively well the feel of being in Midkemia.

[Eventine]

I didn't know a Shannara game existed...
interesting.
I did have a go of Betrayal at Krondor and thoroughly enjoyed it - it's interesting to see fiest writing books to go with the games as well.
Death Gate was actually my favourite game for a while- I hadn't read the books before I played it, and it turned me straight onto them.

[Ravenlock]

As well as being a "bookworm" as my roommates would say, I also enjoy playing computer games. I played the Shannara one and the Death Gate one. I really liked death gate, but it was quite a while ago when I played it. I hadn't read the books at the time so I didn't know how they related to the books. WHen I finally read the series last year there were things in that I remembered in the game which are similar to the book, but it was different. I didn't especially like the formate for the game I prefere the sierra format in games like kings quest and quest for glory (Kristyn-why have you only played Quest for Glory 3 and 4? THe fifth one is pretty cool.) I am really into the Shannara series, but I didn't especially like the game. AGain I didn't really like the format. It was fun, but not the best game I'd ever played.

[shevek]

Baldur's Gate and Planescape: Torment were the last ones I played. The first one is more of a hack 'n slay thing, while the latter is very plot driven. Right now I'm playing Thief: The metal age, more of an action based game in a steampunk setting.
The Krondor games would've been enjoyable if not for the crappy graphics and the less than fantastic magic system/spell variety.

The problem with games based on books is IMO -for some strange reason- that often the game companies are not up to scratch and/or the game is hurried.

In general I think RPG games are gaining popularity. SSI starting a new series, Baldurs Gate II around the corner, Anachronox, Arcanum and Icewind Dale -just to name a few. The question is, however, how many games just have a fantasy based backdrop (i.e. Diablo 2) or feature a real plot.


BTW: Here (http://www.ga-rpg.com/) is a site dealing with RP games -for those who don't know it already


[This message has been edited by shevek (edited May 23, 2000).]

[Kristyn]

It's a pity most book-based games are pretty old. Haven't seen them at all at where I'm from, 'cept for Betrayal at Krondor and a ragged looking box containing a game based on Wheel of Time (it was at a clearance sale.)

I feel that game companies manufacturing such games could try developing different kinds of spell-casting, U know, like singing or like runes like Death Gate cycle. Should make it more interesting. (And it seems that quite a few books like to use singing for spellcasting.)
Think Eddings', Lackey's or Stephen R Donaldson's books could make great games?

And of course, trying to make a nice blend of RPG plus puzzle solving. Like Quest of Glory, as mentioned b4.
Ravenlock >> Well, I don't buy games. I just play the games that my brother buys. *grin* So I haven't played Q4G 5. Have U tried Lands of Lore or Dark Sun?
Oh, is Dark Sun based on some book? It sounds familiar or something.

I get this feeling that there's some sort of trade-off involved like if there're great graphics, there may not be a storyline, or the plot is pretty lame, especially for those hack 'n slash kinds... Or maybe the clinched one abt "evil's gonna take over the world and U're supposed to stop it". Very typical. I do agree with shevek. RPG games are indeed gaining popularity and that development of the game is rushed, leading to not-so-good graphics and glitches. If not, why would they provide patches for the games, after release?

I think I read abt Death Gate Cycle is that U can't play as Alfred. A pity isn't it? And I didn't know there was a Return to Krondor game. Who's the main character?

Yeah, I do wonder abt fantasy games... whether there's a real plot that isn't clinched or it's just the setting.

[Kristyn]

oops... when I said 'clinch' I meant 'cliche'. *sheepish*

[Tigger]

Several years ago I played Lord of the Rings on the SNES. It was totally and utterly terrible. Just a series of very dark dungeons with stupid hobbits wandering off by themselves and getting killed. I think book spin-offs are never going to make good games (or films in many cases), as your imagination is always interprets characterisation differently than the programmer's.

[Ravenlock]

kristyn- I havn't played lands of lore is it any good? My brother bought it but when the first one oringinally came out, but it was too complicated for me. Now he lives in North Carolina so I have to buy my own games when I have the money for it, which isn't often as a poor college student.

[Kristyn]

Ravenlock >> My bro played it. Yes, it was a little complicated, but looked pretty interesting. Fun. But I thought it was rather difficult to control a couple of characters at the same time.