Overview and Gameplay
Phlan has fallen to monsters, and its surviving council hires a party of adventurers to reclaim ruined districts and uncover the force controlling the city. This NES adaptation of SSI’s 1988 computer RPG combines first-person, step-based exploration with detailed turn-based battles.
Players create up to five characters, with room for one non-player companion. Races, classes, alignment, equipment, spell preparation, and multiclass options follow Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. Experience is earned through combat and commissions, but characters must visit a training hall and pay to gain levels.
Controls And Mechanics
- The directional pad moves or turns the party, navigates menus, and positions characters or targeting cursors.
- A confirms choices, opens the Adventure Menu, selects targets, and advances messages.
- B cancels menu choices and can delay a character’s combat action.
- Combat emphasizes initiative, positioning, ranged restrictions, spell concentration, area targeting, and bandaging wounded allies.
Version Notes
The NES conversion features redesigned menus, new graphics and music, smaller tactical battles, simplified currency, and built-in information that replaced parts of the computer version’s external journal. The US cartridge is the English-language FCI release.
Release And Credits
- NES release: April 1992
- Conversion developer: Marionette
- Publisher: FCI
- Original game: SSI’s 1988 computer release
