Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Series

Darksun was one of the first RPGs I was introduced to. I believe that I was around 11 or 12 years old. It has all the elements of a wonderful rpg. It has major nostalgia points for me. I really enjoyed the story, and the world that it took place in. I haven't seen any other D&D games that take place in this harsh and unforgiving desert world. I want to thank GOG for making this game available on here. I am so grateful. I know this game does not get the attention that it deserves, as it is over shadowed by other great titles like Baldur's Gate and Icewindale. The story and the combat of this game is great. It is really challenging, and there are just so many tactics that you can use in the battles. Thank you again for making this available!

One can trace a direct lineage from a modern isometric CRPG like Pillars of Eternity all the way back to this game. You start off with a part that was either pre-generated or roll your own. As a slave you fight in the arena and then explore the slave pens, until you are ready to make your escape. But how do you escape? There are more ways than one, and different groups you can ally yourself with. Once you escape you are out in the wider world and can explore, engaging in combat, leveling up, finding new items, and of course completing quests for the people you meet along the way. I found it quite engaging as a kid, and still think there is a lot of good stuff going on in this game. The pixel art graphics are quite good for an early 90's release and are totally readable even today. The environments are interesting, and I enjoyed the characters and quests. It feels like you really are exploring an alien and hostile world. If you are into games like Baldur's Gate you should definitely give Darksun a try.

These 2 games are so fun to play. They're both isometric open-world RPGs, which is my favorite type of game to play, and they're a little different from each other. In Shattered Lands, you're going around a big desert trying to ally different towns against the Drajian army, and in Wake of the Ravager you're in and around the city of Tyr, where the landscape is hardly any desert, and you're trying to collect artifacts to stop the Lord Warrior. Graphics are a bit different between the games, Wake of the Ravager is more bulky and feels a bit more zoomed-in. The only downside to Wake of the Ravager is that sometimes you'll encounter bugs in the game which are show-stopping, where you'll be trapped in a location or will not be able to get through a door, or something along those lines. But overall these are great games. Wish they'd remake these games or make more games in the Dark Sun universe, they're great.

PROS: + superb campaign setting meshes MAD MAX's post-apocalypse and Ancient Rome + turn based combat system is good for its time + story and setting (DARK SUN 1), you start as a gladiator! + prison break included (DARK SUN 1) + extensive beastionary + a spellcaster's paradise: mage spells, cleric spells, druid spells AND psionic spellls CONS: - graphics of DARK SUN 2 are actually much worse than in DARK SUN 1. In both parts deciphering distance in combat can be difficult due to the engine limitations. - sound. it's minimalist and rather poor (a product of its time). DARK SUN 2 feature a little voice acting, but not all dialogue is voiced. BOTTOM LINE: Like I said before, this is the best SSI (Advanced) Dungeons & Dragons game. It was reminicent of their earlier work (Gold Box Series) bringing back the tactical turn-based combat rather than the point & click pseudo-3D gaming of the BEHOLDER and RAVENLOFT series. The engine had its limitations. graphically and sound-wise this is not a looker (or listener). But the setting is superb and captivating. I had the fortune of playing through both games in the 1990s and replaying them here brought back memoried. Oh, the 90s...

These are a great RPGs, beautifully optimized by gog to run great on install. Has more depth than most modern games. Great options, great story.