So, let’s get this out of the way up front. These games were written in the 80’s when a computer with 128K of memory was considered a large amount. Most were written to fit in 64K of RAM. Also, these games had to fit on low density floppy disks. Anyone who complains about music or graphics has no idea how to review a classic game given the constraints of the technology. I’ve also seen complaints about the amount of game text put in the manual instead of the game. They have become spoiled by the largesse of current tech. I’ve also seen poor reviews because of gameplay difficulty. Again, they have no idea about AD&D. These games hewed as closely to the AD&D rules as possible as the tech allowed. Fighting was deadly in AD&D. Dwarves and Elves were level limited. Spells can hit allies as well as enemies. A group of 20 low level mooks *should* be a major threat even to a higher level party. These are features, not bugs, of the gameplay. The game mechanical detail is amazing given what programmers had to work with. That said, the games have a lot of combat grind. Memorizing spells during rests is a chore. The games requires a fairly significant time investment to complete. This was a feature at the time, but challenging today. Game design has come a long way in 30 years. I would recommend this only for the hardcore AD&D nerd who understands the limits of the technology of 1988, or for someone who loves retro gaming. It’s definitely worth a look when it goes on sale.
