Glad to see this on here and the VGA CD Talkie is great (I own a physical copy), but this is a game where GOG could have shined with their extras. Would have been very nice if you included the FM Towns "definitive" version and/or original EGA version. However losing the original 30 minute audio drama is what really hurts. Without any additional background, this version can be confusing to players.
I owned this game back in 1995 and tried it again recently. Does not age well: 1. Bugs/unbeatable game states = keeping an inventory of save games and/or clinging to walkthroughs. Essentially save before you fight, heal, test that button, or use that item. You never know what you'll ruin. 2. Inventory is slow and goofy. You never know which items are critical or junk so you have to keep it all. Randomized HP regen on items (will the potion restore 1 HP or 30?) Enemies and items are finite so it's possible to drain your entire regen inventory in one shot. Minimal gains + finite inventory makes this game work like a survival horror. Tack on unbeatable game states and you end up afraid to use your inventory. 3. Clues are too obscure with a ton of misleading junk/in-house jokes that add to the confusion (even authors of walkthroughs are confused). 4. No way to grind / enemies finite. If you invest in the wrong skills, be prepared to start at the beginning because there's no fixing it. 5. Ridiculous backtracking. Travel back a few levels to restore health or magic. One fight goes wrong with an enemy, and you get to do it again. 6. Way too many hidden walls / secret buttons that all blur with the redundant scenery. You'll spend hours trying to test every wall for buttons or walk-through. One-way illusory walls add insult to injury (more backtracking). 7. Poor graphics = item hunting pain. It's one thing to find a trapdoor to an item. It's another thing to stick it behind an undisposable corpse. Worst are a few rare items that only show up when you look at the same square from a different angle. 8. "I don't see, know, or care about who I'm helping or saving" story syndrome. Characters have virtually no backstory. So many opportunities missed. This was ok as a kid during summer break having tons of time to deal with bugs and issues. As an adult it's just not worth it. The only thing going for it was a neat FMV gimmick but it gets old fast.
