showing 1 - 50 of 143 gameschevron_right
| name | publisher(developer) | year arrow_downward | description | platform | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo Jie Qibing | Vast Fame | ? | GBA | labelimageminimize | |
| The Last Alliance | Wildfire Games | ? | This is either cancelled/abandoned or put on hold until 0 A.D. reaches some point in development. Latest news by the authors seems to be from 2006, though there might be something (unhelpfully) posted as replies to other threads.***What Is The Last Alliance? To best answer that question, it's important to know what TLA is not. TLA is not a commercial computer game. We are a freeware, fan-based project inspired by pure love for the project. We will make absolutely no profit from this project; TLA offers us innumerable intellectual and emotional profits by itself. TLA is not a movie-based game. In fact, we feel that the movies, while they are entertaining, have done a lot in the way of making the true Tolkien experience rather bland. Many 'new' fans of Tolkien are only fans because of the movie and these fans lose out on what the more classical fans have: mental images of Arda before the movie. So one of TLA's goals is to shake up the mainstream a bit and introduce new, original thinking when it comes to Tolkien's work. TLA is not a Lord of the Rings game. Seems counterfactual, true, but in fact TLA encompasses all Three ages of the Sun. The timespan that TLA covers is an astounding 7045 years; by comparison, the events in LotR happen within a single year. So if you know Tolkien's work only from LotR or the Hobbit, prepare to have your mind opened and served to you on a shining, mithril plate ;-) TLA is not officially endorsed by any 'official' organizations, namely the Estate of J.R.R Tolkien, Tolkien Enterprises, The Saul Zaentz Company, or Vivendi Universal. Now for what TLA is: TLA is a celebration of the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and the efforts of his son, Christopher and it is to these two to whom this game is dedicated. TLA is dedicated to the research, preservation, and evangelization of Tolkien's works. We aim to teach with the project, and to continually learn in the process. The project to us is a computer game, yes, but it is merely a means to an end, and that end is the education of fans of Tolkien on his works and the stimulation of the Tolkien arts and literature. TLA is a purist's paradise. We study every aspect of Arda in depth, from language, tengwar modes and the Lhammas, to historically styled dissertations on the Wars of Beleriand. We do our absolute best to ensure that we accurately portray Arda with our project. TLA is held together by pure fellowship. The WFG team is made of talented men and women from over fourteen different countries, with ages ranging from 14 to 63 years. We're held together blindly by our respective goals and our passion for making games. [Zerothis]***Development of TLA started soon after the development of 0 A.D. and has followed a simular path. It shares many resource with that game. TLA is considered a 'sister project' of 0 A.D. [Zerothis] | Linux | labelminimizesubject |
| Dungeon Adventure | Level 9 Computing | 1982 | Jubilation reigns in Minas Tirath! At sunset yesterday the city was beseiged by a sea of orcs and it seemed that the defenders were doomed. But at sunrise, the watch looked out over an empty plain - the attackers had fled when on the point of victory. The first reaction was stunned amazement, but gradually a rumour began to spread: "The Demon Lord is dead!" A two week carnival was announced and the population proceeded to enjoy themselves as you would expect. But you were wiser. Clearly, with the Demon Lord out of the way, there would be rich pickings amongst the ruins of His fortress... Now, eight days later, you stand on a sandbank beside a great river. North of you are the dungeons of the Demon Lord. You are cold and wet, but determined to brave the hidden dangers of the caves. But then a shiver runs down your spine: a brooding presence is watching... perhaps the demon is still alive, and waiting for you. | Nascom | labelminimizesubject |
| Shadowfax | Postern | 1982 | VIC-20 | labelimageminimize | |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1982 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [190]*** [74]*** [4]*** [130]*** [48]*** [48]***One of the classic text adventures of the early eighties, The Hobbit came to be a major influence on the European adventure market in particular. | ZX Spectrum | labelimagesubject |
| Dungeon Adventure | Level 9 Computing | 1983 | Jubilation reigns in Minas Tirath! At sunset yesterday the city was beseiged by a sea of orcs and it seemed that the defenders were doomed. But at sunrise, the watch looked out over an empty plain - the attackers had fled when on the point of victory. The first reaction was stunned amazement, but gradually a rumour began to spread: "The Demon Lord is dead!" A two week carnival was announced and the population proceeded to enjoy themselves as you would expect. But you were wiser. Clearly, with the Demon Lord out of the way, there would be rich pickings amongst the ruins of His fortress... Now, eight days later, you stand on a sandbank beside a great river. North of you are the dungeons of the Demon Lord. You are cold and wet, but determined to brave the hidden dangers of the caves. But then a shiver runs down your spine: a brooding presence is watching... perhaps the demon is still alive, and waiting for you. | Atari 400/800 | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings: Journey to Rivendell | Parker Brothers | 1983 | The Lord of the Rings: Journey to Rivendell has been the subject of speculation for many years by Atari collectors. Now one of the most sought-after Atari 2600 prototypes is finally available. What's the story, you ask? Way back in 1983 Parker Brothers featured this game in one of their catalogs. Video game and Tolkien fans alike were excited by this announcement, but the wait would be in vain. Lord of the Rings was never released, and Parker Brothers reportedly informed people that called and asked for the game that it was sold out in an attempt to cover up for the fact that it was never published. [Launchbox] | Atari 2600 | labelimageminimize |
| Moria | Severn Software | 1983 | Welcome to the Mines of Moria; as you may recall from the book Lord of the Rings the Mines are the ancient home of Durin's folk, the dwarves. Long deserted, the Mines contain old hoards of jewels and gold guarded by the ancient and evil terrors of the earlier ages. You will find yourself inside, and your problem will be to get out alive. The only way out is to arrive at the exit (wherever that is) carrying Durin's Ring - the last of the Seven. You first have to find the Ring. | ZX Spectrum | labelimagesubject |
| Moria | Severn Software | 1983 | Oric | labelminimizeminimize | |
| Ring of Doom | Bergsala (Microworld) | 1983 | MicroBee | labelminimizeminimize | |
| Shadowfax | Postern | 1983 | Ride the mighty Shadowfax in the war against the dark forces of Morder Use your bolts of lightning to destroy the enemy — but beware — their touch is death! | ZX Spectrum | labelimagesubject |
| Shadowfax | Postern | 1983 | Ride the mighty Shadowfax in the war against the dark forces of Morder Use your bolts of lightning to destroy the enemy — but beware — their touch is death!*** [152]*** [15]*** [48] | C64 | labelimagesubject |
| Shadowfax | Postern | 1983 | Ride the mighty Shadowfax in the war against the dark forces of Morder Use your bolts of lightning to destroy the enemy — but beware — their touch is death! | BBC | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1983 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [190]*** [152]*** [2]*** [15]*** [48]*** [48]***Besides the 1983 tape version, a graphical enhanced disk version of "The Hobbit" was also released for the C64 in 1985. | C64 | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1983 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [190]*** [152] | BBC | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1983 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [192]*** [190]*** [152]*** [48]*** [48] | Oric | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1983 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.***[media=youtube]1vpLgHV0pgk[/media]*** [48] | MS-DOS | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House;Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (Beam Software) | 1983 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting. | Apple II E | labelimagesubject |
| The Quest of Gondor | Doctorsoft | 1983 | BBC | labelimageminimize | |
| Dungeon Adventure | Level 9 Computing | 1984 | Memotech MTX | labelimageminimize | |
| Bored of the Rings | Delta 4 | 1985 | ZX Spectrum | labelimageminimize | |
| Bored of the Rings | Delta 4 (Silversoft) | 1985 | Amstrad CPC | labelimageminimize | |
| Bored of the Rings | Silversoft | 1985 | BBC | labelimageminimize | |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1985 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE***** [161]*** [2]*** [127]*** [116]*** [15] | C64 | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1985 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [48]*** [48] | MSX | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1985 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting. Welcome to Middle-earth and the land of the Hobbit! May you return with many wondrous tales to tell.*** [48]*** [39] | Amstrad CPC | labelimagesubject |
| The Forest of Fear | NEUC | 1985 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #109 - The Forest of Fear by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Bob Davis (NEUC June 1986) Reviewer’s Rating:7 Difficulty Rating: 6 Extra Commands: None – standard 6.0 commands Special Features: None Playing Time: 3-4 hours Description: The chief of the Nazgul, the Witch-King of Angmar, has recently re-occupied one of Sauron’s old haunts, the fortress of Dol Guldur (Elvish for "Hill of Dark Sorcery") Dol Guldur lies at the head of some foothills in Mirkwood Forest. The forest was once a bright place, but Sauron and his evil poisoned it. The Wood-Elves of the North renamed to forest "Mirkwood"... the Forest of Great Fear. Worst of all, the Black Captain of the Nazgul has captured and locked away in his prison a wise and mighty ranger, who is much needed in the fight against the Dark Lord. Your mission is three-fold: One, to secure Southern Mirkwood (where the trouble is) and drive off or kill all the foul creatures you find there. Two, to rescue the ranger and bring him out alive. Three, if possible, destroy the chief of the Nazgul. Comments: A noble mission; however, I feel one and three should be switched –One, destroy the Chief of the Nazgul, and three, iff possible, drive off or kill all the foul creatures in Southern Mirkwood. Have you every tried to kill all enemies in an adventure? In this particular case, special weapons would be needed (and some may be found/earned) but even so, good armor, ability, agility, heal spell, etc. would still be required. Friends can be found and are most welcomed on this adventure, but rest assured, killing all of the fiends is not required to leave the forest. I suggest just killing as many as you can and then make a dash for the exit (all the while keeping the ranger from being killed.) This is a good brute-force adventure. And it makes you think about the survival of others. (By the way, there is no way to heal the ranger once is he is hurt, unlike some sneaky authors’ methods.) The characters are interesting and plentiful, the treasure valuable, but the descriptions were lacking once inside Dol Guldur. Overall, the play is good. I was continually getting myself in trouble the first time I played it (mainly by poking my nose into everything that came along) but got through the adventure on the second try with a little more common sense. This adventure is recommended for those times when you want to kill something or have a strong character is bored with the usual ‘wimps’ (normal hardiness characters) in most dungeons. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| The Mines of Moria | NEUC | 1985 | #108 - The Mines of Moria by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Bob Davis (NEUC October 1985) Reviewer’s Rating:8 Difficulty Rating: 8 Extra Commands: 6.0 commands, MINE, JUMP, EAT, TRADE, PULL, INSERT Special Features: Must SAVE to another diskette to save game Playing Time: Undetermined (due to bugs), but less then 8 hours It is a bad time for the free people. The forces of the Dark Lord, Sauron, are massing; armies of orcs, trolls, and evil beasts are strengthening the shadow that will soon envelope the Earth. For the moment, the land of the west is protected by the Misty Mountains which Sauron is not yet ready to cross. The men of the south have been fighting bravely, but cannot hold out long against Sauron’s dark forces. But there is hope. At great risk, a wizard and his ranger companion smuggled information out of Sauron’s fortress which could be of great use to the men of the south. They set out to deliver the information but discovered all paths through the Misty Mountains were blocked due to winter storms and other routes were watched by Sauron. The two men decided to take the path that would not be watched by the Dark Lord because it is more terrible than his army – through the mines of Moria. Built by the dwarves long ago, Khazad-Dum (the Halls of the Dwarves), became the center of dwarfdom. Skilled dwarvish miners built a kingdom under the Misty Mountains. The mines produced immeasurable amounts of gold, silver, iron, jewels, and most important – Mithril, the most valuable metal on Earth! But the dwarves dug too deep and awoke evil things far below the Earth. Many dwarves were slain and the rest were forced to flee. The doors were shut and Khazad-Dum was renamed Moria – The Black Chasm. As a precaution, the wizard left a copy of the information with the bartender at the Main Hall. The wizard has not been heard from and the bartender now gives you the information to deliver. Your mission is to enter the mines of Moria from the west, survive in Moria, find the exit, ‘East-gate,’ and deliver the information to friends. The setting may sound familiar to you. It is from the Lord of the Rings. And like the book, the action doesn’t stop. The monsters are mean and plentiful, the way through the mines is treacherous and the clues/hints are very, very subtle. I found a variety of monsters from orcs to trolls and from spiders to dragons. The dungeon kept me interested with gates, cave-ins and chasms. A little humor is threaded throughout the adventure. All in all, I am very impressed with Sam Ruby’s style. And this is his first adventure! What do I have to look forward to? This is part one of a three part series. Part two is adventure #109 – The Forest of Fear. Part three we have not received yet, but have learned from this adventure (#108) that is will be titled the Ring of Doom. One need not have to go through the series in order or have all three diskettes to play the adventures. The only problem I had with the Mines of Moria were the bugs (see this issue’s Bug Bytes column.) However, bugs in a good adventure are much preferable to perfect code (or no special programming) in a boring adventure. Sam Ruby definitely does not making boring adventures and seems to have a very good grasp of what the Dungeon Designer 6.0 can do for an adventure. I am looking forward to playing and reviewing The Forest of Fear. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| Thror's Ring | NEUC | 1985 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #114 - Thror's Ring by Tom Zuchowski Reviewed by Bob Davis (NEUC June 1986) Reviewer’s Rating: 9 Difficulty Rating: 10 Extra Commands: None – standard 6.0 commands Special Features: 40/80 column text, SAVE is done to a separate diskette. Playing Time: 15-30 hours Description: While lounging about in the Main Hall, two newcomers (an uncommonly fair high-elf and dingy-robed wizard) approach and proposition you. ‘I represent sponsors of a forth-coming expedition into the abandoned mines of Moria,’ the wizard states. ‘There will be a worthy quest, fabulous loot and incredible danger. Dost thou have interest in such an adventure?’ (Who does he think he’s talking to?!!) You nod and try to look nonchalant. ‘This is good, for you are my choice among the many worthies of this hall. As all know, the Dwarvish stronghold of Khazad-Dum that many know as Moria was sacked by the Orcs many hundreds of years ago,’ he explains. ‘It was then that the ring of power that controlled Moria was lost.’ The wizard leans closer, ‘We have reason to know that the ring is still there, and may be recovered by one both cunning and strong.’ Again you nod and state, ‘I am that one.’ The wizard stands stiff and tall and invokes, ‘Peiah!...Arrah!...Zero!’ You suddenly find yourself in a lovely forest, surrounded by elves. Before you is a high-elf lady of great power. Thus did she speak: ‘I see that the wizard has chosen well, a strong warrior of good heart. Know you the ring, should you find it, is the rightful property of the Dwarf Hight Thror, who is of the Lonely Mountain far to the north. And we of the forest Lothlorien would see the ring of power recovered, for we do not like the threat of such falling into evil hands.’ ‘I have chosen two stout companies for the quest. The first is the good dwarf Gorim, nephew of Thror. The second companion will be the Wood-elf Galahir, a master bowman.’ ‘And know that I have enhanced your own power spell. It will not fail you for five invocations, but then will be exhausted; use it wisely. It may be invoked by any of the three companions." Comments: The descriptions are fantastic! I felt I could actually see some of the rooms. The puzzles are interesting with a few tricks thrown in. The hardest part of the adventure is finding where to look for a needed object. This adventure makes good use of 6.0 features (hidden objects, locked/unlocked doors, etc.) has some special effects (once in awhile the characters converse) and can be very frustrating. I found a torch (which doesn’t last very long) but could not find anything to light with it to help me see in the mines. This problem went on for several tries. Once solved, I became very alert of the surroundings and questioned the existence of most everything I was. This proved to be helpful. In the end, I realized that I have been taking most Eamon adventures for granted (expecting them to work via my knowledge of the MAIN PGM) and this adventure got me to think again. One word of warning, especially to those of you who already have this adventure in your possession: The records room is described as having doors on both ends of the room and that they are strong enough to hold off an army. You could meet an army and therefore decide this is where the army needs to be trapped. Although this was the original intent of the author, due to the size of the adventure program, this feature was deleted. DO NOT trap the army in the records room! If this is done, there will be no way out of the adventure once the mission is completed. This is the second adventure we have received set in Moria from the Lord of the Rings; the other being #108 The Mines of Moria by Sam Ruby. Both are excellent, but do not resemble each other in plot, mission, or description. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| Bored of the Rings | CRL;Delta 4 | 1986 | C64 | labelimageminimize | |
| Der kleine Hobbit | Markt & Technik | 1986 | C64 | labelimageminimize | |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE** | BBC | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE***** [150]*** [127]*** [116]*** [6]*** [4]*** [10]*** [48] | ZX Spectrum | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE***** [135]*** [117]*** [116]*** [39]*** [25] | Amstrad CPC | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE** | Apple II E | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE***** [124] | MS-DOS | labelimagesubject |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1986 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE***** [91]*** [48] | Amstrad PCW | labelimagesubject |
| The Boggit: Bored Too | CRL (Delta 4) | 1986 | ZX Spectrum | labelimageminimize | |
| The Boggit: Bored Too | CRL (Delta 4) | 1986 | Amstrad CPC | labelimageminimize | |
| The Boggit: Bored Too | CRL (Delta 4) | 1986 | C64 | labelimageminimize | |
| The Iron Prison | NEUC | 1986 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #116 - The Iron Prison - by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Tom Zuchowski MAIN PGM Version: 6 Extra Commands: THROW, PULL Deleted Commands: SAVE Special Features: None Playing Time: 2-3 hrs. Reviewer Rating: 5.0 Description: "In the beginning, the gods called the Valar came into the world. Then other races were born. Among them were the Elves, wise and skillful. Their greatest smith, Feanor, created three gems--the Silmarils--which shone with the light of stars. "But the Valar named Melkor took the Silmarils and fled to the North, and the Light of the World was diminished. From that day he was called Morgoth, the Black Enemy. He built a vast underground complex, and it was named Angband, the Iron Prison. Above Angband, he raised Thangorodrim, the Mountains of Tyranny. Morgoth made war on all that would not call him king. He set the Silmarils in an iron crown, and it never leaves his head. "Now, the Final War is brewing. As the armies prepare for battle, you are summoned by Manwe, the king of the Valar. He tasks you to infiltrate Angband and retrieve the Silmarils. This is extremely dangerous, for Morgoth has a great host of monsters at his command. And none who have entered Angband have come out alive. "You travel for days through forests until you come to the edge. In the distance you see Thangorodrim, and the entrance to Angband. "May the Valar give you strength!" Comment: As we all know, Sam cut his teeth in Eamon by adapting much of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth saga to Eamon. This adventure is Sam's adaptation of the Second Age story of Beren One-Hand, as it was recounted in "The Silmarillion". Naturally, much had to be changed to make an adventure out of it, but all of the primary characters are in place. Castle Angband was a very dangerous place that was populated by very powerful denizens. Sam sought to duplicate the vast danger that was recounted in the original story. There are four or five friendly monsters and over 80 enemies. Many of the bad guys are demonic and have huge Hardiness numbers. To enhance the danger, Sam removed the SAVE command. Get it right or die. Still, it's not an impossible adventure for a very strong character carrying a 'tactical nuke' class of weapon. I found it to be quite playable with a player hardiness of 25 and a 4D8 sword. And Sam scattered three healing potions around the castle. Everything that I drank healed me. This is a savage "Hack'n'Slash" foray. While there are about a dozen locked doors, they are all easily opened once you find and dispatch the bad guy who has the key. There are a half-dozen secret passages, all revealed by LOOK. I gave it a (10) for difficulty when I first played it some years ago. This high number comes from the heavy combat against very strong opponents, a couple of no-warning death traps, and the lack of a SAVE command. I found the replay for this review to be much easier, because I had my old map to guide me past the worst of it. The high difficulty also had a lot of effect on my rating of the adventure. It has the kind of high-quality text and map that we have come to expect from Sam and might rate a 7 or 8 if it was more survivable. This adventure comes from a period in which Sam strongly believed that a good adventure should require several replays before you win through. It is virtually certain that you will play it two or three times at the minimum. Make careful notes on your map of the locations of your friends, of important artifacts, and of the bad guys that can be avoided, and you will make it soon enough. One hint: Though I found him to be killable by conventional means, Morgoth can be easily slain if you use the right command and artifact. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| The Ring of Doom | NEUC | 1986 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #115 - The Ring of Doom by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Tom Zuchowski MAIN PGM Version: 6 Extra Commands: EAT, REFORGE Deleted Commands: SAVE Special Features: None Playing Time: 1-2 hours Reviewer Rating: 5.0 Description: "Ages ago, in times few remembered, the Dark Lord, Sauron, fashioned Rings of Power in his Land of Mordor. One he made for himself, and it was the mightiest, for it could control the others. In all, twenty rings were made. The Elves were not tricked by Sauron's false friendship, so they hid their Rings. Sauron has taken back the Seven of the Dwarves. The Nine are used by the Black Riders, the Nazgul, who are Sauron's most powerful servants. But the One was lost. Lost that is, until now. The One has been found, by the 'good guys', fortunately, for if Sauron recovers it he will be invincible! Being a mighty warrior and hero of the land, you are summoned to a council of the Wise, and the leaders of the free peoples. A debate occurs over the question of what to do with the Ring. The council's leader says, after long debate, "We must destroy it. Doing that will destroy Sauron. It must be thrown into the Mountain of Fire, Orodruin, called Mount Doom. However, Mount Doom lies in the land of Mordor, where Sauron dwells." You volunteer to be the ringbearer. You must go through a mountain pass called Cirith Ungol and into Mordor. There you will throw the Ring into the fire of the mountain. You are given some Elvish waybread, shards of a once-mighty sword, and a flask of a magical liquid. Comment: This adventure is classic Ruby from his "Middle-Earth period". It is a reasonably accurate rendition of Frodo's portion of The Return of the King, beginning at the Rangers' hideout and continuing on to the Cracks of Doom. This is a very tough adventure, with very dense combat, and often harsh consequences for wrong decisions. To enhance the danger, Sam deleted the SAVE command from the adventure. Get it right, or die. Because of the very intense combat, I give it a (9) for difficulty. Bring your strongest character and heaviest weapons! The puzzles are pretty easy, if you have read Tolkein's Lord of the Rings books. If you haven't read them, then some of the necessary actions may be pretty obscure. If you've read the books, it's a Hack'n'Slasher's delight. Here are a few hints to lighten the difficulty: the reforged sword is a 5D5 weapon; if that's a big gun for you, then be sure to watch for the opportunity to reforge it. You can complete the Quest even if you do not have Frodo, Sam, or Gollum with you. Look for the Rangers at the beginning, they will be invaluable in combat. Sam did a pretty nice job with special text. There are many secret passages, and every one has its own special text announcement. Overall, a nice job. It would easily have garnered a higher rating if not for the high difficulty. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| Lord of the Rings - Game One | Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (Beam Software) | 1987 | From the team who brought you the incredible HOBBIT program now comes LORD OF THE RINGS: GAME ONE - based on J. R. R. Tolkien's brilliant fantasy THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Live out your wildest fantasies in the mysterious and enchanted world of Middle Earth - a world of boundless imagination where nothing is certain and anything is possible.### THE LORD OF THE RINGS ADVENTURE GAME FEATURES * INGLISH INPUT: Now you can say virtually anything you want. With INGLISH the computer can recognise intelligent sentences up to 128 characters long. * Interact and communicate with the other characters in the game. Now you can tell the other creatures what you want them to do and answer their questions. * Just like in real life, all the creatures in this game have lives and wills of their own. Their independence means that nothing is predictable and no game is ever the same twice. * 800 WORD VOCABULARY: The largest choice of words ever offered in any home computer game. * OVER 200 LOCATIONS WITH MAJOR LOCATIONS ILLUSTRATED (BBC version does not feature graphics) * FIRST EVER MUCH-PLAYER CHOICE: Enjoy this adventure by yourself or solve it with your friends. Take on any of the roles of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, or you can play as many of the characters yourself as you wish.### THIS PACKAGE INCLUDES *** TWO CASSETTES * PAPERBACK COPY OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN'S "FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" - THE ULTIMATE HINT BOOK * DETAILED USER GUIDE** | Mac OS Classic | labelimagesubject |
| The Hobbit | Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (Beam Software) | 1987 | [b]Once you begin, you may never want it to end[/b] Now, the book by which all other fantasy adventures must be measured has come to life as the ultimate computer program. Now you can enter into one of the most incredible fantasy adventures the world has ever known. As Bilbo, the reluctant hobbit, you suddenly find yourself on a wonderful, frightening, magical journey. You, Gandalf the wizard, and Thorin the dwarf are off to slay the evil dragon and return the treasure he is hoarding. Along the way you will meet trolls and goblins, wizards and elves, Gollum, Bard, and other creatures of Middle-earth. What’s more, through your computer, you will actually be able to talk to these creatures, make friends (and enemies!), share meals, and collect treasure. You will visit many incredible places; some familiar, some new and strange, but all exciting. For those who do not know of hobbits and their world, J. R. R. Tolkein’s book [b]The Hobbit[/b] is included in this package. It will introduce you to the marvelous, magical adventures of Bilbo and guide you throughout your journey in Middle-earth. And you can visit Wilderland again and again, and each time your adventure will be new and exciting.*** [52] | Mac OS Classic | labelimagesubject |
| The Shadows of Mordor | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1987 | At last! Here is the worthy successor to the highly acclaimed [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i], the Shadow of Mordor. This game is based on the adventures of Sam and Frodo in the second part of the Trilogy - The Two Towers. Once again the unique team of programmers that brought you [b][i]The Hobbit[/b][/i] and [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i] have taken adventuring to the next dimension.*** [6]*** [4]*** [8]*** [10]***The sequel to Lord of the Rings. | ZX Spectrum | labelimagesubject |
| The Shadows of Mordor | Melbourne House (Beam Software) | 1987 | At last! Here is the worthy successor to the highly acclaimed [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i], the Shadow of Mordor. This game is based on the adventures of Sam and Frodo in the second part of the Trilogy - The Two Towers. Once again the unique team of programmers that brought you [b][i]The Hobbit[/b][/i] and [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i] have taken adventuring to the next dimension.*** [2]*** [77]*** [4]*** [57]*** [52]*** [33] | C64 | labelimagesubject |
| The Shadows of Mordor | Melbourne House | 1987 | At last! Here is the worthy successor to the highly acclaimed [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i], the Shadow of Mordor. This game is based on the adventures of Sam and Frodo in the second part of the Trilogy - The Two Towers. Once again the unique team of programmers that brought you [b][i]The Hobbit[/b][/i] and [b][i]Lord of the Rings Game One[/b][/i] have taken adventuring to the next dimension.*** [4]*** [25] | Amstrad CPC | labelimagesubject |
| Assault on Dolni Keep | NEUC | 1987 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #124 - Assault on Dolni Keep by Tom Zuchowski Reviewed by Pat Hurst (NEUC October 1987) Reviewer’s Rating:10 Difficulty Rating: 6 Extra Commands: REQUEST, INFO Deled Commands: TAKE, BLAST, HEAL, POWER, SPEED, WAVE, SAY, READ Special Features: 40/80 column capability, extra file containing notes and hints for the adventure, fast start feature, comments by adventuring companions, multiple saves possible. Playing Time: 30 minutes - 2 hours Description: You have been sought out to aid your two friends (from Thror’s Ring, #114), Gorim the Dwarf and Galehir the Wood Elf, in the rescue of the High-Elf, Fromir. Fromir’s wisdom is a vital asset to the forces of good in Middle-earth, but he has been seized by Orcs and imprisoned in Dolni Keep. Storming the keep would insure the quick demise of Fromir, but a small group might be able to penetrate the keep and affect the rescue. Gorim is going because the keep is of Dwarven construction. Galehir is going because the rescue of an Elf warrants an Elven representative. You are invited to join because the expedition needs a salty adventurer experienced in arms. Comment: Despite the fact that this adventure has a small number of rooms, uniform monsters (orcs), and a reduced command list, it is a real treat to play. A consistent theme is developed and adhered to throughout. This is not a hack-and-slash adventure but a realistic treatment of the rescue theme. It plays more realistically then most Eamon adventures. The player is an actor in the flow of events rather than the agent who determines everything that happens. Thus, the adventure can be undertaken by an inexperienced character as well as an experienced one with almost equal chances of success. The experienced player must always bear in mind the ultimate purpose of the foray and sublimate the usual Eamon instincts to plunder and kill that he has probably nurtured through his previous adventuring. The descriptions are well done and lend a feeling of action to the adventure. It’s almost a pleasure to go astray occasionally to see how well the author has covered all the bases. Your com[anions offer comments which add an extra touch of realism and imbue them with a personality not usually accorded to non-player characters. You may check their health, inventory the items they are carrying, or request objects from them. They each have special skills and the ability to switch weapons in combat. For example, Galehir carries spare bowstrings in case one should break in combat. The adventure can be displayed in either 40 or 80 columns and is compatible with several 80-column cards, Videx or Apple //e compatible. There is a fast start feature which loads the initial status of variables and parameters in much the same way as restoring a saved game. This significantly reduces start-up time. The NOTES-COMMENTS-HINTS files discusses some of the specially programming and how it is designed. In addition this file lists adventure hints in chronological order so that they player can get help without revealing more the adventure then necessary. Overall it is an excellent adventure with several innovations which greatly improve playability. The MAIN PGM (similar to that of Thror’s Ring) marks a radical departure from the standard one and warrants some study by prospective Eamon adventure designers. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| Haradwaith | NEUC | 1987 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #130 - Haradwaith by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Pat Hurst (NEUC October 1987) Reviewer’s Rating:7 Difficulty Rating: 7 Extra Commands: MAIN, WEAR, REMOVE, BUY, SELL, SAIL Deleted Commands: BLAST, POWER, SPEED, LIGHT, PUT, FREE Special Features: a special naval pgm; requires an extra blank disk Playing Time: 3-6 hours Description: The land of Gondor is menaced by its traditional enemies who are massing forces to attack and destroy it. Corsairs from Umbar and Black Numenoreans have assembled a large fleet to assault Gondor by sea. The Haradrim, the warlike people of the southern desert waste of Harad, has assembled an army to assault Gondor by land. If either attack surprises Gondor, it will surely fall to its archenemies. Advance knowledge of the attacks is paramount to the defense of Gondor. If a spy could penetrate the southern waste, Haradwaith, and steal the battle plans, then perhaps Gondor could be saved. Anyone who undertook this mission would be confronted by the arduous task of crossing Haradwaith, locating the plans in the midst of the enemy, and escaping with the plans back to Gondor. And there is little chance of finding any help in the land of the enemy, although the tree foes don’t always get along well with each other. It’s a solo job for an experienced adventurer with courage, strength, and battle skill – namely you! Comments: This is a relatively straight-forward adventure with plenty of combat. There is one problem in that two sets of plans must be obtained which is not clear from the adventurer’s introduction. The author makes this clear in his MIDDLE EARTH ADVENTURES program (See Review of #129 ‘Return to Moria’). This problem is compounded in that if the navel plans are obtained first, the program terminates without giving the player a chance to obtain the second set. The combat involves a lot of monsters, many of which are quite tough. The adventurer needs a strong weapon to have any hope of defeating these monsters. Unfortunately, since there is so much combat, it’s likely that the adventurer’s weapons will be fumbled, break, and severely injure or kill the adventurer. If you like to slug it out, this is a good choice for your Eamon library. The naval program is an interesting change from the normal Eamon format and is well done. It requires some disk swapping, but directions are clear and easily followed. The command format may seem strange at first, but it isn’t really difficult. Remember, play this part of the adventure last. There is also an interesting subplot which requires a good deal of attention to details. All that can be said is that the reward is commensurate to the effort. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
| Return to Moria | NEUC | 1987 | [The following text is copyrighted by Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online and presented here word-for-word thanks to their generous terms] #129 - Return to Moria by Sam Ruby Reviewed by Pat Hurst (NEUC October 1987) Reviewer’s Rating:8 Difficulty Rating: 9 Extra Commands: PULL, DIG, WEAR, REMOVE Deleted Commands: TAKE, POWER, SPEED, WAVE Special Features: sequel to #108 – The Mines of Moria; extensive background information about Sam’s Middle-earth adventures is provided in separate programs; two-disk adventure; Intro pgm provided in both upper and lower case versions; SAVE to a separate disk Playing Time: 6-24 hours (depending on how many times you meet an automatic death) Description: A desperate council has gathered in Minas Tirith, stronghold of Gondor, to determine a course of action to save Middle-earth from the hordes of Sauron. Sauron’s armies have taken Osgiliath, the bridge into Gondor, and only Minas Tirith stands between Sauron and the conquest of all Gondor. In the last attack the mithril bars that seal the main gate of Minas Tirith were broken, and another attack could easily breach it. Although most of the fighting men of Gondor have been gathered into Minas Tirith, they are still hopelessly outnumbered and will certainly be destroyed if Sauron’s legions penetrate the city. The council quickly decides that new mithril bars must be obtained to secure the main gate, but this brings back bad memories of Moria, the only known source of mithril. Even if mithril can be retrieved from Moria, Sauron may still overrun Minas Tirith by sheer force of numbers unless additional forces aid Gondor’s cause. The dwarves would help, but they have sustained heavy losses and are contemplating acceding to Sauron’s will. The various groups of dwarves are splintered and there is no leader to unite them against Sauron. The return of Durin the Deathless is necessary to rally the dwarves. He is said to sleep in the depths of Moria where he awaits the time of the dwarves’ greatest need. Again, Moria is the focus of your interest. The council decides to send an expedition into Moria. Boromir, the steward of Gondor, volunteers to go since Gondor no longer requires a steward when the king is present. Gimli, an emissary from the dwarves, volunteers to go to find Durink and to search for a group of dwarves who tried to retake Moria four years ago. Legolas, an elven prince, volunteers to help his good friend Gimli. Then everyone looks to you. Will you venture again into the underground haunts of Moria? Comments: This adventure is a solid offering and provides both hack-and-slash and problem solving. The first half of the adventure is mainly hack-and slash while the problem solving occurs mainly in the second half. This creates the major drawback of this adventure – if you don’t successfully solve the problems, you can easily die. This means replaying the adventure from the beginning and repeating all of the hack-and-slash (and there’s a lot – why else would he give you 3 comrades at the start!). There are quite a few ways of meeting instant death in the second half of this adventure. It pays to look things over carefully before doing something potentially fatal. There are more artifacts than usual since dead bodies are not artifacts but merely markers. This abundance of artifacts allows the player to interact with the environment to a greater extent than in many adventures. The descriptions are extensive although somewhat repetitive in places, particularly in describing orcs and trolls – but then again, there are lots of orcs and trolls. The author strongly suggests that a player first adventure in #108 – The Mines of Moria before trying Return to Moria. This is not absolutely necessary but there are references to events from #108 that would make more sense to someone who has played that adventure. This disk has some additional ‘specials’ to recommend it. There are 3 extra programs included that provide extensive background information. PRONUNCIATIONS lists the pronunciations of some of the names of Middle-earth. THE HISTORY OF THE DWARVES provides an extensive history of Middle-earth with emphasis on the dwarven race but covering much more besides. MIDDLE EARTH ADVENTURES is a listing of the 8 Middle-earth adventures designed by the author. He notes their chronological order and their thematic connections. In addition, he reviews each one individually with a plot synopsis; ratings for monster content, treasure content, descriptions, problem solving, etc.; and his own overall rating of the adventure. | Apple II E | labelminimizeminimize |
