Pools of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor (UbiSoft, PC M15)

By PETER ELEY

(Herald rating: * * * * )

Back in the 70s, a role-playing game called Dungeons and Dragons was reviled as the work of the Devil by religious fundamentalists. It was based on a series of books which gave players the chance to interact with one another by offering divergent possibilities based on the throw of a dice.
Personal computers appeared a decade or so later and software companies were quick to see the possibilities.
The original Pools of Radiance was one of the first D&D computer games. Diablo, of course, is a stripped down D&D game without any of the complex rules. Pools of Radiance has these in spades and newcomers to D&D should expect to set aside several hours getting to grips with these rules, which let characters rise to the 16th level of experience and cast 8th-level spells.
Where Diablo and Baldur's Gate had fast and furious combat scenes, Pools of Radiance relies on a much slower turn-based system.
You either love or hate this. Some gamers argue that it places much greater emphasis on strategy, while others find it just plain boring.
The game is set in the Forgotten Realms world of all D&D games, where a pool of radiance emanating evil has been discovered under the city of New Phlan.
You join a party led by the wizard Elminster who journeys to the source of this evil, the ruined Elven city of Myth Drannor.

The game's strong points are its sheer size and its excellent graphics. It isn't a game you're likely to finish in a week, although the plot does tend to take a few labyrinthine turns. But these slow points do give you a chance to take in the scenery.

peter_eley@nzherald.co.nz