Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny

Realms of Arkania Blade of Destiny
Developer(s)	Attic Entertainment Software
Publisher(s)	Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH (Germany) Sir-Tech (United States) U.S. Gold (Australia, European Union, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan)
Designer(s)	Fantasy Productions
Series	Realms of Arkania
Version	3.02 (German CD version) 3.09 (English CD version)
Platform(s)	Amiga, PC (MS-DOS)
Release date(s)	DEU April 1992 INT June 1993
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: Teen (T) USK: 12+
Media/distribution	Floppy discs or CD
System requirements Amiga: 500, 500+, 600, 1000, 1200, 2000, 3000 or 4000, 1.5 MB RAM, Kickstart: 1.2, 1.3, 2.0 or 3.0 PC: Intel 80286 CPU, 640 KB RAM, 9 MB HD space, VGA video card, DOS 4.0

Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a computer role-playing game developed by Attic Entertainment Software. It was the first game based on the German pen & paper RPG system Das Schwarze Auge by Fantasy Productions. The original German version of the game (German title: Das Schwarze Auge: Die Schicksalsklinge) was released in 1992. Due to its success it was translated to English and released by Sir-Tech in 1993.

Gameplay

Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny is a classical 3D party computer role-playing game that has up to six characters (plus an optional NPC that may be recruited) moving through 3D towns and dungeons. Travels between those 3D levels were simulated by showing a path on a regional 2D map. The game generally uses the same pseudo-3D-engine as Attic's 1991 game Spirit of Adventure, utilizing an increased resolution for the 3D part of the screen. The game also borrowed ideas from Eye of the Beholder (the inventory user interface) and Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (the main screen user interface layout). The game did not feature NPC/monster sprites in the 3D view (a shortcoming that can be found in the entire Northlands Trilogy) that were already introduced by the first 3D real-time action computer role-playing game - Dungeon Master - in 1987. Instead of visualizing fights in the 3D view, the game switched to the isometric perspective for a unique turn-based tactical combat simulation.

Story

An orc chief has united all tribes of the orcs and plans to attack the lands of the humans. The player is hired by Hetman Tronde Torbensson, the leader of the Thorwalians, to find the sword Grimring (the Blade of Destiny) and prevent an orc invasion on Thorwal. However, Grimring has been lost since the death of its bearer, the Hetman Hyggelik the Great. In order to recover the sword, the player must find pieces of a treasure map which shows the location of the sword. Once the sword is recovered the player needs to defeat the orc chief and his minions. If the player does not succeed within about two ingame years, the orcs will attack and the player loses.

Sequels

Blade of Destiny was the first game in the so called Northlands Trilogy, it was followed by Realms of Arkania: Star Trail, and Realms of Arkania: Shadows over Riva. As a feature players could save the game after beating it, this allowed the players to import their characters into any of the sequels.

External links

• Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny at MobyGames
• Realms of Arkania eGroup at Yahoo! Groups