2025 is the fortieth anniversary of Dragon Warriors and, although not much has been done to mark that, it's also the fortieth anniversary of the world of Legend, the setting for both DW and the Blood Sword gamebooks. And Blood Sword is undergoing an exciting metamorphosis into a stunning-looking CRPG by Prime Games, developers of the Fabled Lands game.
Meticulous care is going into this new incarnation of Blood Sword. A living map with wind, snow, rain, glowing fires, chimney smoke. Unfolding story notes with a stream-of-consciousness effect. Skill trees including a spell progession system with clear and impactful choices, drawing inspiration from the sorcerer and elementalist professions in Dragon Warriors. Vividly realized characters.
You can read all about it on the game's page on Steam. (Make sure to wishlist it so you don't miss out on all the fascinating development updates by creative lead Victor Atanasov.)
Completely unrelated to the official Blood Sword CRPG, this fan-built version has a charming retro look that wouldn't have been out of place 40 years ago. It's a lot less developed in terms of gameplay, being essentially just the original books but on a screen, but I like the old-school restyling of the tactical maps. If we were back in 1985, this is the version I'd have liked to release then.
And more gamebook news: Heart of Ice is just out in a new digital edition on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. It's published by Infinite Zone and you can find all the links on the game's landing page. You can also buy the book on DriveThruRPG and Amazon.
I really ought to drag myself into the 21st century and play some of these conversions, Dave. Although I love the Spectrum vibe look of that fan-built game as well.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note for any retro game fans, I've recently returned from and highly recommend a place called 'The Arcade Club' in Leeds. Hundreds of old school machines on free play all day for under 20 quid entry. I almost demanded to pay again as I left. I've finally mastered one of my favourite games 'Defender', having seen on You Tube that the best way to play is to blast all bar one of the people you're supposed to be defending, as it's then far easier defending the remaining one! I suppose a subtle variation of 'The Trolley Dilemma' you mentioned recently.
The Spectrum look is great, isn't it, Andy? And I hear from Scott Knowles that he's working on a Commodore 64 version of Blood Sword. Retro is the future.
DeleteThat Defender trick is exactly the kind of thing AI game-players are getting criticized for (gaming the rules rather than playing the game "as intended") but I love that kind of exploit.
I don't have many regrets in life, Dave, but getting rid of my Spectrum and C64 many years ago is one of them. My Amiga and much older Atari 2600 also. The C64 just about edged it as my favourite machine so I may have to invest in a new/old one when Scott releases Bloodsword.
DeleteMy son looks at me a bit gone out when he sees me playing my favourite game of all time, which consists of seven different shape blocks appearing in random order and being fitted together at the bottom of the screen. I had to stop playing Tetris on Gameboy many years ago as I couldn't stop dreaming of falling blocks. We do have a shared love of Bubble Bobble and Golden Axe in two player mode though. Albeit he throws a wobbler if he doesn't get to be the Barbarian!
You know, Andy, with vinyl making a comeback and (I read last week) the younger people hankering for print magazines, it's only a matter of time before your son demands a C64 for Christmas. Hold out for that, as you can pass it off as a present for him even though it's really one for you too -- which I think was the logic behind the train set and Scalextric I found under the tree when I was a lad.
DeleteI might still frame it as some sort of choice, Dave. Perhaps, which Commodore do you want for Christmas? I'll then just have to keep my fingers crossed the answer isn't C16 or VIC20. Although he might be getting a Scalextric as well now you mention it!
DeleteGood plans, Andy. Just remember one thing: however crafty a dad thinks he is, the kids are always one step ahead of him.
DeleteHaving owned both a Commodore 16 and a Vic-20 I'm appalled at Andy Fletcher's cruel remarks.
ReplyDelete;)
I do appreciate there may be some rose tinting going on here. I have progessed on to a Plus/4 now.
One of my mates collects retro computers, Simon, so I'll ask if he's got a C16 and Vic-20 so I re-evaluate them and apologise. Assuming I can pull myself off his Astro-Wars machine that is. Most of my time in The Arcade Club was spent playing Space Invaders, Qix and Missile Command, which may not have been beyond the Plus/4's capabilities. ;)
DeleteMy cousin spent most of the time on Pac-Man as the Phoenix machine was out of order. I've told him that the individual ghosts have different patterns determined by what you're doing. Hopefully that will get him past level 3 next time we go. I'm unsure whether that counts as a rudimentary form of AI, Dave!
I programmed a version of Pac-Man for the C16 for my Computer Studies GCSE. It was rubbish. Jerky as heck.
ReplyDeleteYou guys... When I was at school, we had to program computers by literally punching holes in bits of card. (To be recited in a Yorkshire accent, of course.)
DeleteThat still sounds like a major improvement from my unfinished Spectrum game Blob and the Evil Wizard, Simon. Your C16 Pac-Man ghosts could have been renamed Jerky, Berky, Turkey and Nige? Actually, perhaps not, someone might think I'm giving an endorsement.
ReplyDeletePunching holes in bits of card, Dave? You were lucky. I had t' sit on school bench for three months playing Granny's Garden on BBC Micro.
The BBC Micro brings back a programming memory. At school I discovered that when pressing the Escape button in some games it took you into the Basic programming code, which you could then change. In a dungeon text adventure they had, the Knights and Dragons did some very rude and peculiar things in the next lesson.