AD&D: Pool of Radiance
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| Introduction Pool of Radiance is a tactical role-playing video game, published by Strategic Simulations, Inc (SSI) in 1988 for various computer platforms and 1992 on the NES. Pool of Radiance was the first video game adaptation of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and it utilized game mechanics in the core books(Dungeon Master's Guide, Player's Guide, & Monster Manual) as well as the Unearthed Arcana & Monster Manual II. |
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| Description The city of Phlan lies in ruins. Your band of adventurers can help to rebuild the once-proud city and restore it to its former glory. Along the way you hope to find the legendary Pool of Radiance, said to glow with its own mystical power. Does it really give tremendous strength to the warrior who bathes in its magic waters? Or is that just an elfin myth? Before you meet the challenges ahead you must create your characters and choose their races and battle skills. Then set off on your glorious quest to drive out the monsters and let civilization reign once more! Gameplay The game takes place in the city of Phlan, located on the northern shore of the Moonsea, and situated between Zhentil Keep and Melvaunt in the Forgotten Realms setting. The object of the game is to have the party clear the Phlan of the evil forces that have invaded and the bronze dragon that commands them. In the section of Phlan that the players starts out in players can shop for armor, weapons, jewerly and other items. They can also visit the tavern to listen for rumors, a city council from which the party can receive a commision, temples to heal or ressurect party members and places to hire NPC characters to accompany them. Character creation is started by picking a race(human, halfling, dwarf, elf, gnome, half-elf), class(cleric, fighter, magic-user, thief), and alignment(Lawful Good, Lawful Neutral, Lawful Evil, Neutral Good, True Neutral, Neutral Evil, Chaotic Good, Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Evil). The computer assigns ability scores. An entire pre-genereated character can also be chosen. Camera view is in a first-person perspective for interacting with NPC's and exploring, and a top-down type of game board perspective for combat. Combat is a turn-based type and requires that the character is moved close to the enemy for a short ranged attack. After defeating an enemy the character may search the body for goods such as weapons, armor, and items. Experience points are gained throughout the game and can be used to increase the players level and capabilities. In combat there are short, medium, and long ranged attacks. The player can choose which attacks or spells he wishes to use for each encounter or the game can choose the moves for the characters. If a character falls below zero hit points they must be bandaged by another character ot they will die. Magic-users are given a number of spells based on Intelligence score(Clerics based on Wisdom) and one new spell is learned per level or can be gained from transscribing found scrolls. Going along with standard AD&D rules the magic-user must re-memorize a spell before using it again. This can be done by setting up camp and resting. Copy Protection The original Pool of Radiance game for computer platforms shipped with a translation decoder wheel. After the title screen, a copy protection screen was displayed consisting of two pictures and a line. The player was required to use the decoder wheel to line up these two pictures, and then enter the word revealed in the appropriate cutout in the decoder wheel. The player was given three tries to enter the correct word before the game exited. NES Version
The main differences of the NES version compared to the PC platforms were the music, graphics, and interface. In the character creation appearances were not editable and battles were somewhat toned down so that the NES could handle the lesser amount of sprites . It also left out several randomly generated creature lairs. Game Genie Codes
More experience points: TLGAXL End battle with one hit with no gold or experience: AXLALN Infinite Cloaks of Displacement to sell: GGLAUN Able to create more powerful characters: SOLAUN |
Front Box Scan Technical Details Developers Strategic Simulations, Inc. Publishers Strategic Simulations, Inc. Pony Canyon (Japan) Distributors Electronic Arts, Engine Gold Box Platforms Amiga, Apple II, C64, MS-DOS, Apple Macintosh, NES, PC-9800 Release dates 1988, 1992 (NES) Genres Role-playing game, Tactical RPG Modes Single player Medias 3½" and 5¼" floppy disk, NES cartridge |
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