Game Review

Graphics (n.) The use of animation and visual effects to stimulate the senses	v (Poor)	EGA RPG is a classic example of how the EGA color scheme can seriously hurt the feel of your game. The characters are forced to have blindingly light red skin, the background is pure black, and while it looked like a lot of attention was paid to detail, the lack of colors made the mazes look too confusing. In some levels you really can't tell what the room looks like without the game's automapping feature. In battle, a few enemies are drawn nicely, but others are ugly and badly animated.
Sound/Music (n.) The smooth blend of atmospheric sounds and original harmonies	N/A	EGA RPG doesn't have sound effects or music, a shame because because 3D games need to entice all the senses. Some effective PC sound effects would have given balance to this particular RPG.
Gameplay (n.) The precision of control and involvement of character within its universe	v (Poor)	EGA RPG is your typical Ultima dungeon or Dungeons and Dragons maze game for QB. You generate a character from one of five types of classes. You then enter the first floor of the volcano, heading upward. You walk around, finding life-restoring fruit baskets and stores that offer new weapons. Creatures also lurk about the game's many caverns, and will occasionally force you into a turn-based battle. One thing I like about this game is the ability to customize your bonuses when you gain an experience level. It allows you to contour your character as you see fit. At the beginning there's a lot to do, but you do get very strong pretty quickly. The enemies are also generous and will give you ludicrous amounts of gold. By the second floor of the dungeon you're so strong that the emphasis goes on to trying to get out of the mazes, not the battling that really makes an RPG.
Story (n.) The creativity and presentation of the game's critical plot	v (Poor)	There's an intro and some demos to boot in EGA RPG using a style similar to some Apogee classics. There's also some demo sequences between levels. But despite the graphical details the demos look awful in EGA mode, since Screen 13h's 256 color palette is really the standard right now for QB RPGs. The demos are also pretty wordy and could have benefitted with some interaction or some animation.
Replay Value (n.) The timelessness of the gamer's delight, such that the experience can be repeated again and again	vv (Average)	The different characters you can choose in the beginning of the game do add some replay value, though the character you choose does not affect much of your quest. EGA RPG is a pretty straightforward bludgeoning game with some maze elements and very little puzzle elements. If you can handle a game that can carry on while the challenge seemingly drifts away, then EGA RPG is the game of choice.
Challenge (v.) To strike the mental nerve in such a way as to stimulate human thought and reflexes	v (Poor)	This game isn't hard. As long as you find your fruit baskets, EGA RPG's minions do not have much of a prayer. The life-restoring capability of the fruit basket, along with a fifteen-minute investment in your part, will reward you with many experience levels and insane amounts of power. Then it's just a matter of finding each of the level's exits.
Fun Factor (n.) The overall entertainment value as maintained throughout the adventure	vv (Average)	Finding your way out of the game's five levels can bring some joy, since each level looks different. The game begins at what looks like a prison, and you progress to places like a silver mine, a desert, and eventually the surface of the island. There are also quite a few enemies to see. Still, EGA RPG needs some variation in it's play.
Players	1 player	Genre: Role Playing Game
Rating		To solve: 4 hours Final Rating: 8/35

Download

To download EGA RPG (154KB), click here. wIf you're unzipping this program in DOS, you may have to use the -d option. wTo play EGA RPG, run "RPG.EXE".

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The Highs: Map system allows for easy navigation and retracing of steps.
The Lows: Confusing room graphics in the later levels make it hard to discern which ways lead to dead ends.

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