Review Roxor review of Betrayal at Krondor

[DarkUnderlord]

Tags: Betrayal at Krondor

<a href="http://rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=173">Darth Roxor wrote a review for Betrayal at Krondor</a>, one of those classic RPG oldies. Here's a bit:
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<blockquote>The storyline is linear, there are no choices for you to make, but the game offers a very neatly made illusion of freedom, mainly thanks to the free-roaming and exploration – the goal is always the same, but often there are various paths to it. The plot is also a giant political intrigue, with many twists that make it particularly enjoyable. Side quests will often give you a better insight on what is going on in the world, and it's amazing how almost everything is connected to the main plot in some way. It's also a good idea to get a pencil and a sheet of paper while playing, and note everything you find, because there is no journal, and sometimes you might have a lot of things to do and just forget what had to be done somewhere.</blockquote>
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Pen and paper. Ahhh... The good old days. <a href="http://rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=173">Read the rest here</a>.
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Thanks <b>Darth Roxor</b>!

 

[Hümmelgümpf]

It's Krondor.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

Why yes, yes it is.

 

[FrancoTAU]

Nice write up. I agree with pretty much everything. Combat is only okay, and the skill based system might encourage power gaming. The graphics are dated, but the art is nice. The only real graphical criticism is that green wilderness tend to blend together. Hills and grassy grounds tend to be hard to tell apart from a distance.

Exploration, dialog and story are top notch though.

I was wondering about the meta review sites out there. Very often, they don't have anything for older DOS based games or indy titles. Is there any chance that the Codex could qualify as a review site? I think I know that answer already with the reputation of this place, but I think it'd be nice if someone could get a real review of games like Prelude to Darkness, Betrayal at Krondor, etc.

 

[Darth Roxor]

wooo, I feel famous on the internets.

 

[Wyrmlord]

Betrayal At Krondor wasn't "criminally overlooked". It was a pretty good success commercially for its time, and was given RPG Of The Year by several publications. AFAIK.

Anyway, I love Betrayal's combat. Hell, I would say it's my favourite combat system. Decrease in health causes decrease in abilities, and spellcasting uses up your health instead of mana. I like rules like these. Gaining or losing initiative makes all the difference, especially with spellcasters, because even two modest spellcasters can ruin your party if they win initiative because they can cast Unfortunate Flux or Grief of 1000 Nights, and this can seriously tip the scales in their favour.

I love the game's combat so much, I like entering into otherwise avoidable and really hard combat situations. That too regardless of the rewards.

 

[LCJr.]

Gaining or losing initiative makes all the difference

A remember a moment of great joy when that slug Patrus bought the farm. He was just too slow to be of any use.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Betrayal At Krondor wasn't "criminally overlooked". It was a pretty good success commercially for its time, and was given RPG Of The Year by several publications. AFAIK.

Well, I meant that as in how it's not remembered nowadays. Like, ask your_regular_non_codexer about Betrayal at Krondor and he'll go like "what?", even if he played and enjoyed today's classics like BG, Fallout or PS:T.

 

[Wyrmlord]

Gaining or losing initiative makes all the difference

A remember a moment of great joy when that slug Patrus bought the farm. He was just too slow to be of any use.

That part with the six moredhel spellcasters, you mean?

 

[Darth Roxor]

Gaining or losing initiative makes all the difference

A remember a moment of great joy when that slug Patrus bought the farm. He was just too slow to be of any use.

That part with the six moredhel spellcasters, you mean?

I think he just meant that it was atrocious how Patrus could only walk 2 or 3 squares and he was the last to do anything on the battlefield. I also had a moment of great joy when I realised that I won't have to use him anymore after he kicked the bucket.

 

[LCJr.]

Roxor you're famous.
http://www.gamebanshee.com/news/static/ ... HRVftB.php

 

[Wyrmlord]

Yeah, that and the player will have likely given Owyn some powerful spells in the earlier part of the game, either by finding or buying them. To be given Patrus is a huge step backward.

Also, since characters gain hit points as they explore around, I found it interesting that Owyn gained such high hit points, that when Chapter V began, I went back to James and Locklear who had far less hit points than him, a spellcaster. And I think I raised Owyn's meelee higher than Jimmy's.

 

[FrancoTAU]

The prestigious RPG Codex magazine got even more press over at the Watch.

http://www.rpgwatch.com/show/newsbit?newsbit=9902

 

[Gorath]

Nice article. BaK is the best RPG ever!