Summary
- Release Year: 1997
- Genres: Adventure, Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: DOS, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Interplay Productions
- Publishers: Interplay Productions
Descent to Undermountain is a first-person role-playing game developed by Interplay Productions and published by Black Isle Studios in 1997. It is based on the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) ruleset (2nd edition) and uses the Descent engine. The game is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting and takes place in the Undermountain, a vast dungeon beneath the city of Waterdeep.
The player takes on the role of a member of a party of adventurers who have been hired to explore the Undermountain and recover a stolen artifact. The party must fight their way through hordes of monsters, solve puzzles, and overcome traps in order to reach their goal.
Descent to Undermountain was a critical and commercial success, and is considered one of the best dungeon crawls ever made. It was praised for its faithful adaptation of the AD&D ruleset, its challenging and rewarding gameplay, and its immersive atmosphere.
Gameplay
Descent to Undermountain is a first-person role-playing game with a focus on dungeon crawling. The player controls a party of up to six characters, each of whom has their own unique abilities and skills. The party must explore the Undermountain, fighting monsters, solving puzzles, and overcoming traps.
The game uses a turn-based combat system. During combat, the player can choose from a variety of actions for each character, such as attacking, casting spells, or using items. The player can also control the party’s formation and tactics.
The Undermountain is a vast and dangerous place, and the party will face a variety of challenges. The dungeon is home to a wide variety of monsters, from goblins and kobolds to dragons and demons. The party will also need to solve puzzles and overcome traps in order to progress.
Setting
Descent to Undermountain is set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting, one of the most popular settings for Dungeons & Dragons. The game takes place in the Undermountain, a vast dungeon beneath the city of Waterdeep. The Undermountain is a dangerous place, home to a variety of monsters and traps.
The party will explore a variety of different areas of the Undermountain, including dungeons, caves, and ruins. They will also encounter a variety of different factions, including dwarves, elves, and drow.
Characters
The player can create a party of up to six characters to explore the Undermountain. Each character can be one of six different races (human, elf, dwarf, halfling, gnome, or half-orc) and one of six different classes (fighter, thief, cleric, mage, ranger, or paladin).
Each character has their own unique abilities and skills. Fighters are skilled in combat, while thieves are skilled at sneaking and picking locks. Clerics can cast healing spells, while mages can cast damage-dealing spells. Rangers are skilled in archery and tracking, while paladins are skilled in both combat and healing.
The player can customize their characters’ appearance, stats, and abilities. They can also choose from a variety of different equipment and weapons.
Reception
Descent to Undermountain was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its faithful adaptation of the AD&D ruleset, its challenging and rewarding gameplay, and its immersive atmosphere.
The game was also a commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. It was one of the best-selling PC games of 1997.
Legacy
Descent to Undermountain is considered one of the best dungeon crawls ever made. It has been praised for its faithful adaptation of the AD&D ruleset, its challenging and rewarding gameplay, and its immersive atmosphere.
The game has had a lasting impact on the RPG genre. It has inspired a number of other dungeon crawls, including the Eye of the Beholder series and the Legend of Grimrock series.
Descent to Undermountain is still enjoyed by many gamers today. It is a classic dungeon crawl that offers a challenging and rewarding experience.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
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