Darklands

Darklands is a video game in the role-playing (rpg) genre developed by MPS Labs and published by MicroProse Software, Inc. originally released in 1992. It is currently playable on DOS.

One of the best RPGs ever produced, and certainly the BEST historical RPG, Darklands was unfortunately plagued by a number of bugs when it was first released, many of which could severely damage system files. The most recent version (7. 0) fixes most of these bugs and makes the game what it was supposed to be, but by then many people have given up trying . . . . making this game Microprose's first and only RPG.

What makes Darklands so special? For starters, it is possibly the most accurate historical RPG ever created: almost every facet of authentic medieval Germany is represented in the game, from the huge map with over 90 cities, the calendar system and currency . . . to the different types of weapons and armor and their corresponding weights and effectiveness.

The mundane spell casting of conventional RPGs is replaced here by an excellent (and, of course, authentic) alchemy interface that allows you to create almost any potion you want with dozens of ingredients. Different potions require different levels of expertise: the more difficult ones may require a prayer to the corresponding saint to make them feasible to make. You can also pray to the gods for divine help in difficult situations.

The character generation in Darklands is one of the best I've seen in an RPG. After choosing your name and gender, you go on to select your heritage, which affects your stats and skills. You then choose an occupation which adds 5 years to your age and increases your skills depending on the occupation chosen. You can go on to choose more professions, but your character will start to suffer from age.

This balance between experience and strength strikes a great balance that requires strategic planning. The goal of your adventures is simply to become famous. The game is very non-linear: over time, different 'quests' will arise. Different characters will ask you to go to various places and do various favors for them. The rewards for these missions are usually financial, but often also serve to enhance your group's fame.

Some of the quests you can carry out include killing a raubritter (German robber baron), slaying a dragon, ending the problems of 'thrashers' in the mines, and driving out witches. You may be asked to retrieve relics, or recover stolen papers.

Finally, you are likely to face the Knights Templar and their demon lord, Baphomet. Each time you complete one of these tasks, you will earn more 'fame', which is quantified by a number. A very successful group can expect fame in the hundreds.

In a controversial move, Darklands does not have a proper 'ending': after defeating Baphomet, a small victory screen will appear and you will be given the option to continue playing. This shouldn't bother anyone, as the game contains so many optional sub-quests that you're likely to miss a few along the way.

If I can't convince you to play this game, maybe this will: Darklands has never left my hard drive since I first installed it in 1992. If you're looking for a great, but forgotten RPG that will provide dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of fun and educational value to boot, this is a must-play game.

Darklands is available at a reduced price on the following websites and is no longer abandonware.