From: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games
Subject: Re: Darklands
Date: Fri, 04 Sep 92 14:56:06 EDT
Reply-To: jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo)
Organization: The Business Card (BBS), Lawrence, MA - Data: 508-682-5329

wyman@rtsg.mot.com (Mark S. Wyman) writes:

> jferra@buscard.fidonet.org (Jim Ferraiolo) writes:
> 
> >ppugliese@pimacc.pima.edu writes:
> 
> >> Does anyone if 'Darklands' *really* needs a '386 to run (like Ultima 7)
> >> or if it will on a '286 (sigh) with expanded memory (like Ultima UW)?
> >> 
> >> thanks,    PHIL
> >> 
> 
> >Don't bother with Darklands. It is a waste of money. It does not require 
> >a 386 I believe. Save your money for something with a 
> >plot/ending/gamepplay value..
> 
> Come on! How long did you develop your characters?  Sure they don't
> get too many options when they are unknown (or even wanted) but as
> you gain a reputation more adventures and avenues of advancement
> (such as town hall access, monastary library access, access to city
> castles) come your way.
> 
> IMHO this game does not suck and is not a waste of money.  It is
> merely an innovative way of presenting a role playing game.  I enjoy
> the open-endedness to this game.  No more kill the wizard at the end
> of the game scenerios.  Also, this game does not support the
> ridiculous notion that as a character gains a level he/she will gain
> more hit points.  Darklands increases the characters SKILLs while the
> strength and endurance pretty much stay the same (well almost).  
> 
> There are many plots and subplots to this game.  Matter of fact,
> its designed so that you create your own story of adventures rather
> than follow a pre-determined path.
> 
> Its also nice to see that the characters can make stupid decisions that
> don't necessarily kill them but can make their lifes alittle more
> difficult.  For example, my party of four where out past curfew in
> one of the moderate sized cities (can't remember the name).  They
> were looking for some thiefs to thrash in order to get more respect
> in the city (at this point they were unknown).  Well, they ran into
> a night watch.  The party could either, talk their way out, fight
> the guards, pay the fee for being out past curfew, use a potion to
> distract the guards, call upon a saint for assistence, or run like
> hell.  I choice run like hell!  Well, they caught up to my party
> because one of my characters was hampered by the weight he was
> carrying.  So, now the choices are pay, fight, saint, potion.  I
> choice fight.  Well, we killed the guards but now we were wanted in
> the city.  We went to the main gates were we could try to walk
> past the guards, sneak out among peasants, or fight the guards.  I
> tried to sneak out but the guards recognized us.  Well, we killed the
> guards and ran out of the city before reinforcements showed up.
> At this point of the game, my party is wanted men in this city.
> 
> This game is very addictive.  I recommend this to anyone who is sick
> of the single quest games out there.  This is closer to a pen-and-paper
> rpg than any computer rpg game I have played.
> 
> Mark Wyman

E-mail me in about 2 weeks and tell me what you think of the game. I 
thought the EXACT same thing when I started playing. It's not like I just 
popped the game in and made my unwavering opinion
of it.. I PLAYED the game for quite a while.. Got very high levels of 
experience, attributes, money, etc... I grew tired of it.. Then I wiped 
my eyes and finally saw what a flawed game Darklands truly is..

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