Galdregon's Domain - Pandora Software RRP œ19.95

                    Reviewed by Sandra Sharkey

When I heard about this game I  couldn't  wait  to  buy a copy.
According to the previews I'd seen, here was a game to compare 
with the now legendary 'Dungeon Master'.

The game comes  on  three  disks and, unfortunately, the 
programmers haven't allowed for the use of second  drives so 
there is quite a bit of disk swapping during play.

If you buy a copy of 'Galdregon's  Domain' the front cover of 
the box should contain a white sticker  with  the  words "VIRUS
FREE DISKS" in red print. A friend of  mine  bought  a  copy  
without the sticker and brought it around for me to see.  After
she had gone I decided to re-organise my disks (without 
switching off  the machine first). Yes, you guessed, her copy 
had a virus on it and I ended up with about fourteen disks all 
containing the dreaded lurgy!

Fortunately, she got directly in  touch  with the software 
company who exchanged the game pronto. So, beware, you have been 
warned!

Your aim in the game is to  collect  the  five gems of Zator 
which are guarded by different creatures.  I've  managed  to  
collect one so far which I got off Medusa in a  temple  that 
doesn't show on the main map of the game. You'll find the temple
way down in the south west corner of the map. The temple is full
of  minotaurs, some of whom carry some useful items which you 
can find  by searching their bones after you've killed them. 
Amongst the items is a  mirror which I assume you need to be 
carrying in order to defeat Medusa.

In the temple in the north east corner of the map is the Demon 
Set. I haven't managed to defeat this  creature  yet  but  am 
certain that it holds one of the gems.


Mapping is a bit of a chore. A couple  of my maps have ended up 
with a bit of a dog leg in them  as they don't match up. As with
adventures, dropping objects is useful  whilst  mapping. I found
the cave system particularly difficult to map, so difficult that
I've given up.

The graphics are good although there is no animation during 
combat. There are various  sound  effects  but  they  aren't  
particularly awe inspiring. A couple of these effects are a 
grunting  sound while fighting and a (not very good) creaky  
sound when you open a door. All in all not a patch on Dungeon 
Master in the sound department.

Galdregon's Domain can't really be compared with Dungeon Master 
as it is about œ10 cheaper. It isn't a brilliant innovative game
but it isn't a bad game. I quite like playing it but not in an 
addictive way as with other games I've played. I tend to put it 
on when I'm bored but haven't got enough time before the kids 
come home from school to get stuck into anything.

If you can pick up  a  copy  for  less  than  a tenner then it's
worth buying but I'm glad I didn't  pay  full  price  for it as
I would have felt cheated. If I was giving marks out of ten 
then Galdregon's Domain would get a seven.

NOTE:
You can back up the game disk  but  it  won't be fully playable
due to some clever protection by  the  programmers.  However it 
does let you have a little wander about and open a few doors 
which gives you the general feel of the game or the  chance to 
map the starting locations. It would have been a good way of 
putting  out  a demo on PD which is something I feel more 
software houses should do.