BETRAYAL AT KRONDOR

                   Reviewed by Joan Dunn

This game is based on a book by Raymond Feist.  The most important
thing to say at this stage is that it is different. It is not like
any other R.P.G. I have played.  It isn't just a series of
battles, finding items and going on to the next fight. It has a
definite story woven into the action, in fact the continuing story
seems more important than the combat, although the fighting can be
exciting and often difficult.

The game, like a book, is divided into nine chapters, each with
its goal or task to complete before going on to the next chapter.
You have plenty of time to explore the countryside and cities for
as long as you like, picking up items along the way.

You start with three characters and your first task is to escort
one of them to Krondor. This looked easy as it was not very far on
the map. However with poor equipment and low level of experience
it took longer than I thought and having arrived at the gate of
the city I found the portcullis broken, so couldn't get in! I
don't want to spoil the fun and reveal any more of the plot,
suffice it to say that someone is a traitor ------- but who?

There are lots of villages and cities to explore where you can buy
and sell items to get badly needed gold. Everything is very
expensive. If anyone does you a service they expect to be paid.
So I found in the early stages I never had enough cash to buy
better swords and armour. You can travel around by teleporting
from one temple to another --- for a price! There are two on-
screen maps one, an overhead map and the other a main screen.
Travel on the overhead map is very quick but you need to be on the
main screen to find chests, hollow trunks and even dead bodies to
search. You can sell objects you don't want at the next town. I
built up quite a reserve of gold and when I got to the beginning
of Chapter 2, the computer took over and one of my party went off
on his own, taking all his goodies plus all the cash. I was left
with hardly any supplies, no money, and only two in my party which
made battles more difficult to win.

In your wanderings you are able to explore mines, sewers and
dungeons where you can pick up useful items and have lots of fun.
There are also a number of magical chests mostly sealed with a
riddle. they are worth seeking out as they hold lots of nice
things and the riddles are easy. Beware that some of the chests
explode on opening and all your party are killed.

There are also a number of magical traps to be got through.  These
consist of several posts joined by lines of electrical force.
Walk into one and WHAM!! As well as the posts there are cannons
and revolving shapes. You can push the shapes in front of the
cannons then the fire bolt doesn't harm you. Once one of your
party walks through, the others can follow safely. These traps are
often in front of the entrance to a mine or a house which you need
to visit.

@~Mum wanted to include a screenshot of one of the traps but
@~Screen Thief wouldn't grab it - which was a shame because it was
@~most impressive! ... Sue

Combat and spellcasting is explained fully in the rule book.

This is really a super game and full of surprises. The characters
are so real and you feel concerned with how they are getting on.
There is quite a bit of humour too. In one of the early chapters,
Gorath knocks at the door of a house. The door opens and this
graceful, obviously female arm appears, grabs his neck and pulls
him inside. Owyn, the very young magician waits impatiently
outside. Gorath reappears looking very pleased with himself.  Owyn
says "What was all that about?" Gorath replies "Don't ask, you
are too young to know."

At the moment I am nearly at the end of Chapter 6. The fighting is
harder and the most difficult battle so far was when I was told to
kill 6 invisible magicians. I am spending far too much time
playing and everything else is left. Who says we need to do
housework anyway!! The good news is that when I finish it I have
Return to Krondor still to play.

If you like a game with a really good storyline don't miss this
one.

















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