SHP Forums

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 6:29 pm Just curious: doesn't D&D nowadays have dungeons, too? Or is it all about urban exploration, and new-and-implausible monsters? (Where's my Pizza Elemental?)

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 12:30 am It’s worth remembering that the first Kyrandia was loosely based on a text adventure, and Westwood seems to have taken text adventure design philosophies into account when mapping out the game. Lots of generic locations (caves, forests) hiding the important rooms, especially later in the game. It was very clearly their first time at bat with this genre, and as pretty as it is to look at, some of the gameplay mechanics do feel tentative. I also suspect it was heavily streamlined during production, based on the amount of cut inventory items and unused artwork buried within the resources. Earlier concepts likely had more meat to the story.
The second one is definitely more sure-footed, though I feel the broader comedy does take away some of the simplistic charm of the first entry. I still love Zanthia’s attitude, though.

Tawmis wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 1:14 am

Rath Darkblade wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 6:29 pm Just curious: doesn't D&D nowadays have dungeons, too? Or is it all about urban exploration, and new-and-implausible monsters? (Where's my Pizza Elemental?)

Yes, but if you played 1st/2nd Edition AD&D - it was literally modules of just dungeons.
Now, with 5th Edition especially, it's far more mainstreamed to be a much wider campaign (underground, dungeons, forests, astral plane/travel, etc), and is far more about characters developing (they try to really bring in character RP), rather than, "Dear gods, I hope I survive tonight's session." (which was often the prayer of every 1st and 2nd edition D&D player).

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 12:30 am It’s worth remembering that the first Kyrandia was loosely based on a text adventure, and Westwood seems to have taken text adventure design philosophies into account when mapping out the game. Lots of generic locations (caves, forests) hiding the important rooms, especially later in the game. It was very clearly their first time at bat with this genre, and as pretty as it is to look at, some of the gameplay mechanics do feel tentative. I also suspect it was heavily streamlined during production, based on the amount of cut inventory items and unused artwork buried within the resources. Earlier concepts likely had more meat to the story.
The second one is definitely more sure-footed, though I feel the broader comedy does take away some of the simplistic charm of the first entry. I still love Zanthia’s attitude, though.

Honestly, I thought the first one (through Brandon's comments/dialogue) is much funnier than the 2nd. The 2nd one is still VERY, VERY GOOD (design wise, probably superior to the first) - but I do think the first was funnier, over all.

But really, other than the birthstones thing (which if you remember to save before you start placing stones is very easy) - the maze is really the only pain point. And even so, as long as you have a fireberry with you - and have a graph paper, you can easily map the game. When I played it this time, I was looking at the large screenshot I'd made of the various chambers, which messed me up a few times - would have been better to go the graph paper route - and just put circles where the firebushes are, and dots where you dropped a fireberry (my original mapping technique).

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Wed Sep 14, 2022 5:06 am Interesting perspective. The 2nd and 3rd games were certainly designed to be funnier than the first one, which largely plays it straight but does, as you mentioned, have humorous dialogue. 2 and 3 are undeniably wackier, though.
When navigating the labyrinth, I always place two fireberries - one next to the door I just came from, and one next to the door I’m going through. Makes backtracking much easier.

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:04 am I’ve always loved the music for these games. Frank Klepacki has to be one of my favourite game composers.
Have you ever heard the Redbook CD soundtrack for the rare FM-Towns version? It’s incredible. Such a pity that version is so rare.

Tawmis wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 10:27 am

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2024 4:04 am I’ve always loved the music for these games. Frank Klepacki has to be one of my favourite game composers.
Have you ever heard the Redbook CD soundtrack for the rare FM-Towns version? It’s incredible. Such a pity that version is so rare.

Book 1 is easily my favorite soundtrack. Not just because I played that one the most of the three, but it's just such a good soundtrack.

I've not heard the Redbook CD soundtrack.

I wonder if it's on Spotify?

Semi-Happy Partygoer wrote: ↑Tue Feb 06, 2024 11:07 am Oh wow! That’s good to know. I never use Spotify.