Betrayal Collection
- December 15, 2016
- Dynamix
Get on SteamThe "Betrayal Collection" contains two classic RPGs: "Betrayal at Krondor," set in the magical realm of Midkemia and winner of the RPG of the Year award in 1994, and "Betrayal in Antara," which follows four heroes as they unravel a mystery involving the empire's most powerful figures. Both games feature rich, well-designed worlds with intricate political, economic, and cultural systems.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Betrayal at Krondor is a classic RPG with a rich story and engaging gameplay that still holds up after 30 years.
- The game features a unique skill-based leveling system, intricate puzzles, and a vast open world to explore, making it a rewarding experience for players.
- Despite its dated graphics, the game's narrative and character development are exceptional, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of old-school RPGs.
- The graphics are severely outdated and may be unappealing to modern gamers, making it difficult to enjoy the game fully.
- Betrayal in Antara, the sequel, is considered a disappointment with a lackluster story and gameplay that fails to capture the charm of its predecessor.
- The controls and combat mechanics can feel clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration, especially for players unfamiliar with older RPG formats.
- story58 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is widely praised for its depth and engaging narrative, often described as timeless and rich, despite the dated graphics. Players appreciate the combination of exploration, character development, and intricate puzzles that enhance the storytelling experience. While some note the gameplay may not hold up as well, the compelling plot and memorable characters keep players invested for hours, making it a standout in the RPG genre.
“The story is phenomenal and I highly recommend Betrayal at Krondor for old school CRPG fans.”
“Betrayal at Krondor does a great job of being open world while still having a main narrative, and exploring only furthers the narrative as you see things that might happen as the story unfolds.”
“Despite one of the few games with a spell crafting system and a seemingly great storyline, it has not aged well.”
“Being that gameplay sucks, read the wiki or something if you want the story... if there even is one.”
“Antara could use work too, but the biggest failing in Antara is the story.”
“It has no quest markers, and you have to write down everything you're told, as there isn't even a quest journal.”
- graphics36 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Betrayal at Krondor" are widely criticized as outdated and poor by modern standards, often described as blurry and difficult to interpret. However, many reviewers emphasize that the game's rich storytelling, deep character development, and engaging gameplay more than compensate for its visual shortcomings, making it a classic RPG worth experiencing despite its graphical limitations.
“Betrayal at Krondor is one of the best RPG games ever released. If you can get over the dated graphics, then you are in for a treat; the game still holds up even after three decades.”
“While the graphics may not stand up to 2018 standards, the rich story and characters more than make up for this.”
“If you can overlook the aged graphics, behind them is an amazing game with interesting characters, a cool story, and fun gameplay.”
“Horrid graphics.”
“Yes, the pixels are so large that the graphics are difficult to make out.”
“The graphics are terrible by today's standards, the controls are unintuitive and clunky, and the port to modern OS leaves the game very glitchy.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with many players noting that while the mechanics and character development are solid, the overall experience feels dated, particularly in terms of graphics and interface. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm and complexity of the gameplay, especially in classic RPG elements, while others find it challenging to overlook its age. Overall, the game is considered enjoyable for those willing to adapt to its older style, with a rich story and engaging mechanics that still resonate despite the visual limitations.
“Especially the mechanics of character development, skills, and magic are exceptionally good here.”
“If you can overlook the aged graphics, behind them is an amazing game with interesting characters, a cool story, and fun gameplay.”
“The unique gameplay and superb story make this game worth the few bucks it costs to get it in the library.”
“Being that gameplay sucks, read the wiki or something if you want the story...if there even is one.”
“The gameplay is dated and has always been, but once you get used to it, it's functional.”
“But the gameplay simply doesn't stand the test of time.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and nostalgic appeal, with many players enjoying the complex MIDI soundtrack over the CD version due to issues like skips and cutoffs. However, some users noted a bug where the theme music continues to play after entering the main menu, which can be resolved by pausing briefly. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's immersive experience.
“On top of that, you get good combat, a great leveling system, awesome puzzles, and good music.”
“It has an amazing story, atmosphere, music, and characters.”
“Do whatever is best for your own preferred gameplay experience here, because it is still worth embracing the campy proto-roto-scoped 2D characters, the surprisingly complex MIDI soundtrack, and shockingly solid gameplay mechanics of Betrayal at Krondor.”
“One bug is the theme music will continue to play after entering the main menu to save the game - unless you let the music run a few seconds before continuing the game.”
“The weird skips and clear recording cutoffs in the CD music made me quickly switch back to the familiar dulcet sounds of the MIDI soundtrack, better fitting a game for a 16-bit OS.”
“As a Steam product, it is exactly the game from 1993 I first fell in love with, apart from allowing a choice between CD or floppy drive music in the options menu, which I lacked as a first-world problem child.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its immersive combination of story, character development, and music, creating a rich RPG experience. However, some users feel that certain titles lack a compelling atmosphere, comparing them unfavorably to mid-90s games. Overall, the atmosphere is a significant highlight for many, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“Atmosphere, characters, plot, and especially the music.”
“It has an amazing story, atmosphere, music, characters.”
“Baa is pretty much like many also-rans of the mid 90s; it lacks game atmosphere, and the graphics, while four years later, look older in gameplay terms.”
“Combines story, first-person travel, dungeon combat, atmosphere, and many other RPG aspects all in one game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its amusing character designs, particularly the cosplay-like appearance of characters such as Locklear, which elicits nostalgia for players familiar with games from that era. However, some users find the overall gameplay experience to be unplayable by today's standards.
“However, those cosplay-esque characters are pretty funny looking (especially Locklear).”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that both games are compatible with Windows 10, enhancing their replayability by allowing players to easily revisit them through built-in DOSBox support.
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development mechanics, highlighting the exceptional depth and variety in skills and magic systems that enhance the overall gameplay experience.
“The mechanics of character development, skills, and magic are exceptionally well-designed.”
“I love how the character development system allows for deep customization and growth throughout the game.”
“The progression of characters feels meaningful, with each choice impacting their abilities and story.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect of the game, noting that while combat is straightforward, the skill progression feels rewarding. The resource management adds depth without becoming overly tedious, striking a good balance for players.
