Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three
- March 29, 2022
- DreamForge Intertainment
Get on SteamThe Forgotten Realms Archives - Collection Three is the final installment in the series, featuring Dungeon Hack and Menzoberranzan. Dungeon Hack, powered by the Eye of the Beholder engine, offers a unique, randomly generated Dungeon Crawler experience, while Menzoberranzan immerses players in the dangerous underdark city. This collection is a celebration of the classic AD&D video games, providing a satisfying conclusion to the series.
PC
Windows
Ms Dos
Reviews
- Dungeon Hack offers a customizable dungeon generator, providing a unique experience with each playthrough and high replayability.
- The game captures the essence of old-school Dungeons & Dragons gameplay, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Despite its age, Dungeon Hack has aged well and retains a fun, engaging experience reminiscent of classic dungeon crawlers.
- The game suffers from rough quality of life issues, such as awkward controls and limited hotkey options, which can hinder the experience.
- Menzoberranzan is considered less interesting and engaging compared to Dungeon Hack, with some players finding it tedious and lacking in challenge.
- Technical issues, such as compatibility problems with modern systems like Windows 11, can prevent players from accessing the game altogether.
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Dungeon Hack" are described as serviceable 2D tile-based visuals that do not detract from the gameplay experience, appealing to fans of classic art styles. While some players appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic, others note that the graphics are basic and may not meet modern standards, particularly when compared to AAA titles. Overall, the visuals are functional for a dungeon crawler, but those seeking cutting-edge graphics may be disappointed.
“Also, the graphics for the introduction are better than most AAA games these days.”
“The visuals can look great, especially the titular city and the interiors.”
“Fully 3D graphics with plenty of graphical options in the settings.”
“This is a review for 'Dungeon Hack'. I tried to play 'Menzoberranzan' but couldn't get past the terrible first-generation 3D graphics, so I quit after five minutes.”
“If you are looking for graphics, this is not your game.”
“Still, it's baffling to me that the graphics of this game manage to somehow make the Underdark even more imperceptible than the usual amount.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story in Dungeon Hack is minimal and often feels forced, with most of the gameplay focused on dungeon crawling, combat, and survival rather than narrative depth. While it incorporates elements from D&D lore, players seeking a rich storyline may find it lacking, as the plot primarily unfolds towards the end of the game and is generally simplistic. Overall, the game prioritizes mechanics and exploration over storytelling, making it less suitable for those looking for a compelling narrative experience.
“This is honestly a great idea as it ties directly into your main quest: the mechanics pressure you to be fast while the story implies some urgency.”
“Most of the actual plot is left to the end game as the majority of your playtime will be the descent through the Underdark.”
“Storywise it will be about what you would expect, meaning something simple.”
“Dungeon Hack is a D&D game (using AD&D 2E rules) with gameplay focused on dungeon crawler exploration, combat, and survival, with less emphasis on story. This kind of gameplay was very popular since the original D&D (0E) until around AD&D 1E, but beyond that, D&D gameplay started to shift heavily towards story and heroic play with no real challenges. You'll never die; it's just drama that has unevolved until today, where games are getting dumber every day.”
“Compared to the Ravenloft games, this felt a bit too simple, and the plot was forced at times, which left me feeling very confused.”
“Story-wise, it will be about what you would expect, meaning something simple.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Dungeon Hack offers a classic dungeon crawler experience rooted in AD&D 2E rules, emphasizing exploration, combat, and survival over narrative. This gameplay style harks back to the early days of D&D, appealing primarily to players familiar with traditional mechanics, while potentially confusing newcomers. The game effectively combines urgency in its mechanics with a straightforward quest structure, making it a nostalgic choice for veteran players.
“Dungeon Hack is a D&D game (using AD&D 2E rules) with gameplay focused on dungeon crawler exploration, combat, and survival, with less emphasis on story. This kind of gameplay was very popular since the original D&D (0E) in 1974 until around AD&D 1E (1979-1985).”
“This is honestly a great idea as it ties directly into your main quest: the mechanics pressure you to be fast while the story implies some urgency.”
“The gameplay style, the features, the items, the randomness, the dungeons, all come from D&D (1974).”
“Which is why this game and the controls were incredibly confusing to me as I am not used to these kinds of mechanics.”
“So personally, I would recommend these games for two types of players: if you are actually familiar with these mechanics and have played these kinds of games over the years or if you are interested in the lore.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive qualities, particularly as a dungeon crawler utilizing the Ravenloft engine. However, some users feel that it could benefit from more atmospheric music and sound effects to enhance the experience further. Overall, it remains a worthwhile purchase for fans of the genre.
“But it has amazing atmosphere and is still a good dungeon crawler running on the Ravenloft engine.”
“Still totally worth a purchase, just try it with some dungeon atmospheric stuff in the background for added punch.”
“Immersive atmospheric music?”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a strong dungeon synth soundtrack that enhances the experience, but some players feel it lacks sufficient atmospheric elements and immersive soundscapes. Additionally, the inclusion of in-game voice acting adds to the overall audio experience.
“Other things I genuinely like about this game are the cool in-universe character creation screen, it has actual in-game voice acting, and a really good (mostly) dungeon synth soundtrack.”
“Immersive atmospheric music?”
“I was wishing it had more atmospheric music and sounds.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, particularly for players who enjoy its combat mechanics, thanks to robust dungeon creation parameters and customizable options that enhance the overall experience.
“If you enjoy the combat, you will like the game, and it does have robust parameters to create dungeons, so there is plenty of replayability.”
“The options to modify the dungeon to your liking make the replay value of the game quite significant.”
“The options to modify the dungeon to your liking make the replay value of the game rather large.”
“While the combat is enjoyable, the lack of diverse scenarios and storylines limits the overall replayability.”
“After a few runs, the game starts to feel repetitive, and the excitement of replaying diminishes quickly.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While Dungeon Hack is praised for its gameplay, users have reported stability issues, particularly related to randomization that can lead to glitches, making the game potentially unplayable at times.
“Dungeon Hack is a great game, but the randomization can make it impossible to beat due to glitches.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I experienced several game-breaking bugs that ruined my experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game offers engaging content, it occasionally suffers from repetitive levels and tedious grinding, which can detract from the overall experience.
“Unfortunately, it is not flawless; sometimes you will encounter levels that are nearly identical, and in other cases, you will run into boring and tedious floors that can feel like a slog.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became monotonous and frustrating.”
