Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance

Last updated
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons:
Heroes of the Lance
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Heroes of the Lance Cover.png
NES box art by Jeff Easley
Developer(s) U.S. Gold [1] (Amstrad, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum)
Strategic Simulations
Natsume (NES) [2]
Tiertex Design Studios (Master System)
Publisher(s) Strategic Simulations
U.S. Gold
FCI (NES)
Pony Canyon (Famicom)
Composer(s) Brian Howarth
Iku Mizutani (NES)
Seiji Toda (MSX/NES)
Series Dragonlance
Platform(s) Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, C64, FM Towns, MS-DOS, MSX2, NEC PC-8801, 9801, NES, Master System, ZX Spectrum
Release1988
Famicom/NES
  • NA: January 1991
  • JP: March 8, 1991
Master System
  • EU: December 1991
[3]
Genre(s) Action-adventure game
Mode(s) Single-player

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance is a video game released in 1988 for various home computer systems and consoles. The game is based on the first Dragonlance campaign module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Dragons of Despair , and the first Dragonlance novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight .

Contents

Gameplay

Screenshot from the Amiga version Heroes Of The Lance Screenshot.png
Screenshot from the Amiga version

Heroes of the Lance is a side-scrolling action game. [4]

The eight heroes from the Dragonlance series are assembled for the quest, but only one is visible on the screen at a time; when the on-screen hero dies, the next in line appears. [4] Heroes of the Lance uses Dungeons & Dragons game statistics, with character statistics taken exactly from the rule books. [5] Three characters have special abilities (healing magic, wizard magic, and trap removal), but the other five merely act as "lives" for the player as in traditional action-platforming games.

Plot

Heroes of the Lance focuses on the journey of eight heroes through the ruined city of Xak Tsaroth, where they must face the ancient dragon Khisanth and retrieve the relic, the Disks of Mishakal.

Even if it is a faithful representation of a portion of the novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight , it was a departure from the role-playing game module Dragons of Despair the book itself is based on.

Characters

The eight heroes that make up the party are:

Development

Heroes of the Lance was based on the original Dragonlance novels written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. [5] Heroes of the Lance was not part of the Gold Box series; the nickname for these other D&D titles were "Silver Box" games. [4] The NES version was developed by Natsume.

Reception

Heroes of the Lance was very successful for SSI, with 88,808 copies sold for computers in North America. [7] After reviewing a pre-production copy of the DOS version of Heroes of the Lance, the magazine G.M. praised its graphics and "excellent" audio and said that "it would undoubtedly go straight to the top of the computer games charts and stay there for several months. Its THAT good". [8] Computer Gaming World gave the DOS version of the game a similarly positive review. [9] Electronic Gaming Monthly columnist Seanbaby listed the NES version as the 2nd worst NES game, and as the 11th worst video game. [10] [11] Levi Buchanan, in a classic Dungeons & Dragons videogame retrospective for IGN, wrote that if the players don't plan well, they can lose a lot of heroes in a very short period of time. He added that this offered a slight strategy angle, but D&D fans largely preferred the Pool of Radiance straight RPG approach. [4] Pool of Radiance' sales were triple that of Heroes of the Lance. [7] According to GameSpy, although the game was a fairly decent side-scroller for its time, it was also known for it frustrating level of difficulty, and its inability to save the game. [12]

Jim Trunzo reviewed Heroes of the Lance in White Wolf #16 (June/July, 1989), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "Graphically, the product is inspirational, regardless of the machine on which it is being played. Full-figured characters and monsters and detailed backgrounds make the game a joy to look at as well as play." [13]

Reviews

Legacy

The storyline for this game continued in two subsequent video games, Dragons of Flame and Shadow Sorcerer .

Related Research Articles

Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job interview. Tracy Hickman met his future writing partner Margaret Weis at TSR, and they gathered a group of associates to play the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The adventures during that game inspired a series of gaming modules, a series of novels, licensed products such as board games, and lead miniature figures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raistlin Majere</span> Fictional character from Dragonlance books

Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in Dragonlance Legends in which he was both primary protagonist and antagonist. He is twin brother to Caramon Majere, half-brother to his protective sister Kitiara uth Matar, and a significant member of the Heroes of the Lance. In the animated movie adaptation, Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Raistlin was voiced by Kiefer Sutherland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasslehoff Burrfoot</span> Fictional character

Tasslehoff Burrfoot is a fictional character of the kender race from the Dragonlance series of novels, written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. He was born in Kendermore. His parents are unknown and he has few known relatives. He has a sister, and also claims to have an Uncle Trapspringer. He has three uncles, by the names of Remo Lockpick, Bertie, and Wilfre. He also has a cousin, Latchlifter Furrfoot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caramon Majere</span> Fictional character

Caramon Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance books. He is depicted as a fighter and is one of the main characters in Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's first Dragonlance trilogy, the Dragonlance Chronicles. Caramon and his brother Raistlin Majere's relationship was explored in the NY Times Best Seller Twins Trilogy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldmoon</span> Fictional character

Goldmoon is a fictional character from the Dragonlance fantasy series of novels and role playing games, originally published by TSR, Inc. and later by Wizards of the Coast.

<i>Underwurlde</i> 1984 video game

Underwurlde is a 1984 action-adventure platform video game in the Sabreman series by Ultimate Play the Game for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. The player controls the adventurer Sabreman as he jumps between platforms in a castle and its caverns to find an escape past the exit guardians. Underwurlde features about 600 flip screen areas. Unlike other games of its time, Sabreman is not injured when touched by enemies and is instead knocked backwards. Underwurlde is the second game in the series, between Sabre Wulf and Knight Lore, and released shortly before the latter for the ZX Spectrum in late 1984. Another developer, Firebird, ported the game to the Commodore 64 the next year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverwind</span> Fictional character

Riverwind is a fictional character appearing in the Dragonlance series of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game supplements and novels, created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman and published by TSR.

Tanis Half-Elven is a fictional half-elven character in the Dragonlance series of books, which were published by TSR, and are now published by Wizards of the Coast. He is first introduced in the book Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, in Chapter 1: "Old Friends Meet. A Rude Interruption." They introduce him saying that he was half-elven, armed with a longbow and a sword and wearing leather armor.

<i>Dragons of Autumn Twilight</i> 1984 novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a 1984 fantasy novel by American writers Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, based on a series of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game modules. It was the first Dragonlance novel, and first in the Chronicles trilogy, which, along with the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, are generally regarded as the core novels of the Dragonlance world. Dragons of Autumn Twilight details the meeting of the Companions and the early days of the War of the Lance. The novel corresponds with the first two Dragonlance game modules, Dragons of Despair and Dragons of Flame, but with a different ending. It introduces many of the characters that are the subject of later novels and short stories.

<i>Dragons of Winter Night</i> 1985 novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Winter Night is a fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Based on the Dungeons & Dragons gaming modules, it is the second book in the Chronicles Trilogy, preceded by Dragons of Autumn Twilight and followed by Dragons of Spring Dawning. It was the second Dragonlance novel, being released in 1985. It is the second novel in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy, which along with the Legends Trilogy introduces the Dragonlance world. Specifically, it details the darker days of the War of the Lance.

<i>Bad Street Brawler</i> 1987 video game

Bad Street Brawler, originally released for home computers as Bop'n Rumble in North America and as Street Hassle in Europe, is a 1987 video game by Beam Software. Versions were released for the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 and MS-DOS by Melbourne House and Mindscape with a NES version following in September 1989. The NES version was one of only two games specifically designed for use with Mattel's Power Glove.

<i>Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight</i> 2008 American film

Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight is a 2008 American animated fantasy adventure film. It is the first film to be based on the Dragonlance campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It is based on the first novel written for the campaign setting, Dragons of Autumn Twilight (1984), co-written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, both of whom gave assistance for the film's screenplay adaptation by George Strayton. The film was directed by Will Meugniot and distributed by Paramount Pictures, directly to video.

<i>The Second Generation</i> Book by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

The Second Generation is a collection of five novellas in the fantasy genre by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. It is part of the Dragonlance series.

The DL series is a series of adventures and some supplementary material for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role playing game. These modules along with the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels, which follow one possible adventure series through the modules, were the first published items that established the Dragonlance fictional universe. The original DL series was released from 1984 to 1986, with the final two modules added to it in 1988. In the 1990s these roleplaying adventures from the original series were collected and revised for 2nd Edition AD&D as the three DLC Dragonlance Classics modules. There were also versions of the module series released in 1999, 2000 and 2006.

<i>Dragons of Despair</i> 1984 book by Tracy Hickman

Dragons of Despair is the first in a series of 16 Dragonlance adventures published by TSR, Inc. (TSR) between 1984 and 1988. It is the start of the first major story arc in the Dragonlance series of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game modules, a series of ready-to-play adventures for use by Dungeon Masters in the game. This series provides a game version of the original Dragonlance storyline later told in the Dragonlance Chronicles trilogy of novels. This module corresponds to the events told in the first half of the novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Its module code is DL1, which is used to designate it as the first part of the Dragonlance adventure series.

Dragons of Flame is a video game released in 1989 for various home computer systems and consoles. It is a sequel to Heroes of the Lance.

<i>Dragons of Mystery</i>

Dragons of Mystery is a Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook published in 1984 as part of a series of modules for the Dragonlance (DL) campaign setting. It is the fifth of fourteen Dragonlance modules published by TSR between 1984 and 1986. Its cover features a painting by Larry Elmore of the characters Tanis Half-Elven, Laurana Kanan, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, and Tika Waylan standing in front of a dragon highlord and a blue dragon. The sourcebook received middling reviews from White Dwarf magazine.

Preludes is a series of novels comprising two trilogies set in the Dragonlance world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

<i>The Dawning of a New Age</i> 1996 novel by Jean Rabe

The Dawning of a New Age is a fantasy novel set in the Dragonlance campaign setting of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

References

  1. Wilkins, Chris; Kean, Roger M (2015). The Story Of U.S. Gold. Fusion Retro Books. p. 227. ISBN   9780993131530.
  2. "Heroes of the Lance (NES) - Video Game Music Preservation Foundation Wiki". www.vgmpf.com.
  3. "Pro Dates". Sega Pro. No. 2. Paragon Publishing. December 1991. p. 9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Buchanan, Levi (March 6, 2008). "Dungeons & Dragons Classic Videogame Retrospective". IGN. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
  5. 1 2 Tresca, Michael J. (2010), The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games, McFarland, p. 142, ISBN   978-0786458950
  6. Game review, Your Sinclair magazine, Dennis Publishing, issue 39, March 1989, page 80
  7. 1 2 Maher, Jimmy (2016-03-18). "Opening the Gold Box, Part 3: From Tabletop to Desktop". The Digital Antiquarian. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  8. "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons". G.M. 1 (1). Croftward: 1820. September 1988.
  9. Wilson, David (December 1988). "Heroes and Heavies of the Lance". Computer Gaming World . pp. 54, 56.
  10. Seanbaby. "The 20 worst NES Games of all Time". Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
  11. Seanbaby. "Seanbaby's EGM's Crapstravaganza: The 20 Worst Video Games of All Time". Archived from the original on 23 March 2007. Retrieved March 29, 2007.
    (expanded from an article written for Electronic Gaming Monthly #150)
  12. Rausch, Allen (August 15, 2004). "A History of D&D Video Games". GameSpy. Retrieved 2009-12-23.
  13. Trunzo, Jim (June–July 1989). "The Silicon Dungeon". White Wolf Magazine . No. 16. p. 50.
  14. "Jeux & stratégie 55". February 1989.

Sources