Return to Krondor

Last updated
Return to Krondor
Return to Krondor cover.png
Developer(s) PyroTechnix
7th Level [1]
Publisher(s) Sierra Studios
Designer(s) Andy Ashcraft
Jeryd Pojawa
Programmer(s) Chuck Wiggins
John Schnurrenberger
Artist(s) Thomas Miller
Jeff Mills
Michael Brown
Writer(s) Neal Hallford
Joshua Culp
William Maxwell
Composer(s) Chuck Mitchell
Series Riftwar
Platform(s) Windows
Release
  • NA: November 24, 1998 [2]
  • EU: 1998
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single player

Return to Krondor is a role-playing video game set in Raymond Feist's fictional fantasy setting of Midkemia. A sequel to 1993's Betrayal at Krondor , it was released for Windows on the PC in time for the 1998 Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Within the game, the player commands a group of heroes with different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses which the player may upgrade over the course of the game.

Contents

Feist later wrote a novelization of this game, entitled Krondor: Tear of the Gods . It is the third part of his Riftwar Legacy trilogy; the first part of which was a novelization of Betrayal at Krondor entitled Krondor: The Betrayal .

Gameplay

Starting in the city of Krondor and eventually venturing out into other specific parts of the Midkemia world, the game focuses on battling humans and evil creatures of various kinds. Although the story is very linear in nature, the game offers a range of possibilities while the player is adventuring in Krondor. While the computer graphics of the game is now visually outdated by games like the plotwise very similar Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II , the game featured some unique or rarely seen features at the time of release, including elaborate alchemy and thieving. Using alchemical equipment, it is possible to brew custom potions from a variety of ingredients. In order to open locked or trapped chests and doors, a simulation of the process of disarming and lockpicking is initiated. Facing a variety of different mechanisms, it is necessary to pick the right lockpicking tools and then use them with care, simulated by carefully timed mouse clicking.

Characters

Development

In 1994 Dynamix, at this time a division of Sierra On-line, reorganized their staff and canceled a planned sequel to Betrayal at Krondor named Thief of Dreams. [1] Computer Gaming World reported in April 1994: [3]

As it presently stands, Dynamix has no intentions of doing a sequel to Betrayal at Krondor, although the company has the option to do a sequel should they begin work prior to 1995. A significant amount of design work had already been completed on the sequel, but Dynamix elected to terminate both the project and the project's guiding force on the computer side, John Cutter. Cutter and his design talents are currently looking for [a] home.

Fans organized a letter/e-mail campaign to persuade Dynamix to reverse their decision, to no avail. [4]

7th Level purchased the license for the game in 1995 [4] and renamed it Return to Krondor. Shortly after, Sierra began work on an unlicensed sequel to Betrayal at Krondor called Betrayal in Antara , setting the two games up to be in direct competition. [5] This is why Return to Krondor was billed as "The official sequel to the best selling RPG" [emphasis added].

Designer Andy Ashcraft stated, "Dynamix was a flight sim company, and their engine [for Betrayal at Krondor] was a flight sim engine that had been tweaked into an RPG. Our strength is in animation, so we're tweaking an animation engine into an RPG." [5] 7th Level developed the game basics, produced the screen backgrounds and added the character voices. They then turned to Cincinnati-based Pyrotechnix for the more technical aspects of the game development. [1] Pyrotechnix was sold to Sierra On-line on December 8, 1997. [6] [7] In 1998 Pyrotechnix completed the game. [1] It was published in November.

The game was updated for compatibility with modern Windows systems and re-released on GOG.com on March 4, 2010. [8]

Reception

The game received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [9] Next Generation wrote, "The game is well-made, and the plot will keep gamers on the edge of their seats. It's just too bad they won't stay there very long." [19]

Writing for PC Gamer US , Michael Wolf summarized the game as "a fun, quick RPG with a good story." [21] John Altman of Computer Games Strategy Plus found it to be "very engaging" and "a stunning return to form for the Krondor series". He noted that it features "some of the juiciest turn-based battles ever to grace a role-playing game." [12]

Computer Gaming World 's Petra Schlunk called the game "completely underdeveloped" and "a lightweight RPG", which failed to match Betrayal at Krondor's quality. However, she believed that it has "a good combat system, a fair story (for what there is of one), and a definite fun factor." [13]

The reviewer from the online second volume of Pyramid stated that "I've eagerly awaited the sequel, Return to Krondor, since the moment I heard it was in development. Unfortunately, Return fails to live up to the standard set by Betrayal." [22]

Mark Asher of CNET Gamecenter reported in December 1998 that the game was "selling well". [23]

The game was a nominee for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' "PC Role Playing Game of the Year" during the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, along with Computer Gaming World's "Best RPG", CNET Gamecenter's "Best RPG of 1998" and GameSpot 's "Role-playing Game of the Year"; all were ultimately awarded to Baldur's Gate . [24] [25] [26] [27]

Related Research Articles

<i>Darkstone</i> 1999 video game

Darkstone: Evil Reigns is an action role-playing video game developed by Delphine Software International for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation. In 2014, the French publisher Anuman Interactive launched a remake available on iPad, iPhone and Android, with the cooperation of the original game's author Paul Cuisset.

<i>Starsiege: Tribes</i> 1998 video game

Starsiege: Tribes is a first-person shooter video game. It is the first of the Tribes video game series and follows the story from Metaltech: Earthsiege and Starsiege. It was developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 1998. An expansion pack, Tribes Extreme, was cancelled; it was supposed to add single-player missions, multiplayer maps, and bot AI.

<i>Starsiege</i> 1999 video game

Starsiege is a mecha-style vehicle simulation game developed by Dynamix and released in 1999. Starsiege is set in the Metaltech/Earthsiege universe, which contains its predecessors Earthsiege (1994), Battledrome (1994), and Earthsiege 2 (1996). This universe also includes action game Hunter Hunted (1996), strategy games Mission Force: Cyberstorm (1996) and Cyberstorm 2: Corporate Wars (1998). It also includes the sequels Starsiege: Tribes and all subsequent Tribes titles. In 2015, this game and the rest of the Metaltech/Tribes series were released as freeware by Hi-Rez Studios, but Battledrome and the Cyberstorm series were not.

<i>Red Baron II</i> 1997 video game

Red Baron II is a video game for the PC, developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line. It is the follow-up to the flight simulation Red Baron, released in 1990. Red Baron II was released in December 1997. A patch was released in 1998 that added support for 3D acceleration and renamed the game to Red Baron 3D. Red Baron 3D was also released as a retail product.

<i>Star Wars: Rebellion</i> (video game) 1998 Star Wars video game

Star Wars Rebellion is a real-time strategy 4X game released in 1998 by LucasArts and set in the fictional Star Wars expanded universe.

<i>FIFA 99</i> 1998 association football video game

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

<i>Future Cop: LAPD</i> 1998 video game

Future Cop: LAPD is a third-person shooter developed by EA Redwood Shores and published by Electronic Arts and released first for the PlayStation, then Mac OS and Microsoft Windows. Future Cop was originally developed as an installment of the Strike series.

<i>European Air War</i> 1998 video game

European Air War is a combat flight simulator developed and published by MicroProse and published for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It is a sequel to 1942: The Pacific Air War. It simulates the Battle of Britain, and the Allied Air offensives in Western Europe during World War II in 1943–1945.

<i>MechWarrior 3</i> 1999 video game

MechWarrior 3 is a vehicle simulation game, part of the MechWarrior series. It featured a new 3D accelerated graphics engine at the time of its release. The game contains over 20 missions, with access to 18 different mechs. A novelization called Trial Under Fire was written by Loren L. Coleman.

<i>Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit</i> 1998 racing video game

Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit is a 1998 racing video game developed for PlayStation by EA Canada and Microsoft Windows by EA Seattle, and published by Electronic Arts. It is the third major installment in the Need for Speed franchise, incorporating police pursuits as a major part of gameplay. Hot Pursuit remains focused on racing using exotic sports cars, but features races that primarily take place in locations within North America, including varied settings and climates. Police AI is improved over the first game, utilizing several tactics to stop both the player and opponent. The PlayStation version was released on March 25, 1998, while the Windows version was released on October 12 the same year. The game received critical success, with praise for its graphics and customization options. It received a direct sequel in 2002 and a reboot in 2010.

<i>NHL 2000</i> 1999 video game

NHL 2000 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released in 1999 and was the successor to NHL 99. The game did not boast great improvements to the game from NHL 99, nor did NHL 2001 feature any idea the two previous versions did not until NHL 2002.

<i>Motorhead</i> (video game) 1998 video game

Motorhead: High Velocity Entertainment is a racing video game developed by Digital Illusions CE AB for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows.

<i>Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny</i> 1997 video game

Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny is a 1997 action role-playing game, second installment of the Lands of Lore series, a sequel to Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos. It brought about a drastic change in gameplay style from its predecessor, opting away from the original's D&D turn-based style in favor of more action elements. A sequel, Lands of Lore III, was released in 1999.

<i>Janes WWII Fighters</i> 1998 video game

Jane's World War II Fighters is the 1998 combat flight simulation video game. Set in the European theatre of operations during World War II, it is part of the Jane's Combat Simulations franchise. The game was considered a commercial failure, and contributed to the end of the Jane's Combat Simulations line.

<i>Janes F-15</i> 1998 video game

Jane's F-15, also known as simply F-15, is a combat flight simulator video game developed and released by Electronic Arts in 1998 for the PC. It models the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle. EA's 2000 Jane's F/A-18 used an improved version of F-15's game engine.

<i>NCAA Football 99</i> 1998 video game

NCAA Football 99 is a video game of the sports genre released in 1998 by EA Sports. Its cover athlete is former University of Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson.

<i>Return Fire 2</i> 1998 video game

Return Fire 2 is a computer game developed by Silent Software and published for Windows by Ripcord Games in 1998. It is a sequel to Return Fire.

<i>F1 Racing Simulation</i> 1997 video game

F1 Racing Simulation is a racing simulation game, developed for Microsoft Windows by Ubisoft in 1997. The game is based on the 1996 Formula One World Championship, and is the first of the Racing Simulation games made by Ubisoft, being the predecessor to Racing Simulation 2, which was released in 1998.

<i>Official Formula One Racing</i> 1999 video game

Official Formula 1 Racing is a racing game developed by Lankhor and published by Eidos Interactive in 1999. A sequel to the game, called F1 World Grand Prix, was released in 1999–2000.

<i>Links LS 1999</i> 1998 sports video game

Links LS 1999 is a video game developed and published by Access Software for Microsoft Windows in 1998, and is part of the Links video game series.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hitchcock, Jayne (October 1998). "Cover Story: Return to Krondor" (PDF). Computer Gaming World . No. 171. Ziff Davis. pp. 132–36. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. ↑ GameSpot staff (November 24, 1998). "New Releases". GameSpot . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 6, 2000. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ Harmel, Dana (April 1994). "New Riftwar In Krondor?" (PDF). Letters from Paradise. Computer Gaming World. No. 117. Ziff Davis. p. 142. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  4. 1 2 Yee, Bernard (December 1995). "Joyriding". Next Generation . No. 12. Imagine Media. p. 26. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "NG Alphas: Return to Krondor". Next Generation. No. 16. Imagine Media. April 1996. p. 77. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ↑ "7th Level in Pact To Sell PyroTechnix to Sierra On-Line". 7thlevel.com. December 8, 1997. Archived from the original on January 29, 1998. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ Jebens, Harley (December 8, 1997). "And Krondor Goes to ..." GameSpot . Archived from the original on January 19, 1998. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Community Discussions - New release: Return to Krondor". GOG.com . CD Projekt. 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Return to Krondor for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  10. ↑ Roberts, Joshua. "Return to Krondor - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  11. ↑ Dembo, Arinn (December 29, 1998). "Return to Krondor". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 23, 2000. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  12. 1 2 Altman, John (December 25, 1998). "Return to Krondor". Computer Games Strategy Plus . Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2005.
  13. 1 2 Schlunk, Petra (April 1999). "Return to Vender (Return to Krondor Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. pp. 194–95. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  14. ↑ Bergren, Paul (March 1999). "Return to Krondor". Game Informer . No. 71. FuncoLand. p. 52. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  15. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (1999). "Return to Krondor Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro . IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 19, 2005. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ↑ Johnny B. (January 1999). "Return to Krondor Review". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  17. ↑ Janicki, P. Stefan "Desslock" (December 21, 1998). "Return to Krondor Review [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 26, 2004. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  18. ↑ Butts, Steve (January 28, 1999). "Return to Krondor". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Return to Krondor". Next Generation. No. 52. Imagine Media. April 1999. p. 93. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  20. ↑ Smith, Bob (May 1999). "Return to Krondor". PC Accelerator . No. 9. Imagine Media. p. 88. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  21. 1 2 Wolf, Michael (March 1999). "Return to Krondor". PC Gamer . Vol. 6, no. 3. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 9, 2000.
  22. ↑ "Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Return to Krondor". Steve Jackson Games. January 15, 1999. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  23. ↑ Asher, Mark (December 28, 1998). "Game Spin: After Christmas". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on December 12, 2000.
  24. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 29, 1999). "The CNET Gamecenter.com Awards for 1998! (Best RPG Nominees, Part 2)". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on November 19, 2000. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  25. ↑ GameSpot staff. "Best and Worst of 1998 (Role-playing Game of the Year - Nominees)". GameSpot. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 29, 2000. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences . Archived from the original on November 4, 1999.
  27. ↑ CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Best RPG)". Computer Gaming World. No. 177. Ziff Davis. p. 97.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.