The Datestones of Ryn

Last updated
The Datestones of Ryn
Datestones of Ryn PET Cover.jpg
Commodore PET Cover art
Developer(s) Epyx
Publisher(s) Epyx
Platform(s) Apple II, Atari 8-bit, PET, TRS-80
Release1979: Apple, TRS-80, PET
1981: Atari
Genre(s) Dungeon crawl
Mode(s) Single-player

The Datestones of Ryn is a role-playing video game released in 1979 for the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 by Automated Simulations (later Epyx). The Datestones of Ryn was the second title in the Dunjonquest series, but was actually a prequel to the first game, Temple of Apshai . [1] Like its predecessor, this game is written in BASIC.

Contents

A port to Atari 8-bit computers programmed by Aric Wilmunder was published in 1981. [2]

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of an adventurer, Brian Hammerhand, the hero from the first game, Temple of Apshai. But, as this game takes place chronologically before Temple, Hammerhand is a young soldier, not a tired veteran. Thieves have stolen Datestones for the calendar of Ryn and escaped to a cave. Hammerhand's leader has sent him into the cave to retrieve them. [1]

Unlike Temple, players have a time limit - 20 minutes - in which to complete the game. Given this, the adventure is much shorter than its predecessor, consisting of just one level. Thus it served as Epyx's first MicroQuest and sold for half of their regular games. This was also Epyx's first attempt at making RPGs more action-oriented and ushering the creation of the action role-playing game. [1]

The adventurer encounters brigands and monsters in the dunjon. Slaying them and bringing back their heads garners higher scores. Retrieving the Datestones and bringing them back to the cave entrance must be done within the time limit, or the game is forfeit. Hammerhand can only carry a limited weight, so he must return to the cave's entrance several times, all eating up precious time. [1]

Given that the combat system has a high random factor and the time limit, this game was difficult to complete. [1]

Reception

Robert Plamondon reviewed The Datestones of Ryn for Different Worlds magazine and stated that "Because the game is easy to play, and challenging enough to play many times, I would recommend Datestones of Ryn to all of you with access to an appropriate computer." [3]

Reviews

Related Research Articles

<i>Jumpman</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Jumpman is a platform game written by Randy Glover and published by Epyx in 1983. It was developed for the Atari 8-bit computers, and versions were also released for the Commodore 64, Apple II, and IBM PC compatibles.

<i>Rogue</i> (video game) 1980 video game

Rogue is a dungeon crawling video game by Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman with later contributions by Ken Arnold. Rogue was originally developed around 1980 for Unix-based minicomputer systems as a freely distributed executable. It was later included in the Berkeley Software Distribution 4.2 operating system (4.2BSD). Commercial ports of the game for a range of personal computers were made by Toy, Wichman, and Jon Lane under the company A.I. Design and financially supported by the Epyx software publishers. Additional ports to modern systems have been made since by other parties using the game's now-open source code.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epyx</span> Defunct video game developer and publisher

Epyx, Inc. was a video game developer and video game publisher active in the late 1970s and 1980s. The company was founded as Automated Simulations by Jim Connelley and Jon Freeman, originally using Epyx as a brand name for action-oriented games before renaming the company to match in 1983. Epyx published a long series of games through the 1980s. The company is currently owned by Bridgestone Multimedia Group Global.

<i>Temple of Apshai</i> 1979 video game

Temple of Apshai is a dungeon crawl role-playing video game developed and published by Automated Simulations in 1979. Originating on the TRS-80 and Commodore PET, it was followed by several updated versions for other computers between 1980 and 1986.

<i>The Bards Tale II: The Destiny Knight</i> 1986 video game

The Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight is a fantasy role-playing video game created by Interplay Productions in 1986. It is the first sequel to The Bard's Tale, and the last game of the series that was designed and programmed by Michael Cranford.

<i>Crush, Crumble and Chomp!</i> 1981 video game

Crush, Crumble and Chomp! is a 1981 video game where the player takes control of a movie monster and attacks a major city, such as New York or San Francisco. It was published in 1981 for the TRS-80, Apple II, and Atari 8-bit computers. Ports to the VIC-20, Commodore 64, and IBM PC compatibles were released later. Some versions were published under the company's original name of Automated Simulations, while the rest use Epyx.

An action role-playing game is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.

<i>Rescue at Rigel</i> 1980 video game

Rescue at Rigel is a 1980 science fiction role-playing video game written and published by Automated Simulations. It is based on a modified version of their Temple of Apshai game engine, which was used for most of their releases in this era. The game was released for the Apple II, IBM PC, TRS-80, PET, VIC-20, and Atari 8-bit computers.

<i>Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord</i> 1981 video game

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is the first game in the Wizardry series of role-playing video games. It was developed by Andrew Greenberg and Robert Woodhead. In 1980, Norman Sirotek formed Sir-Tech Software, Inc. and launched a beta version of the product at the 1980 Boston Computer Convention. The final version of the game was released in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonlinear gameplay</span> Gameplay involving unordered sequences

A video game with nonlinear gameplay presents players with challenges that can be completed in a number of different sequences. Each player may take on only some of the challenges possible, and the same challenges may be played in a different order. Conversely, a video game with linear gameplay will confront a player with a fixed sequence of challenges: every player faces every challenge and has to overcome them in the same order.

<i>Atlantis no Nazo</i> 1986 platform video game

Atlantis no Nazo is a side-scrolling platform video game developed and published by Sunsoft and released for the Family Computer in 1986.

<i>Gateway to Apshai</i> 1983 video game

Gateway to Apshai is an action-adventure game for the Commodore 64, ColecoVision and Atari 8-bit computers. It was developed by The Connelley Group and published by Epyx in 1983 as a prequel to Temple of Apshai. It is a more action-oriented version of Temple of Apshai, with smoother and faster graphics, streamlined controls, fewer role-playing video game elements, and fewer room descriptions.

<i>SwordThrust</i> 1981 video game

SwordThrust is an interactive text adventure game for the Apple II, created by Donald Brown and published by CE Software in 1981. It consists of seven separate adventures and is the commercial successor to Brown's Eamon (1980).

<i>Star Warrior</i> 1980 video game

Star Warrior is a 1980 science fiction role-playing video game written and published by Automated Simulations for the Apple II, TRS-80, and Atari 8-bit computers. The game is branded as part of the Starquest series, consisting of Star Warrior and the otherwise unrelated Rescue at Rigel.

<i>The Legend of Blacksilver</i> 1988 video game

The Legend of Blacksilver is a fantasy role-playing video game developed by Charles W. Dougherty and John C. Dougherty of Quest, Inc. and published by Epyx in 1988. It is an indirect sequel to the game Legacy of the Ancients. Originally designed for the Commodore 64, the game was ported to the Apple II.

<i>Temple of Apshai Trilogy</i> 1985 video game collection

Temple of Apshai Trilogy is a remake of three games from the Dunjonquest series, Temple of Apshai, Upper Reaches of Apshai, and Curse of Ra.

Dunjonquest is a series of single-player, single-character fantasy computer role-playing games by Automated Simulations. Temple of Apshai was the most successful and most widely ported game in the series. The games relied on strategy and pen & paper RPG style rules and statistics.

<i>Dragonriders of Pern</i> (video game) 1983 video game

Dragonriders of Pern is a video game published by Epyx in 1983 based on Anne McCaffrey's book series of the same name. The game was released for the Atari 8-bit computers and Commodore 64.

<i>Hellfire Warrior</i> 1980 video game

Hellfire Warrior is a dungeon crawl video game for the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 published by Automated Simulations in 1980. A port to Atari 8-bit computers was released in 1982. Hellfire Warrior is the direct sequel to 1979's Temple of Apshai. Two expansion packs were published.

<i>Sorcerer of Siva</i> 1981 video game

Sorcerer of Siva is a 1981 video game published by Automated Simulations for the Apple II and TRS-80. The last standalone Dunjonquest game, Sorcerer of Siva is not as large as the major releases in the series, but also not as small as the MicroQuests.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dunjonquest from Hardcore Gaming 101
  2. ↑ Hague, James. "The Giant List of Classic Game Programmers".
  3. ↑ Plamondon, Robert (February–March 1981). "Reviews". Different Worlds (11): 27–28.
  4. ↑ "Tandy/Radio Shack Book:: 80 Micro's Review Guide 1st Edition (1983)(Wayne Green Inc)". 1983.
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.