Hillsfar

Das AD&D-Rollenspiel "Hillsfar" unterscheidet sich auf PCs spielerisch nicht von der C 64-Fassung. Durch die kniffligen Action-Einlagen, das große Spielfeld und die vielfältigen Aufgaben ist lange Spielfreude garantiert. Die EGA-Grafik sieht auf dem PC um einiges besser aus als die C 64-Grafiken, dafür gibt's auch bei der Gesamtwertung zwei Punkte mehr.

It is always difficult to produce a good game that is a distinct mix of two very different styles without upsetting the purists. SSI have tried very hard – and succeeded – at doing just that. For arcade fans who fancy a bash at something else in between the action events and for adventurers who fancy a slice of action then this is just the sort of thing.

Some of the little sequences you stumble upon, like the arena for example, are quite entertaining and graphically effective, but there is not too much to keep the interest above critical boredom level.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Hillsfar is one of the most disappointing games in the franchise I've ever played, NES version or otherwise. It has almost no value for gamers whatsoever, even hardcore, old school fans will find absolutely nothing here of merit. It's tedious, boring, silent, poorly constructed and just downright horrible. What's even worse is that this was released near the end of the NES' life somehow, making it all the more shocking FCI even bothered releasing it. It's actually fairly rare in terms of NES releases from this time period, but don't make that a reason to pick it up, I strongly recommend that anyone other than someone who's trying to have a complete NES collection should never purchase or play this game, ever. Enough said.

In fact, the most fun I had in the realms of Hillsfar was the time my budding magic-user, having quaffed one cider too many, “accidentally” burned down the local watering hole before he was slain by chronic disinterest. Sadly, it was for the best; an extended encounter with this game is almost as deadly as a slender, pointy-eared elf and his long, polished bow.