the Mystaran based Arcade Video Games...

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

zombiegleemax

Jul 13, 2004 0:41:13
Anyone here ever play DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: TOWER OF DOOM and Dungeons and Dragons: SHADOWS OVER MYSTARA games for the Arcade (and I think adaptions came for the Sega Saturn and a few other systems)? Unquestionably, SHADOWS OF MYSTARA were the best side scrolling adventure games I have ever played.
#2

Goldrak

Jul 13, 2004 6:43:47
Shadows over Mystara here!!!

#3

zombiegleemax

Jul 13, 2004 8:59:42
There are so many secrets in that game it is almost mind boggling. I am sure there are a few things i have missed. Still, I have immense fun in playing that game over and over again. It is really quite an adventure
#4

cwslyclgh

Jul 16, 2004 11:58:22
Tower of Doom was wonderful
#5

zombiegleemax

Jul 16, 2004 21:00:02
Shadows over Mystara > Tower of Doom
#6

havard

Jul 17, 2004 6:27:12
I seem to recall playing one of those games, probably Tower of Doom, though it was a long time ago. I remember there being references to Darokin in it, which I thought was great, since I didnt expect it to be about Mystara, just a general D&D thing.

Can someone provide a summary of the plots from the games and which other setting specific info was in them?

Can any of it be used for fleshing out the setting even further?

Havard
#7

zombiegleemax

Jul 17, 2004 10:09:23
I have not played TOWER OF DOOM since it came out. But I sure as hell have played Shadows of Mystara

Characters- There are now two new additions compared to TOWER OF DOOM. There is now a Magic User and a Thief in the party. Furthermore, each character has an 'alternate' form selectable by pushing the Start button when you select your character instead of the A button. IN the case of the Elf, CLeric, and Magic user, it affects what spells you get. I know the Black robed wizard gets Meteor Strike while the Green Robe Wizard gets Power Word Kill. One gets Conjure Elemental and the other gets CLoud Kill. THe Cleric similarly one has Earth Quake and the other has Holy Word. And some other differences in appearances mostly.

This is a rough parallel of the story . And be adviced, there are so many secrets in the game, that I have a hard time keepign track of them all

Generally, the game is set two years after Tower of Doom. Your party is in the mountains near Darokin. When you find the villages under attack, currently by goblins with their great War Machine (a goblin pushed chariot with lots of special weapons) which is the boss of hte first level. You should finish it with little problem.

The first big choice you make is when you need to leave Darokin and head out to Glantri for advice on the magical threat. Your choices are either by river or by land. If you go by river, you have the opportunity to earn more gold. Also, when you reach this underwater river, you will be accosted by the Avatar of the Immortal to give you advice. If you take the water rout, I hear there is less experience. However, you will encounter the Man Scorpion, similar to Man with a giant scorpions body that has magic and a powerfull scythe.

Or you take the overland option. You will jump onto a juggernaut and ride it as you take on the enemy. Again, no real items to be had. But at the end of the level, yout ake on The Dark Warrior 1, of which there are supposed to be 4 Dark Warriors or Dark Masters (gets revealed via the plot).

Regardless of which path you take, you end up in GLantri, where they prepare an airship to help you in your quest. The ship takes to the sky but comes under attack by Shadow Elves. should you fight them off, a Harpy will attack in the capacity of the first Level Boss. She takes to the air alot.

Upon defeating her, Tel-Arin, the evil shadow Elf from TOWERS OF DOOM will appear for a duel and will summon skeletons to help him. No matter how good you do, at one point in a cinematic scene, he will disappear and cast a firebolt which will knock the entire party down to 1 HP left. He prepares to finish you off when another Elf, this one with regular skin and not a shadow elf appears and strikes down Tel-Arin for you and both disappear, ending the level

At this point you are given up to three options as your airship crashes and you have to continue your quest. Go to the Nearby village for supplies and aid; Continue thru the FOrest of Illusions; or Take a Shortcut from the Elf. T he Shortcut option is actually the worst to take, and it is only available if the Elf is in your party.

The Nearby Village This town has come under attack. There are some hidden paths that lead into a house where you find a lot of villagers whom have lots of treasure chests (if you have a lot of keys or a Thief you can get to them). The boss of this level (or rather two) is a pair of massive Ogre Brothers.

The FOrest of Illusion a key part. There are a lot of hidden pathways on this stage. Perhaps most key is the Holy Avenger that is hidden in the CUrsed Sword 2 that can be found. WHen the chest is open a dark sword appears. The Cleric needs to try to pick it up, and after so many tries, the sword transforms into a holy avenger, which will strike down the undead with a single blow. It is better then the Cleric's TURN UNDEAD, as you get experience and treasure for it now. Also hidden in the Forest of Illusion is usually another magical sword, usually the FLame Sword (very important to have at least one magic sword in the party) and something else, I forget. The enemy at the end of the stage is a Beholder.

The Shortcut thru the forest by the elf Available only if the ELf is in the party and not recommended. Not as much to fight or find if you do it, although you do take on a Green Dragon.

If you took options #1 or #2 you will find yourself outside a massive oak tree and will find Manticore to take on in a boss battle. Defeating him brings you inside the tree. Of note, there is a pathway where Gargoyles will appear. ONly magic or magic weapons can take out a gargoyle. If you took the Shortcut option, you will find yoruself further inside the tree and not face the manticore.

At the end of the level is the evil sorceress Synn, her minion (can't remember his name, looks like an eagle faced dwarf). She summons the Liche from TOWER OF DOOM to take you on.

Upon defeating him, Synn uses her magic to put the entire party to sleep whom then find themselves in the FOrest of Illusion again where a battle vs the Displacer beast is fought. Once you beat the Displacer beast, a gnome will appear. He will tell you their village hs come under attack. YOu get the option of saving the gnome village (recommnended) or continuing after the sorceress.

Gnome Vilalge Path. Taking this path will show you into caverns, where a lot of Troglodytes and Ghou;ls will attack. Can't remember if there is any real treasure here, but the level boss is a Chimera Upon defeating it, the Gnomes willl offer to shrink you so you can explore their village. Head to the tavern first, get informatio then go to the best Weapons Shop in the game. There will be a morning star behind the Elf in the shop. Click it, and then click the weapon option and it will become available. It is the best possible weapon for the Cleric, but also expensive too (8000 sp). There is also a warhammer for sale (which rocks) and something else. This shop also sells magic wands and rings.

Continue after the sorceress taking this path you go thru a maze of forests. Upon reaching the center of the maze, a Black Dragon will attack.

One way or another, you will gain access to the pit where the legendary Fiend was imprisoned. You are giving a floating stone and you traverse down. It is important to put one person on the right of the screen and another on the left in order to access some of the biggest secrets of the game.

Cavern #1- This cavern has Hell Hounds in it, and in the very far corner, a chest. I believe if anyone EXCEPT the Magic User opens it, a Cursed Sword will appear. Anyone that c an use a sword should pick it up. You will have to swing it a bunchy of times and lose a few credits on the way,, but the result is THE SWORD OF LEGEND, the best sword of the game.

Cavern #2- In this cavern resides a Red Dragon. YOu will be warned to leave. I believe the correct way of doing it is to select NO, NO, YES. Upon doing that, sprint to the far right. There are some more treasures to be had. And then, go thru the passageway and you will face a massive Red Dragon. During the fight, it's horn may be cut off. If the Cleric takes it, it can be turned into a Staff of Snakes (weak). A warrior class takes it and it turns into the DragonSlayer sword (good vs the final boss but not so good vs other thigns in the game). If the Wizard (recomended) takes it, it becomes a Staff of Wizardry.

There is a third cavern but you don't get to go in it if you kill the dragon. note that killing the dragon helps unlock final strike.

You reach the bottom where you will be given up to three options. the path of fire, the path of water, and the Path lead by the Dwarf

Fire, Ice pathys These paths at its end contains a Salamander, which kind depends on which path you took. You should find a FIreBrand sword in the ice realm and a Frost Brand sword in the fire realm.

Path Led by dwarf After some missteps, you will take on both Tel-Arin and his brother. If you take out Tel-Arin first (in that he is no longer alive), then his brother, at the end of the game, will appear to help you, so you should take on Tel-Arin first if you want that, or go after his brother first if you don't.

At this point, you enter the final castle keep, although it takes a while to reach the end.