I posted this game within the first few months of the free games project, but at that time we were not able to post images, which IMO would have given this game much more impact with the community. Anyway, I decided it was worth reposting for the 3rd anniversary because it's still one of my all-time favourite RPG's. It was the first computer Role Playing Game I really got into playing after playing paper RPG's over 10 years previously. I got into playing Dungeons & Dragons way back in the late 70's when the first rule books found their way across the pond from America to the UK. We used to play all weekend, staying up all night sometimes. We'd all take turns at being dungeon master and design our own dungeons. When the first CRPG's became available (computer RPG's) I couldn't get enough of them. When I first played Darklands I thought it was an amazing game. I just wish a developer would redo the game with today's graphics as it would be amazing. The depth this game has surpasses most games available today IMO. If you've never played it before I highly recommend you try this game as it is brilliant. When I first discovered that you could get it for free I downloaded it immediately. I originally got rid of my copy (11 or 12 floppy discs) when I had a massive clear out some years ago because most of the DOS games that I had as well as cassettes and cartridges for several other game consoles were useless (or so I thought). I didn't realize that emulators were or would be available very soon. I've seen USB cassette players available that now enable you to ply those old games via your PC, but hey, never mind because most of those games are now available as ROM's and freely available from loads of sites. anyway, I was so pleased to be able to play Darklands again after not being able to play the game since windows was updated from Win 3.1 to Win 95
Darklands (12.28MB)
Darklands is an epic role playing game set in medieval Germany. You can begin by either selecting a pre-made party (quickstart) or by creating your own characters. Creating your characters is quite interesting, as you begin when they're 10 and choose a career path for them. The more time you choose at a certain career path, in 5 year periods, the better your character will become, and this is all before the adventure begins.Whilst in a city or other inhabited area, you're given choices on how to proceed, sort of like a which-way book. This is the way you'll communicate and move about within towns and castles.
Once you've left a city, you're taken to the travel screen, which is a real time map of Germany with a lone figure representing your party. Here you travel around the countryside, getting into adventures and meeting friends and enemies...
Combat (speaking of enemies) is real time, but you can pause the action to give orders, so it's sort of pseudo-turn based.
The game has an epic scope, and can go on for as long as you'd like it to. The main goal is to collect as much fame for you and your party as possible, because the more fame you have the better quests you'll receive, and the better the rewards.
Ref http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/darklands
The year is 14-something, and the place is Germany. You must guide a band of four adventurers, with nothing but noble intentions, along the road to becoming the most famous heroes in the land. It all starts... however you like. In this singular and unwonted game, you're not presented (at the start) with a quest, and you aren't told where to go and what to do. Hell, you're not even suggested what to do! At any time, you can go wherever you want and do whatever you want. If you've ever heard of "railroading" in RPGs, this is the absolute opposite.
It will probably be difficult for you to decide what to do at first, since there are so many options. The only way to learn how to survive in medieval Germany is to die trying. Since you're not forced into a path where the challenges are tailored at all times to your current abilities, you will die more often than in most RPGs. It's to be expected--save often! Every time you die, you'll learn, and eventually you'll devise a plan to progress in abilities, wealth, and fame without getting yourself killed. And for a long time afterwards you'll still be perfecting that plan and discarding old strategies.
It's best to discover all this by yourself. Try exploring all the places in town to see what you can do there--both during the day and at night. When you feel there's nothing new for you there, step outside the city gates. Just roaming the countryside will get you in trouble (read "adventure"), and you can go to other cities, villages, castles, monasteries, mines, caves, covens of witches or Satanists, dragons' lairs... If you get killed, restore a recent game and don't try that kind of thing again until you have what it takes. Keep gaining the necessary experience and wealth by returning to the easier tasks.
Characters' progress is tracked very differently from most RPGs. There are no levels or classes, only skills and attributes. And armour is both necessary and expensive. There are two kinds of "magic": praying to Catholic saints, and making--with costly chemical ingredients and by lengthy, hazardous processes--alchemical potions that you can drink, sprinkle on your equipment, or throw at your enemies, depending on the case. Pen-and-paper role-players who preferred the likes of RuneQuest over D&D will absolutely love this game.
The historical setting is the best part for many of us, not just history nerds; after all, the game is broadly set without any specific reference to historical persons or dates. Even so, medieval Germany is a terrific place for adventures: there are brigands, robber barons, corrupt bishops, Satanists, witches, fairies, demons, dwarves, dragons, and many more threats, because the game's milieu includes the superstitious beliefs of medieval Germans, rather than bare historical facts alone.
You are free to roam the country, but there is a grand quest you can endeavour to complete, if you want--you can postpone it indefinitely, or turn it aside at any time. If you've heard anyone say that this game has no plot or ending, I can assure you those are mistaken assumptions because nothing about it is revealed at the start of the game, contrary to most RPGs. Since even finding the first thread of this plot is part of the game, and you won't be ready to confront it until your group has progressed a great deal elsewhere, I won't say more about it.
This game is an absolute jewel, in my opinion, and one of the best computer RPGs in history. It's one of the most singular creations by Microprose, but is as good as any of their other titles in any genre. Some people may not like the lack of compulsory direction, but no RPG aficionado should miss this one.
Darklands Map:
http://magisterrex.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/retrogaming-game-maps-darklands-pc/
Images and video:
You can see a slideshow of over 40 images of Darklands HERE. You can see video of game play HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.
Download:
You can download Darklands HERE. Please note that you do need to play the game via DOSBox, which is available HERE. You’ll find a tutorial on how to set up DOSBox to make it easy to play DOS Based games like Darklands HERE and one HERE.
