The Forgotten Realms are being raided for videogame content again for Bedlam Games’ hack n’ slash dungeon-crawl simulator Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale, the world’s most alliterative D&D game yet.
Daggerdale, despite being saddled with a silly name, is something I’m looking forward to. The concept is a simple one, and familiar to any gamer, tabletop or otherwise. “There’s a bad dude doing bad things. He’s way over there. There are monsters between him and you. Kill them with pointy things.” Today’s brand of bad dude is Rezlus, who seems to be an evil wizard who has unleashed minions upon an unsuspecting Nentir Vale.
You, as one of four choices of hero (my guess being fighter, rogue, wizard, and… cleric?) are tasked with defeating Rezlus and clearing the vale of his minions, and like any adventurer worth his +1 Masterwork Longsword, you brought some friends. The game will feature couch and online co-op for up to four people, and based on the trailer, will pit you against some classic D&D foes, including Stone Golems, orcs, and legions of skeletons. As you fight, you will obtain loot, powers, and feats to improve your character, letting you hack (and also slash) your way through the armies of evil with greater ferociousness.
So we have a straightforward, uncomplicated adventure, 4 adventurers, legions of undead, loot, silly names … this could be the most true-to-life videogame rendition of Dungeons and Dragons yet. I see only two glaring problems, the first of which is Bedlam Games.
The only game Bedlam Games has made thus far is Scratch: The Ultimate DJ. It’s a new company, so I’ll give it a chance, but the lack of experience still causes a bit of concern. The other major problem is that your character will have “powers”; call me paranoid, but to me this implies the game will be based on the Fourth Edition rules. I don’t want to start any edition wars if I don’t have to, but I’m not a fan.
Of course, even if it is, perhaps 4e rules will lend themselves spectacularly to a videogame. Time will tell.
The game is set to be available for download in 2011 on XBLA, PSN, and PC.
Source: Joystiq
