Sword of Fargoal - iPod/iPhone/iPad ReviewPhil May6 comments
Tags: Sword of Fargoal, Jeff McCord, Paul Pridham, Elias Pschernig, iPhone / iPod Touch
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Were-Bears and Gargoyles and Mercenaries, oh my!
I really should've done my homework when I first heard that Jeff McCord was teaming up with Paul ("Madgarden / Saucelifter") Pridham and Elias Pschernig to bring a game called Sword of Fargoal to the iPhone. You see, the game's practically unheard of on this side of the pond and I might just have put my size 9 foot in my mouth by letting that little factoid slip when talking to the developers.
Truth is, Fargoal is a bit of a classic across the pond. No correct that, they're absolutely MENTAL for it over in the states and not without reason. The game enjoyed three outings; on the flammable Commodore PET (the machine that could reportedly be reduced to ashes if you poked the wrong memory address) then on the VIC 20 and finally on the Commodore 64.
The reason Fargoal is raved about is because it set the standard for a lot of other games to follow in a similar vein. Experienced gamers will undoubtedly have heard of the Epyx-published game Rogue, the granddaddy of all dungeon crawlers - but Fargoal is more sophisticated and features a lot of gameplay dynamics and items that became staple fodder for the genre.
McCord's game has been revived on PC and in Flash versions by die-hard fans but now it's going portable on that most desirable of pocket devices, the iPhone (and of course the iPod Touch).
Setting the scene and drawing you into the cobweb-covered world of the crumbling dungeon, the introductory movie is nicely retro and atmospheric.
Picking one of 10 save slots, you're then asked to select your hero and then you're on your way.
For those unfamiliar with the original, or with dungeon crawlers in general, your hero gradually works their way round a mysterious and labyrinthine maze of stony passageways seeking out treasure, avoiding danger and generally seeing how far they can progress before they're turned into worm food.
The game is presented as a top-down view of the dungeon network though only a small portion of the screen is visible at first. As you work your way around, more and more of the dungeon is revealed in a "fog of war" type effect that RTS players are probably very familiar with. You can find aids to exploration like magic lanterns and other secrets that will help reveal more of the map as you progress.
Other denizens of the dungeon are out to put a stop to your treasure seeking, and they range from terrifying Were-bears to nasty Gargoyles and of course other well-armed heroes like Mercenaries and Elven Archers. You can choose to avoid them but inevitably you're going to end up in a scrap at some point, and the game pitches battles and outcomes depending on how tough you are and how much you've levelled up.
Most early adversaries are a walkover but later on as you progress further you're going to need a little help. Spells and magic items can grant you temporary powers, even the power to instantly teleport yourself to another part of the dungeon should things get too nasty. Of course you're never quite sure where you're going to end up so it can prove to be a risky move.
As you explore you will uncover hidden passageways and nasty traps that can drop your hit points a few notches or propel you into the unknown. A stealthy and steady approach often reaps more rewards than charging around and getting into trouble.
As you collect gold (with the maximum you can carry being affected by other collectable items like magic sacks) you can trade it in at magic altars to help you level up and boost your experience points.
Sword of Fargoal wears its "dungeons and dragons" colours firmly on its sleeve but it's ideally suited to the iPhone where the best games are the ones that you can choose to pick up and play in short frenetic bursts or settle down and get lost in for hours.
Should you die on your quest, you can choose to select a new save slot and see how much further you can progress (stacking up saves as a sort of "play history") or you can delete that slot's save and start again.
The far goal (oh grud forgive me please) in this case is the mythical sword - and the game will throw absolutely everything it can at you before you even get a whiff of your ultimate object of desire. But it's time well spent and there's plenty of variety in the exploration and always a surprise round the corner.
The developers have rounded out the game nicely with the control system being intuitive without being obtrusive. No virtual D-Pad here blocking off the action, just a rather slick swipe-and-go system that allows you to control your character with finesse. Menus are also non-obtrusive though the hit zones on them could've done with a little tweak to cater for banana fingered reviewers like me.
Special mention should go do the graphics and sound. Fargoal has been beautifully polished in the visuals department without getting too far from the original game's quirky charm and retro stylings. Sound wise though, it's a SID fan's dream with plenty of squirty, squelchy white noise effect, gorgeous tinkling tunes and spot effects that'll propel C64 owners back to their errant youth. Top work is also included by LittleBigPlanet tunesmith Daniel Pemberton, who has produced some excellent accompanying music to back up the title's other music and spot effects.
If, like me, you're a bit of an ignoramus when it comes to Sword of Fargoal, do yourself a favour, get yourself educated and grab this when it launches on the iTunes store.
It's playable and addictive, perfect fodder for the iPhone / iPod Touch, and certainly one of the best mini-adventures you can get. Price should initially be pitched at around the $2.99 / £1.79 mark, which is a steal.
Strap your gauntlets on, grab your greaves, polish your helmet and slip your sword into its scabbard, it's time to go dungeoneering.
Associated screenshots
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Flying_Pig - on 16/12/2009 at 16:31 wrote:
Really nice little game. Well worth the bargain price. Simple but fun.
Currently on level 7 of the dungeon - I take it there are loads more Peej?
peej - on 17/12/2009 at 09:12 wrote:
LOADS more. And the guy's currently working on the updates, which are quite substantial. So plenty to come. Looking forward to the character editor bits.
Trip SkyWay - on 07/02/2010 at 06:04 wrote:
Was thinking I'd not played many roguelikes and wondering what to try when your review popped into my head. Liking it so far.
Madgarden - on 08/02/2010 at 18:19 wrote:
Sword of Fargoal update is imminent! Just working on the final bits...
6 comment(s) in total.
NewYork - on 24/11/2009 at 21:54 wrote:
Really?