Silver Box Classics

[h1]Such a BLAST from the Past!!![/h1] So to be honest, I don't know how many will feel about how '[b]War of the Lance[/b]' aged. Personally, I was elated when I seen the 'Silver Box' games on Steam today and bought it with no hesitation. Straight nostalgia hit to the dome. I'll keep this short.... I've read all the Dragonlance novels (the first two dozen or so, I won't lie) I've played countless hours of War of the Lance back-in-the-day and even though there is no need for the "word check" with this PC version, you can just hit enter and bypass it but I am going to upload the game manual here so anyone (like me) whom wants to relive this amazing game for its time, has the reference guide to know some of the game mechanics that you will not be told while playing the game itself. Remember folks, this is back from the 80/90s where there were no in-game tutorials nor extensive help. You either had the game manual that came in the box of the physical hard copy or you had to figure it out! :) [b][u]Download the War of the Lance game manual here:[/u][/b] http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.2621

It's good to have the good old games to be played today. Hero Of The Lance was my first AD&D PC game that I played in the late 80s via 5".4 inch floppy discs on a AT-286 machine.

Dragonlance war einer meiner ersten Berührungspunkte mit Pen-&-Paper-Rollenspielen, deshalb fand ich es besonders spannend, einmal die alten digitalen Umsetzungen dieses Settings zu erleben. Allein für diesen nostalgischen Einblick lohnt sich die Silver Box – aber auch darüber hinaus bekommt man hier durchaus spaßige Spiele geboten. Wenn einen das hohe Alter der Titel nicht abschreckt, kann ich die Sammlung definitiv empfehlen!

I'm gonna just give it to you straight. Sigh. It's not a great bundle. Look, did the devs do their job? Sure. They bought these lost "gems" back from the past and called it a day. Good job. The games themselves? Look... I'm not one that enjoys complaining about old games, but this pack really needed some love. I mean like, quality of life, maybe some nice borders, maybe adding the option to have some music (which has been made possible for some of the Gold Box games via Gold Box Companion). I don't know SOMETHING to make the experience of playing these games somewhat bearable. Here is my breakdown of each game in this pack. Heroes of the Lance: Just a really bad Battle of Olympus. Controls are sluggish and crappy, you have a bunch of characters that will never see combat and are basically a waste of space. Dungeon floors are super samey so easy to get lost, no music. Hell, the moment you boot up the game and try to attack and realize you have no idea how, that would be the end of most users experience with this game. Hint: Hold enter and use the numpad directional arrows. The game was bad back then, the game is horrible now. Nothing else needs to be said. Story you ask? The manual has a better story than the game itself. The manual actually is quite awesome. It's a quick beat so don't worry too much. Anyway, moving on... Dragons of Flame: A slight improvement over the previous turd. And when I say slight I mean VERY slight. The combat has uh... improved? I use that terms really loosely because its still horrible. You're on a over world map this time and have to work your way to the dungeon. World map exploration is horrid. Enemies can be seen on screen and interacting with them causes a battle to occur. After which they may either send a modest amount of goons at you, or an alarming amount your way decimating your entire party if you're not seasoned enough to handle the volume. In other words, difficulty spikes all over the place. The over world map is super samey. There's an easy path to get to the main dungeon but if you don't know where you're going best of luck to you. You'll be lost in jiffy. Once you get to the main dungeon you realize it's even worse than the original game. It's stupidly bland, mega confusing because pressing up or down anywhere in the dungeon will place you at another angle. The first game had a couple of "interesting" levels designs like a much more structured dungeon, traps and some healing fountains littered about. This? Ha... haha. A joke! Laziness doesn't even begin to cut the job they put into this one. You have a couple of quests to complete in here in order to get a true completion score. That is, save the princess, the kids and the parents. So you'll be in here for a while and will experience for the first time, TRUE BOREDOM. The dictionary definition of it. Ugh. I hate this game. By the way, for those who need to know. In this game you have to hold the numpad + and use the diagonals to attack. Yeah, they switched it up probably to make things easier. Spoilers... it didn't. Completionist note: [spoiler] MAKE SURE you have at least one slot available to pick up the princess, if you don't and you enter the dungeon with your party full (you do this by talking to random people in the overworld map) you will not be able to spawn her and you will have to restart the game like I did. [/spoiler] Shadow Sorcerer: Ah yes, finally the game you were digging through the muck to get to. Is it worth it? Nope! It certainly has great ideas and is very immersive on paper. You escape from the Draconians along with a bunch of refugees and have to keep them safe while you find a bunch of keys that opens the final dungeon that gets you to the end of the game. Cool concept right? So what they don't tell you is Shadow Sorcerer is a speedrunner game. You get punished for exploration as the game intends you to find the keys as quick as possible and feed the refugees and tuck them into safety as fast you can in order to get to the final dungeon. Once there the refugees no longer matter. Time is your constant enemy. It goes by SUPER fast (even if you slow the gameplay down), and after 48 hours game time which isn't long, the draconians and a big ass Dragon named Ember storm the gates and chase after you. It is futile to fight them. Completely futile. You're supposed to run and quickly get through the gate, which again, GREAT concept, poorly implemented with all those random ass "chance encounters". i swear if I ever see that word AGAIN I'lll.... ERRR...GRRRR!!! You have even more companions to choose from, again mostly all useless. So you'll just stick to one party (just make sure you swap Raistlin for Sturm... Raistlin is so useless). I just... so frustrating but won't lie, beating this game made me feel like a genius. Certainly one of the best game of the bunch, but still awful. War of the Lance: I can't believe I'm going to say this but uh... THIS game is the best game of the pack. In my original review I dismissed this game immediately upon loading it up. It just looked too ugly and too complicated for me to continue. My completionist condition got the better of me and I just had to do it, and you know what, it was a lot of fun. So this is a 4X strategy game (my first one too), but pretty basic. You have 3 main phases: subversion, basically deploying troops to thwart your enemies from finding magical items. Diplomacy, where you send diplomats on missions to convince other kingdoms to join your party and then the battle phase which is standard turn based strategy. Throughout the campaign a bunch of random events can occur that stand to aid either nation and these are the highlights of the game. You can get really immersed into this thing too, as you army depletes and you think there's no hope, all of a sudden you get delivered a vital item that can help turn the tide (of course the enemy has this as well). Each side, both Whitestone and Highlords have their own strength and weaknesses, however I do think the CPU cheats a lot, or at least they know strategy better than I did. Anyway, THAT'S OKAY, because you can give yourseld a large advantage before you play the game by messing around with the settings. It's highly immersive though if you let yourself get into the whole fantasy war thing, which I enjoy doing. My only real complaint besides the obvious is well the subversion phase seemed useless to me, I don't know why I even bothered sending troops to do it, enemies still found items just fine and so did I. I just igored it. Same with Diplomacy, in the middle of the campaign once every nation decides who they're fighting for it just becomes worthless. Basically turning the game into a TBS. It's ugly, it's rudimentary, it's quiet but yes it's fun. The rules of the game are very clear and the controls are super easy, use just use the diagonals and space bar, that's it! It's easy to learn so don't be intimidated by it. Just read the manual and you'll be fine... for the most part. Conclusion. Had their been some bonuses the devs put together to at least make the games more manageable, immersive and fun to play, I would definitely give it a recommend, but unfortunately it's not the case. Skip this one unless you're a collector or something. It ain't worth it.

Series of old-school AD&D Second Edition games. Decent for its time, and not a bad nostalgia run.

I've been playing War of the Lance since I had it on my Apple IIe when it came out in 89, and I love it. It's complex, difficult, and fun.

This is my favorite game from childhood. It is challenging and very intricate. You can try many differemt strategies to win but it eventually comes to needing lots of Dwarves, Griffons, and Units that can attack Neraka.

Old school as heck, but a lot of fun if you like Prince of Persia (the original) style gameplay and also are a big fan of the original Dragonlace books/modules.

HUGE DragonLance fan here but for me this bundle is a swing & a miss. if you do choose to play these games read the manuals first. the game is what you expect of a retro computer game, the story is DragonLance (so its what any fan would enjoy). I prefer games more like the Krynn Series or Pool of Radiance from Gold Box, this bundle is far from those style of game play.

[h3][b]Silver Box Classics: A Nostalgic Journey Through Krynn[/b][/h3] The [i]Silver Box Classics[/i] on Steam is a collection of early Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) adaptations from the late 1980s and early 1990s, centered around the iconic [i]Dragonlance[/i] campaign setting. These games bring together four titles that adapt key events from the [i]Dragonlance Chronicles[/i] novels, offering a mix of action, strategy, and hybrid gameplay. While not as celebrated as the [i]Gold Box[/i] games, they remain an interesting part of gaming history for fans of retro RPGs and D&D. This collection includes the following titles, presented via the same launcher as the [i]Gold Box[/i] games and other SSI classics on Steam: [olist] [*][b]Heroes of the Lance[/b] [*][b]Dragons of Flame[/b] [*][b]War of the Lance[/b] [*][b]Shadow Sorcerer[/b] [/olist] [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Historical Context[/b][/h3] These games were ambitious adaptations of the [i]Dragonlance[/i] saga, developed during the formative years of computer role-playing games. Unlike the [i]Gold Box[/i] series, which focused on tactical combat and RPG mechanics, the [i]Silver Box Classics[/i] experimented with other genres, including side-scrolling action and real-time strategy. The Steam version preserves the original DOS experience through DOSBox, offering a faithful presentation. Unfortunately, these games are treated as DLC rather than standalone titles in your Steam library, which is a minor inconvenience for those who like their collections neatly displayed. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Gameplay Breakdown[/b][/h3] [b]Heroes of the Lance[/b] This side-scrolling action-adventure game puts you in control of the Companions of the Lance as they seek to recover the Disks of Mishakal. [list] [*][b]Gameplay:[/b] You control eight characters with unique abilities, swapping between them as needed. Combat and exploration are central, but each character’s death is permanent, raising the stakes. [*][b]Challenges:[/b] The controls can feel clunky, and the difficulty curve is steep. [*][b]Standout Aspect:[/b] It’s one of the first games to let you interact with iconic [i]Dragonlance[/i] characters like Tanis, Raistlin, and Goldmoon. [/list] [b]Dragons of Flame[/b] This sequel continues the story, offering similar side-scrolling gameplay with expanded environments and tougher battles. [list] [*][b]Gameplay:[/b] You’ll lead the Companions in their fight against the Dragonarmies, rescuing prisoners and overcoming increasingly challenging scenarios. [*][b]Challenges:[/b] The mechanics don’t improve much over [i]Heroes of the Lance[/i], and combat can feel repetitive. [*][b]Standout Aspect:[/b] A more fleshed-out storyline and larger scope make it a slight step up from its predecessor. [/list] [b]War of the Lance[/b] The first D&D computer wargame shifts the focus to large-scale battles between the forces of Whitestone and the Dragonarmies. [list] [*][b]Gameplay:[/b] Combining diplomacy, strategy, and combat, this title offers a deep and rewarding experience for those who enjoy tactical decision-making. [*][b]Challenges:[/b] The interface is dated, and the learning curve is steep for newcomers. [*][b]Standout Aspect:[/b] The inclusion of fantastical units like dragons adds a unique twist to the strategy genre. [/list] [b]Shadow Sorcerer[/b] This hybrid game combines real-time strategy with RPG elements, tasking you with leading a group of adventurers and 800 refugees to safety. [list] [*][b]Gameplay:[/b] Managing the needs of the party, exploring for resources, and keeping the refugees safe creates a dynamic, high-pressure experience. [*][b]Challenges:[/b] The constant pursuit by the Dragonarmies adds tension but can also feel relentless. [*][b]Standout Aspect:[/b] The blend of strategy and role-playing elements makes it the most innovative game in the collection. [/list] [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Strengths and Weaknesses[/b][/h3] [b]Strengths[/b][list] [*][b]Dragonlance Immersion:[/b] Faithfully captures the world and storylines of Krynn. [*][b]Diverse Genres:[/b] Each title offers a unique take on gameplay, from action to strategy. [*][b]Nostalgia:[/b] Fans of the [i]Dragonlance[/i] novels will appreciate stepping into the shoes of their favorite characters. [*][b]Historical Value:[/b] These games represent early attempts to adapt D&D to the digital realm. [/list] [b]Weaknesses[/b][list] [*][b]Aged Mechanics:[/b] The controls and interfaces feel clunky by modern standards. [*][b]Repetitive Gameplay:[/b] Particularly in the action-oriented titles, combat can become monotonous. [*][b]DLC Presentation:[/b] Treating the games as DLC rather than standalone titles on Steam is inconvenient for organization. [*][b]Less Impactful than Gold Box Games:[/b] While interesting, these games lack the depth and polish of the [i]Gold Box[/i] classics. [/list] [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Final Thoughts[/b][/h3] The [i]Silver Box Classics[/i] is a niche collection, appealing primarily to fans of [i]Dragonlance[/i] and retro gaming enthusiasts. While these games don’t hold up as well as their [i]Gold Box[/i] counterparts, they remain an important piece of RPG history. Their unique take on gameplay, coupled with their ties to one of D&D’s most beloved settings, makes them worth exploring for those willing to embrace their quirks. [hr][/hr] [h3][b]Verdict[/b][/h3] [b]Who It’s For:[/b] [list] [*][i]Dragonlance[/i] fans eager to immerse themselves in the world of Krynn. [*]Retro gamers looking to explore the early days of digital D&D adaptations. [*]Strategy enthusiasts interested in the roots of fantasy wargames. [/list] [b]Who It’s Not For:[/b] [list] [*]Players seeking modern graphics or polished mechanics. [*]Those new to [i]Dragonlance[/i] or unfamiliar with D&D lore. [/list] [b]Recommendation:[/b] If you’re a fan of classic D&D or [i]Dragonlance[/i], this collection is worth a look. While not groundbreaking, it’s an enjoyable way to experience a key part of gaming history. Just don’t expect the same depth and polish as the [i]Gold Box[/i] games.