Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace

I love this game to death, but be aware that it is hard, even on the easiest difficulty the beginning can be brutal. If you don't like hard games, this may not be for you. You can get missions pitting you against Neogi ships, which technically can be destroyed in space from the start, albeit with some difficult maneuvering and a bit of luck. They will constantly attempt to board you (and they have umber hulks in their crew), at which point your chances are slim with the beginner squad. It would be best to decline those missions until you build up your ship and team. Doing some cargo deliveries or passenger transports is far less lucrative, but other than random encounters (which you can run from) there is very little risk to damage the ship and the repairs in this game are really expensive (too expensive if you ask me). The game also features some design typical of other SSI (or 90s RPGs in general) games, inventory management takes A LOT of effort in here, since you need to manage spells and equipment for every crew member (and you have a lot of them), which is my biggest gripe with this game. The other issue is that the game is buggy, can crash sometimes, though this release has far less bugs than I remember from the original DOS game. The most jarring bug I encountered was that despite I saved the game in many different slots, it replaced all my slots with the most recent save, which may be an issue with the cloud saves, since this release features it. I hope the team fixes it in the future. Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace was niche even when it came out, but it is remarkable in its atmosphere, bizarre visuals of the Spelljammer setting, portraying D&D combat in space with both ship-to-ship and boarding elements. I also love the music, even though it does get repetitive after some time. It Is a sandbox game, where you are pretty much left to your own devices from the very beginning. You can haul cargo, do various types of missions, hunt pirates or search for hidden stuff in Wildspace, with the goal being upgrading your ship, buying a new one, leveling and buying gear for your crew, gaining notoriety and reputation and maybe eventually doing the main quest, which is pretty simple, but it is there for you to find. Overall, as I said in the beginning, I really love this game, but it is what it is - a niche, bizarre product. One I recommend though, since the game gave me many hours of enjoyment.

I was having nostalgic fun, but the story is unplayable for me. Every time a zombie attacks one of my crew members the game freezes making it impossible to complete the first story mission. Quick tip if you are struggling to get money: spam and decline transport missions until they give you a 6000ish mission to transport plate mail. Sell the plate mail cargo at a port for 60,000 instead. When you visit the port where you were supposed to deliver it, give your money to a different crew member before you "turn in the cargo". They will fine you for losing it, but your captain doesn't technically have any money so you lose nothing. After being fined, you can safely trade the money back to your captain character. I was able to build up half a mil pretty easy this way. I was really enjoying it, but thumbs down because I cant even start the story let alone finish it.

Game freezes as soon as you land a hit on an enemy monster.

I grew up on the AD&D Masterpiece Collection CD-ROMs and I always wondered why this game wasn't part of that collection. I remember seeing this intriguing Spelljammer computer game advertised in Dragon Magazine and always wanted to give it a try but never could track down a copy back in the day. Eventually I forgot it even existed until about twenty-five years later when I randomly saw it here on Steam... like you do. Now, after finally trying out Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace for a few hours... yeah, I can see why this game was left mostly for the dustbin of history. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of retro charm that I love here. And the 2nd edition D&D rules are my favorite right alongside the old Basic/Expert rules. There's also a hint of open world to this game that I can appreciate too. But overall the game feels too ambitious for its own good. The main thrust of the game is the space sim aspect, which doesn't work nearly as well as other space sims of this era. Ship to ship combat is a chore to slog through. Even after slapping some upgrades onto your ship it's still not much fun. And the hand to hand combat isn't much better in this game either. On the other end of the spectrum, playing the role of an honest space merchant isn't much fun either because you quickly notice the cargo prices are exactly the same in every port on every planet you land on, so there's no profit to be made from a fluctuating economy. You're basically stuck doing the same random cargo drop-off missions for the same amount of gold every time. You'll pick up missions from taverns too, but these are also limited in their variety and usually boil down to your magical spacefaring ship being a glorified taxi. There is a main 'plot' to the game, but it doesn't show up until you're a couple hours into what you might be thinking is just an open-ended space sim, which seems like an odd design decision to me. Overall, I'm glad I got to finally give Pirates of Realmspace a whirl, but I see the reasons why this one isn't remembered as much as some of the other oldie D&D games like Eye of the Beholder or the Gold Box series.

we needs a full remake in the vane of bulders gate and neverwinter nights

Interesting concept in a magical Ptolemy inspired space setting that mechanically works even if clunky... the real issue is dealing with bugs and crashes. The only way to truly mitigate this is to play with a dosbox version that allows for save states otherwise I wouldn't recommend it unless you got a lot of time to spare for these type of puerile pursuits.

Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace is a unique blend of Dungeons & Dragons role-playing mechanics with a sci-fi twist, set in the fascinating Spelljammer universe. Released in 1992, it’s a game that aimed to capture the magic of spacefaring adventures in the D&D setting, allowing players to pilot spelljamming ships across the stars. While it has its rough edges, it’s a nostalgic and ambitious game that holds a special place for fans of the Gold Box series. Gameplay The game combines space exploration, ship-to-ship combat, and traditional D&D-style role-playing. You start by assembling a party of adventurers—classic D&D fare—and choosing a ship to command. Each ship type has its own stats, influencing combat effectiveness, speed, and durability. From there, you’re free to explore the vastness of the Spelljammer universe. The RPG elements are lighter compared to other Gold Box titles. Characters don’t level up in the traditional sense, but you can improve their skills and equipment. The focus here shifts to the broader experience of managing your ship, exploring different worlds, and engaging in combat. Ship Management and Combat A major highlight is piloting your spelljamming ship. You’ll need to manage your crew, repair your vessel, and ensure you have enough supplies for your journey. Ship-to-ship combat is tactical and plays out in real-time, which adds tension. Maneuvering your ship, timing attacks, and balancing offense with defense can be satisfying, though the controls can feel clunky by today’s standards. Exploration and Quests Exploration is at the heart of the game. The Spelljammer universe is full of unique planets and locations to visit, each with its own lore, NPCs, and quests. While not as deep or complex as the larger Gold Box games, the quests here lean more into the adventure side of D&D, with straightforward objectives like transporting goods, battling pirates, or uncovering hidden treasures. Story and Characters The game’s story unfolds as you explore, with encounters and missions gradually pulling you into a larger narrative. It’s a classic tale of intrigue, danger, and heroism set against the backdrop of the stars. While it’s not as heavily focused on dialogue or character development as other RPGs, it does enough to make you feel like you’re part of a grand, spacefaring adventure. Graphics and Sound Visually, Pirates of Realmspace is a mixed bag. The planetary backdrops and ship designs have charm but lack the polish of later Gold Box games like Dark Queen of Krynn. That said, the art style captures the whimsical nature of the Spelljammer setting. The music is a standout, enhancing the atmosphere with memorable themes. The original soundtrack complements the adventure well, but the HQ remake available on YouTube is a fantastic upgrade, breathing new life into the game’s auditory experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tULtOmhO-Qc&list=PLe4GPzW9S9fOUdWXvWhKEVPBz2qoq2WAK Technical Aspects The interface and controls can be cumbersome, especially for new players. The ship management menus and combat systems aren’t as intuitive as they could be, and there are occasional bugs. However, fans who persevere will find a rewarding experience beneath the rough exterior. Final Thoughts Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace is a love letter to a unique corner of the D&D universe. While it lacks the depth and polish of its contemporaries, its charm lies in its ambition and the novelty of space exploration in a fantasy setting. For fans of the Gold Box series or D&D, it’s a fascinating experience worth revisiting, especially with the HQ soundtrack adding to the immersion. It may not dethrone classics like Pool of Radiance, but it’s a delightful detour for those looking to expand their adventures into the stars. Recommended for retro RPG enthusiasts and fans of D&D’s Spelljammer setting!

Dieses Spiel ist ein ziemlich spannendes Stück D&D-Geschichte. Fantasy im Weltraum, Handel treiben, mit deinem Schiff harte Kämpfe und Abenteuer erleben – eine ungewöhnliche Mischung, die erstaunlich gut funktioniert. Man sollte allerdings erwähnen, dass das Spiel einen kaum an die Hand nimmt und man vieles selbst herausfinden muss. Trotzdem klare Empfehlung!