2 User Reviews
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A great dungeon crawler
(PC)
Reviewed by zeus_gb on July 23, 2008. zeus_gb has written 8 reviews. His last review was for Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard. 1 out of 1 users recommend his reviews. |
1 out of 1 user found this review helpful. |
It's a miracle this game ever got released because it had been delayed so many times, but I for one are glad Interplay finally released it.
Good points:
Decent enough graphics including full motion video.
Great voice acting.
Very atmospheric music.
Control system is easy to use.
Party management is easy.
Unusual magic system.
Box art and novel.
Bad Points:
Bugs.
The graphics in the game were supposed to be top notch but because of the many delays they were never quite as good as the competition. Having said that they were still decent enough for a dungeon crawler.
All the NPC's and monsters in the game are fully rendered in full motion video which was quite amazing for the time.
In most games of the era the voice acting is terrible but in Stonekeep it's actually impressive. The NPCs don't sound dull or uninteresting they sound alive and like they somehow belong in the world. I would probably say it's some of the best voice over work i've heard in my 20 years of playing computer games.
The control system is so simple to use it's only the WASD keys for player movement, with the mouse for aiming and using weapons/magic. With such a simple control system it really opens up the game to everybody even novices.
Party management is just as simple as the control system. Just click an item and drop it on the scroll to carry it, pick up an item use the mirror to equip it. So so so simple even a complete novice (which I was at the time I first played it) can get to grips with it in seconds.
I've seen a lot of magic systems in my time but the one in Stonekeep is one i've not seen before. The magic system is based on runes that you find on scrolls throughout the game. To use the magic you write the rune on a rune staff, select the rune to use it and then use which ever mouse button corresponds to the hand it's in. You can also find power runes that you can use in conjunction with the standard runes. Power runes give spells more power, potency, longer lasting effects etc.
I've never ever read a review that had something about the box art in it but I just had to mention it. The game comes in a huge black box with a huge hollowgram sticker on the front of a skeleton and It looks awesome.
When you open he box you notice a small novel co-written by the legendary Steve Jackson himself (Fighting Fantasy Role playing books and Games Workshop fame). The book gives you a little bit of basic back story to Stonekeep which I must say it a nice bonus.
However Stonekeep did have it's problems and one was bugs, it had quite a few. Sometimes certain things in the game that were scripted wouldn't happen or the game would crash. Once I even lost my save games due to the save corruption crash bug.
Overall Stonekeep is a great dungeon crawler with bags of character and great voice acting. There's no denying the game has problems but if you can see past them you'll find a game worth playing.
*Does the Faerie players dance* Wahooka Wahooka Wahooka! LOL
Good points:
Decent enough graphics including full motion video.
Great voice acting.
Very atmospheric music.
Control system is easy to use.
Party management is easy.
Unusual magic system.
Box art and novel.
Bad Points:
Bugs.
The graphics in the game were supposed to be top notch but because of the many delays they were never quite as good as the competition. Having said that they were still decent enough for a dungeon crawler.
All the NPC's and monsters in the game are fully rendered in full motion video which was quite amazing for the time.
In most games of the era the voice acting is terrible but in Stonekeep it's actually impressive. The NPCs don't sound dull or uninteresting they sound alive and like they somehow belong in the world. I would probably say it's some of the best voice over work i've heard in my 20 years of playing computer games.
The control system is so simple to use it's only the WASD keys for player movement, with the mouse for aiming and using weapons/magic. With such a simple control system it really opens up the game to everybody even novices.
Party management is just as simple as the control system. Just click an item and drop it on the scroll to carry it, pick up an item use the mirror to equip it. So so so simple even a complete novice (which I was at the time I first played it) can get to grips with it in seconds.
I've seen a lot of magic systems in my time but the one in Stonekeep is one i've not seen before. The magic system is based on runes that you find on scrolls throughout the game. To use the magic you write the rune on a rune staff, select the rune to use it and then use which ever mouse button corresponds to the hand it's in. You can also find power runes that you can use in conjunction with the standard runes. Power runes give spells more power, potency, longer lasting effects etc.
I've never ever read a review that had something about the box art in it but I just had to mention it. The game comes in a huge black box with a huge hollowgram sticker on the front of a skeleton and It looks awesome.
When you open he box you notice a small novel co-written by the legendary Steve Jackson himself (Fighting Fantasy Role playing books and Games Workshop fame). The book gives you a little bit of basic back story to Stonekeep which I must say it a nice bonus.
However Stonekeep did have it's problems and one was bugs, it had quite a few. Sometimes certain things in the game that were scripted wouldn't happen or the game would crash. Once I even lost my save games due to the save corruption crash bug.
Overall Stonekeep is a great dungeon crawler with bags of character and great voice acting. There's no denying the game has problems but if you can see past them you'll find a game worth playing.
*Does the Faerie players dance* Wahooka Wahooka Wahooka! LOL
2 Comments
Wow, I'm not the only one that ever played this game, lol. I wish I still had the discs to go back and try to play it. I named my pet iguana Skuz.
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A great dungeon crawler
(
PC
)
It's a miracle this game ever got released because it had been delayed so many times, but I for one are glad Interplay finally released it.Good points:Decent enough graphics including full motion video.Great voice acting.Very atmospheric music.Control system is easy to use.Party management is easy.Unusual magic system.Box art and novel.Bad ...
Reviewed by zeus_gb on July 23, 2008
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1 out of 1 found this review helpful. |
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Please see zeus_gb's review
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PC
)
I came to the Stonekeep page to take a look at what had been added to its page (not much as of writing to say the least) and decided to review it. Well, in zeus_gb's review, everything I could wish to say (and more) has already been said. I agree ...
Reviewed by Crono on July 30, 2008
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| Game Name | Stonekeep |
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| Publisher(s) | |
| Developer(s) | |
| Genres |
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| Themes |
Add a new theme
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| Original US Release |
need a fuzzy date? |
| Original US Release |
1995 know the real date? |
| Aliases |
We don't have any info about Stonekeep's franchise games.
on July 30, 2008
I played this game through years ago when I was much younger and thought it was a blast. The game was an instant hit to me and I am in total agreement with your review. You seem to remember a lot about the game, so why not add what you know to the game's information page and earn points? It's a lot of fun and addictive.
Anyway, I am glad to see someone else enjoyed Stonekeep as much as me. I have been looking for my old game disc and have continually come up short. I found the accompanying novel that came with the game (the white book that fills in backstory... which I have never seen such a novelty item so professionally done in any other game yet) but I cannot seem to find the game itself. It is a shame because I would love to go back and play this one again!
Anyway nice review!