''The Summoning'' is an isometric-view fantasy

role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...

developed by

Event Horizon Software DreamForge Intertainment, Inc. was an American computer game developer. History DreamForge was founded as Event Horizon Software, Inc. by the computer game developers Thomas Holmes, Christopher Straka and James Namestka in Greensburg, Pennsylva ...

(later known as DreamForge Intertainment) and published by

Strategic Simulations Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI) was a video game developer and publisher of over 100 games from its founding in 1979 to its dissolution in 1994 (though the brand was in use until around 2002). The company focused on computer wargames then lat ...

in 1992.

Gameplay

The sequel to Event Horizon's first game, ''

DarkSpyre ''DarkSpyre'' is a 1990 video game produced by Event Horizon Software (later known as DreamForge Intertainment) for MS-DOS. It was released the following year for the Amiga. ''Darkspyre'' is a dungeon crawl style role-playing game. It uses top-d ...

'', ''The Summoning'' replaced the random-generated dungeons of the previous game with pre-designed levels. The title featured numerous magic items, as well as a spell-casting system utilizing virtual hand gestures. The game also utilized "runes" as a way to magically gain abilities or items. The game had several features typical of

dungeon crawl A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games (RPGs) in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video g ...

s, such as random treasure, weapon and armor options, treasure chests, and the use of a mannequin to visually aid in inventory management. The dungeon in ''The Summoning'' was broken up into separate levels and sections, with different types of monsters (such as

undead The undead are beings in mythology, legend, or fiction that are deceased but behave as if they were alive. A common example of an undead being is a cadaver, corpse reanimated by supernatural forces, by the application of either the deceased's o ...

) and

NPCs A non-player character (NPC) is a character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster (or referee) rather than by a ...

being found in each. The featured weapon in the game is a large two-handed blade called "Warmonger." When first found, it is rusty and not very effective. But by repeatedly using it to kill, the magical blade becomes an immensely powerful weapon. The blade is actually a sentient, evil being with bloodlust.

Reception

Computer Gaming World ''Computer Gaming World'' (CGW) was an American Video game journalism, computer game magazine that was published between 1981 and 2006. One of the few magazines of the era to survive the video game crash of 1983, it was sold to Ziff Davis in 199 ...

''s Samuel B. Baker in 1993 praised the "creature comforts" of ''The Summoning''s graphics and user interface, and concluded "I was sorry to finish this game". The magazine's Scorpia also liked it, citing the "BIG game with much to do"'s "unique ending", puzzles, and automap. She concluded that "it's worth your time". The magazine nominated it as the Role-Playing Game of the Year in October 1993, alongside ''

Veil of Darkness ''Veil of Darkness'' is a horror-action-adventure game for MS-DOS, FM Towns and PC-98, which was developed by Event Horizon Software and published by Strategic Simulations in 1993. ''Veil of Darkness'' is a third person, 2D point-and-click adv ...

''. The game was reviewed in 1993 in ''

Dragon A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...

'' #194 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.

Reviews

*''PC Joker'' (Nov, 1992) *''Power Play'' (Dec, 1992)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Summoning, The 1992 video games DOS games DreamForge Intertainment games NEC PC-9801 games Role-playing video games Single-player video games Strategic Simulations games Video game sequels Video games developed in the United States Video games with isometric graphics