This is the game that kept me up all night (and through most of the weekend) as a teenager. I remember being literally gobsmacked by the seemingly endless world of ice that was the land of Corlay. I’d often stared at the giant cardboard box on the shelf of the local games shop, wondering what it was all about. After a couple of years (and a sale), I was able to buy the Lords of Midnight, packaged together with another (awful, unplayable) Beyond game that was instantly forgotten.
What I found inside was a shockingly different type of game than those I’d played before.
The playing field was massive, and most impressive of all was that each “square” had 8 views (points of the compass) available from it. It was almost like 3D! Heading out across the Plains of Blood with your initial four warriors, eventually amassing a large band of freedom fighters who slowly spread over the entire map – if they could avoid being defeated by Doomdark’s forces.
Lords of Midnight is a superb introduction to turn based strategy, undoubtedly years ahead of its time. This game was incredibly good fun, and at the same time so challenging that you immediately had to take the game very seriously indeed. Before
you knew it, you were immersed as never before in a game world. It was amazingly ambitious for the time, but absolutely hit the mark.
I have to say, I played the game mostly clutching a map that one of the mags had printed earlier in the year. Without this I’m sure the challenge would have been even greater. In fact, I can’t really see that you’d have much of a chance keeping up with things unless you had a map for guidance. I’d have only had to make one of my own – and that would have taken me a few weeks I’m sure!
Best bit?...approaching a newly discovered keep in some remote corner of the map with your army...not knowing until the very last step if it was occupied by Doomdark or not...the absolute shock of seeing a row of black, horned riders appear right across the screen in front of you as the page updated (after an agonising pause for re-draw time) has still to be the most terrifying moment in video game history! Sent shivers down my spine every time…
Compared to what else was on offer, this was unbeatable stuff.
