Published by edutainment freaks Broderbund Software Incorporated and developed by Digital Studios Limited, The Dark Heart of Uukrul is a first person perspective adventure and role playing game combination. It has scenes that are also portrayed from the bird’s eye view, but it is an interesting view, regardless of its origin. The Dark Heart of Uukrul features a stellar medieval fantasy theme. It is filled with well-placed puzzles and turn-based combat sequences. It was released in the late eighties for play on the personal computer running the DOS operating system.
Uukrul is a great evil that once defeated the Ancients, a host of guardians. Four adventurers are recruited by the Western Council to defeat Uukrul and stop him from entering the Western Lands. The last party sent to defeat Uukrul left over a year and a half ago and have not returned. Led by the powerful Mara, this company was to be the saviors of the lands, leaving little hope for you and your lesser party of would be heroes. However, with brave faces and hopeful hearts, the party enters the underground city of Eriosthe and will attempt to infiltrate Uukrul’s stronghold…the Dark Heart of Uukrul… to defeat him.
The party that the gamer will control consists of four types
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of adventurers: a Paladin, a Fighter, a Magician, and a Priest. There are already parties pregenerated, but the user is able to create his own party if he so chooses. The adventure will take place in the underground city and is set up as a labyrinth. There are many caverns, rooms, twists, turns, tunnels…and of course dangerous monsters lurking within all of them. There are sanctuaries hidden here and there, and they mark safe havens that were created by the Ancients…the very entities you are out to avenge. Here, the party can rest and recuperate life points, store items for later use, and gain access to teleportation portals for quicker movement around the gaming environment. If a character has gained enough experience, entering a sanctuary will also earn them a new level, complete with bigger and better statistics. Gamers will have to solve a puzzle in order to enter the sanctuaries. The other major safe zone is the marketplace of the city where the gamer can go to shop for his characters, repair his weapons and armor, and restore dead companions. New recruits may also be available here.
Overall, this is a fun and fairly complicated, in-depth game. Its awesome theme is just the beginning of the things it has to offer. The large gaming environment and interesting battles also add to the game and make it a very solid play.
