The Dragonriders of Pern is a unique and interesting strategy and action combination that is based on the long-running series of novels by world renowned author, Anne McCaffrey. It was released in the eighties and was originally intended to be an Atari console game, but was quickly ported to many formats. Everlasting published it for the personal computer and the game quickly caught on there. It is a top down game that features some excellent game play, overshadowing its eighties style of graphics.
The premise of the Dragonriders of Pern game is very reflective of the series by McCaffrey.
The planet of Pern is usually at peace, being ruled by two guilds, the Weyrs and the Holds. These two factions have very different responsibilities in the survival of the planet, with one being militaristic and the other being made up of civilians who specialize in arts and trade. Every person on the planet has a job, ranging from training and handling dragons to developing industry and trade. It is essential for the factions to remain friendly towards one another, for one will die without the other. When the Red Star appears in the sky, the dragonriders of Pern know that the planet will be assaulted by a regular fall of a type of acid rain called Thread. If any particles
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of Thread reach the planet, the results will be disastrous. The only way to save Pern is to destroy the Thread in the air by attacking it with dragon fire. The Weyrs are constantly training, preparing for Threadfall, and tending to their dragons. The Holds must see to the economic and practical functions of the land, but they would have nothing if the Weyrs allowed the Thread to fall. The user will have to use all of his diplomatic skills to balance these two factions, as well as use strategic combat skills to help the dragonriders battle the Thread when the Red Star rises.
This is a complex and unique game that utilizes depth and game play to be a hit, as opposed to flashy modern graphics. There are many options available to tailor the game more to the user’s taste. In fact, the Threadfall can even be toggled off if the user is more interested in the diplomatic and governing aspect of the game. Overall, it is entertaining and engaging and should provide an adequate challenge for any science fiction or fantasy gamer.
