Dragonsphere is a "point-and-click" graphic adventure game

Graphic adventure game

A graphic adventure game is a form of adventure game. They are distinct from text adventures. Whereas a player must actively observe using commands such as "look" in a text-based adventure, graphic adventures revolutionized gameplay by making use of natural human perception...

 developed and published by MicroProse

MicroProse

MicroProse was a video game publisher and developer, founded by Wild Bill Stealey and Sid Meier in 1982 as Microprose Software. In 1993, the company became a subsidiary of Spectrum HoloByte and has remained a subsidiary or brand name under several other corporations since...

 in 1994. At the time it had "mind-blowing graphics" and was considered a novelty, and it is still a cult classic for many.

The game was the third graphical adventure game developed by MicroProse, following Rex Nebular

Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender

Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender is a "point-and-click" style graphic animated adventure developed and published by Microprose in November of 1992.The game is the first graphical adventure game developed by Microprose...

and Return of the Phantom

Return of the Phantom

Return of the Phantom is a "point-and-click" style graphic animated adventure developed and published by MicroProse in 1993. It was produced by Matt Gruson and designed/written by future James Bond novelist Raymond Benson....

. It was developed using the MicroProse Adventure Development system, and featured 256-color

8-bit color

8-bit color graphics is a method of storing image information in a computer's memory or in an image file, such that each pixel is represented by one 8-bit byte. The maximum number of colors that can be displayed at any one time is 256....

 graphics.

In 2011 Good Old Games released the game for free.

Storyline

The story, taking place in a fantasy world, revolves around the newly crowned king Callash of Gran Callahach, who learns that the evil sorcerer, Sanwe, trapped by the late King in a magical sphere 20 years ago, is about to break free, causing Callash to go on a quest to stop the wizard before he regains his powers. However, when he faces Sanwe he discovers that he is not the real King but a shapechanger named Pid Shuffle. It is revealed that the Queen Mother concocted the scheme to get rid of Callash and put his evil brother MacMorn on the throne, persuading the Court Wizard to aid her under the false pretense of saving Callash from mortal danger. It falls to Pid to rescue the rightful King and defeat MacMorn.

Characters

• King Callash: The newly crowned king of Gran Callahach.
• Pid Shuffle: A shapechanger, can change into a snake, seal and a bear.
• Sanwe: The main villain of the first half of the game, a magically trapped evil sorcerer.
• MacMorn: King Callash's overambitious brother.
• Llanie de Summers: A young Duchess, loyal to King Callash.
• Queen Mother: Wife to the late king and mother of Callash and MacMorn.
• Fiona: King Callash's wife and reigning Queen.
• Ner-Tom: The Court Wizard of Gran Callahach.

Reception

Finland's Pelit

Pelit

Pelit is a Finnish video games magazine published 11 times a year by Sanoma Magazines, a division of the Sanoma Group. Being by far the largest of its kind in Finland and covering both PCs and consoles, it has for a long time lacked serious competition and is thought by many to be the magazine of...

gave the game 92 out of 100 and summarized that Dragonsphere is "a really enjoyable and atmospheric adventure which holds the player's attention until the end."