The Faery Tale Adventure
Encyclopedia
The Faery Tale Adventure is a 1987
role-playing video game
by MicroIllusions
.
(1992). At the time of its release the game featured the largest game world yet (over 17,000 computer screens) with no loadings.
The technique used to store such a huge world involved creating small-sized maps out of small shape-sized blocks. Those small maps were reused and fit together seamlessly to form larger areas. Loading was synchroneous, and would happen when nearing the boundary of an area, without affecting the smooth scrolling, animation and music.
The game also featured good classical-style music tracks for the time, as well as sound effects.
and then ported
to other systems. Eventually it was released for the Commodore 64
and DOS
, although the graphics for these ports were of substantially lower quality due to hardware limitations. In 1988, a port was developed for the Macintosh
. The 256 color graphics for the Macintosh port were quite advanced (easily surpassing the original Amiga version of the game). Unfortunately, the only color Macintosh model at the time was the Macintosh II
, which was prohibitively expensive for a successful gaming platform. The Macintosh port was never released, but a working beta was completed before the development was cancelled.
Eventually New World Computing
acquired MicroIllusions and in 1991
ported the game to the Mega Drive/Genesis
. This version was published by Electronic Arts
.
described the game's user interface as natural and simple, while still being an impressive and playable game.
The game was reviewed in 1988 in Dragon
#132 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The Lessers reviewed the Sega Genesis version of the game in Dragon #175, giving that version of the game 4 out of 5 stars.
and released by Encore, Inc.
for the PC in 1997. Its gameplay and graphics resemble Ultima VIII: Pagan.
1987 in video gaming
-Notable releases:* January 14, Nintendo releases Zelda II: The Adventure of Link in January for the Famicom Disk System in Japan only. The game would go unreleased in America for nearly two years afterwards.* February 20, Konami releases Contra...
role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
by MicroIllusions
MicroIllusions
MicroIllusions, based in Granada Hills, California was a computer game developer and publisher of the home computer era . MicroIllusions, as a company, was a strong supporter of the Commodore Amiga and would typically release a title on that platform before porting it to others...
.
Story
The game is based around the quest of three brothers to retrieve the talisman stolen by the forces of evil and return it to their home village Holm. The player began as Julian, the eldest of the three brothers; if unsuccessful with this character, they'd then take control of Philip, the next oldest, then finally the youngest of the three, Kevin. Each had his strengths and weaknesses—Julian is a brave fighter, Phillip has luck and cleverness, and Kevin is gentle and kind.Gameplay
The game's gameplay resembles this of Ultima VIIUltima VII
Ultima VII: The Black Gate is the seventh installment of the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. It was released in 1992.The Black Gate was critically and commercially successful, being widely lauded as a high point in the series and as one of the best isometric RPGs ever created...
(1992). At the time of its release the game featured the largest game world yet (over 17,000 computer screens) with no loadings.
The technique used to store such a huge world involved creating small-sized maps out of small shape-sized blocks. Those small maps were reused and fit together seamlessly to form larger areas. Loading was synchroneous, and would happen when nearing the boundary of an area, without affecting the smooth scrolling, animation and music.
The game also featured good classical-style music tracks for the time, as well as sound effects.
Ports
Like most MicroIllusions games, this game was first released on the AmigaAmiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and then ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to other systems. Eventually it was released for the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
and DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
, although the graphics for these ports were of substantially lower quality due to hardware limitations. In 1988, a port was developed for the Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
. The 256 color graphics for the Macintosh port were quite advanced (easily surpassing the original Amiga version of the game). Unfortunately, the only color Macintosh model at the time was the Macintosh II
Macintosh II
The Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...
, which was prohibitively expensive for a successful gaming platform. The Macintosh port was never released, but a working beta was completed before the development was cancelled.
Eventually New World Computing
New World Computing
New World Computing, Inc. was an American computer game developer and publisher founded in 1984 by Jon Van Caneghem, his wife, Michaela Van Caneghem, and Mark Caldwell. It was best known for its work on the Might and Magic computer role-playing game series and its spin-offs, especially Heroes of...
acquired MicroIllusions and in 1991
1991 in video gaming
-Notable releases:*Microprose creates Civilization, Sid Meier's most successful game .*Electronic Arts releases James Pond 2 and Road Rash for Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, starting a series of games that were popular in the 1990s....
ported the game to the Mega Drive/Genesis
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
. This version was published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
.
Reception
A review in Computer Gaming WorldComputer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
described the game's user interface as natural and simple, while still being an impressive and playable game.
The game was reviewed in 1988 in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#132 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. The Lessers reviewed the Sega Genesis version of the game in Dragon #175, giving that version of the game 4 out of 5 stars.
Legacy
The sequel, Halls of the Dead: Faery Tale Adventure II, was developed by The Dreamers GuildThe Dreamers Guild
The Dreamers Guild was a publisher and developer of computer and video games that operated from 1991 until 1997. It was founded on the idea that employees would have a say in the company's progression...
and released by Encore, Inc.
Encore, Inc.
Encore, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based software publisher focused on retail sales.Encore is a wholly owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, which acquired Encore's assets from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California in August 2002.In November 2008 Encore announced...
for the PC in 1997. Its gameplay and graphics resemble Ultima VIII: Pagan.
External links
- The Faery Tale Adventure series at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...