The Lords of Midnight

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The Lords of Midnight

Developer(s)	Mike Singleton
Publisher(s)	Beyond Software
Release date(s)	1984
Genre(s)	Adventure game, strategy game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	N/A
Platform(s)	ZX Spectrum, C64, Amstrad CPC
Media	Cassette
Input	Keyboard

Spectrum screenshot

The Lords of Midnight is a 1980s video game, written by Mike Singleton, and released in 1984 for the ZX Spectrum. Conversions for the Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 soon followed.

It is a wargame/adventure game considered to be ahead of its time. The Player starts with four characters (Luxor the Moonprince, Rorthron the Wise, Corleth the Fey, and Morkin), and then recruits further Lords (Ithrorn, The Utarg of Utarg, Blood, Xajorkith, Shadows to name but a few) to your cause in your quest to destroy Doomdark, the Witchking of Midnight. The game manages to combine a hugely overpowering ambiance with deep elements of tactics and strategy.

The game can be played in three ways. Firstly, as a straight adventure game, where you concentrate on Morkin's quest to destroy the Ice Crown, the source of Doomdark's power. Secondly as a wargame, where you ignore Morkin's quest and concentrate on recruiting lords and troops to battle Doomdark's armies and eventually take the fight to him. Thirdly you can play both variations simultaneously. That, in a way, echoes The Lord of the Rings, the game's main inspiration: the War of the Ring happens at the same time as Frodo Baggins' quest.

The human player has the advantage in that only one of two objectives is required to defeat Doomdark. If the Ice Crown is destroyed, or Doomdark's home citadel of Ushgarak falls, he wins the game. In order for Doomdark to win, he has to complete two objectives. Firstly Morkin must be killed, as long as Morkin is alive the game will continue. Secondly he must subdue the armies of the Free. He can do this by either killing Luxor the Moonprince or conquering Xakjorkith, the capital citadel of the Free lands.

The Lords of Midnight was groundbreaking in its scale: there were thousands of locations displayed in pseudo-3D. It was also notable for the characterisation given to the available heroes, most of whom came with troops, but some of whom required to be recruited in a particular way. For example, one that is so cowardly that once aware of the enemy he became too terrified to move.

The Lords of Midnight established a cult following on the internet. It has been ported to and emulated on various platforms including Windows and Game Boy Advance.

There is also a Yahoo! Group on the subject, and as of 2004, a fast-growing online community which arose after a multi-user version was released by an independent programmer.

There was a Spectrum sequel: "Doomdark's Revenge". Despite the title Doomdark did not appear in it at all. Luxor, Rorthron and Morkin returned.