Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom

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Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom

Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom
Release date(s)	1993
Genre(s)	Beat 'em up/RPG
Mode(s)	Up to 4 players, cooperative
Platform(s)	Arcade
Input	Joystick, 4 buttons
Arcade cabinet	Standard
Arcade system(s)	CPS-2

Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom is the first of two arcade games created by Capcom and based on the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The game was also released on the Sega Saturn, packaged with its sequel, Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara, under the title Dungeons & Dragons Collection, although the Saturn version limited the gameplay to only 2 players. The game is set in the Mystara campaign setting.

[edit] Description

Tower of Doom is a side scrolling beat 'em up with some RPG elements mixed in. Notable bosses include a troll that regenerates unless burned, a large black dragon, the dreaded Shadow Elf (Mystara's equivalent of the drow), a beholder, the optional superboss Flamewing (a great wyrm red dragon) and the final boss Deimos (an archlich).

The gameplay is more technical than the average on beat'em up games. In addition to the usual basic attacks and jumping it includes blocking, strong attacks, turning attacks, dashing attacks, crouching and evading. It also requires the use of careful tactics, as most enemies have the same abilities as the heroes and can outreach them, too.

As important as melee combat is ranged combat and the use of spells. Daggers, hammers, arrows and burning oils can be used as throwing weapons, and many enemies have similar weapons. Spells can be used by means of magical rings or by the two playable spellcasters (a cleric and a fighter/mage).

[edit] Characters

The Fighter is the balanced fighter of the game. He has great reach and power.
The Elf packs noticeably less power than the fighter, but has seven arcane spells at her disposal: Magic Missile, Invisibility, Fireball, Lightning Bolt, Polymorph Others, Ice Storm, and Cloudkill.
The Cleric has fighting skills comparable to those of the elf. He can destroy undead and use five divine spells: Hold Person, Striking, Continual Light, Sticks to Snakes, and Cure Serious Wounds.
The Dwarf has short reach, but he is the most powerful character in close combat.