Bog standard fantasy RPG
The first in a series of fairly obscure, but actually pretty decent, fantasy RPGs, this might not do anything particularly original, but it provides some solid adventuring for genre fans. The plot is your typical fantasy nonsense, set as it is against a backdrop of near war and roaming monsters, while the Society of Wizards seeks the help of one bold adventurer to track down the stolen orb of the wizard Yamora. While the set-up may be familiar, there are at least a few plot twists and turns along the way and on the whole it is reasonably well written, with a few interesting characters thrown in as well. Gameplay-wise, this also follows the 1990s style of RPG, with the usual options for character creation and with up to six members forming your party, each with special skills and attributes. The main game takes an overhead perspective, like The Legend of Zelda or early Ultima games, while combat plays out in turn-based fashion. Interaction with NPCs is handled in a similar fashion to Ultima, with conversation themes being typed in by the player. While nothing overly innovative, Yendorian Tales is certainly an enjoyable enough slice of adventuring if you are in the mood for some old-school questing fun. The graphics are fair enough, with the usual fantasy-style bright colours and environments, while sprites are reasonably detailed and have enough character to make them stand out. If you've played all the fantasy RPGs on the market except this one, then this is worth a look as are the sequels, Yendorian Tales Book I: Chapter 2 and The Tyrants of Thaine, but there are other better examples out there to play first.
