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Wintersoft's Ring Of Darkness first started life on the Dragon 32 and after great success establishing it as the adventure for the Dragon, it has subsequently been converted to other computers including the Amstrad.

The actual storyline that goes with the adventure is far from original, you must rescue Shedir, the Ring of Darkness, with which the Evil Sage can be banished and light can return to your troubled lands.

Thankfully, the adventure is far more original than the tired storyline. Firstly, one must create a character allocating emphasis points between the three attributes of strength, intelligence and agility and then choosing from a number of character types such as Wizard, Elf or Thief. Your created character will really make a difference on how to play the different parts of the game. For example, in the early stages where the progress is achieved largely fighting and winning battles against various bandits and brigands that inhabit the surrounding lands. Being a warrior type with more strength, will help you to get through this section far easier than if you were a spell-casting wizard.

Once you have selected your character, the game begins. This program is a genuine graphic adventure in that while all the information is shown graphically, great keyboard dexterity is not needed.

The size of the adventure is astounding, you really must explore miles upon mile of mountains, forests, rivers and streams, dotted here and there by towns, awesome towers and great dungeons. These dungeons, towers and towns are represented on the map as a single square, but when reaching one, if entered, a new display ppears and you see that you have even more to explore. Articles can be bought and used, magic cast in places and of course numbers of malevolent creatures to hack and slash through.

Thankfully, The Ring Of Darkness has a game save option, as this is currently one adventure that will not complete in one sitting. Superbly written with good graphics and a great area to explore, this is certainly a massive quest for any adventurer.