Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer

File:Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Slayer screenshot.png attacking]]

Slayer features a customizable dungeon generator so each time the player starts the game, they are faced with a new dungeon. The dungeon always ends with a boss floor, randomly selected from several possible bosses. When starting a new game, the player may either create a custom character with randomly generated stats, pick from a selection of preset characters, or reuse a previously created character. The game may be saved at any time, but is limited to a single save slot.

Slayer was developed as part of a contract between video game corporation SSI and TSR, the owner and publisher of the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. SSI had previously used the license to adapt the property into a number of notable games including Pool of Radiance, the Gold Box series, and Eye of the Beholder.{{cite magazine | author=CGW staff | date=April 1994 |title=SSI Advances Beyond D&D With Divorce From TSR | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_117/page/n11/ | publisher=Ziff Davis | magazine=Computer Gaming World | page=12 | issue=112 | issn=0744-6667}} For Slayer, SSI gave development duties to Lion Entertainment, an Austin, Texas-based studio founded by Douglas Grounds in June 1993.{{cite web | title=LION ENTERTAINMENT, INC. | url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0127262400 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812105357/https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0127262400 | archive-date=August 12, 2022 | publisher=OpenCorporates | accessdate=August 12, 2022}} Grounds was also a producer at The 3DO Company's Austin office.{{cite web | author=Strauss, Barry | date=October 19, 2011 | title=Aggregate Knowledge Names Former Adobe Executive Douglas Grounds as Senior Vice President, Customer Success | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111019005504/en/Aggregate-Knowledge-Names-Former-Adobe-Executive-Douglas-Grounds-as-Senior-Vice-President-Customer-Success | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812111002/https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111019005504/en/Aggregate-Knowledge-Names-Former-Adobe-Executive-Douglas-Grounds-as-Senior-Vice-President-Customer-Success | archive-date=August 12, 2022 | publisher=Business Wire | accessdate=August 12, 2022}} Lion Entertainment's principle staff for Slayer consisted of director Ronald Bollinger; programmer Glen Merriman; music composer Billy Wolfe; sound editor Geoffrey Sanders; art director Daniel Bourbonnais; and artists Daniel Bourbonnais, Martin Thomas, Sara Farr, and Rebecca Price. Grounds served as executive producer while assisting on programming. The game's 3D modeling and rendering were done by Grounds, Bollinger, and Sanders.{{cite book | author=SSI staff | date=1994 | title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer instruction manual | publisher=Strategic Simulations, Inc. | page=57}}

Slayer was released exclusively for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer by SSI in North America in September 1994 and by SSI's parent company Mindscape in Europe in 1995. The game was published by T&E Soft in Japan on January 20, 1995 under the title Lost Dungeon. Computer Gaming World reported months ahead of the game's scheduled launch that SSI and TSR were dissolving their partnership and that Slayer would be one of the last products in that agreement. A version for the PlayStation was announced for an October 1995 release but never materialized.{{cite magazine|author=GamePro staff |title=PlayStation: Slayer|magazine=The Cutting Edge: Presented by GamePro Magazine|publisher=IDG|date=Spring 1996|page=65|issn=1042-8658|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_The_Cutting_Edge_Spring_1996/page/n69/}}{{cite magazine | author=Game Players staff | date=October 1996 | title=In The Works | magazine=Game Players | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=76 | page=37 | issn=1042-3133 |url=https://archive.org/details/Game_Players_Issue_57_October_1995/page/n40/}} SSI and Lion Entertainment did collaborate on a sequel to Slayer titled Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: DeathKeep, released on 3DO in 1995 and Windows in 1996.{{cite magazine|author=Next Generation staff|title=Deathkeep |magazine=Next Generation|issue=15 |publisher=Imagine Media|date=March 1996|page=84|issn=1078-9693|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_15/page/n87/}}{{Cite web|author=SSI staff|url=http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider/press_releases/pr_dthkp.html|title=SSI: Press Releases: DUNGEON DELVING DELIRIUM!!!|date=May 27, 1996|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961119123408/http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider/press_releases/pr_dthkp.html|archive-date=November 19, 1996|access-date=August 11, 2022}} Lion Entertainment went on to port several popular first-person shooters including Doom II, Duke Nukem 3D, and Quake to Macintosh before voluntarily closing in 1999.{{cite web | author=Johnston, Chris | date=April 26, 2000 | title=Mac Gamers Lose Lion | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mac-gamers-lose-lion/1100-2467151/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812105912/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mac-gamers-lose-lion/1100-2467151/ | archive-date=August 12, 2022 | publisher=CBS Interactive | website=GameSpot | accessdate=August 12, 2022}}{{cite magazine | author=Fish, Eliot | date=October 1997 | title=News: The Lion Sleeps Tonight | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-048/page/14/ | magazine=Hyper | publisher=nextmedia | issue=48 | page=14 | issn=1320-7458}}

{{VG Reviews

|CVG=59%{{cite journal | author=Guise, Tom | date=January 1995 | title=Review: Slayer | journal=Computer and Video Games | publisher=Future plc | issue=158 | page=98 | issn=0261-3697 | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/8/84/CVG_UK_158.pdf/page98-836px-CVG_UK_158.pdf.jpg | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220811110724/https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/8/84/CVG_UK_158.pdf/page98-836px-CVG_UK_158.pdf.jpg | archive-date=August 11, 2022 | accessdate=August 11, 2022}}

|EGM=35/50{{cite magazine | author=EGM staff | date=November 1994 | title=Review Crew: AD&D Slayer | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publications | issue=46 | page=46 | issn=1058-918X | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20064%20%28November%201994%29/page/n45/mode/2up}}

|GamePro=15.5/20{{cite magazine|author=Scary Larry|title=Role-Player's Realm: Slayer|magazine=GamePro|issue=65|publisher=IDG|date=December 1994|pages=204–6|issn=1042-8658}}

|GMaster = 80%{{cite magazine | author=Ellis, Les | date=February 1995 | title=Slayer | magazine=GamesMaster | publisher=Future plc | issue=26 | page=67 | issn=0967-9855}}

| Gen4 = 79%{{cite magazine | author=Belin, Stéphane | title=Test: Slayer | magazine=Génération 4 | issue=71 | publisher=Pressimage | date=October 1994 | pages=128–9 | lang=fr | issn=1624-1088| url=https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-071/page/n127/mode/2up}}

|MG=71%{{cite magazine | author=MAN!AC staff|title=Import: Slayer|magazine=MAN!AC|issue=13|publisher=Cybermedia|date=November 1994|page=34|oclc=645800887|url=https://archive.org/details/MANIAC.N013.1994.11/MANIAC.N013.1994.11-DURiAN/page/n33/}}

|JS=75%{{cite magazine|author=Joystick staff|title=Vidéotest - Slayer |magazine=Joystick|issue=|publisher=Hachette Digital Presse|date=October 1994|page=93|lang=fr|access-date=August 10, 2022 |url=https://archive.org/details/joystick053/page/n92/mode/1up?view=theater}}

|MF=58%{{cite magazine|author=Gößmann, Holger|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=21267|title=Test Kunterbunt: Slayer|magazine=Mega Fun|issue=35|publisher=Mega Fun|date=August 1995|page=68|lang=de|issn=0946-6282|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810112057/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=21267 |archive-date=2022-08-10}}

|NGen={{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|author=Next Generation staff|title=Finals: Slayer|magazine=Next Generation|issue=1|publisher=Imagine Media|date=January 1995|page=92|issn=1078-9693|url=https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration01Jan1995/page/n97/}}

|VGS=52%{{cite magazine | author=Video Games staff | date=July 1995 | title=Reviews: Slayer| magazine=Video Games | publisher=Magna Media | page=96 | language=German | issn=0946-0985 | url=https://retrocdn.net/images/thumb/e/e7/VideoGames_DE_1995-07.pdf/page96-416px-VideoGames_DE_1995-07.pdf.jpg | accessdate=August 9, 2022}}

| VGCE=6/10{{cite magazine | author=VideoGames staff | date=December 1994 | title=Capsule Reviews: Slayer| magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine | publisher=L.F.P., Inc. | issue=71 | page=132 | issn=1059-2938 | url=https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_71_December_1994/page/n130/ | accessdate=August 9, 2022}}

|rev1=3DO Magazine

|rev1Score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Wynne, Stuart | date=January 1995 | title=Review: Slayer | issue=1 | page=37 | magazine=3DO Magazine | publisher=Paragon Publishing | issn=1355-9621 | url=https://archive.org/details/3DOMagazineIssue10199605ParagonPublishingGB/3DO%20Magazine%20%2301%20%281994-12%29/page/n46/mode/1up?view=theater}}

|rev2=Ação Games

|rev2Score=23/30{{Cite magazine|author=Ação Games staff|date=October 1994|title=Slayer|magazine=Ação Games|language=PT|location=Brazil|publisher=Editora Abril|issue=69|page=34|issn=0104-1630|url=https://archive.org/details/acaogames147janeiro2000poster/A%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20Games%20%23069%20%28Outubro%201994%29/page/n33/}}

|rev3=Electronic Entertainment

|rev3Score={{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=D'Aprile, Jason| date=January 1995| title=Virtual Worlds: Slayer | issue=13| pages=90–1| magazine=Electronic Entertainment | publisher=Infotainment World| issn=1074-1356 | url=https://archive.org/details/ElectronicEntertainment13Jan1995/page/n91/}}

|rev4=Electronic Games

|rev4Score=B+{{cite magazine | author=Yates, Laurie | date=December 1994 | title=CD-ROM: Slayer | pages=180–1 | magazine=Electronic Games | publisher=Decker Publications | volume=3 | issue=3 | issn=0730-6687 |

url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1994-12/page/180/}}

|award1Pub=Electronic Games

|award1="Best Multimedia Adventure/RPG Game" (1995){{cite magazine | author=EG Editorial Staff | date=May 1995| title=1995 Gaming Awards | page=35 | magazine=Electronic Games | publisher=Decker Publications | volume=3 | issue=8 | issn=0730-6687 |

url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-05/page/34/}}

}}

GamePro gave the game a generally positive review, saying it successfully combines fast-paced action in a Wolfenstein 3D vein with traditional RPG gameplay. They criticized the music and lack of sound effects, but praised the abundance of options and the varied dungeon layouts, and commented that the adjustable difficulty make the game appropriate for players of all ages.

Next Generation was generally negative to the game and gave it 2 stars out of 5.

Allen Rausch for GameSpy called Slayer "a fantastic game" for how rare it is, and that it "was actually one of the better games" for the 3DO system.{{cite web | author=Rausch, Allen | date = August 18, 2004 | url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540115p1.html | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706164409/http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/540/540115p1.html | archive-date=July 6, 2022 | title=A History of D&D Video Games - Part IV | publisher=IGN | website=GameSpy | access-date=August 11, 2022}}

Concordia University professor and author Mark J. P. Wolf noted Slayer as an example of a game that utilizes handcrafted assets (including walls, doors, and windows) to give each of its dungeons a deliberate feel in their design despite a reliance on random, procedural generation for their layouts.{{Cite book|last=Wolf|first=Mark J.P.|title=Ludotopia: Spaces, Places and Territories in Computer Games|editor-last1=Aarseth|editor-first1=Espen|editor-link1=Espen Aarseth|editor-last2=Günzel|editor-first2=Stephan|series=Media Series|volume=63|publisher=transcript Verlag|date=September 27, 2019|isbn=978-3-8376-4730-3|location=Bielefeld|pages=300|language=en|url=https://archive.org/details/ludotopia-games/page/300/mode/1up}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/3do/917943-advanced-dungeons-and-dragons-slayer Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer] at GameFAQs
• {{moby game|id=/3do/slayer|name=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer}}

{{Dungeons & Dragons video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Slayer}}

Category:1994 video games

Category:3DO games

Category:3DO Interactive Multiplayer-only games

Category:Action role-playing video games

Category:Cancelled PlayStation (console) games

Category:Dungeon crawler video games

Category:Dungeons & Dragons video games

Category:Lion Entertainment games

Category:Mindscape games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:T&E Soft games

Category:Video games developed in the United States

Category:Video games using procedural generation

Category:Video games with gender-selectable protagonists