Dragontorc
{{Short description|1985 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|image = Dragontorc.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|caption =
|developer = Graftgold
|publisher = Hewson Consultants
|designer = Steve Turner
|released = {{vgrelease|EU|1985}}
|genre = Action-adventure
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
}}
Dragontorc is an action-adventure game developed by Steve Turner's Graftgold and released for the Amstrad CPC and ZX Spectrum by Hewson Consultants in 1985. It is a sequel to 1984's Avalon The 3D Adventure Movie. The hero of Avalon, Maroc the Mage, returns to defeat an evil witch and save Britain. The game was well received by critics.
Plot
Maroc the Mage has defeated the Lord of Chaos, but now he must stop Morag the Shape-Shifter, the Witch Queen of the North, from inheriting the power of the legendary Dragontorc of Avalon. To reactivate it and achieve her evil ambitions, Morag needs to gather the five crowns of the kingdoms of Britain. She has manipulated the Saxons to fight against the kings so she can steal the five crowns, and has already caused the death of King Vortigern and seized the crown of Dumnonia. To save the realm, Maroc sets out to seek out and destroy the remaining crowns, infiltrate the citadel of Morag to find and kill her, and free the Merlyn, his mentor who has been enchanted by Morag.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/computer-and-videogames-042|title=Computer and Videogames Magazine Issue 042|date=1 April 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Issue_04_1985-07_Argus_Press_GB|title=Computer Gamer - Issue 04 (1985-07) (Argus Press) (GB)|date=1 July 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._22_1985-11_Newsfield_GB|title=Crash - No. 22 (1985-11) (Newsfield) (GB)|date=1 November 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| award1Pub = Crash
| award1 = Smash!Game review, Crash issue 16, May 1985, page 20
}}
The game was overall well received. Amstrad Action gave it an 86%,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-002|title=Amstrad Action Issue 002|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}} Amtix gave it a 91%,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-01|title=Amtix Magazine Issue 01|date=1 November 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}} Popular Computing Weekly gave it five (for the original Spectrum version) and four (for the Amstrad port) TV sets out of five,{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-03-21|title=Popular Computing Weekly (1985-03-21)|date=21 March 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/popular-computing-weekly-1985-09-12|title=Popular Computing Weekly (1985-09-12)|date=12 September 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}} and ZX Computing gave it five stars out of five.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/zxcomputing-magazine-1985-06|title=ZX Computing Magazine (June 1985)|date=1 June 1985|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}} Clare Edgeley of Sinclair User wrote: "Avalon fans will love Dragon Torc, which is more user friendly. The puzzles are well hidden and tricky. If you have never played Avalon, however, start with Dragon Torc, it is the better game".[http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/038/sftwrea.htm Sinclair User 38 - Spectrum Software Scene] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912194511/http://www.sincuser.f9.co.uk/038/sftwrea.htm |date=September 12, 2012}} A review in Crash hailed it for "an excellent balance of incentive and difficulty", and praised its "excellent" graphics but had some criticism for the sound despite commending its "great" music and awarded it a score of 92%.{{cite web|url=http://www.crashonline.org.uk/16/dragontorc.htm|title=CRASH 16 - Dragontorc|website=www.crashonline.org.uk}} In 1991, Crash staff ranked Dragontorc as the 99th top Spectrum game.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._91_1991-08_Newsfield_GB|title=Crash - No. 91 (1991-08) (Newsfield) (GB)|date=1 August 1991|publisher=|via=Internet Archive}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.mobygames.com/game/dragontorc Dragontorc] at MobyGames
- {{WoS game|id=0001503}}
Category:Action-adventure games
Category:Fantasy video games set in the Middle Ages
Category:Hewson Consultants games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about witchcraft
Category:Video games based on Arthurian legend
Category:Video games based on Celtic mythology