In my memories concerning the Albion I can remember, with what contempt I came up to it. I hadn’t believed in someone’s succesful combining of a sci-fi and fantasy to precious RPG/dungeon game. I was so afraid that it had been just another hybrid and that it fell into oblivion. Mine apprehensions weren’t well-founded. Talks about Albion last even long time and the fact, that in couple of years the Albion was a supplemental to a game magazine with czech translation, was even helpful to it.

   You are beginning in the spaceship Toronto, which is on it’s way to a planet with mineral resources. After a few happenings and one accident are Tom Driscoll and Rainer Hoffset wrecked on the planet, which is inhabited by intelligent beings. First of all you will meet race Iskaii, humanoid cat-like creatures evolved from beasts. But Iskaii are not the only occupiers. Also humans are there, Kelts to be accurate. And of course there is a lot of more crap to kill. Toronto is ought to exploit minerals here, which would ruin the planet so Tom and Rainer must inform the ship about discovering of the intelligent life forms.    Albion got me by it’s story and world. In matter of graphics it’s not surprising game today, but when you are on these pages the graphic is not the thing what concerns you. It’s an old game and that’s why it can not be measured with the newer ones in this way, but generally it’s better when speaking of atmosphere and playbility. While wandering the wilderness you can see your crew from 2D bird’s-eye view, but when entering the dungeon or city the game switches to classical „dungeon“ mode (3D environment with 2D objects)    The dungeons are well designed and some of them are really big (even 10 levels) and hard, mainly speaking of your ability of using your brain. Bigger and even smaller puzzles can be pretty tough. Levers, contact platforms, buttons, doors and traps…not everything can be solved just by magic and strength.    The combats are turn-based. Game switches to another mode, where you and your opponents are standing on quad field. The disposition is very important – of course the mages to the back and warriors to the front. You give the orders to your members and then it is computer‘s turn. Some of the combats are very hard and probably you won’t avoid your death. Some of the monsters are able to kill you just with one single stroke.    The members of your company may be a little bit different in every gameplay, because there are more characters to recruit. Tom is primary character and he is present for all the time of a gameplay. But step by step you start to meet other and other candidates. Warriors and mages of both kinds - human and Iskaii. Iskaii have one advantage – they are capable of grasping weapons in their tails. So when he has one weapon in hand and one in tail he can attack twice.    This game is not the easiest one. Scenicaly you always know what to do, but finding of a required thing or person is sometimes pretty uneasy. For example the first bigger task (seek out the assassin) was for many players big problem. And when you stuck after a few hours of playing it’s definitely not pleasant. So…you know that you have to find the murderer. But where? Some NPCs are able to give you a clue where the murderer’s hide-out could be, but in spite of that it’s still a problem – that place is so well covered-up that it is blended with surrounding.    It is dungeon as it should be. Although little bit different. Logical puzzles, tough combats, story and striking revelations. Well designed dungeons, amazing world but more difficult to finish. Those who are patient and striven are rewarded. The others will be at least short of nerves. But especially they will be short of great enjoyment for very long time. I enjoyed it kingly. And now the winter is coming so what could be better for long winter nights? If you like this genre and Albion overpassed you now you have a great opportunity to make it good.

Author: Zdeněk