The Warlock of Firetop Mountain

Adventure fans looking for a break from traditional role-playing games will like this title, but the lack of depth and repetitive sequences make this an average dungeon crawler. Most tabletop-style games are usually designed to be played with groups of friends. Even classic pen-and-paper experiences usually have at least one person as the adventurer and one as Game Master. The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, much like the book it's based on, is strictly a solo experience. Imagine a choose-your-own-adventure story with the occasional dice roll tossed in for good measure, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect here. The board game style carries over to combat as well, but not with the same amount of success. The first few fights might be fun as you try to predict where your opponents will move so you can make a preemptive strike, but eventually the back-and-forth movement of the characters gets a bit frustrating, and you're likely to just sit back and place your faith in the dice rolls of a head-to-head clash.

None of this means The Warlock of Firetop Mountain isn't fun. In fact, it's a treat. It genuinely feels like you're playing a tabletop adventure, with new rooms dropping into place like pieces of a 3D labyrinth puzzle. It's a simple style but with a gorgeous and detailed presentation that really sets the mood. The problem is that the game lacks any real longevity. Much like those classic solo adventure books, you only have so many choices. Even though it's an interactive adventure game, its procedurally generated content gets a bit repetitive after a while. After all, there are only so many story pieces, and eventually you'll start seeing events you've already played. Still, despite this lack of replay value, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is a nice bit of nostalgia that any old school tabletop adventure fan should have a fair amount of fun with.