Latest News

I can't speak French, so I can't verify any of this, but Rip Williamson posted this link, which leads to a site run by Ray's French publishing company. The site offers Acrobat versions of the first two chapters of Magician.

Chuck Mitchell from Voice of the Arts , sent me a note saying that the RtK original soundtrack CD is now available for order. Also, he included this blurb from Ray:

'I was blown away when I first heard the music for Return To Krondor. Chuck Mitchell and Voice of the Arts has taken game music to a new plateau. It's a soundtrack in the tradition of the great adventure film scores from Captain Blood to Star Wars.' -Raymond E. Feist

The CD costs $14.95 plus shipping and handling. See the website for complete ordering details, and some samples. Here's what VOTA says about their disc:

In his musical score for RTK, composer Chuck Mitchell researched the medieval time period and allowed several world cultures to influence his modern and cinamatic approach to interactive composition. The score includes several Latin choral passages, complex poly-rhythms, and a tapestry of textures that combine authentic emotion with fantasy conflict.

Desslock's RPG News is reporting that the Feburary 1999 issue of Computer Games Strategy Plus will include an exclusive demo of RtK, which should contain chapter zero, fully playable.

I lack the time to construct a full-fledged review of RtK, but having finished the game, I want to share some of my opinions on it.

Plot
RtK has a strong plot, and Ray's touches can be seen throughout. There are moral decisions to make, and although the plot is strictly linear, it has enough variety and subplots to keep the narrative interesting. The pacing is great, and the chapter format clearly divides the action from character to character and setting to setting.

Presentation
The graphics and sound in RtK are amazing, some of the best I have seen in an RPG. The True3D engine delivers great character animations, and the pre-rendered backgrounds are all beautiful. The big problem here is with camera angles, which can be very confusing in small areas like the Krondorian streets and its sewers. The musical score is at times haunting, at others envigorating, and always of the highest quality. The voice acting is also very professional, and the lip-synching within the game adds a nice touch. The interface is very usable, and only becomes ponderous when pouring through character inventories. My only complaint in this area is the entirely stupid interface for selecting 'books' of saved games... The bookshelf graphic, complete with hunt-for-the-hotspot options, is a waste of time.

Combat
One of RtK's true strong suits is combat. The flawless transformation from normal exploration to combat is unique, and the graphics engine handles all the animation and spell effects beautifully. There is great strategic variety while in combat, which is helpful. I beat the game without ever using a bow, but relying on fire oil, James' combat prowess, and my magician's spellcasing abilities.

Miscellaneous
The extras in RtK, such as the lockpick and alchemy system, are also interesting. Lockpicking and disarming traps, while not used often after the first few chapters, is a fun challenge, and a twitch reflex test is nice after all that walking... As for the alchemy system, I must confess: I never even used it. I sold all alchemy supplies as soon as a got them, and was never really in need of extra potions until the last two chapters, when I ran uncomfortably low on healing supplies (in interesting sidenote: there is no magic spell for healing, an obvious oversight on the part of PyroTechnix. Leaving healing to the alchemist doesn't make sense when your mage should be able to cast a healing spell). However, the system is there if the player wants to pursue that course. The game was well made, and did not crash on my system a single time, although I was stuck in endless combat once or twice, when my lone character (Solon) was paralyzed by Goblins who could not actually hurt him. Also, it seemed too easy to make money, as about halfway through I had the best armor and weapons for my characters, and 60,000 gold left over! (However, should agents of the king ever have to worry about not being able to afford goods? Of course not.)

Conclusion
Return to Krondor will please all fans of Ray's books, as it offers a great immersion into the world of Midkemia. RtK suspends time and invites you into a colorful, beautiful world of intrigue and danger, and rewards the player with a fantastic plot. It is shorter than normal RPG's, and not a hardcore stat-management game, but it tells a wonderful story and should not be missed.

Ray posted this intersting tidbit today, certainly tweaking the interests of all you wannabe writers:

It may be included in a book on writing I may get around to doing some day.

In response to the frequent criticism that RtK was too short and not challenging enough, Ray posted this:

You are not alone in your perceptions regarding RtK. I could bore you with the horror stories associated with the evolution of the game through four years of development under a dozen producers, but I won't. Suffice it to say 1) I'm astonished there is a game in the stores at all 2) I'm mostly pleased with the results 3) we're listening to as many people as we can on the various boards about RtK and we're making sure that in future, those things that are clearly 'not good' to the majority of players are addressed.

We're trying.

On a personal note, I'm nearing the end of the game, and am thoroughly enjoying it.

The newest PC Gamer has a fan poll, ranking the top 50 games of all time. Betrayal at Krondor secured 41st place, a very good showing.