Shannara (video game)

Shannara is a computer game released in 1995 for the MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows. It is based on the Shannara series of books by Terry Brooks.[3]

Shannara
Cover art by Boris Vallejo and Mark Heifner
Developer(s)Legend Entertainment
Far Studio[1]
Publisher(s)Legend Entertainment
Producer(s)Bob Bates
Designer(s)Lori Cole
Corey Cole
Artist(s)Douglas Herring
Writer(s)Lori Cole
SeriesShannara
Platform(s)MS-DOS, Windows
ReleaseDecember 1995[2]
Genre(s)Adventure game
Mode(s)Single player

Gameplay

Plot

Although the game contains characters from the Shannara novels, it is not an adaptation but an original story set after The Sword of Shannara and before The Elfstones of Shannara. Players take on the role of Jak Ohmsford, son of Shea. In Shady Vale, Jak meets Allanon. He tells Jak of the horrible Warlock Lord's return. Jak sets off into the Land of Shannara.

Reception

A reviewer for Next Generation criticized the game, saying it fails both as an entry in the Shannara saga and as an adventure game. He opined that the story lacks the quality and depth of Brooks's novels, instead featuring a linear plot with a generic "villain's revenge" premise, while the gameplay falls short due to its bare bones combat system and its "clunky" overhead view when moving characters long distances.[5]

In Computer Games Strategy Plus, Cindy Yans greatly disliked Shannara's role-playing mechanics, and wrote that "you really want to avoid combat at all costs." However, she praised its puzzles, characters and story, and believed that "most Legend fans" would enjoy the game if they played it as a graphic adventure.[4]

Computer Game Review described it as "a solid story from fantasymeister Brooks", and "an adventure game that will appeal to everyone's tastes and pocketbooks.[9]

References
  1. "Lori Ann Cole - Interview". Adventure Classic Gaming. 2003-09-08. Retrieved 2012-10-27.
  2. "LEGEND Company Information". www.legendent.com:80. Archived from the original on 10 January 1997. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. "Shannara". Just Adventure. 2002-05-01. Archived from the original on 2013-06-19. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  4. Yans, Cindy (March 1996). "Shannara". Computer Games Strategy Plus (64): 72. Archived from the original on October 7, 1997.
  5. "Featureless". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. p. 98.
  6. Vaughn, Todd (April 1996). "Shannara". PC Gamer US. Archived from the original on March 12, 2000.
  7. Mooney, Shane (July 1996). "Deep-Thinking Puzzlers for the Adventurous Gamer; Shannara". PC Magazine. 13 (15): 460, 461.
  8. Meyer, Bill (March 1996). "Shannara". PC Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 18, 1996.
  9. Snyder, Frank; Chapman, Ted; Gehrs, Scott (February 1996). "Sins of the Fathers". Computer Game Review. Archived from the original on December 21, 1996.
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