Talisman (video game)

Talisman is a board game by Games Workshop. There have been several attempts to adapt the board game into a video game since its introduction in 1983.

For the board game on which Talisman is based, see Talisman (board game).

Talisman: Prologue/Digital Edition
Developer(s)Nomad Games
Publisher(s)Asmodee Digital
Nomad Games[1]
Platform(s)Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
ReleasePrologue
December 18, 2012 (PC)[2]
April 25, 2013 (iOS)
May 1, 2013 (Android)
Digital Edition
October 14, 2013 (PC)
January 13, 2015 (Mac)[3]
March 7, 2017 (PS4, Vita)
March 9, 2020 (Switch)
June 3, 2021 (Xbox One, Series X/S)
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The first was a 1985 ZX Spectrum game, titled Talisman or The Talisman. It was developed by SLUG and produced by the board game's publisher, Games Workshop. Another attempt, by Big Rooster Games in 2008 was abandoned and was labeled "a misfire" by Games Workshop. In 2012, Nomad Games released Talisman: Prologue, a single-player game for Microsoft Windows and mobile platforms, and in 2013 Nomad released Talisman: Digital Edition which added multiplayer to the game, with several expansions also released. Talisman Origins was released in 2019 by Nomad Games.

1985 version
Gameplay screenshot of the ZX Spectrum version

Talisman was released in 1985 for ZX Spectrum, developed by SLUG and published by Games Workshop. The game is a conversion of the Second Edition of the board game. It is a fantasy hybrid board/role-playing game, in which players moved across a text-based virtual board, fighting creatures, collecting items, and strengthening their characters through experience. The ultimate goal was to defeat the other players, typically by reaching the Crown of Command on the game board.

Reception

Trevor Mendham reviewed Talisman for White Dwarf #66, giving it an overall rating of 7 out of 10, and stated that "Overall, the presentation of Talisman is excellent and the graphics make it a pleasure to play. It will certainly appeal to Talisman fans lacking opponents, as the computer makes a very reasonable job of this."[4] Richard Price of Sinclair User gave the game four out of five stars and said: "Even with four players it is unlikely that anyone will be bored as the action can be quite entertaining, even to watch. This gives The Talisman an edge over text-based multiple player games."[5] Paul Coppins of Computer and Video Games gave it one out of ten and said: "[...] for me this Adventure is summed up in one word — poor!"[6] Derek Brewster of Crash gave the game seven out of ten and said: "Talisman is a very complex strategy game with superb graphics and all the other trappings of a well designed and highly polished piece of software. Where the game really excels is in its offering entertainment for up to four players which is sufficiently complex to keep all interested for the duration. As with all involved strategy games it will take a while to get into it, but I think the time would be well spent as this game has a lot going for it."[7]

2008 version

Capcom had begun development in 2007 of a downloadable video game for both the PlayStation Network on PlayStation 3 and Xbox Live Arcade on Xbox 360. A version was also planned for Microsoft Windows.[8] Based closely on the board game of the same name from Games Workshop, it was being developed by Big Rooster, but Capcom eventually announced they were seeking new developers.

On 12 October 2008, Capcom Senior Director of Strategic Planning, Christian Svensson, announced:

Rather recently we have finally stopped development completely. After a misfire at the start, the details of which I won't get into, we evaluated several options for moving the project to new developers, but the costs of moving forward outweighted [sic] the potential revenue. I realize this will be disappointing for the fans of the game. The rights have reverted to Games Workshop where I hope someone will pick them up and try again. I too still would like to play a Talisman videogame.[9]

This digital version would have supported up to four players, either online or offline. Including 25 different characters from the game and its expansions, it also promised additional downloadable content, such as extra characters and alternate ending conditions.[10]

2012/2013 version

Games Workshop and Fantasy Flight Games partnered with another video game developer to produce a video game version.[15] Nomad Games produced a single-player version of Talisman based on the Fourth Edition rules. It is titled Talisman: Prologue. It was released 15 November 2012 for Microsoft Windows.[16][17]

On 1 May 2013 Thumbstar Games Ltd released Talisman: Prologue for Android 2.2, this version also still lack multiplayer or other players directed by computer.[18][19] On 3 September 2014 new version was released that supports AI controlled characters and local multiplayer as well.

A full multiplayer version of the game, Talisman Digital Edition, was released in October 2013.[20]

According to the review aggregate website Metacritic, Prologue received "generally favorable reviews", while Digital Edition received "mixed or average reviews".[11][12][13][14]

2019 version

Nomad Games released Talisman Origins on May 16, 2019 for the PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.[21][22]

References
  1. "NOMAD GAMES IS RETURNING TO SELF-PUBLISHING!". Nomad Games. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  2. "Talisman Prologue Is Now Available for Download". Fantasy Flight Games. 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 7 October 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  3. Nomad Games (13 January 2015). "Update - 13th January - Mac version and free characters!". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  4. Mendham, Trevor (June 1985). "Open Box". White Dwarf. No. 66. Games Workshop. pp. 6–7.
  5. Price, Richard (May 1985). "Sleuthing by the sea - The Talisman". Sinclair User. No. 38. EMAP. pp. 113, 115.
  6. Coppins, Paul (July 1985). "Reviews - The Talisman". Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. p. 85.
  7. Brewster, Derek (May 1985). "Adventure Trail - Talisman". Crash. No. 16. Newsfield Publications Ltd. p. 116.
  8. Roper, Chris (13 April 2007). "IGN: Capcom Wields Talisman". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007.
  9. Svensson, Christian (19 August 2008). "Ask Capcom - Talisman". capcom-unity.com. Capcom. Archived from the original on 9 October 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  10. Rea, Jared (13 April 2007). "Capcom brings Rocketmen and Talisman to XBLA and PSN". Joystiq. AOL. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  11. "Talisman Prologue HD for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  12. "Talisman: Digital Edition for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  13. "Talisman: Digital Edition for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  14. "Talisman: Digital Edition for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  15. Fahey, Mike (18 September 2012). "Digital Version of the Talisman Board Game Coming, For Real This Time". Kotaku. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  16. "Pre-Order Talisman Prologue for PC". Talisman Prologue Web Site. Nomad Games. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  17. Talisman Prologue Archived 23 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine from Nomad Games
  18. "Buy Samsung GT-i5510 Talisman Prologue HD for Android Application".
  19. "Talisman Prologue HD - Android Apps on Google Play". play.google.com. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013.
  20. "Talisman Digital Edition". Nomad Games website. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  21. "Talisman: Origins". Gamepressure. Gry-Online. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  22. "Talisman: Origins". Steam. Valve Corporation. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
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