''DeathKeep'' is a 1995 video game based on the ''

Dungeons & Dragons ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (commonly abbreviated as ''D&D'' or ''DnD'') is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. The game was first published in 1974 by TSR (company)#Tactical Studies Rules ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...

. It was released for the 3DO console, and later converted to the PC. The game is a sequel to '' Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Slayer''.

Plot

The

player character A player character (also known as a playable character or PC) is a fictional character in a video game or tabletop role-playing game whose actions are controlled by a player rather than the rules of the game. The characters that are not control ...

enters a vast castle which has been taken over by an evil necromancer, and must explore the place in search of three orbs which are used to defeat the powerful spellcaster.

Gameplay

''DeathKeep'' is a first-person

dungeon crawler A dungeon crawl is a type of scenario in fantasy role-playing games in which heroes navigate a labyrinth environment (a "dungeon"), battling various monsters, avoiding traps, solving puzzles, and looting any treasure they may find. Video games an ...

where the player can choose to play a dwarven fighter, an elven

mage Mage most commonly refers to: * Mage (paranormal) or magician, a practitioner of magic derived from supernatural or occult sources * Mage (fantasy) or magician, a type of character in mythology, folklore, and fiction *Mage, a character class in s ...

, or a

half-elf A half-elf is a mythological or fictional being, the offspring of an immortal elf and a mortal human. They are often depicted as very beautiful and endowed with magical powers; they may be presented as torn between the two worlds that they inhab ...

fighter-mage.

Reception

Reviewing the 3DO version, a critic for ''

Next Generation Next Generation or Next-Generation may refer to: Publications and literature * ''Next Generation'' (magazine), video game magazine that was made by the now defunct Imagine Media publishing company * Next Generation poets (2004), list of young ...

'' praised the graphical textures but said the game is frustratingly difficult, particularly criticizing the imprecise controls when making the character come to a stop and the need to pass over some objects multiple times before the game registers the contact. However, he concluded, "While these aren't minor problems, the dungeons are ingeniously designed, the game is huge, and on the whole, it's interesting enough to warrant a look in spite of the annoyances." ''

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''s The Game Elf gave it a rave review, applauding the huge amount of content, accessible menus, "smooth" control, rendered graphics with fully 3D point-of-view, detailed visuals, and "unnerving" sound effects. He concluded, "With a solid plot and great animation, ''Death Keep'' is to die for." Andy Butcher reviewed the PC version of ''Deathkeep'' for ''Arcane'' magazine. He commented that "the original version for the 3DO console was less than inspiring, and this substandard conversion to the PC is even less so". Butcher concluded, "Unfortunately, ''Deathkeep'' suffers from awful graphics, low-quality sound and uninspiring gameplay, all of which combine to create one of the worst games released on the PC in some time. Try as you might, there's simply nothing you can find to recommend it. If you want a fast-paced fantasy game that's heavy on the combat and light on the rules, ''

Hexen Hexen can refer to: * ''N''-Ethylhexedrone, a stimulant drug * '' Hexen: Beyond Heretic'', a 1995 dark fantasy video game by id Software and Raven Software * ''Hexen II'', a 1997 video game and sequel to the first Hexen. * Hexen, a thrash metal b ...

'' is infinitely better than this". A ''Next Generation'' critic similarly said that the 3DO version was passable but the PC conversion is poor, with "jerky play control, blocky and pixelated graphics, and awkward keyboard configuration". According to

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, ''DeathKeep'' was "the last ''Dungeons & Dragons'' game for SSI, and it was a pretty ignominious end for a pretty distinguished run".

References

{{Dungeons & Dragons video games 1995 video games 3DO Interactive Multiplayer games Dungeons & Dragons video games Role-playing video games Strategic Simulations games Video game sequels Video games developed in the United States Video games featuring female protagonists Video games set in castles Windows games