I especially got a kick out of seeing Drizzt's special attack, which I swear could be the Drow's patented double-thrust low.The slaadi were created by Charles Stross for the Fiend Factory column in White Dwarf magazine. The motion capture is brilliant and fluid. However, the graphics are beautiful, and there's so much eye candy going on in the background that you'll be hard pressed to concentrate on the foes you're supposed to be attacking. It took a bit of tweaking to get the game to work well on my system the settings defaulted to the lowest possible resolution and refresh rate, which is downright unplayable. Most of the voice acting is excellent, and the score is stirring and dramatic. Each character has a move meant to push foes back, which is handy if the area directly behind the foe happens to be a gaping chasm or a fireplace. Some levels have a lot of shadows that make Zhai a killing machine. In the fight for Mithril Hall, players have to dip their swords in flame before dispatching invading trolls permanently. For instance, in one fight, bridges have to be cut in order to prevent lots of reinforcements from entering the battle.

Each arena is unique and has features that must be capitalized upon in order to cut the overwhelming odds facing the trio of heroes. The battle for Mithril Hall in the frozen north is unforgettable, and allows players to take control of the beloved Drow, Drizzt Do'Urden.ĭig the dragon in the background. The levels occur all over Faer¿n, and while most of them are relatively obscure locations, one of them couldn't be better known to fans of the Forgotten Realms. Each of the game's 10 chapters are comprised of an assortment of fighting arenas: bad guys will pop up, and they'll need to be dealt with in order to proceed. If you've ever played Stormfront's The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, Demon Stone plays in a very similar manner. Rannek, Zhai, and Illius are tasked with finding a new Demon Stone and entrapping the pair again, a mission that will require kicking a LOT of monster ass. Each are outcasts from their societies, and are guided by some unknown force into breaking the Demon Stone, a relic that imprisoned two powerful entities who are each capable of conquering Faer¿n.

The sorcerer, Illius, the game's main missile man, can fling spells from a distance and is absolutely vital to dealing with most bosses. Zhai, a half-Drow rogue, can use the shadows to become invisible and execute deadly backstabs. Rannek the fighter excels in power attacks and defense. In Demon Stone you'll guide three heroes - a fighter, a rogue, and a sorcerer - through 10 chapters situated in various locations throughout Faer¿n. However, don't be fooled: Demon Stone is substantially different from its predecessors, a cross between an RPG and a straight-ahead brawler that is paralyzed by the ghoul of linearity. The game appropriately treats its setting with respect, and fans should enjoy the plot. Salvatore, the author of several best-selling Forgotten Realms fantasy novels. Demon Stone features a story from the mind of R.A. The Forgotten Realms have inspired more than a few successful computer RPGs that come immediately to mind, the best including Neverwinter Nights and Baldur's Gate.

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