Return to Krondor
Encyclopedia
Return to Krondor is a computer role-playing game set in Raymond Feist's fictional fantasy
setting of Midkemia
. A sequel to 1993's Betrayal at Krondor
, it was released for Windows 95
on the PC
in time for the 1998 Christmas season. Within the game, the player commands a group of heroes with different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses which the player may upgrade over the course of the game.
Feist later wrote a novelization
of this game, entitled Krondor: Tear of the Gods
. It is the third part of his Riftwar Legacy
trilogy; the first part of which was a novelization of Betrayal at Krondor entitled Krondor: The Betrayal
.
of the game is now visually outdated by games like the plotwise very similar Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
, the game featured some unique or rarely seen features at the time of release, including elaborate alchemy and thieving. Using alchemical equipment, it is possible to brew custom potion
s from a variety of ingredients. In order to open locked or trapped chests and doors, a simulation of the process of disarming and lockpicking is initiated. Facing a variety of different mechanisms, it is necessary to pick the right lockpicking tools and then use them with care, simulated by carefully timed mouse clicking.
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
setting of Midkemia
Midkemia
Midkemia is a fictional world created by a fantasy role-playing group and popularized by Raymond E. Feist where most of the Riftwar books take place...
. A sequel to 1993's Betrayal at Krondor
Betrayal at Krondor
Betrayal at Krondor is a DOS-based computer role-playing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 1993. Betrayal at Krondor takes place largely in Midkemia, the fantasy world developed by Raymond E. Feist in his Riftwar novels...
, it was released for Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
on the PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
in time for the 1998 Christmas season. Within the game, the player commands a group of heroes with different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses which the player may upgrade over the course of the game.
Feist later wrote a novelization
Novelization
A novelization is a novel that is written based on some other media story form rather than as an original work.Novelizations of films usually add background material not found in the original work to flesh out the story, because novels are generally longer than screenplays...
of this game, entitled Krondor: Tear of the Gods
Krondor: Tear of the Gods
Krondor: Tear of the Gods is the third novel in The Riftwar Legacy by acclaimed fantasy author Raymond E. Feist. It is a novelization of the computer game Return to Krondor.-Plot:...
. It is the third part of his Riftwar Legacy
The Riftwar Legacy
The Riftwar Legacy is a series of fantasy novels by Raymond E. Feist, part of The Riftwar Cycle. The series occurs between the Riftwar Saga and Krondor's Sons series chronologically in the universe of the Riftwar Cycle, though it was published much later, and focuses on Squire James and other...
trilogy; the first part of which was a novelization of Betrayal at Krondor entitled Krondor: The Betrayal
Krondor: The Betrayal
Krondor: The Betrayal is a fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist. It is the first novel in the The Riftwar Legacy and was first published in November 1998. It is a novelization of the computer game Betrayal at Krondor.-Plot introduction:...
.
Gameplay
Starting in the city of Krondor and eventually venturing out into other specific parts of the Midkemia world, the game focuses on battling humans and evil creatures of various kinds. Although the story is very linear in nature, the game offers a range of possibilities while the player is adventuring in Krondor. While the computer graphicsComputer graphics
Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware....
of the game is now visually outdated by games like the plotwise very similar Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II is an action role-playing game released for the PlayStation 2 on December 2, 2003 and the Xbox on January 20, 2004...
, the game featured some unique or rarely seen features at the time of release, including elaborate alchemy and thieving. Using alchemical equipment, it is possible to brew custom potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
s from a variety of ingredients. In order to open locked or trapped chests and doors, a simulation of the process of disarming and lockpicking is initiated. Facing a variety of different mechanisms, it is necessary to pick the right lockpicking tools and then use them with care, simulated by carefully timed mouse clicking.
Characters
- James is the player characterPlayer characterA player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
in the game. He is a thiefThief (character class)The Thief or Rogue is a character class in many role-playing games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft and many MMORPGs. Thieves are usually stealthy and dextrous characters able to disarm traps, pick locks, and perform backstabs from hiding...
who has become a squireSquireThe English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
by favor of Arutha, Prince of Krondor. - Jazhara is a mage from a distant, Middle-Eastern-inspired land called Kesh.
- William is a Krondorian guard and exceptional fighterWarrior (character class)Warrior is a character class found in many role-playing games. This class may also be referred to as Fighter, as in Dungeons & Dragons. The class is sometimes also referred to as a Knight, although in some games this is a separate class with a more chivalric aspect...
. - Kendaric is both a mage and an alchemistAlchemyAlchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
. - Solon is a priestCleric (character class)The Cleric, Priest, or Bishop is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy role-playing games. The cleric is a healer, usually a priest and a holy warrior, originally modeled on or inspired by the Military Orders...
using divine magic and a body that blocks all blows.
History
- 1994: DynamixDynamixDynamix, Inc. was an American developer of computer games from 1984 to 2001, best known for their flight simulator, Red Baron, the Front Page Sports series, Betrayal at Krondor, and their online multiplayer game, Tribes.-History:...
, at this time a division of Sierra On-line, reorganizes their staff and cancels a planned sequel to Betrayal at KrondorBetrayal at KrondorBetrayal at Krondor is a DOS-based computer role-playing game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line in 1993. Betrayal at Krondor takes place largely in Midkemia, the fantasy world developed by Raymond E. Feist in his Riftwar novels...
. - 1995: 7th Level7th Level7th Level was a video games development company based in Dallas, Texas and founded in 1993. The company was most famous for developing the three Monty Python games , G-Nome — a MechWarrior-style game, for publishing Helicops — an anime-inspired arcade-style aerial combat game, and for Tracer — a...
begins production of Return to Krondor. - 1997: Pyrotechnix, at this time a division of 7th Level, and developing Return to Krondor, is sold to Sierra On-line.
- 1998: Pyrotechnix completes the game. It is published in November.
- 2010: The game is updated for compatibility with modern systems and rereleased on Good Old Games on March 4.