Ishar: Legend of the Fortress
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Ishar: Legend of the Fortress |
Ishar: Legend of the Fortress is a role-playing video game launched in 1992 by Silmarils, available on platforms such as Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, MS-DOS, and Atari Falcon. It serves as the inaugural title in the Ishar trilogy.
Gameplay
The narrative unfolds on Kendoria island, where players assume the role of Aramir, a warrior charged with vanquishing Krogh, a malevolent sorcerer responsible for the death of lord Jarel. The game's name, Ishar, denotes "unknown" in the fictional elven tongue and refers to Krogh's fortress. Success requires exploring the island thoroughly and enlisting the aid of Jarel’s remaining allies.
A standout feature of Ishar is its predominantly outdoor settings, a rarity among early computer RPGs. The game introduces an innovative party management mechanic, allowing up to five characters. Each member has individual preferences influencing decisions about recruitment or dismissal. Changes to the party lineup are subject to votes by its members; if a dismissal is opposed, players may attempt assassination, which carries the risk of retaliatory attacks that could jeopardize the entire group.
Uniquely within the series, saving progress demands expending 1000 gold pieces from the party’s collective funds.
Development and release
The Austrian black metal band Summoning adopted the game's cover artwork for their album titled Minas Morgul.
Reception
Nicholas Bavington, writing for Page 6, lauded the title as essential for enthusiasts of hack-and-slash games and recommended it even to fans of shooting genres due to its immediate engagement.
Rob Mead from ST Format observed that the Atari Falcon edition closely resembled the ST version but offered superior audio and visual enhancements.
The publication Amiga Action praised the game for its distinctive graphical quality and robust gameplay mechanics.
Henning Vahlenkamp of Amazing Computer identified Ishar as a compelling first RPG designed specifically for AGA systems, noting its user-friendly controls that appeal to a wider audience.
According to Zero, one of the game's major advantages is its vast adventure scope, encompassing over 100,000 screens.
Reviews
- Swiat Gier Komputerowych (Polish)
- Amiga Style (Slovenian)
- Swiat Atari (Polish)
- Amiga Power - July 1992
- ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) - July 1993
- Amiga Games - October 1992