Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity picks up right where its predecessors left off, offering a familiar yet refined dungeon-crawling experience. You assume the role of Zubaran, or import your favorite party members from Ishar 1 and 2, then set out to explore sprawling 3D environments from a first-person perspective. The process of recruiting companions remains a core pillar, encouraging you to balance skills, spells, and personalities as you forge your ideal adventuring party.

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Combat unfolds in real time, demanding quick decision-making and strategic positioning. There’s no pause button in the heat of battle, so you’ll need to manage health, mana, and tactical retreats on the fly. Whether you’re unleashing fireballs or lining up arrow shots, the seamless transition from exploration to combat keeps the adrenaline high and the pace brisk.

Exploration is enriched by the Portals of Time, each gate transporting you to unique eras brimming with distinct monsters, treasures, and environmental puzzles. These time manipulation elements add a fresh layer of complexity, forcing you to think beyond mere sword swings and spell slots. You’ll find yourself backtracking through past and future versions of the same area, uncovering secrets that only materialize once you’ve solved temporal riddles.

The character-development systems remain robust, allowing you to level up, learn new skills, and customize your party’s progression. Though the learning curve can be steep for newcomers, veteran CRPG fans will appreciate the depth and freedom of choice. Inventory management, spell research, and quest tracking all require careful attention, resulting in a highly rewarding if occasionally challenging experience.

Graphics

For a title released in the mid-1990s, Ishar 3’s visuals are surprisingly well-realized. The 3D dungeon corridors and outdoor wilderness panels convey a moody atmosphere, with torchlight flickering against stone walls and mist drifting across cursed moors. The color palette leans toward earthy tones, reinforcing the game’s dark fantasy aesthetic.

One of the most notable graphical updates is the use of digitized photos for character portraits. These semi-realistic images add personality to each party member, making dialogue exchanges feel more immersive. While they may look dated by modern standards, they exude a certain charm and help you bond with your companions as they comment on the unfolding narrative.

Special effects—such as swirling time-gate energies and elemental spell animations—stand out as highlights. Though not as flashy as today’s high-definition titles, these effects are crisp and purposeful, effectively communicating the power behind each incantation. Overall, Ishar 3 strikes a fine balance between technical limitations of its era and the desire for atmospheric, engaging visuals.

Story

In Ishar 3’s opening, peace in the land has been shattered once more: Shandar, the defeated villain of Ishar 2, has found a way to tether his spirit across time. Intent on possessing the last surviving Great Black Dragon of Sith, Shandar aims to wield its unimaginable might for nefarious ends. Your mission, as Zubaran or your transplanted heroes, is to race Shandar through time and prevent this catastrophic union.

The narrative unfolds through a series of quests that span multiple time periods, each with its own cast of allies and adversaries. You’ll delve into ancient ruins, mid-age kingdoms, and future wastelands, piecing together clues about Shandar’s plan. Companions chime in with unique dialogue, revealing lore from previous adventures and providing strategic hints that can turn the tide of battle.

Though the main plot is linear—your ultimate goal being to reach the Black Dragon before Shandar does—numerous side quests, hidden passages, and optional encounters flesh out the world. These diversions not only pad the playtime but also reward keen explorers with rare artifacts and advanced spells. The story’s pacing can ebb and flow, yet high-stakes time travel sequences keep the tension palpable until the final confrontation.

Overall Experience

Ishar 3: The Seven Gates of Infinity caters to seasoned CRPG enthusiasts seeking a deep, methodical adventure. Its blend of real-time combat, party management, and time-bending puzzles delivers hours of engrossing gameplay. While the interface may feel archaic and some mechanics unforgiving, the sense of accomplishment when unraveling temporal mysteries is unmatched.

Audio plays a supportive role, with a stirring orchestral MIDI score and atmospheric ambient sounds that heighten immersion. Dialogue and item descriptions are text-heavy, demanding patience but rewarding attention to detail. Modern players used to quality-of-life conveniences might need an adjustment period, yet those willing to engage fully will find a richly woven tapestry of lore, challenge, and exploration.

In sum, Ishar 3 stands as a worthy culmination of the series, delivering a textured world and a compelling premise centered on time itself. If you relish classic first-person CRPGs and are ready to master complex systems in pursuit of an epic showdown against a spirit-possessed dragon, this title remains a hidden gem worth discovering.

Retro Replay Score

7/10