Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Menzoberranzan’s gameplay centers on a first-person, party-based experience that faithfully implements the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rule set. You begin with two seasoned adventurers fresh from the frozen wastes of Icewind Dale, and quickly assemble up to four companions, including fan-favorite heroes Drizzt Do’Urden and his loyal panther Guenhwyvar. Character creation, skill checks, and combat maneuvers all adhere closely to the tabletop mechanics, giving long-time AD&D fans a familiar and satisfying framework.

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Combat unfolds in real time: you select attack or spell options from a radial menu, click on enemies, and watch your party execute orders seamlessly. While this hybrid approach sacrifices some of the tactical depth found in turn-based systems, it keeps encounters brisk and engaging. Timing and positioning remain important—casting a well-timed Sleep spell or focusing fire on a high–value target can turn the tide in your favor, especially during the game’s more punishing drow ambushes.

Exploration is equally rewarding. The engine, inherited from Ravenloft: Strahd’s Possession, presents richly detailed corridors, twisting caverns, and the sprawling caverns of the Underdark. Puzzles and secret doors dot the world, encouraging careful mapping and thorough searches. Party management tools let you swap equipment, rest to regain spells, and save often—an essential habit once you reach the shadowy streets of Menzoberranzan itself.

Graphics

Visually, Menzoberranzan builds on the late-’90s PC RPG aesthetic with pre-rendered backgrounds and sprite-based monsters. In outdoor areas and village locales, the textures feel crisp and atmospheric, with subtle lighting effects emphasizing the oppressive gloom of the Underdark. Gargantuan fungi, bioluminescent pools, and draping stalactites make each subterranean area memorable.

Character and creature sprites, while blocky by modern standards, convey plenty of personality. Drow warriors and their spider-spawn lack the fluid animations of later titles, but the game compensates with vivid color palettes and dramatic death poses. Boss fights—particularly high-level drow nobles—feature larger, more detailed sprites that stand out against the darker backdrops.

The user interface is clean and intuitive: a compact HUD displays health bars, active spells, and quick-access icons for inventory and journal entries. Though less flashy than contemporary 3D engines, Menzoberranzan’s visuals strike a fine balance between performance and immersion, ensuring that even on modest hardware the game runs smoothly without sacrificing atmosphere.

Story

The narrative kicks off when a ruthless drow raiding party, hell-bent on capturing Drizzt, attacks the peaceful village where your heroes are recuperating. Several innocents are taken hostage, and you join forces with the local captain of the guard to mount a daring rescue mission. What begins as a straightforward retrieval quickly spirals into a high-stakes trek deep into Menzoberranzan’s labyrinthine alleyways and shadowy courts.

Along the way, the story weaves in details from R.A. Salvatore’s beloved Drizzt novels, introducing political intrigue within the matriarchal houses of the Underdark. Conversations with NPC allies and captives deepen the sense of urgency, as you learn of scheming priestesses and rival noble families vying for power. Side quests—freeing enslaved villagers, securing rare spell components, or unmasking traitors—add layers of motivation beyond the main hostage-rescue plot.

Dialogue is richly written, often branching based on your party’s composition and moral choices. Inviting Drizzt and Guenhwyvar into your ranks unlocks specialty conversations and unique quest paths, rewarding players who invest in gathering lore and forging relationships. The climax, set in the throne hall of House Do’Urden, delivers both plot twists and satisfying closure—though hints of darker designs suggest future threats lurking beneath the city’s mushroom-lit spires.

Overall Experience

Menzoberranzan stands out as a solid entry in the AD&D computer RPG lineage. Its faithful adaptation of tabletop rules, combined with a real-time combat system, creates a brisk yet strategic gameplay loop. The thrill of assembling a customized party and watching it grow in strength and cohesion remains a core appeal.

While the graphics and UI reflect the limitations of its era, they never hinder immersion. From the snow-choked woods of Icewind Dale to the bioluminescent caverns beneath the Underdark, each environment feels meticulously crafted. Sound design—ambient drips, distant chittering, and triumphant battle fanfares—further cements the game’s dark fantasy atmosphere.

For players seeking a challenging dungeon crawl steeped in Drow politics and Drizzt lore, Menzoberranzan delivers in spades. Newcomers to AD&D rules may face a learning curve, but the game’s tutorials and journal entries provide ample guidance. Overall, it’s an engaging adventure that balances classic role-playing depth with enough modern conveniences to remain accessible and compelling today.

Retro Replay Score

7/10