Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Pools of Darkness picks up the classic Gold Box formula and refines it with additional depth and scope. At the outset, you create a party of up to six adventurers, selecting from the familiar AD&D races—dwarves, elves, half-elves, gnomes—and a rich assortment of character classes such as fighters, paladins, monks, and wizards. You assign ability scores for Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom, Dexterity, Constitution, and Charisma, then choose alignments on the Lawful/Chaotic and Good/Evil axes. This creation process gives you the freedom to build any archetype you can imagine, from a sword-wielding champion of justice to a chaotic spellcaster drawing power from the darker planes.

Once your party is assembled, exploration unfolds in two distinct modes: the overworld map and city/dungeon environments. The overworld is presented as a top-down hex grid where you journey between locations—ruined keeps, sinister temples, and ancient arcane pools—while random monster encounters test your preparation and tactics. Cities like Phlan provide safe havens to rest, stock up on potions and scrolls, and pick up rumors or quests from the locals. Dungeons revert to the familiar first-person corridor view, where traps and secret doors lurk around every corner.

Combat remains turn-based and tactical, with each party member acting in initiative order. You move tokens on a gridded battlefield, choose attack, spell, or item actions, and watch dice rolls determine hits, misses, and damage. While the core mechanics mirror earlier Gold Box entries, Pools of Darkness introduces more varied enemy types, stronger boss monsters, and a handful of new spells that keep the encounters fresh. The learning curve is gentle for veterans, but newcomers will appreciate the clear HUD prompts that guide each decision.

Character progression feels rewarding: each victory yields experience points that translate into new levels, higher hit points, and additional spell slots or special abilities. Resource management—tracking torches, arrows, and spell components—adds an extra layer of strategy, especially in lengthy dungeon crawls where a single rest can mean exposing yourself to respawning foes. Overall, the gameplay loop of adventuring, combat, and party management delivers classic RPG satisfaction with just enough modern touches for its era.

Graphics

For a late-80s/early-90s Gold Box title, Pools of Darkness impresses with its detailed tile sets and colorful sprites. The city of Phlan feels lively, despite its modest resolution, thanks to varied building textures and distinct district layouts. Dungeon walls, floors, and decorative elements cleverly reuse a limited palette to create different atmospheres—from damp underground vaults to ominous demonic altars.

Character and monster sprites are instantly recognizable: knights in shining armor, scaly dragons, and skeletal horrors all sport crisp outlines and readable animations. Though each frame is small by modern standards, the designers employ contrast and motion to convey weight—an armored golem trudges across the screen with a satisfying sense of heft. Spell effects, such as fireballs and lightning bolts, are represented by bright, flashing pixels that draw the eye during hectic battles.

The user interface is functional if unflashy: text windows display dialogue, loot lists, and combat messages with clear fonts, and menus let you cycle through spells, equipment, and journal entries with minimal fuss. While there are no high-definition backgrounds or voiceovers, the overall aesthetic has held up surprisingly well, offering a nostalgic charm that appeals to fans of retro RPGs.

Ultimately, Pools of Darkness doesn’t push the envelope graphically, but it maximizes what the Gold Box engine can do. Its consistent art direction and legible visuals ensure you spend your time immersed in the adventure rather than deciphering clunky pixels or confusing layouts.

Story

Ten years have passed since the heroes saved Phlan in Pool of Radiance, and when Pools of Darkness begins, they return to find the city restored to prosperity. This bright façade, however, conceals a growing darkness. After escorting council member Sasha on a diplomatic mission, an unseen malevolence strikes: the evil Lord Bane dispatches four lieutenants to ravage Faerûn and tear open portals to other dimensions.

Your quest is clear: track down each of Bane’s minions, close their infernal gateways, and restore balance to the Realms. The narrative unfolds gradually through NPC dialogue, journal entries, and cryptic clues found in ancient tomes. Townsfolk in Phlan and other settlements share rumors about blighted farmlands and shadowy incursions, painting a sense of urgency that drives you from one location to the next.

Although there are no fully animated cut-scenes, the plot’s pacing remains engaging. Each region you visit—whether the ghost-haunted swamps of the Nether Mountains or the shattered ruins beyond the Sea of Fallen Stars—has its own mini-narrative and unique boss fight. This episodic structure keeps the story momentum strong and ties each dungeon crawl back to the overarching conflict with Bane.

The characters you recruit add flavor through banter and personal motivations, reminding you that these heroes carry scars and secrets from previous adventures. While Pools of Darkness may not feature modern branching dialogue or moral choices, its straightforward epic quest captures the classic Dungeons & Dragons spirit of heroism versus evil.

Overall Experience

Pools of Darkness stands as a worthy finale to the Gold Box series, marrying its beloved mechanics with a grander scope and heightened challenge. For longtime fans of turn-based AD&D adaptations, it delivers familiar pleasures: intricate party customization, methodical combat, and sprawling dungeons packed with traps and treasures. Its pacing is deliberate, rewarding methodical play over mindless button-mashing.

Newcomers to the genre may find the interface and presentation dated compared to contemporary RPGs, but those willing to embrace its old-school charm will discover a rich experience. The learning curve encourages careful planning—stocking up on scrolls, balancing healers and damage dealers, and mapping every corridor by hand. Moments of triumph, such as finally defeating a formidable boss or discovering a hidden cache of magical items, are immensely gratifying.

Replayability is high: you can experiment with different party compositions, difficulty settings, and exploration strategies. The game’s modular structure—visiting distinct regions, each with its own aesthetic and challenges—helps maintain variety over dozens of hours of play. Side quests and secret areas reward thorough exploration and add depth to the core campaign.

Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or diving into a piece of D&D gaming history, Pools of Darkness offers an immersive, satisfying journey. Its blend of strategic gameplay, evocative art, and classic storytelling makes it an essential pick for fans of retro RPGs and anyone seeking a true test of tactical role-playing skill.

Retro Replay Score

7.4/10