Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Temple of Elemental Evil adopts a faithful implementation of the AD&D 3.5 ruleset, delivering a deep turn-based combat experience that will appeal to veteran tabletop fans and strategy enthusiasts alike. From the very first encounter, players must carefully consider positioning, character abilities, and spell usage. The grid-based encounters encourage tactical thinking, whether you’re fending off kobold ambushes in dank caverns or facing off against elemental horrors within the temple’s walls.

Character creation and party management form the backbone of the experience. You begin with five generated or pre-generated heroes and can expand your ranks up to eight, including NPC companions. The level cap of 10th level keeps progression tight, ensuring each new ability and feat choice feels significant. Building a well-rounded party—balancing tanks, healers, spellcasters, and stealthy rogues—is crucial to surviving the temple’s varied threats.

One of the game’s standout mechanics is its party alignment system. Not only do individual characters possess alignments, but the party itself holds a collective moral stance, ranging from Lawful Good to Chaotic Evil. This system influences dialogue options, quest outcomes, and even which party members you can recruit. The constant tension between personal ethics and group cohesion adds depth to decision-making, turning every critical choice into a meaningful role-playing moment.

Graphics

Visually, The Temple of Elemental Evil utilizes an isometric perspective with fully rotatable 3D environments. While the textures and character models may feel dated by modern standards, the art direction captures the gritty, medieval atmosphere of Greyhawk. Moss-covered stone walls, flickering torchlight, and arcane sigils etched into dungeon floors all contribute to an immersive, if somewhat rough-around-the-edges, ambiance.

Spell effects and animations possess a distinct charm, from the crackle of a Magic Missile volley to the swirling maelstrom of a Fireball. Particle details and light sources often help convey the power of magical abilities, even when polygon counts are modest. Friendly reminders of area-of-effect boundaries and line-of-sight indicators keep tactical clarity high, helping you coordinate ambushes or retreats in the heat of battle.

The user interface strikes a balance between faithful AD&D presentation and functional in-game menus. Inventory screens, spellbooks, and character sheets replicate the look of paper rulebooks, complete with parchment textures and iconography. Navigating complex menus can be cumbersome at times, but hotkeys and customizable shortcuts mitigate the bulk, letting you focus on exploration rather than micromanagement.

Story

Set in the storied Greyhawk campaign world, the narrative centers on the resurgence of malevolent forces within the infamous Temple of Elemental Evil. Rumors swirl of twisted cultists summoning elemental lords, and it’s up to your band of adventurers to uncover the truth. From humble beginnings in nearby villages to the terrifying depths of the temple itself, the plot weaves dungeon-crawl thrills with political intrigue.

Quests range from straightforward “clear this crypt” assignments to morally ambiguous tasks that test your party’s alignment. NPCs react dynamically to the party’s collective reputation, offering different dialogue branches and rewards depending on whether you champion the cause of good or embrace darker ambitions. This branching structure ensures that decisions carry weight and that no two playthroughs must unfold the same way.

Side quests enrich the main storyline, introducing memorable personalities—from superstitious farmers begging for protection against marauding gnolls to eccentric wizards seeking rare components for ritual magic. These detours not only flesh out the world but also provide essential loot and experience, making each excursion a welcome break from the temple’s relentless corridors.

Overall Experience

The Temple of Elemental Evil delivers a robust RPG experience that faithfully recreates the depth and complexity of AD&D gameplay. Its slow-paced, methodical combat may not suit those craving instant action, but for players who enjoy carefully planned engagements and character-driven storytelling, it remains deeply satisfying. Every dungeon cleared and villain vanquished feels earned through strategic prowess and thoughtful party building.

Replay value is high thanks to the nine possible party alignments and the freedom to pursue heroic or villainous paths. Experimenting with different alignments and party compositions encourages multiple playthroughs, and the intricate quest web ensures fresh surprises each time. While a few technical quirks and dated visuals occasionally break immersion, they’re overshadowed by the game’s sprawling scope and faithful rule adaptation.

For fans of classic fantasy RPGs and the AD&D system, The Temple of Elemental Evil stands as a must-play title. It marries deep tactical combat, rich narrative choices, and the beloved Greyhawk setting in a package that continues to reward exploration and experimentation. Whether you seek to purge evil from the world or ascend its dark ranks, this adventure offers countless hours of challenging, story-driven gameplay.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10