Developed by Strategic Simulations, Inc., Pool of Radiance is a ground-breaking AD&D RPG for 8-bit computers. It was first released in June 1988, in America, and later published in Europe by US Gold, and in Japan by Pony Canyon.

It is part of the famous “Gold Box series” series of titles, of TSR-licensed Role-Playing Computer Games, that came in a gold box. Many of these games were innovative for the time. It uses the “Forgotten Realms Vol. 1” campaign as its basis.

Pool of Radiance may not look like much now, but in 1988 it was a serious competitor to the RPG crown, and a much-liked game in its own right. A key factor in its success was that it was floppy disk-based, and if you used a floppy disk drive the loading was seamless.

Pool of Radiance is for one player only and features detailed character creation and party formation (with a maximum of six active members in your party at once).

A (fairly crappy) first-person viewpoint is used as you explore. During combat the game cuts to an isometric overhead view, and the action is turn-based.

It’s a fairly turgid experience – playing Pool of Radiance now. But it does have its surprises, if you’re able to break your way into it.

More: Pool of Radiance on Wikipedia
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