Forgotten Realms: The Archives – Collection Two is a robust anthology of classic computer RPGs that not only preserves a pivotal era in gaming history but also serves as a testament to the foundational mechanics that shaped the CRPG genre. Bundled in this collection are seven Advanced Dungeons & Dragons-based titles originally released in the late '80s and early '90s, including Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds, Secret of the Silver Blades, Pools of Darkness, Gateway to the Savage Frontier, Treasures of the Savage Frontier, and the scenario editor Unlimited Adventures. These are the famed “Gold Box” games—named for the packaging style used by SSI—that brought the rules and spirit of tabletop D&D to the personal computer with unprecedented fidelity for their time. Each of these games plays out like a digital campaign, complete with character creation, turn-based tactical combat, dungeon crawling, and sprawling quests. What sets them apart even today is their commitme...
Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two
- Release Date:
- Mar 29, 2022
- Developer:
- Strategic Simulations, Stormfront Studios
- Publisher:
- SNEG
- Platforms:
- Windows
Game Tags
About This Game
POOL OF RADIANCE
Located on the northern shore of the Moonsea, the fabled city of Phlan has been overrun by monsters led by a mysterious leader. Your quest: uncover the identity of this evil force and rid Phlan of its scourge, restoring the city to its former glory. Along the way, you hope to find the legendary Pool of Radiance, said to glow with its own mystical power. Does it really give tremendous strength to the warrior who bathes in its magic waters? Or is that just an elfin myth? Before you meet the challenges ahead, you must create your characters and choose their races and battle skills. Then, set off on your glorious quest to drive out the monsters and let civilization reign once more!
CURSE OF THE AZURE BONDS
After you saved the entire city of Phlan and located the Pool of Radiance, a simple trip to Tilverton should have been as easy as a noon-day stroll. But it wasn’t… Ambushed, captured and knocked unconscious, you awake with no idea who attacked you or how you arrived in Tilverton. You only know that five azure-blue symbols are imprinted under the skin of your right arm. The mystical power of the azure symbols ensnares your will like metal bonds! And when the bonds glow, you must do as they command, No magic can dispel them, no prayers can remove them. Your only hope: search the world for members of the alliance who created the bonds and regain control of your own destiny. Only then can you be free of the Curse of the Azure Bonds.
HILLSFAR
Every visit to Hillsfar is a different, exhilarating experience. Explore the city, meet its colorful denizens on the streets or in pubs and discover a quest. Your quest will keep you constantly on the move. Fight in the arena against raging minotaurs, ill-tempered orcs or insulted swordsmen. Enter different buildings and utilize your maze-running and lock-picking skills. Archery and equestrian events may also be part of your overall quest. Think and move fast - these mini-games happen in real-time. For adventure, there is no place like Hillsfar.
SECRET OF THE SILVER BLADES
The frigid valleys of the Dragonspine Mountains echo with the desperate plea of terrified miners: "Heroes of the Forgotten Realms, save us from evil!" Unwittingly digging in unhallowed ground, they have disturbed an ancient vault and released its terrible content. Scores of horrific creatures now infest the mine shaft -- and threaten to escape into the world above! You and your heroes must find the way to contain this scourge. All hope depends upon your ability to unravel the age-old mysteries surrounding this vile infestation.
POOLS OF DARKNESS
The Final Challenge. The Ultimate Enemy. First there was Pool of Radiance. Next came Curse of the Azure Bonds. Then followed Secret of the Silver Blades. Now, the epic has come full circle - Pools of Darkness takes you back to the Moonsea region for the final battle against the ultimate enemy. Prepare yourself for the biggest adventure yet as you are propelled into alternate dimensions on an enormous quest. And, it boasts a fully evolved version of the award-winning game system used throughout the series. Transfer your characters from Secret of the Silver Blades with levels, money and items intact, or create new characters! Either way, you’re in for some high-level action! Battle monsters never before encountered. Cast powerful new spells. Achieve character levels above the 25th level!
GATEWAY TO THE SAVAGE FRONTIER
Enter the foreboding lands of an area never before explored in a computer fantasy RPG: the Savage Frontier! Sail the Trackless Sea; conquer the heights of the Lost Peaks; brave the ruins of Ascore, guardian of the Great Desert; visit magical Silvermoon - and much, much more! Your quest: halt the murderous conspiracy of dark invaders from afar. Your only hope is to uncover the ancient mystical items of power to destroy the malignant invasion! Gateway to the Savage Frontier is based on an enhanced version of the award-winning game system used in Pool of Radiance, Curse of the Azure Bonds and Secret of the Silver Blades. Now you get the freedom to make the story happen the way you want! Plus, an all-new wilderness style adds new exploration and excitement to outdoor adventure! How can you resist? The Savage Frontier awaits!
TREASURES OF THE SAVAGE FRONTIER
The explosive sequel to Gateway to the Savage Frontier is here to put your will and discipline to the test. You mission is truly daunting: save the Savage Frontier from a cataclysmic war, free Llorkh from its evil captors, and regain a powerful magical item lost since ancient times! This big, bold adventure will leave you reeling! The award-winning game system used throughout SSI’s famous gold-box series continues to evolve - new features abound! Movement and combat are now subject to the unpredictable effects of weather. Players can now interact with NPCs - the can even have romances! Plus, in some situations, combat reinforcement can give you extra help just when you need it most. And with the Savage Frontier teetering on the brink of all-out war, you can be sure that this feature will be put to good use! Transfer your characters from Gateway to the Savage Frontier or create new 5th level ones. You’ll find much more to explore - and the freedom to explore it the way you want - as the Heroes of Ascore attempt the impossible yet again!
FORGOTTEN REALMS UNLIMITED ADVENTURES
Have you ever wanted to break the chains and design your own AD&D adventure scenarios? Well, this is your chance to do it in the incredible Forgotten Realms universe. Build maps with the easy-to-use grid screen and link them with teleporters, doorways and stairwells. Choose your characters from the massive bank of 112 monsters and multiple non-player characters. Design the dungeons of your dreams and test them as you go with a point-and-click interface that makes errors gone forever. Test your mettle by playing a pre-created scenario, “The Heirs to Skull Crag” with four separate quests to solve. Should you choose, you can even modify this ready-to-go adventure. With all these tools at your fingertips, the possibilities are endless.
Each Forgotten Realms classic brings its own unique flare and adventure for you to enjoy, ranging from turn-based to real-time combat, a wide variety of locations to explore, various classes and races to recruit to your party, treasure to loot, and quests and secrets to complete and uncover.
- An assorted collection of the “Pool of Radiance” and “Savage Frontier” Forgotten Realms titles
- A wide variety of monsters to slay, quests to complete and regions to save
- Assemble a party of the world’s finest Clerics, Warriors, Thieves and more, and bring them with you through their respective storylines
- Immerse yourself in the depth and richness of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and the Forgotten Realms Universe
Screenshots
User Reviews
Many of these games have little-to-no value in today's market, but I personally found them very amusing to go through and try out.
Each of the games in this collection seem to have their own quirks that make them eventually unplayable. One doesn't actually save, another saves but asks for a disc when loading a saved game (so it hangs until I shut it down), another lost the game I saved. I love the old genre for nostalgic reasons, but these are too frustrating to play with these issues. Maybe use the games as a character-generator for offline D&D.
This is great. I had most of these games as originals. I have based some tabletop games on these too. My favourite is Pool of Radiance.
Almost 35 years after first trying on my Commodore 64 I finally finished Curse of the azure bonds. Will I ever finish remaining two games (secret of silver blades and pools of darkness) before I die? Who knows.
Great Nostalgia game
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows 7 or later
- Processor: 1.8 GHz
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7
- DirectX: Version 7.0
- Storage: 2 GB available space
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10 / 11
- Processor: 1.8 GHz
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 2 GB available space
FAQ
How much does Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two cost?
Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two costs $9.99.
What are the system requirements for Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7 or later Processor: 1.8 GHz Memory: 512 MB RAM Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 DirectX: Version 7.0 Storage: 2 GB available space Recommended: Recommended: OS: Windows 10 / 11 Processor: 1.8 GHz Memory: 512 MB RAM Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9 DirectX: Version 9.0 Storage: 2 GB available space
What platforms is Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two available on?
Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two is available on Windows PC.
Is Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two worth buying?
Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two has 83% positive reviews from 6 players.
When was Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two released?
Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two was released on Mar 29, 2022.
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