LGR - Demon's Forge - Apple II Game Review

Demon's Forge: A Look Back at the Apple II Game by Saber Software

Today we're going to take a look back at a game that was published in 1981 for the Apple II by Saber Software and developed by none other than industry legend Brian Fargo. Fargo would later go on to found Interplay and inXile Entertainment, and worked on famous titles like The Bard's Tale, Wasteland, and Fallout.

The relation between Demon's Forge and Fargo's first published game is only nominal. Instead, we have the Mastertronic release from 1987, which contains the IBM PC booter version on one side, and the Apple II original on the other. This release caused some unwarranted disdain for Demon's Forge, as many people didn't realize it was a 1981 game being rereleased in 1987.

At first glance, Demon's Forge may seem like a game that has nothing to do with using a satanic minion's blacksmithing equipment. However, this couldn't be further from the truth. The game does indeed feature demonic minions and blacksmithing equipment, but these elements are not the main focus of the game.

When playing Demon's Forge, you're dropped straight into the game with no fanfare at all. You find yourself in a random kingdom as a random dude who got in a random bar fight and killed four dudes that randomly happened to be the king's four best guards. Your sentence is to wander this sadistic labyrinth known as the Demon's Forge. And if you make it out alive, you win your freedom and your stuff. If you don't, I guess you're...not coming out of there. That's pretty much a given.

The gameplay of Demon's Forge is straightforward. You'll be using two-word commands in order to navigate and interact with the world. The game has no graphical inventory management, no animation, and no sound to speak of. It's really as simple as typing in two words or less to say what you want to do. You'll be relying mostly on the text descriptions, although the graphics drawn by Michael Cranford certainly help visualize some stuff.

One thing that's worth noting is that Demon's Forge can also be argued to be more immersive than simplistic color graphics. With its detailed descriptions, the game tries to create a sense of atmosphere and immersion. However, this isn't always successful. Sometimes the text descriptions feel a bit too long or convoluted, making it hard to follow what's going on.

Despite its simplicity, Demon's Forge has one major flaw: its complete lack of common sense or believable progression. The game plays like the most absurd, illogical game imaginable. It's as if the developers took every possible rule and threw them out the window in favor of something more... creative. This can be frustrating at times, but it also makes for an interesting look into how far game design has come since 1981.

In conclusion, Demon's Forge is a text adventure game that's worth looking at, even if it doesn't live up to modern standards. With its basic gameplay and lack of graphical sophistication, it may not be the most impressive game on the market. However, its unique blend of absurd logic and simple gameplay makes for an interesting look into the early days of gaming.