Editing Pool of Radiance

{{Short description|1988 video game}}
{{about||the series|Pool of Radiance (series)|the novel|Pool of Radiance (novel)}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Pool of Radiance
| image = Pool of Radiance Coverart.png
| alt = A warrior with a sword stands in the foreground, with a fire-breathing dragon in the background.
| caption = Cover art by [[Clyde Caldwell]]
| developer = [[Strategic Simulations]]<br />Marionette {{small|(NES)}}
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Strategic Simulations|EU|[[U.S. Gold]]|JP|[[Pony Canyon]]|NA|[[Fujisankei Communications International|FCI]] (NES)}}
| director = [[Chuck Kroegel]]
| designer = [[George MacDonald (game designer)|George MacDonald]]
| programmer = Keith Brors<br />Brad Myers
| artist = Tom Wahl<br />Fred Butts<br />Darla Marasco<br />Susan Halbleib
| composer = Wally Beben <small>(Amiga)</small><br />David Warhol <small>(C64)</small><br />Seiji Toda <small>(NES/PC-9800)</small><br />Masayuki Kurinaga <small>(PC98)</small>
| series = ''[[Gold Box]]''
| engine = 
| released = '''June 1988:''' C64/128, MS-DOS<br/>'''1989:''' Mac<br/>'''1990:''' Amiga<br/>'''April 1992:''' NES
| genre = [[Role-playing video game]], [[Tactical role-playing game|tactical RPG]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Amiga]], [[Apple II]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Mac (computer)|Mac]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[PC-9800]]
}}

'''''Pool of Radiance''''' is a [[role-playing video game]] developed and published by [[Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations, Inc]] (SSI) in 1988. It was the first adaptation of [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]'s ''[[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''AD&D'') [[fantasy]] [[role-playing game]] for home computers, becoming the first episode in a four-part series of ''D&D'' computer adventure games. The other games in the "[[Gold Box]]" series used the [[game engine]] pioneered in ''Pool of Radiance'', as did later ''D&D'' titles such as the ''[[Neverwinter Nights (1991 video game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'' online game. ''Pool of Radiance'' takes place in the [[Forgotten Realms]] fantasy setting, with the action centered in and around the port city of Phlan.

Just as in traditional ''D&D'' games, the player starts by building a [[Party (role playing games)|party]] of up to six [[Player character|characters]], deciding the race, gender, class, and [[Statistic (role-playing games)|ability scores]] for each. The player's party is enlisted to help the settled part of the city by clearing out the marauding inhabitants that have taken over the surroundings. The characters move on from one area to another, battling bands of enemies as they go and ultimately confronting the powerful leader of the evil forces. During play, the player characters gain [[experience point]]s, which allow them to increase their capabilities. The game primarily uses a first-person perspective, with the screen divided into sections to display pertinent textual information. During combat sequences, the display switches to a top-down "[[Isometric graphics in video games and pixel art#Similar projections|video game isometric]]" view.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 RPGs of All Time |url=http://www.ign.com/top/rpgs/46 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915010613/http://www.ign.com/top/rpgs/46 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |website=IGN |access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref>

Generally well received by the gaming press, ''Pool of Radiance'' won the [[Origins Award]] for "Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1988". Some reviewers criticized the game's similarities to other contemporary games and its slowness in places, but praised the game's graphics and its role-playing adventure and combat aspects. Also well-regarded was the ability to export player characters from ''Pool of Radiance'' to subsequent SSI games in the series.

== Gameplay ==
''Pool of Radiance'' is based on the same game mechanics as the ''[[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' rule set.<ref name="gmmag">{{cite magazine |date=September 1988 |title=''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' |magazine=[[G.M. The Independent Fantasy Roleplaying Magazine]] |publisher=Croftward |pages=18–20 |volume=1 |issue=1}}</ref> As in many role-playing games (RPGs), each [[player character]] in ''Pool of Radiance'' has a character race and a [[character class (Dungeons & Dragons)|character class]], determined at the beginning of the game. Six races are offered, including [[elf (Dungeons & Dragons)|elves]] and [[halfling]]s, as well as four classes ([[fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)|fighter]], [[cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)|cleric]], [[wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)|magic-user]], and [[rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)|thief]]).<ref name="gmmag" /> Non-human characters have the option to become [[Character class (Dungeons & Dragons)#Multi-classing|multi-classed]], which means they gain the capabilities of more than one class,<ref name="C+VG" /> but advance in levels more slowly.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} During character creation, the computer randomly generates statistics for each character, although the player can alter these attributes.<ref name="AA14" /> The player also chooses each character's [[Alignment (Dungeons & Dragons)|alignment]], or moral philosophy; while the player controls each character's actions, alignment can affect how NPCs view their actions.<ref name="C+VG" /> The player can then customize the appearance and colors of each character's combat icon.<ref name="gmmag" /> Alternatively, the player can load a pre-generated [[party (role playing games)|party]] to be used for introductory play.<ref name="TGM" /> These characters are combined into a party of six or less, while leaving two open slots to add NPCs.<ref name="GameSpotAD&D">{{cite web |title=GameSpot's History of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/history_add/p4_02.html |access-date=5 August 2009 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041209001609/http://www.gamespot.com/features/history_add/p4_02.html |archivedate=December 9, 2004}}</ref> Players create their own save-game files, assuring their characters can continue regardless of events in the game. The [[MS-DOS]] version can be copied to the hard drive. Other computer systems, such as the [[Commodore 64]], require a separate disk for saved games.<ref name="Dragon143" />

[[File:Pool of radiance panels.png|left|thumb|300px|The game interface. Clockwise from upper left: conversation with a [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]]; the party in combat; exploring the graveyard; sample character view.]]
The game's exploration mode uses a three-dimensional first-person perspective, with a rectangle in the top left of the screen displaying the party's current view; the remainder of the screen displays text information about the party and the area.<ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web |last=Barton |first=Matt |date=23 February 2007 |title=The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part 2: The Golden Age (1985–1993) |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070223b/barton_04.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227174428/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20070223b/barton_04.shtml <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=27 February 2009 |access-date=26 March 2009 |work=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> During gameplay, the player accesses menus to allow characters to use objects; trade items with other characters; parley with opponents; buy or sell items or pool the characters' money; cast magic [[Magic of Dungeons & Dragons|spells]], and learn new magic skills.<ref name="Zzap" /> Players can view characters' movement from different angles, such as an aerial view.<ref name="Zzap" /> The game uses three different versions of each [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] to indicate differences between short-, medium-, and long-range encounters.<ref name="HighScore" />

In combat mode, the screen switches to a top-down perspective with [[Isometric graphics in video games|dimetric projection]], where the player chooses what actions the characters will take in each round; these actions occur immediately, instead of happening after all commands are issued as is standard in some RPGs.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Optionally, the player can let the computer choose character moves for each round.<ref name="Zzap" /> Characters and monsters may make an extra attack on a retreating enemy that moves next to them.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> If a character's [[hit point]]s (HP) go below zero, another character must bandage the wounded character to prevent their death.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The game contains [[random encounter]]s, and game reviewers for ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' magazine observed that random encounters seem to follow standard patterns of encounter tables in pen and paper ''AD&D'' game manuals. They also observed that the depictions of monsters confronting the party "looked as though they had jumped from the pages of the ''Monster Manual''".<ref name="Dragon143" />

Different combat options are available to characters based on class: fighters can use melee or ranged weapons; magic-users can cast spells; thieves are able to "back-stab" opponents by strategically positioning themselves.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> As fighters progress in level, they can attack more than once in a round, and they also gain the ability to "sweep" enemies, effectively attacking each nearby low-level creature in the same turn.<ref name="GameSpy">{{cite web |author=Battaglia, Scott |title=The GameSpy Hall of Fame |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/por_a.shtm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041211091618/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/halloffame/por_a.shtm |archive-date=11 December 2004 |access-date=5 August 2009 |work=[[GameSpy]]}}</ref> Magic-users and clerics are allowed to memorize and cast a set number of spells each day, and cast spells must be memorized again before reuse; this process requires all characters to rest in a camp for several hours, which also restores lost hit points to damaged characters.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> This chore of memorizing spells each night significantly added to the amount of game management required by the player.<ref name="tresca2010">{{citation |last1=Tresca |first1=Michael J. |title=The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games |page=142 |year=2010 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8H8bzqj6S4sC&pg=PA142 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0786458950}}</ref>

As characters defeat enemies, they gain [[experience point]]s (XP). After gaining enough XP, the characters "train up a level" to become more powerful.<ref name="gmmag" /> This training is purchased in special areas within the city walls.<ref name="C+VG" /> In addition to gaining new spells from training, mages can increase their spells known by transcribing spells from scrolls that they find in unsettled areas.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> Defeated enemies in these areas also contain items such as weapons and armor, which characters can sell to city stores.<ref name="Dragon143" />

== Setting ==
[[File:Pool of radiance area map.png|right|thumb|Once the party reaches the outer confines of Phlan, they can enter the external environment and move about this map. Phlan is located at the outlet of the river near lower center.]]
''Pool of Radiance'' takes place in the [[Forgotten Realms]] fantasy world, in and around the city of Phlan. This is located on the northern shore of the [[Moonsea]] along the Barren River, between [[Zhentil Keep]] and [[Melvaunt]].<ref name="HighScore" /> The party begins in the civilized section of "New Phlan" that is governed by a council. This portion of the city hosts businesses, including shopkeepers that sell holy items for worshippers at each temple, a jewelry shop, and retailers who provide arms and armor. A party can also contract with the clerk of the city council for various commissions; proclamations posted on the walls within City Hall offer pieces of useful information in the form of coded clues which can be deciphered using the included Adventurer's Journal.<ref name="Dragon143" />

Phlan has three temples, each dedicated to different gods. Each temple can heal wounded, poisoned, or afflicted characters, and can restore deceased characters to life for a high price. The party can also visit the hiring hall and hire an experienced NPC adventurer to accompany the party.<ref name="Dragon143" /> Encounters with NPCs in shops and taverns offer valuable information.<ref name="Dillon" /> Listening to gossip in taverns can be helpful to characters, although some tavern tales are false and lead characters into great danger.<ref name="C+VG" />

==Plot==
The ancient trade city of Phlan has fallen into impoverished ruin. Now only a small portion of the city remains inhabited by humans, who are surrounded by evil creatures. To rebuild the city and clean up the Barren River, the city council of New Phlan has decided to recruit adventurers to drive the monsters from the neighboring ruins. Using bards and publications, they spread tales of the riches waiting to be recovered in Phlan, which draws the player's party to these shores by ship.<ref name=nst19890119>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=E |date=January 19, 1989 |title=Enter the pool of radiance |work=The New Straits Times |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZaomAAAAIBAJ&pg=5763,1092940 |access-date=2011-06-24}}</ref><ref name="Dragon133" />

At the start of the game, the adventurers' ship lands in New Phlan, and they receive a brief but informative tour of the civilized area.<ref name="GameSpy"/> They learn that the city is plagued with a history of invasions and wars and has been overtaken by a huge band of humanoids and other creatures. Characters hear rumors that a single controlling element is in charge of these forces.<ref name="Dillon" /> The characters begin a block-by-block quest to rid the ruins of monsters and evil spirits.<ref name="GameSpotAD&D" />

Beyond the ruins of old Phlan, the party enters the slum area—one of two quests available right away to new parties. This quest involves the clearing of the slum block and allows a new party to quickly gain experience. The second quest is to clear out Sokol Keep, located on Thorn Island.<ref name="Dragon143" /> This fortified area is inhabited by the undead, which can only be defeated with silver weapons and magic.<ref name="Dragon143" /> The characters' adventure is later expanded to encompass the outlying areas of the Moonsea region.<ref name="GameSpotAD&D" /> Eventually, the player learns that an evil spirit named Tyranthraxus, who has possessed an ancient dragon, is at the root of Phlan's problems.<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The characters fight Tyranthraxus the Flamed One in a climactic final battle.<ref name="GameSpotAD&D" />

== Development ==
''Pool of Radiance'' was the first official game based on the ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' rules.<ref name="gmmag" /> The scenario was created by [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] designers [[Jim Ward (game designer)|Jim Ward]], [[David Cook (game designer)|David Cook]], [[Steve Winter]], and [[Mike Breault]], and coded by programmers from [[Strategic Simulations, Inc]]'s Special Projects team.<ref name="Dragon149">{{cite magazine |title=The Envelope, Please! |magazine=Dragon |issue=149 |date=September 1989 |pages=20–21}}</ref> The section of the ''Forgotten Realms'' world in which ''Pool of Radiance'' takes place was intended to be reserved for development solely by SSI.<ref name="Dragon133" /> The game was created on [[Apple II]] and Commodore 64 computers, taking one year with a team of thirty-five people.<ref name="gmmag" /> This game was the first to use the [[game engine]] later used in other SSI D&D games known as the "[[Gold Box]]" series.<ref name="HighScore">{{cite book |last=DeMaria |first=Rusel |author2=Johnny L. Wilson |title=[[High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games]] |publisher=McGraw-Hill Osborne Media |year=2003 |page=161 |chapter=The Wizardry of Sir-Tech |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJNvZLvpCEQC&pg=PA161 |access-date=14 July 2009 |isbn=0-07-222428-2}}</ref><ref name="Allgame">{{cite web |last=Deci |first=T.J. |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11666 |title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Pool of Radiance |website=[[Allgame]] |access-date=15 July 2009 |archive-date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114170557/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11666 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Levi |last=Buchanan |date=March 6, 2008 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Classic Videogame Retrospective |website=IGN |url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/857/857143p1.html |access-date=2009-10-08}}</ref> The SSI team developing the game was led by [[Chuck Kroegel]].<ref name="C+VG" /> Kroegel stated that the main challenge with the development was interpreting the ''AD&D'' rules to an exact format. Developers also worked to balance the graphics with gameplay to provide a faithful ''AD&D'' feel, given the restrictions of a home computer. In addition to the core [[Dungeons & Dragons rulebooks|''AD&D'' manuals]], the books ''[[Unearthed Arcana]]'' and ''[[Monster Manual II]]'' were also used during development.<ref name="gmmag" /> The images of monsters were adapted directly from the ''Monster Manual'' book.<ref name=cover2010>{{cite book |first=Jennifer Grouling |last=Cover |year=2010 |title=The Creation of Narrative in Tabletop Role-Playing Games |page=40 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-4451-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xl7P7GwME3gC&pg=PA40}}</ref> The game was originally programmed by Keith Brors and Brad Myers, and it was developed by [[George MacDonald (game designer)|George MacDonald]].<ref name="MobyGames">{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/pool-of-radiance |title=Pool of Radiance |work=[[MobyGames]] |access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> The game's graphic arts were by Tom Wahl, Fred Butts, Darla Marasco, and Susan Halbleib.<ref name="MobyGames" />

''Pool of Radiance'' was released in June 1988;<ref name="Dragon133">{{cite magazine |title=The Game Wizards |author=Ward, James M. |magazine=Dragon |issue=133 |date=May 1988 |page=42 |url=https://archive.org/details/dragon-magazine-270/Dragon%20Magazine%20133/page/42/mode/2up | access-date=19 June 2024|author-link=Jim Ward (game designer)}}</ref> it was initially available on the Commodore 64, Apple II, and [[IBM PC compatible]]s.<ref name="Allgame" /> A version for the [[Atari ST]] was also announced.<ref name="TGM" />  The [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] version was released in 1989.<ref name="Allgame" /> The Macintosh version featured a slightly different interface and was intended to work on black-and-white Macs like the [[Mac Plus]] and the [[Macintosh Classic|Mac Classic]]. The screen was tiled into separate windows including the game screen, text console, and compass. Graphics were monochrome and the display window was relatively small compared to other versions. The Macintosh version featured sound, but no music. The game's [[Amiga]] version was released two years later.<ref name="AA14" /> The PC 9800 version {{lang|ja|『'''プール・オブ・レイディアンス'''』}} in Japan was fully translated (like the Japanese Famicom version) and featured full-color graphics. The game was ported to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] under the title ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Pool of Radiance'', released in April 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/advanceddungeonsdpor/index.html |title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Pool of Radiance |work=gamespot UK |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013094240/http://uk.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/advanceddungeonsdpor/index.html |archive-date=2008-10-13}}</ref> The NES version was the only version of the game to feature a complete soundtrack, which was composed by Seiji Toda, as he was signed to the publisher, Pony Canyon's record label at the time.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The same soundtrack can be found on the PC-9801 version.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} The Amiga version also features some extra music, while most other ports contain only one song that plays at the title screen.{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

The original ''Pool of Radiance'' game shipped with a 28-page introductory booklet, which describes secrets about the game and its concepts. The booklet guides players through the character creation process, explaining how to create a party of adventurers. The game also included the 38-page ''Adventurer's Journal'', which provides the game's background and features depictions of fliers, maps, and information that characters see in the game.<ref name="C+VG" />

The DOS, Macintosh and Apple II versions of ''Pool of Radiance'' include a 2-ply [[code wheel]] for translating Espruar (the [[Elvish languages|elvish]] language) and Dethek (the [[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)|dwarven]] language) runes into English.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pool of Radiance - Translation Wheel |url=https://www.oldgames.sk/codewheel/pool-of-radiance |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=www.oldgames.sk |language=en}}</ref> Some Dethek runes have multiple different translations.<ref name="C+VG" /><ref name="PoRDOS">''Pool of Radiance'' (1988). DOS. Strategic Simulations, Inc. Strategic Simulations, Inc.</ref><ref name="dosmanual">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/manual_Pool_of_Radiance/page/n2 |title=Pool of Radiance DOS Manual |date=1988 |publisher=Strategic Simulations}}</ref><ref name="macmanual">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/pool_of_radiance/page/n1 |title=Pool of Radiance Macintosh Manual |date=1989 |publisher=Strategic Simulations}}</ref> After the title screen, a copy protection screen is displayed consisting of two runes and a line of varying appearance (a dotted line, a dashed line, or a line with alternating dots and dashes) which correspond to markings on the code wheel.<ref name="PoRDOS" /> The player is prompted to enter a five or six character code which corresponds to a five or six character word. In the case of a five character word, there is a number at the beginning of the word which is not entered.<ref name="dosmanual" /><ref name="macmanual" /> Under the lines on the wheel are slots which reveal English letters, the coded English word being determined by lining up the runes, matching the correct line appearance, and then entering the word revealed on the code wheel.<ref name="dosmanual" /><ref name="macmanual" /> If the player enters an incorrect code three times, the game closes itself.<ref name="PoRDOS" /> In the DOS version of ''Pool of Radiance'', the code wheel is also used for some in-game puzzles. For example, in Sokol Keep the player discovers some parchment with elvish runes on it that require use of the code wheel to decipher; this is optional however, but may be used to avoid some combat with undead if the decoded words are said to them.<ref name="PoRDOS" /> In the NES version, the elvish words are given to the player deciphered without the use of the code wheel, as the NES release did not include a code wheel.

=== Re-release ===
[[GOG.com]] released ''Pool of Radiance'' and many Gold Box series games [[Digital Distribution|digitally]] on August 20, 2015, as a part of ''Forgotten Realms: The Archives-Collection Two''.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Jordan Erica Webber |author-link=Jordan Erica Webber |date=Aug 20, 2015 |title=Forgotten Realms: The Archives brings 13 D&D classics to GOG |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/forgotten-realms-the-archives-brings-13-dd-classics-to-gog/ |magazine=PC Gamer}}</ref> [[Steam (service)|Steam]] released ''Pool of Radiance'' in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pool of Radiance on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1882370/Pool_of_Radiance/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| Dragon = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="Dragon143" /><br/>(DOS)
| rev1 = ''[[Amiga Action]]''
| rev1Score = 79%<ref name="AA14" /> (Amiga)
| rev2 = ''[[Commodore User]]''
| rev2Score = 9/10<ref name="Dillon" /> (C64)
| rev3 = ''[[The Games Machine]]''
| rev3Score = 89%<ref name="TGM" /> (C64)
| rev4 = ''[[Zzap!64]]''
| rev4Score = 80%<ref name="Zzap" /> (C64)
<!-- Awards -->
| award1Pub = [[Origins Award]]
| award1 = ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1988''<ref name=origins />
}}

SSI sold 264,536 copies of ''Pool of Radiance'' for computers in North America, three times that of ''[[Heroes of the Lance]]'', an AD&D-licensed action game SSI also released that year. It became by far the company's most successful game up to that time; even its [[hint book]] outsold any earlier SSI game.<ref name="maher20160318">{{cite web |url=http://www.filfre.net/2016/03/opening-the-gold-box-part-3-from-tabletop-to-desktop/ |title=Opening the Gold Box, Part 3: From Tabletop to Desktop |work=The Digital Antiquarian |date=2016-03-18 |access-date=19 March 2016 |author=Maher, Jimmy}}</ref> It spawned a series of games, which combined to sell above 800,000 copies worldwide by 1996.<ref name=800k>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961119114425/http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider%2Fcorporate%2Fcorporate.html |website=SSI Online |url=http://www.ssionline.com/cgi-bin/omixlink?709815180+insider/corporate/corporate.html |title=SSI Corporate Background |publisher=[[Strategic Simulations, Inc.]] |archive-date=November 19, 1996 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 18, 2021}}</ref>

In ''[[Computer Gaming World]]''{{'}}s preview of ''Pool of Radiance'' in July 1988, the writer noted a "sense of ''deja vu''" in the similarity of the game's screen to previous computer RPGs. For example, the three-dimensional view like a maze in the upper-left window was similar to ''[[Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum|Might & Magic]]'' or ''[[The Bard's Tale (1985 video game)|Bard's Tale]]'', both released in the mid-1980s. The window that included a listing of characters was featured in 1988's ''[[Wasteland (video game)|Wasteland]]''; and the usage of one active character as a representation of the entire party was part of ''Ultima V''. The reviewer also noted that the design approach for game play was "closer to SSI's own ''[[Wizard's Crown]]'' adventures than to the other games in the genre".<ref name="CGW49">{{cite magazine |title=Reflections on a "Pool of Radiance" |author=Wilson, Johnny L. |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=49 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1988&pub=2&id=49 |date=July 1988 |pages=20–21}}</ref>

''Pool of Radiance'' received positive reviews. ''[[G.M. The Independent Fantasy Roleplaying Magazine|G.M.]]'' called the game's graphics "good" and praised its role-playing and combat aspects. They felt that "roleplayers will find ''Pools'' is an essential purchase, but people who are solely computer games oriented may hesitate before buying it [...] it will be their loss".<ref name="gmmag" /> Tony Dillon from ''[[Commodore User]]'' gave it a score of 9 out of 10; the only complaint was a slightly slow disk access, but the reviewer was impressed with the game's features, awarding it a ''Commodore User'' superstar and proclaiming it "the best RPG ever to grace the C64, or indeed any other computer".<ref name="Dillon">{{cite magazine |last=Dillon |first=Tony |date=October 1988 |title=Pool of Radiance |magazine=Commodore User |url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_805_pages |pages=34–35}}</ref> Issue #84 of the British magazine ''[[Computer and Video Games|Computer + Video Games]]'' rated the game highly, saying that "''Pools'' is a game which no role player or adventurer should be without and people new to role playing should seriously consider buying as an introductory guide".<ref name="C+VG">{{cite magazine |title=Reviews |author=Wayne |magazine=[[Computer and Video Games|Computer + Video Games]] |issue=84 |url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_1638_page |date=October 1988 |pages=18–19, 21 |isbn=0-8247-8502-9}}</ref> Another UK publication, ''[[The Games Machine]]'', gave the game an 89% rating. The reviewer noted that the third-person arcade style combat view is a "great improvement" for SSI, as they would "traditionally incorporate simplistic graphics in their role-playing games". The reviewer was critical that ''Pool of Radiance'' was "not original in its presentation" and that the colors were "a little drab", but concluded that the game is "classic ''Dungeons & Dragons'' which SSI have recreated excellently".<ref name="TGM">{{cite magazine |title=Pool Your Resources |magazine=[[The Games Machine]] |issue=12 |date=November 1988 |url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_825_pages |page=69}}</ref> A review from ''[[Zzap!64|Zzap]]'' was less positive, giving the game a score of 80%. The reviewer felt that the game required too much "hacking, slicing and chopping" without enough emphasis on puzzle solving. The game was awarded 49% for its puzzle factor.<ref name="Zzap">{{cite magazine |title=Pool of Radiance |url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=044&page=127&thumbstart=0&magazine=zzap&check=1 |magazine=[[Zzap!64|Zzap]] |issue=44 |date=December 1988 |page=127 |access-date=21 February 2008}}</ref>

Jim Trunzo reviewed ''Pool of Radiance'' in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #16 (June/July, 1989), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "Overall, ''Pool of Radiance'' must be termed a success. It is beautiful to look at, true to its ''AD&D'' roots, boasts features like automapping and excellent documentation, and has a strong theme to motivate gamers."<ref name="WW16">{{Cite magazine |last=Trunzo|first=Jim |date=June–July 1989 |title= The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=16 |pages= 49–50 |url=https://imgur.com/a/uSZjAam}}</ref>

Three reviewers for ''Computer Gaming World'' had conflicting reactions. [[Ken St. Andre]]—designer of the ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]'' RPG—approved of the game despite his dislike of the ''D&D'' system, praising the art, the mixture of combat and puzzles, and surprises. He concluded as "take it from a 'rival' designer, ''Pool of Radiance'' has my recommendation for every computer fantasy role-playing gamer". Tracie Forman Hicks, however, opined that over-faithful use of the ''D&D'' system left it behind others like ''[[Ultima series|Ultima]]'' and ''[[Wizardry (video game series)|Wizardry]]''. She also disliked the game's puzzles and lengthy combat sequences.<ref name="cgw198812">{{cite magazine |title=Mirror Images in a "Pool of Radiance" |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1988&pub=2&id=54 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=December 1988 |access-date=3 November 2013 |author1=St. Andre, Ken |author2=Hines, Tracie Forman |pages=28}}</ref> [[Scorpia (journalist)|Scorpia]] also disliked the amount of fighting in a game she otherwise described as a "well-designed slicer/dicer", concluding that "patience (possibly of [[Job (biblical figure)|Job]]) [is] required to get through this one".<ref name="scorpia199110">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1991&pub=2&id=87 |title=C*R*P*G*S / Computer Role-Playing Game Survey |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=October 1991 |access-date=18 November 2013 |author=Scorpia |pages=16}}</ref><ref name="scorpia199310">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=111 |title=Scorpia's Magic Scroll Of Games |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=October 1993 |access-date=25 March 2016 |author=Scorpia |pages=34–50}}</ref> Shay Addams from ''[[Compute!]]'' stated that experienced role-playing gamers "won't find anything new here", but recommended it to those who "love dungeons, dragons, and drama".<ref name="addams198902">{{cite news |url=https://archive.org/stream/1989-02-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_105_1989_Feb#page/n65/mode/2up |title=Pool of Radiance |work=Compute! |date=February 1989 |access-date=10 November 2013 |author=Addams, Shay |pages=62}}</ref> In their March 1989 "The Role of Computers" column in ''Dragon'' magazine #143, Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser gave ''Pool of Radiance'' a three-page review. They praised it as "the first offering that truly follows ''AD&D'' game rules" and advised readers to "rush out to your local dealer and buy ''Pool Of Radiance''", considering it SSI's flagship product and speculating that it would "undoubtedly bring thousands of computer enthusiasts into the adventure-filled worlds of TSR". The Lessers stated that the Commodore version would be nearly unplayable without the built-in SSI [[fast loader]]; conversely, they found that the DOS version was so fast—twice the speed of the Commodore version when using [[EGA graphics—that the Lessers had to slow the computer to read all the on-screen messages.<ref name="Dragon143" />

Alex Simmons, Doug Johns, and Andy Mitchell reviewed the Amiga version of ''Pool of Radiance'' for ''Amiga Action'' magazine in 1990, giving it a 79% overall rating. Mitchell preferred the game ''[[Champions of Krynn]]'', which had been released by the time the Amiga version of ''Pool of Radiance'' became available; he felt that ''Pool of Radiance'' was "more of the same" when compared to ''Champions'', but was less playable and with more limited actions for players. Simmons felt that ''Pool of Radiance'' looked primitive and seemed less polished when compared with ''Champions of Krynn''; he felt that although ''Pool'' was not up to the standard of ''Champions'', he said it was still "a fine little game". Johns, on the other hand, felt that ''Pool of Radiance'' was well worth the wait, considering it very user-friendly despite being less polished than ''Champions of Krynn''.<ref name="AA14">{{cite magazine |title=US Gold/SSI - Pool of Radiance |author=Simmons, Alex |author2=Johns, Doug |author3=Mitchell, Andy |url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_87_pages |magazine=[[Amiga Action]] |issue=14 |date=November 1990 |pages=72–73}}</ref>

[[Lisa Stevens]] reviewed the Macintosh version of ''Pool of Radiance'' in ''[[White Wolf (magazine)|White Wolf]]'' #26 (April/May, 1991), rating it a 5 out of 5 and stated that "I can't recommend ''Pool of Radiance'' highly enough to Macintosh users, and especially players who are familiar with the ''AD&D'' game system. SSI has thrown down the gauntlet for the other computer game companies who are catering to the growing Macintosh market. I hope the other companies take up the challenge and produce games of this caliber."<ref name="WW26">{{Cite magazine |last=Stevens|first=Lisa |authorlink=Lisa Stevens |date=April–May 1991 |title=The Silicon Dungeon |magazine= [[White Wolf Magazine]] |number=26 |page=62 |url=https://imgur.com/a/H6RzTK5}}</ref>

''Pool of Radiance'' was well received by the gaming press and won the [[Origins Award]] for ''Best Fantasy or Science Fiction Computer Game of 1988''.<ref name=origins>{{cite web |url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1988 |title=1988 List of Winners |work=Academy of Adventure Gaming, Arts & Design |publisher=Origins Games Fair |access-date=3 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507063608/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/1988 |archive-date=May 7, 2008}}</ref> For the second annual "Beastie Awards" in 1989, ''Dragon''{{'}}s readers voted ''Pool of Radiance'' the best fantasy role-playing game, with ''Ultima V'' as the runner-up for the year. The Apple II version was the most popular format, with the PC DOS/MS-DOS version a close second, and the Commodore 64/128 version got the fewest votes. The primary factor given for votes was its faithfulness to the ''AD&D'' system as well as the game's graphics and easy-to-use [[user interface]] for commands.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Beastie Knows Best |first1=Hartley |last1=Lesser |first2=Patricia |last2=Lesser |first3=Kirk |last3=Lesser |name-list-style=amp |magazine=Dragon |issue=151 |date=November 1989 |page=36}}</ref> ''Pool of Radiance'' was also selected for the [[RPGA]]-sponsored Gamers' Choice Awards for the Best Computer Game of 1989.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Gamers Have Chosen! |magazine=Dragon |issue=151 |date=November 1989 |page=85}}</ref> In 1990 the game received the fifth-highest number of votes in a survey of ''Computer Gaming World'' readers' "All-Time Favorites".<ref name="cgw199001">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=67 |title=CGW Readers Select All-Time Favorites |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=January 1990 |access-date=15 November 2013 |pages=64}}</ref>

Allen Rausch, writing for [[GameSpy]]'s 2004 retrospective "A History of D&D Video Games", concluded that although the game "certainly had its flaws (horrendous load times, interface weirdness, and a low-level cap among others), it was a huge, expansive adventure that laid a good foundation for every Gold Box game that followed".<ref name="rausch04">{{cite web |first=Allen |last=Rausch |date=August 15, 2004 |title=A History of D&D Video Games |work=GameSpy |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/538/538865p2.html |access-date=2009-12-23}}</ref> In 1994, ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' named ''Pool of Radiance'' the 43rd best computer game ever.<ref name=pcgamerustop40>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[PC Gamer US]] |title=Top 40: The Best Games of All Time; The Ten Best Games that Almost Made the Top 40 |date=August 1994 |issue=3 |pages=42}}</ref>

IGN ranked ''Pool of Radiance'' No. 3 on their list of "The Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons Games of All Time" in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/05/the-top-11-dungeons-dragons-games-of-all-time |title=The Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons Games of All-Time |date=February 5, 2014 |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=May 20, 2018}}</ref>  In March 2008, [[Dvice.com]] listed ''Pool of Radiance'' among its 13 best electronic versions of ''Dungeons & Dragons''. The contributor felt that "the Pool of Radiance series set the stage for ''Dungeons & Dragons'' to make a major splash in the video game world".<ref>{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Kevin |date=18 March 2008 |title=The 13 best electronic versions of Dungeons & Dragons |url=http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/10_great_forays.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806221802/http://dvice.com/archives/2008/03/10_great_forays.php |archive-date=6 August 2012 |access-date=14 July 2009 |work=[[Dvice.com]]}}</ref> Ian Williams of ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]'' rated the game #5 on his list of "The 10 Greatest Dungeons and Dragons Videogames" in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/04/the-10-greatest-dungeons-and-dragons-videogames.html |title=The 10 Greatest Dungeons and Dragons Videogames |date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=May 20, 2018 |website=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref>

== Sequels and related works ==
In November 1989, a [[novelization]] of the game, also called ''[[Pool of Radiance (novel)|Pool of Radiance]]'', was published by James Ward and Jane Cooper Hong, published by TSR. It is set in the Forgotten Realms setting based on the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' fantasy role-playing game. ''Dragon'' described the novel's plot: "Five companions find themselves in the unenviable position of defending the soon-to-be ghost town against a rival possessing incredible power".<ref name="Dragon141">{{cite magazine |last=Kirchoff |first=Mary |author-link=Mary Kirchoff |date=January 1989 |title=The Game Wizards |magazine=Dragon |page=69 |issue=141}}</ref> The book was the first in a trilogy, followed by ''[[Pools of Darkness (novel)|Pools of Darkness]]'' and ''[[Pool of Twilight]]''.

''Pool of Radiance'' was the first in a four-part series of computer ''D&D'' adventures set in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. The others were released by SSI one year apart: ''[[Curse of the Azure Bonds]]'' (1989), ''[[Secret of the Silver Blades]]'' (1990), and ''[[Pools of Darkness]]'' (1991).<ref name="Gamasutra" /> The 1989 game ''[[Hillsfar]]'' was also created by SSI but was not a sequel to ''Pool of Radiance''. ''Hillsfar'' is described instead, by the reviewers from ''Dragon'', as "a value-added adventure for those who would like to take a side trip while awaiting the sequel".<ref name="Dragon147">{{cite magazine |author1=Hartley, Patricia |author2=Kirk Lesser |name-list-style=amp |date=July 1989 |title=The Role of Computers |magazine=Dragon |pages=78–79 |issue=147}}</ref> A player can import characters from ''Pool of Radiance'' into ''Hillsfar'', although the characters are "reduced to their basic levels" and do not retain any weapons or [[Magic item (Dungeons & Dragons)|magic items]]. Original ''Hillsfar'' characters cannot be exported to ''Pool of Radiance'', but they can be exported to ''Curse of the Azure Bonds''.<ref name="Dragon147" /> A review for ''Curse of the Azure Bonds'' in ''Computer Gaming World'' noted that "you can transfer your characters from ''Pool of Radiance'' and it's a good idea to do so. It will give you a headstart in the game".<ref name="CGW63">{{cite magazine |author=Scorpia |date=September 1989 |title=Curse of The Azure Bonds |url=http://cgw.vintagegaming.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=63 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723104541/http://cgw.vintagegaming.org/galleries/index.php?year=1989&pub=2&id=63 |archive-date=2011-07-23 |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |pages=8–9, 46 |issue=63}}</ref>

[[GameSpot]] declared that ''Pool of Radiance'', thanks to its detailed art, variety of quests and available treasure, and tactical combat system, and despite the limitations of only four allowed character classes and the low maximum character level, "ultimately succeeded in its goal of bringing a standardized form of AD&D to the home computer, and laid the foundation for other future gold box AD&D role-playing games".<ref name="GameSpotAD&D" /> Scott Battaglia of [[GameSpy]] said ''Pool of Radiance'' is "what many gamers consider to be the epitome of ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' RPGs. These games were so great that people today are using MoSlo in droves to slow down their [[Pentium III]]-1000 MHz enough to play these gems".<ref name="GameSpy" />

The 1988 ''Dungeons & Dragons'' role-playing game [[Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)|module]] ''[[Ruins of Adventure]]'' was produced using the same adventure scenario as ''Pool of Radiance'', including its plot, background, and setting, as well as many of its characters, thus providing clues on how to complete missions in ''Pool of Radiance''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=James |author-link1=Jim Ward (game designer) |title=[[Ruins of Adventure]] |last2=Cook |first2=David "Zeb" |author-link2=David Cook (game designer) |last3=Winter |first3=Steve |author-link3=Steve Winter |last4=Breault |first4=Mike |author-link4=Michael Breault |publisher=[[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] |year=1988 |isbn=0-88038-588-X |page=2}}</ref> ''Ruins of Adventure'' contains four linked mini-scenarios, which form the core of ''Pool of Radiance''.<ref name="HW">{{cite book |last=Schick |first=Lawrence |title=Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games |publisher=Prometheus Books |year=1991 |isbn=0-87975-653-5 |page=113}}</ref> According to the editors of ''Dragon'' magazine, ''Pool of Radiance'' was based on ''Ruins of Adventure'', rather than the module being based on the computer game,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=July 1990 |title=The Role of Computers |magazine=Dragon |page=53 |issue=159}}</ref> but Mike Breault stated in a 2021 interview that TSR chose him, Winter, Cook, and Ward to work on the design and writing for ''Pool of Radiance'', indicating that the material was originally created for the game.<ref name="mbreault20230808">{{cite web |author=Breault |first=Michael |date=2021-05-13 |title=Making Pool of Radiance |url=http://alpheus.wpi.edu/imgd/oral-history/interviews/mbreault.html |access-date=2023-08-08 |work=Oral History of Video Games}}</ref>

''[[The Forgotten Realms Atlas]]'' (1990) has many maps covering the Forgotten Realms, including regions in ''Pool of Radiance''. It is out of print and is prized by collectors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kevin |first=Brian |date=2025-01-13 |title=Overlooked No More: Karen Wynn Fonstad, Who Mapped Tolkien’s Middle-earth |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/13/obituaries/karen-wynn-fonstad-overlooked.html |access-date=2025-01-14 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor]]''

==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="Dragon143">{{cite magazine |title=The Role of Computers |last1=Lesser |last2=Lesser |last3=Lesser |first1=Hartley |first2=Patricia |first3=Kirk |magazine=Dragon |issue=143 |date=March 1989 |pages=76–78}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{moby game|id=/pool-of-radiance}}
* {{Internet Archive game|msdos_Pool_of_Radiance_1988}}
* [http://www.weekendwastemonster.net/crpgs/pool/dragonbait/PoR.html Dragonbait's ''Pool of Radiance'' page], screenshots, info and pics of the original ''Pool of Radiance'' (1988)
* [http://www.gamebanshee.com/poolofradiance/ ''Pool of Radiance'' at Game Banshee] - contains a walkthrough and many in-depth specifics about the game.
* [http://www.c64sets.com/pool_radiance.html Images of ''Pool of Radiance'' package, manual and screen] for Commodore 64 version
* [https://www.oldgames.sk/codewheel/pool-of-radiance ''Pool of Radiance'' Interactive Code Wheel] at oldgames.sk
* [https://archive.org/details/1989-01-computegazette/page/n31/mode/2up Review] in ''[[Compute!'s Gazette]]''
* [https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-23/page/n67/mode/2up Review] in ''[[.info (magazine)|Info]]''

{{Portal bar|1980s|Dungeons & Dragons|Speculative fiction|Video games}}
{{Gold Box games}}
{{Dungeons & Dragons video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pool Of Radiance}}
[[Category:1988 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Apple II games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Forgotten Realms video games]]
[[Category:Fujisankei Communications International games]]
[[Category:Gold Box]]
[[Category:NEC PC-9801 games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Sharp X1 games]]
[[Category:Strategic Simulations games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Ubisoft games]]
[[Category:U.S. Gold games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games with gender-selectable protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games with oblique graphics]]