Dungeons Of Avalon

Dungeons of Avalon is a first-person dungeon crawler developed by Zeret and Hakan Akbiyik for the Amiga and released in 1991. It was distributed as a coverdisk game with Amiga Fun (Apr/May 1992) and Amiga Mania (no. 4, Jul 1992). What makes this RPG remarkable is that, despite appearing on magazine coverdisks, it delivered genuine depth and quality that rivaled many commercial releases of the era.

The setup is pure fantasy comfort food: you create a party of adventurers, establish your base in a town hub, and venture into sprawling underground labyrinths filled with monsters, traps, and treasure. There's no pretense of revolutionary storytelling here—the plot exists mainly to justify your descent into increasingly dangerous depths. But honestly? That stripped-down approach works beautifully. This is dungeon crawling in its purest form, focused squarely on exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving rather than elaborate narratives.

What elevates Dungeons of Avalon above typical coverdisk fare is the genuine care evident in its dungeon design. The interconnected 3D mazes span multiple large levels, each thoughtfully constructed with puzzles that feel integrated into the environment rather than arbitrarily dropped in. Progression demands observation and experimentation—you can't just hack-and-slash your way through everything. The influence of Eye of the Beholder is obvious, both in the grid-based movement and the deliberate pacing, but this never feels like a cheap clone.

Combat follows familiar RPG conventions without much tactical depth, and the character system is fairly basic—attributes, experience levels, equipment slots, the usual suspects. These aren't showstoppers, though, because the fundamentals are rock solid. The mouse-driven interface is responsive but sometimes not so intuitive. Anyway menus are clear and well-organized, and everything just works in a way that many games from this period simply didn't manage.

The graphics are functional rather than spectacular—dungeons can feel a bit samey after extended play, and sprite work is simple, but the pixel art is better than many commercial games. The soundtrack does its job without demanding attention, providing appropriate atmosphere without becoming memorable. But here's the thing: it all holds together cohesively. The presentation never undermines the experience, and sometimes that's exactly what matters.

Compared to commercial titans like Dungeon Master or Eye of the Beholder, Dungeons of Avalon obviously can't compete on production values. But it absolutely understands what makes grid-based dungeon crawlers compelling. The pacing is patient, rewarding careful exploration over rushing through. Puzzles require thought without becoming frustratingly obscure. The difficulty curve feels fair, challenging without being punishing.

What's genuinely impressive is that this level of quality appeared as a magazine coverdisk. This wasn't some five-minute tech demo or promotional teaser—it was a complete, substantial RPG that could keep you engaged for hours. It represents that era when ambitious projects could emerge from unexpected places, when talented developers could create engaging experiences and share them through the thriving magazine scene.

For modern retro RPG enthusiasts, Dungeons of Avalon offers a compact but satisfying dungeon-crawling experience. It won't consume weeks of your life, but it delivers exactly what it promises: well-designed mazes, genuine puzzles, and that particular satisfaction of mapping unknown territories and gradually growing stronger. It's a lovely example of how clear design goals and solid execution can triumph over limited resources, proving that great dungeon crawlers don't need flashy graphics or epic scope—just good ideas and thoughtful implementation.