Description

"Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Hillsfar" is a role-playing video game developed by Westwood Associates and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc. in 1989, later being ported to the Nintendo Famicom. The game is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, specifically in the region of Hillsfar on the continent of Faerûn. Players can choose from various character classes such as Fighter, Cleric, Thief, or Magic-user, embarking on a series of quests and adventures around the city of Hillsfar and its environs. The gameplay blends several modes, including first-person dungeon exploration, third-person overworld travel, and unique mini-games for specific tasks such as lock picking and horse riding, which break away from traditional role-playing formats.

The game stood out for its time due to its fast-paced mini-games and the use of different gameplay mechanics for each class, enhancing replayability. For instance, Thieves could pick locks and pockets, a mini-game that utilized a timing-based mechanic, while mages needed to solve puzzles to learn new spells. Importantly, "Hillsfar" was notable for its lack of a central, overarching storyline; instead, players engaged in randomly generated quests that contributed to their development and wealth accumulation. This format was relatively unique at the time and provided a different style of gameplay compared to more linear RPGs. "Hillsfar" received mixed reviews because of this unusual structure and varying gameplay quality across its different components, but it remains a notable entry in the history of Dungeons & Dragons video games for its innovative approach to integrating diverse game modes.