Customer Reviews

Scourge of Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

If you enjoyed those 'Choose your own adventure books' when you were a kid, or your kids read those now, and you like fantasy, this dvd is for you.

As far as games go, its very simple. You watch a small cinematic and then choose what you want the group or character to do from a given menu of options. Thats really it. Don't expect more than that.
The graphics are pretty. The characters personalities are sorta campy, but all in all a pretty good effort.

Supposedly there are 990+ combinations of stories. I have not, nor will I ever see them all. However, that isn't such a bad thing as I can come back to this DVD time and time again and the story will probably change every time.

Its a nice thing to have for game night as it provides a short break from what ever games your group normally plays.

If you like to watch movies more than once, and enjoy choose your own adventure, this is a great dvd for you.
If you expect gripping combat and lots of action, this will not do it for you.

Having seen the final version of this DVD at the GAMA trade show (a trade show for game manufacturers and retailers), I must say that I am blown away by the innovative use of DVD technology here.

Basically, what this company has done is made a D&D themed, fully animated (using motion capture for realistic movement - think Gollum in the LotR movies) "Choose your own adventure" style DVD.

You dictate the path of the main adventuring party (comprised of iconic D&D characters) as they try to unravel a mystery behind a group of elves, a cleric, and a key. Choose correctly, and you will save the world. Choose poorly, and you will die.

Common run time start to finish is about 45 minutes, but this can be longer or shorter depending on the path you take. I was told that there are TONS (I believe the number was in the hundreds) of distinct paths you can take from start to finish, and the overall quality of the graphics, voice acting and animation are GREAT!

I plan on getting this as a thing to do during those late night parties. Yelling at the TV and telling the characters what to do will become a staple entertainment again in my house.

Concept:
Although touted as an "Interactive Video," a better name for it would be, "An Endless Quest DVD."
Storyline:
You play a Human Fighter, who, along with his Elf Mage and Halfling Rogue companions, are on a quest to stop a Lawfully Good Cleric who's been duped by a Lawfully Evil Cleric from obtaining an evil weapon of immense power.
Note:
This Endless Quest Adventure requires some background knowledge of AD&D in order for it to be truly enjoyable. Elementals, Beholders, Druids, Stinking Clouds, Magic Missiles, Fireballs, and the like are used throughout the adventure, but none are explained.
Graphics:
The scenery, characters, and special effects are about the same quality as in the AD&D computer game "Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor."
Audio:
The audio quality is excellent, and the dialog has the typical bravado that fantasy games and movies usually have.
Dynamics:
As a movie, the constant breaks for decisions can get annoying.
Each section runs anywhere from 1-9 minutes.
As an Endless Quest Adventure, it follows the genre quite faithfully, and succeeds as such.
Opinion:
As a fan of the old "Endless Quest" novels, I really enjoy this DVD.
(Many of my "Endless Quest" novels have begun falling apart from the constant flipping back and forth through their pages.)
And, as with most "Endless Quest" Adventures, dying is the easiest thing you can do.
I've run through the entire adventure in as little as 20 minutes, and as long as 50 minutes.
The characters run the gammit of the types one expects in the AD&D universe.
The Fighter is boulsterous, the Cleric is Righteous, the Elf Mage is wise, the Halfling Rogue is witty, the Druid is single-minded, etc.
All-in-all, a fun group to adventure with.
Conclusion:
I highly recommend this DVD to fans of the old "Endless Quest" novels.
For other AD&D fans, the adventure may be to short, and probably, even a bit dull.
But for those who are new to AD&D, it will give some basic insights into the AD&D universe, and help one to understand the appeal of the game.
Additional:
There ARE 4 endings, contrary to what other reviewers have said.
(If you skip through the chapters you will never see the 4th ending.)
1st Ending: EASIEST :Everyone Dies, and the Evil Cleric gets the weapon.
2nd Ending: MEDIUM :Good Cleric Dies, and the Evil Cleric doesn't get the weapon.
3rd Ending: HARD :Everyone Dies when the weapon is activated.
4th Ending: VERY HARD :Everyone Lives, and the Evil Cleric doesn't get the weapon.

I am curious as to whether or not any of my fellow reviewers have ever actually played the game? This movie was not made to stand on its own, it was made as a supplement to the D and D universe. The characters of Mialee, Lidda, and Redgar are iconic characters who have been known to D and D gamers for several years. The story is not really meant to tell the background of the characters or how they got together, rather it is designed to tell a part of their story, one of the many of adventures that the group had together. Personally, I liked the movie. Yes there are only 4 endings but, what do you want from them? This is the first D and D choose your own adventure DVD, and in fact the first choose you own adventure DVD I have seen. I have watched the story 6 different times each time garnering new information and have yet to get to the forth ending. If one was so inclined they could go through the movie a dozen times and still probably not see every scene combination available. As for people who buy it and are dissapointed because its a poor game, news flash...its not a game. It is a DVD choose your own adveture story based on a game. I liked being able to watch the movie and recognize Mialee casting a fireball, or the group fighting a earth elemental summoned by a druid. Yes it is a very basic concept of the game but, thats all it was meant to be. A first time shot in the dark to see how people react to such a concept. Anyways I highly reccomend this movie to anyone who plays D and D or similar fantasy RPG's. Just keep it mind this isn't the best fantasy story out there but its is definatly a good start to the choose your own adventure genre.
Calsun

I have been a fan of choose your own adventures since the earliest novels I read as a kid. I still own those books, and I will cherish them always. Though this DVD isn't as memorable as those novels, it is a great way to spend a few hours.

This DVD makes use of your remote to allow you to choose from a number of different story paths. Though the package states there are 900+ combinations, it would be better said that it is about 4 hours worth of viewing. In my eyes, this is a huge amount of time for such a simple, yet interesting story.

Like any first attempt, Scourge could have used more options and a more detailed plot. However, I think the best addition would be to not stop the action while making choices, but to have the characters continue debating or the fights continue while you decide what to do. The pauses are annoying because they detract from the pacing of the movie, but these stops can be overlooked in light of the uniqueness of this DVD.

All in all, Scourge of Worlds is a great first attempt at creating a movie that the viewer can control, but it is a movie that will be watched once then gather dust on a shelf. Due to this, I would highly suggest renting it if possible.

If you're trying to introduce some one to D&D, this is a MUCH better alternative than the live action movie (which doesn't even function properly as firewood).

You need a basic understanding of the characters of medieval fantasy to follow the plot which, at first, appears simple - but you won't understand it until you play through the DVD at least 3-4 times. This makes Scourge of Worlds more like the tabletop experience than expected, because adventures often have hooks and information that players end up missing - never understanding the entire story and motivations of heroes and antagonists.

Scourge of worlds gives you that, with some surprising sense of humor, and over 900 combinations of options. I've had this DVD since its release months and months ago, and saw a new cinematic last night for the first time.

How many DVDs can you say that to?

I have read only one "Endless Quest" book which was about 20 years ago. I read it so much it started falling apart. I have never played the Dungeons & Dragons game and I don't intend to, but I love this DVD. I played it 3 times in a row the first day I received it. I finally came to an ending where they didn't die. I will definitely play it again to try for the other 3 endings. You don't have to know D & D or read "Endless Quest" books to understand and enjoy this Interactive DVD.

Is someone actually expecting high art here? I've read the negative reviews, and have to wonder what these people were expecting. This is a fun way to kill a couple of hours, and the plot is not at all bad when you consider it has to bend and flex to provide multiple story-lines.
My only warning is about the endings...I made the mistake of watching this with my seven year old, and he got pretty attached to old Regdar...when the party is summarily wiped out at the end, he was pretty bummed. You forget it's interactive, so you naturally expect a (somewhat) happy ending; some of the endings are pretty ugly.

After buying this dvd I must say this animated choose your own adventure game is pretty good. The animation is above average a bit better than what you see in some playstation 2 games. The plot is simple and straight foward and the main characters are fairly likable. At one point in the story i was concerned and sometimes shocked at what i saw happen to the main characters. Overall a good purchase. I hope in future installments they would place more choices and maybe interactive puzzles or the like. this dvd is perfect for those who read those choose your own adventure books from the 80s...

It was alot of fun. It was a movie/game where our family could sit together and figure out what to do next. We look forward to watching it again and again. We hope that more of this type of movie/game is released in the near future.

The graphics are wonderful and all of the characters are amazing in their movements.