The Summoning

The Summoning is a fantasy adventure that throws the player into a world of magic, monsters and rather unhealthy amounts of dungeon exploration. Built around an isometric viewpoint, it mixes exploration, combat, puzzles and spellcasting while encouraging you to poke into every suspicious-looking corner. The story involves a magical threat that needs dealing with, although as usual in fantasy games, this means considerably more work than simply finding the nearest wizard and asking for professional help. Combat is real-time, while the inventory and magic systems give the adventure a more thoughtful edge. The game's atmosphere is helped by detailed environments and plenty of fantasy flavor, even if some of the interface quirks take getting used to. The Summoning is a solid choice for players who enjoy old-school role-playing where wandering off the main path is practically a job requirement.