Friday, March 4, 2011

Dominus

Games from 1994 mostly had either early rendered graphics (simple geometric shapes seen as environment) or drawn graphics at their best. One of the latter was Dominus - real time strategy game, which allowed you to become a ruler (probably an usurper) of some fantasy land, invaded by foreign armies of strange creatures (who might also be freedom fighters). You had to eradicate them with your armies, traps or even slaughter them yourself, risking death in battle. Other activities included (magically?) breeding your own kind of soldiers, producing traps, spells and interrogating captured enemy soldiers. I think Dungeon Keeper took many of its ideas from this game.

Dominus was also very difficult, at least to an eight year old. But I have one great memory with it - evil lord (me) stranded in a besieged castle, his troops all wiped out, with no more traps or spells, asking himself: "do I really have to lose?", watching the besiegers breach the castle and take floor after floor, he meets them for one last massacre. This happened several times, once the besiegers were also the last enemy army and when I repelled them on the top floor of the castle, I won.

When I think about Dominus today, first thing that comes to mind is: "I wouldn't name my game that, unless the main character is either roman or wears a lot of leather"



A piece of wisdom for today:

It's lonely at the top, but you eat better.

12 comments:

  1. really nice, thanks for sharing

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  2. I completely missed out on this one

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  3. With regards to video game names, I quite clearly remember myself not being as anal about them as I have become now. You really did play the game for the game's sake, and a cheesy name back then didn't really qualify as cheesy I think.

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  4. @Freek I share the sensation - in the past game name was mostly an identification, now it's a text in a culture. Probably a growing up thing.

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  5. I'd rather eat less if it's with someone else

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  6. Only reason anyone would play this today is for nostalgia

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  7. hahaha,
    agreed with above. game name never used to be improtant. :P

    p.s. i would love your constructional criticism on my blog. :)

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  8. seems like nice game, aah the nostalgia

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  9. I never want to go back to those days

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  10. I miss this game so bad... Hell, I miss all the games you've posted. Thanks for bringing back some fond memories.

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  11. i've never actually played games like this

    looks interesting.

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