Line #7 VideoGame/AncientEvil


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/118234_ancientevil.jpg]]
2	''Ancient Evil'' is a game developed and published by Silver Lightning Software and released in 1998 for [[UsefulNotes/IBMPersonalComputer PC]].
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4	A master magician named Alaric constructed a big crypt of 24 levels. Everyone who dares to enter and survives has the opportunity to find gold and valuable items. Naturally, the player character doesn't let this chance pass.
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6	The gameplay mechanics of this ActionRPG are very similar to ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''. The player explores caverns and caves full of swords, sorcerers and spells, hacking and slashing monsters. The base character can specialize in either spell casting or hand-to-hand combat, and attributes improve through fighting and spell casting.
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10	!!This game contains examples of:
11	* AntiGrinding: Each level has a limited number of enemies to kill. Not only that, but you need food to keep your character from starving. Plenty of incentive to avoid hanging about.
12	* ArtificialStupidity: The first combat encounter is against a group of ''eight'' Boogers. While they are unarmed and halfling-sized, their numbers should still allow them to put up a good fight. Instead, they essentially all rush straight into a warrior's sword, without even bothering to flank and surround the player. It ''may'' be justified if they are undead: however, the cultists on the next level are definitely alive, and yet are just as dumb, if not dumber, as they may stumble around two feet away from your character instead of actually attacking.
13	* BlackoutBasement: The rooms are only half-lit by the few braziers present in them. You can carry lit torches to dispel the darkness, but that would require you to forgo a shield.
14	* BreakableWeapons: Played straight for all of the weaponry.
15	* CouldntFindAPen: Early on, you'll find "Beware" scribbled on the wall in blood. It's bright red RustproofBlood as well, of course.
16	* DialogueTree: You actually can talk to some of the enemies a little bit before fighting them. As you descend to the second level, for instance, the Ophilia Sect priest you meet clearly intends to kill you, but you can still ask him about the dungeon, his sect or why he called you fresh meat, although he'll attack after each question regardless.
17	--> ''What can you tell me about the crypt?''
18	--> ''The crypt of the Ancients contains a great ways for a foolish adventurer like yourself to die. The first of which will be...my sword!!''
19	* FauxAffablyEvil: The Ophilia Sect priest on the second level may attack you as soon as he's finished talking, but still begins his speech with "Greetings, friend." Though, if you avoid asking any more questions and just go straight to goodbye, he drops the mockery and goes straight for "Prepare for death, PAGAN SCUM!". Given that he's part of a cannibal sect, he really has no reason to be self-righteous.
20	* HeroesPreferSwords: Warrior class begins with a long sword, as the convention demands.
21	* IAmAHumanitarian: The Ophilia cultists are cannibals, as you'll discover if you read their "Cooking for Ophilia" cookbook. While earlier recipes like meatballs and casserole, which ask for "ground flesh" and "one large arm" may be ambiguous, given the number of humanoid monsters in the crypts, "Roast" recipe, which asks for "one whole [[WouldHurtAChild small human]]", is not. Another room has a Cook, who is busy butchering a body.
22	* MenuTimeLockout: The game pauses whenever you click on a pile of items laying on the ground, and stays paused until you choose the ones to pick up.
23	* NoticeThis: The items you can take change their color to solid white when you put your cursor over them.
24	* RatStomp: Averted. There are rats scittering around on the first floor of the crypt, but they are not aggressive.
25	* RustproofBlood: All of the blood stains on the walls and floor remain bright red, in spite of this supposedly being an ancient crypt.
26	* ShoutOut: As soon as you enter the second level, a cultist declares, "Ah, Alaric has sent us more fresh meat!" That refers to The Butcher from ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'', who said "Fresh meat!"
27	* WizardNeedsFoodBadly: Your character needs to regularly eat food to avoid starving.

Context VideoGame / AncientEvil