View source for Software:Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager

{{Infobox video game
|title = Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
|image = Dark Sun - Wake of the Ravager Coverart.png
|caption = Cover art by Gerald Brom
|developer = [[Company:Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations]]
|publisher = Strategic Simulations<br>[[Company:Mindscape|Mindscape]]
|producer = Nicholas Beliaeff<br>Daniel Cermak
|designer = SSI Special Projects Team
|programmer = Robert W. Calfee
|engine = 
|series = ''Dark Sun''
|released = 1994
|genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
|modes = Single-player
|platforms = [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]]
}}

'''''Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager''''' is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] developed and published by [[Company:Strategic Simulations|Strategic Simulations]] in 1994 for the [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]] operating system. It is the sequel to ''[[Software:Dark Sun: Shattered Lands|Dark Sun]]''.

==Plot==
''Wake of the Ravager'' takes place in the ''Dungeons & Dragons''' campaign setting of Dark Sun, set on a harsh desert world named Athas. The story is a continuation of the events in its predecessor, ''[[Software:Dark Sun: Shattered Lands|Dark Sun]]'', and takes place in or around the city-state of Tyr. The introductory cut scene introduces the mysterious Dragon and his general, the Lord Warrior, who are planning the conquest of Tyr. Upon starting the game, the player witnesses an assassination of a woman who turns out to be a member of a secret society known as the Veiled Alliance. The player eventually becomes involved with the Veiled Alliance and their struggles against the Dragon and the Lord Warrior.

==Gameplay==
''Wake of the Ravager'' shares the same engine and gameplay as its predecessor, but with slightly different graphics (most obviously, the use of larger character [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]]). The engine uses a top-down view of the world. Players control a party of one to four characters. The game can be started with a pregenerated party, or the player may create their own or import characters from ''Shattered Lands''. As with other ''Dungeons & Dragons'' computer titles, combat features prominently in the game play; in the Dark Sun series, combat is turn-based. Like its predecessor, ''Ravager'' also incorporates elements unique to the ''Dark Sun'' campaign setting, including unique character races (the Mul and the insectoid thri-kreen (Though thri-kreen appear in both ''[[Software:Pool of Radiance|Pool of Radiance]]'' and ''[[Software:Curse of the Azure Bonds|Curse of the Azure Bonds]]'')) and extensive use of psionics.

The game has several bugs, some of which result in a crash, others resulting in the game not winnable. For example, due to game engine limitations, graphics for doorways or items may disappear.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://support.broderbund.com/fix.asp?isid%3D2712%26prog%3D437 |title=Software Solution - Dark Sun? Wake of the Ravager |access-date=2007-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013228/http://support.broderbund.com/fix.asp?isid=2712&prog=437 |archive-date=2007-09-27}}</ref> Some of these issues were addressed in the 1.02 and 1.1 patches.

==Release==
''Wake of the Ravager'' was initially released in two boxed versions: on [[Floppy disk|floppy disk]] and on [[CD-ROM]], with the latter featuring digitised voice and music (as Red Book CD tracks). It was included in the 1996 compilation set, the ''AD&D Masterpiece Collection''.<ref name="Arcane2">{{cite journal|last= Butcher|first=Andy|date=January 1996|title=Games Reviews|journal=Arcane|publisher=Future Publishing|issue=2|pages=80}}</ref> The game was re-released in 2015 on [[Company:GOG.com|GOG.com]] with support for [[Software:Windows|Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], and [[Software:Linux|Linux]].

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| PCGUS = 85%<ref name=pcgamerus>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991113223341/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/314.html |url=http://www.pcgamer.com:80/reviews/314.html |title=''Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager'' |date=January 1995 |last=Randall |first=Neil |work=PC Gamer US |archive-date=November 13, 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| PCGUK = 60%<ref name=pcgameruk />
| rev1 = ''Electronic Entertainment''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=e2 />
}}

Writing for ''PC Gamer US'', Neil Randall called ''Wake of the Ravager'' "a rich and complex title that works from a highly usable interface — the kind of thing roleplayers are always looking for".<ref name=pcgamerus /> Al Giovetti of ''Electronic Entertainment'' believed that the game "offers well-written, stylish role playing, once you get over some technical hurdles".<ref name=e2>{{cite journal | author=Giovetti, Al | journal=Electronic Entertainment | title=''Wake of the Ravager'' | date=January 1995 | issue=13 | page=84}}</ref>

In ''Computer Gaming World'', Scorpia wrote that ''Wake of the Ravager'' "is a mixed bag, although worth playing if you are a ''Dark Sun'' fan and you've waited for the patch or a revised release".<ref name=cgw>{{cite magazine | author=Scorpia |  magazine=Computer Gaming World | title=The ''Dark Sun'' Also Rises | date=December 1994 | issue=125 | pages=185, 186, 188}}</ref> ''PC Gamer UK''{{'}}s Andy Butcher called the game a "missed opportunity", but remarked that it was "still fun if you have the patience".<ref name=pcgameruk>{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020503044004/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=288 |url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk:80/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=288 |title=''Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager'' |last=Butcher |first=Andy |magazine=PC Gamer UK |archive-date=May 3, 2002 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to GameSpy, "''Wake of the Ravager'' sported enhanced graphics and larger character sprites as well as a number of huge, game-stopping bugs which ensured that for most gamers, The Dragon's lackey still waits to be defeated".<ref name="rauschIII">{{cite web | last = Rausch | first = Allen | date = 2004-08-17 | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539722p3.html | title = A History of ''D&D'' Video Games - Part III | publisher = Game Spy | access-date = November 17, 2012}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013228/http://support.broderbund.com/fix.asp?isid=2712&prog=437 Broderbund technical support note]
* {{moby game|id=/dark-sun-wake-of-the-ravager}}


[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Linux games]]
[[Category:MacOS games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Strategic Simulations games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]

de:Dark Sun (Spieleserie)#Wake of the Ravager

{{Sourceattribution|Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager}}