One of the buggiest D&D games ever released, Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor, is back and actually playable again

Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor, once notorious for being one of the most buggy and frustrating D&D games ever released, is now back and ready for play. The 2001 dungeon crawler, which initially received intense backlash due to numerous issues such as corrupted saves, disappearing quest items, and even system file deletion upon uninstallation, has been re-released on Steam and GOG with a plethora of improvements.

These enhancements include widescreen support, controller compatibility, adjustable combat speed, tooltips, an action bar, and sharper visuals. The rerelease eliminates the previous headaches, allowing players to enjoy the game without any key items vanishing or save files going corrupt.

Despite the improvements, Ruins of Myth Drannor remains a simplistic turn-based dungeon crawler that touts itself as a spiritual successor to the original Gold Box D&D game, Pool of Radiance. The game adopts the then-new third edition of D&D's rules, which were a significant advancement at the time. Characters could choose any class, and Armor Class increased instead of decreasing, a groundbreaking concept that simplified the learning curve for new players.

The game also formalized the core mechanic of rolling a d20 and adding a number to surpass a difficulty score, a system that can be recognized in later editions like 5th edition.

However, Ruins of Myth Drannor falls short in certain aspects. Players cannot choose their class improvements or allocate skill points and feats, limiting customization compared to more modern adaptations. The storyline is also relatively standard, following a new magical pool's opening in the elven city of Myth Drannor, where the evil sorceress and dracolich wreak havoc.

The protagonist is not the original party but rather a backup team, adding an intriguing twist to the game. This leads to a slow-paced, repetitive experience filled with challenges such as battling hordes of orcs and skeletons, all while managing the RPG's mechanics and enjoying the simple pleasures it offers.

Overall, while Ruins of Myth Drannor is not a masterpiece, it provides a low-stakes, enjoyable guilty pleasure for fans of D&D. It is an undemanding RPG that allows players to relish in moments like positioning their cleric perfectly to hit multiple enemies with Turn Undead or protecting a wizard from enemy attacks. With the game's return, players who skipped it due to its notorious reputation can now experience a smoother, problem-free adventure.