The Summoning is an isometric-view computer role-playing game developed by Event Horizon (later renamed DreamForge) and published by SSI in 1992.
The sequel to Event Horizon's first game, DarkSpyre, The Summoning replaced the random-generated dungeons of the previous title with clever puzzles, a compelling story, and interesting game mechanics. The title featured numerous magic items and runes, as well as a casting system where spells were composed of various somatic hand gestures.
As real-time isometric RPGs, Event Horizon's collection of titles were often cult favorites, serving as inspiration for later titles from other publishers such as Diablo.
"The Summoning" was a long, rather involved game in which the main character could walk around and pick up and wear items he either came across in chests, on the floor of the dungeons or by defeating certain enemies. Items such as armor, weapons, helms and boots could be dragged from an inventory screen onto a mannequin-like effigy of the character.
The dungeon in "The Summoning" was broken up into separate levels and sections. For example, one level might be dominated by undead such as zombies. Another level was dominated by a group of samurais. Another level was dominated by knights, plotting against each other, who would try to recruit the protagonist into assassinating their rival knights. The Black Knight, naturally, was the most powerful knight in this level.
One advantage of the real-time mechanics of the game was that if the player was having a tough time against a particular enemy--such as the Black Knight--he or she could use a certain spell, such as Poison, to poison the enemy, leave the room, and come back some time later to find their enemy "dead."
By discovering and collecting magic runes, which were also represented by hand gestures, the character could maximize the number of spells they could learn and use. Most of the spells were typical of computer RPGs: fire spells, poison spells, lightning spells. Some runes, when used, would turn into random items. By saving just before using such runes, the player could bide their time until they got an item they wanted. Other runes enhanced certain player attributes, such as strength or speed.
The featured weapon in "The Summoning," is a large two-handed blade called "Warmonger." When first found, it is rusty and not very effective. But by repeatedly using it to kill, the magical blade becomes an immensely powerful weapon. The blade is actually a sentient, evil being with bloodlust.
The amount of NPC (non-playable characters) the main character meets during his adventure is impressive, and the characters tend to have fairly well fleshed-out personalities. Some aid in the adventure and some prove to be enemies.
The game was reviewed in 1993 in Dragon #194 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column.[1]
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