Menzoberranzan (video game)

Menzoberranzan (1994) is the title of a video game created by SSI and DreamForge Intertainment and uses the same game engine as SSI's previous game Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession (1994). It is set in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Forgotten Realms.

Story
Menzoberranzan, an underground city populated by the Drow, had been introduced in the game materials two years earlier in December 1992 in a three-book box set called Menzoberranzan: The Famed City of the Drow by Ed Greenwood, R. A. Salvatore, and Douglas Niles. The game also features Drizzt Do'Urden as one of the main characters.

Gameplay
It has elements of Ultima Underworld (3d world and real-time action) and its game concept is somewhat similar to Westwood’s Eye of the Beholder series. The player initially creates two player characters (PCs) and can acquire non-player character (NPC) allies later in the game.

Publication history
This game was later included in the 1996 compilation set, the AD&D Masterpiece Collection.

Critical reception
Ian Cole from the now defunct Quandaryland website awarded the game 3.5 stars out 5. He was critical of the slowness of the game compared to Ravenloft and that "too many places were empty — just nothing". He praises that this was not a typical hack and slash game with a lot of character's statistics and puzzle solving. John Terra of Computer Shopper said the game "stands out" and called it a "must-have".

According to GameSpy, "without a great plot and exciting monsters that truly utilized its spectacular setting, Menzoberranzan ended up being less impressive than it was in players' imaginations".