Its also a precursor to GarriottsUltimaseries, introducing many elements that formed the core of the following games.
It doesnt slowly drop your health, it doesnt cause negative effects, it just kills you.
But theres at least one element of Akalabeth that is still relevant today.
There' s no playing Akalabeth just like they did in 1979; its too late for that.
What youcando is break it, as they did in 1979.
After all, you just have to follow instructions.
Which I’m going to explain to you now.
When starting a new game in Akalabeth, you will make exactly five choices.
Your first Akalabeth playthrough will likely end with a hero who starved to death before finding a single dungeon.
Travelling around the barren world map costs food, and its not cheap either.
But your favourite number is responsible for a great deal more than the map layout.
Magic in the world of Akalabeth works in weird and convoluted ways.
Amulets can move users up and down dungeon levels without using one of the hidden ladders.
They can even kill an enemy instantly.
But even thats nothing compared to what the transformation spell can do.
The lizardman effect is permanent, only consumes one amulet, and it stacks across multiple uses.
Even if it can backfire, a bit of save scumming removes all possible risks involved.
In practical terms: the best possible stats for an endgame warrior are 35 across the line.
The mage doesnt need the warriors unique weapons, it can just use its lizard fists.
Some players might think that beating Akalabeth this way on your first through is cheating.
But is that so different from basing yourBaldurs Gate 3character on someone elses build?
From following the advice of experienced players for your next World Of Warcraft character?
Some players study the manual, some go through trial and error, and others like using a guide.
This goes for Akalabeth as much as for any modern game.
We might not understand how or why were doing it, but thats fine.
