Preview: PC gaming classic Archon returning to the PC

November 5, 9:23 AMPC Game ExaminerBryan Edge-Salois

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Archon, a PC game first available on the PC platform (for Atari computers) in 1983, will be making a return to its birthright, courtesy of React! Games.

Brief History of Archon

The original Archon was developed by Freefall Associates and published by Electronic Arts for Atari, Commodore 64, Amiga, Apple II, and IBM-compatible PCs. The game basically pits two 16-piece fantasy armies on a chessboard to  battle for control of the board. Victory is achieved by controlling all five power points located on the board or by eliminating every enemy piece.

Like Chess, each piece has its own movement and attack characteristics. Unlike Chess, in order to take a piece you must defeat it in combat on a 2D battlefield. Some units, like the humble knights and goblins (pawns), are mere sword or club swinging ground pounders. Others, like the Djinn and the Dragon, fire projectiles in combat, have a ton of health, and can fly over other pieces (when moving around the chessboard, much as the Knight in Chess can move over other pieces).

Archon Resurrected

When I wrote about Archon as PC Game Deserving Revival, I didn't really expect I'd see it truly resurrected for the PC. React! Games has already brought it to the iPhone, and is now looking to bring it to Windows XP and Vista (and Windows 7) computers. In addition, they'd like to bring it to the Mac and Linux systems as well. 

React! Games was kind enough to give me a pre-beta build of the game to play for this article. I won't do a proper review because the game is still in development, but I can at least say that it's looking good and seems to retain the and improve upon the classic game's formula.

It definitely looks, feels, and plays like the original Archon -- although you'll probably want a joystick or gamepad of some kind (playing on a PC keyboard is awkward). The revived version features both all new, updated graphics, and a 'classic' mode if you absolutely must have those 8-bit blocky graphics to complete your retro nostalgia.

This new Archon also boasts some additional embellishments beyond the graphics. For example, the Phoenix, a largely underpowered unit on the Light Side, will get a makeover to make it more competitive with its Dark Side counterpart, the Shapeshifter. You can also play multiplayer games over the Internet with up to three other people. That's right -- three other people. You can play a 2v2 match, with allied pieces being able to occupy the same squares.

In addition, pieces can actually 'level up' and become more powerful in the game, gaining more powerful abilities. (How this will be balanced remains to be seen, but it sounds like a great idea.)

But despite the embellishments and improvements over the original, Archon Evolution is ultimately looking very true to its roots, with virtually all its pieces in tact. Whether or not the game play holds up and can re-capture some of its audience remains to be seen -- but I can't help but feel some gratified nostalgia at seeing one of my favorite games from the Commodore 64 gaming era return to the PC. I'll be following up with React! Games to get more details in the near future.

Visit React! Games home page for more info

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