Actually, the best writing can be found in the manual, not the game. Ancient Domains of Mystery (known as ADOM to the most avid fans) is a complex dungeon crawl set in the best tradition of UNIX megahit Rogue, and in many ways is a direct spiritual descendent. While other Roguelike games (e.g. NetHack and Unreal World) emphasize plot, quests, and puzzles, ADOM retains and greatly expands Rogue's hack & slash gaming goodness in a randomly generated dungeon. Purists would argue that battling chaos is far more interesting than hunting Balrogs or Amulets of Yendor -- but this will definitely be a game you play for the strategic elements and excellent combat system, not atmospheric storytelling.

As with other Roguelike games that are based solely on ASCII characters, ADOM's graphics are ugly, the sound nonexistent, and the plot is banal. The sheer number of features, options, and tremendous replay value are what have made the game into what it is today. Creating a character, for example, requires choosing from over 200 combinations of race and profession. Since your choice determines statistics, equipment, skills and alignment; each character is a unique experience. From hobbit necromancers to troll barbarians, there are more than enough characters available to accommodate a wide range of playing styles and skill levels.

The dungeons are filled with a rich and unpredictable variety of items to aid your quest. Scrolls, potions, amulets, cloaks, girdles, swords, shields, wands, tools, gems, armor, books, boots and gloves are carried by monsters or left behind by previous adventurers. They vary in magic properties, material, and workmanship; much of the game's challenge and appeal is in trying to determine just what your equipment can do. The monsters, too, come in many flavors, varying in intelligence, alignment, and attack style. While some use melee weapons, others breath fire, cast malevolent spells, and summon hordes of monsters.

Beginners be warned, though: ADOM is a difficult game. You can expect to lose many, many characters just learning how to survive; the information you get from their unfortunate demise aids your subsequent games. Even after you have built up a lengthy mental list of things to avoid, you must learn to deal with the many problems and situations you encounter. These mini puzzles are generally very well done -- poisoning arrows and blades can be accomplished by dipping them in a potion of poison, a pick ax can be used to tunnel around a door containing a deadly trap, and you can dispose of a cursed helmet by standing under an acidic waterfall and waiting... There are multiple solutions to most of the problems in the games, although the puzzles and quests are by no means as intricate as those found in NetHack. Overall, ADOM is one of the very best Roguelike games today, and a great addition to any RPGer's library. If you are a Diablo fan and have never played ADOM, well, you're missing out on a revolutionary, complex RPG that offers far superior gameplay and infinite replayability. Two thumbs up!