List of TI-99/4A games
This is a list of notable releases for the TI-99/4A.
Tunnels of Doom
| Tunnels of Doom | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Texas Instruments |
| Publisher(s) | Texas Instruments |
| Designer(s) | Kevin Kenney |
| Composer(s) | Hank Mishkoff |
| Platform(s) | TI-99/4A |
| Release | 1982 31, December |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tunnels of Doom is a video game programmed by Kevin Kenney in December 31, 1982 for the TI-99/4A computer system.[1] It was released in two formats: cartridge with disk and cartridge with cassette,[2] as part numbers PHM3042D and PHM3042T, respectively.[3]
The features of the game include:
- Four character classes — fighter, rogue, wizard for games involving 2–4 characters, and a "hero" class for one player games.[1]
- Random encounters with monsters.[1]
The game is one of the first graphical role-playing video games . Based loosely on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, it is a standard dungeon crawl adventure in which a player or number of players controls the fates of 1–4 characters as they navigate through a maze of tunnels.[1][4] Texas Instruments used the game in its marketing, citing it as entertainment software involving "strategy and logic".[5] In 2008, Howard Kistler of DreamCodex developed a revised version of the game, which he called Tunnels of Doom Reboot, that featured music by German composer Frank Scheffel.[6][7]
The game has several features that could be considered a first for RPG's and games in general. Upon encountering an enemy, the game transitions to a separate, graphical, overhead battle screen, where a tactical turn-based combat system is used that allows for movement and positioning. It's possible to listen at doors for sounds of monsters, which can be negotiated with in combat as well.[8]