Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game (1980) Board Game

The Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game was released in 1980 by Mattel Electronics. It is a solo or two-player game that falls under the categories of adventure, electronic, exploration, fantasy, and maze. Designed by Joe Sengir, this game challenges players to navigate through a labyrinth while encountering obstacles and enemies along the way.

Game Components of Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game

Board: A plastic castle superstructure with an 8×8 grid.

Pieces: Two metal warrior figures, a dragon, a treasure chest, plastic wall pieces, and markers for secret rooms.

Microcontroller: A Texas Instruments TMS1100, a descendant of the first microcontroller.

Audio Cues: Twelve unique audio cues to indicate walls, doors, treasure, and the dragon’s movements.

Keyboard: A membrane keyboard pad to detect piece placement.

Battery: Runs on a 9-volt battery with minimal regulation.

How To Setup Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game

To set up the game, players place the metal warrior figures on their respective starting positions on the board. The game is initialized, and the computer randomly generates an invisible labyrinth with 50 walls, the treasure, and the dragon. Players choose their secret rooms and are ready to start their adventure. The board is touch-sensitive, and players move their figures by pressing the space they are moving into, which triggers electronic sounds to indicate obstacles or progress.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Gameplay Type: Head-to-head or solo pick-up-and-deliver exploration.

Objective: Explore the labyrinth, find the treasure, and return to the starting position without being caught by the dragon.

Player Movement: Up to 8 spaces per turn.

Wall Encounters: Players place wall markers when they encounter walls.

Dragon Mechanics: The dragon awakens when a player is within 3 squares of the treasure and moves towards the closest player, flying over walls if necessary.

Injuries and Deaths: Players are sent back to their secret rooms and lose movement capabilities with each attack by the dragon, eventually dying after three attacks.

Player Experience

Playing the Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game feels like navigating a dungeon in the dark. The invisible labyrinth and the random placement of walls and the dragon create a challenging and often frustrating experience. Players must rely on the audio cues to map out the dungeon, which can be time-consuming and repetitive. The game’s unique concept is marred by its poor execution, making it more of a novelty than a deeply engaging game.

Pros

Innovative Concept: Combines microcontroller technology with the Dungeons & Dragons theme.

Randomly Generated Labyrinth: Each game session is unique.

Audio Cues: Adds a tactile and auditory experience to the game.

Simple to Learn: Clear rules and easy to understand gameplay mechanics.

Cons

Poor Execution: The game’s design leads to clumsy and frustrating gameplay.

Limited Technology: The microcontroller’s capabilities are stretched thin, resulting in slow and sometimes unreliable performance.

High Price: Considered expensive for its time and value.

Repetitive: The game quickly loses its appeal due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay.

Personal Thoughts on Dungeons & Dragons Computer Labyrinth Game

This game is more suited for younger players, particularly those under 12, due to its simplicity and the novelty of its electronic features. For serious or experienced gamers, the game’s limitations and repetitive gameplay make it less appealing. Despite its flaws, it remains an interesting piece of gaming history, showcasing early attempts to integrate technology into board games.

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