Play Advanced Dungeons & Dragons - Heroes of the Lance Online

Summary

Heroes of the Lance turns the Dragonlance saga into a side‑scrolling action test where only one of the eight iconic heroes appears on screen at a time. When that character falls, the next party member steps in, making the whole roster function like a series of lives rather than a true RPG party. Three of the heroes—Goldmoon, Raistlin, and the dwarf Flint—bring special abilities such as healing, wizardry, or trap removal, while the others serve mainly as expendable fighters.

The game leans heavily on the original D&D statistics, so each character’s attacks and spells feel authentic, but the single‑character focus strips away the strategic depth fans expect from tabletop adaptations. Reviewers praised the detailed sprites and atmospheric backgrounds, yet many noted the steep difficulty and lack of a save feature, which could see you lose several heroes in a single misstep. Even though it sold well on computers, the NES version earned a spot on several “worst‑game” lists, highlighting how its ambitious design clashed with the expectations of both platformers and role‑players alike.

Storyline

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons – Heroes of the Lance follows eight brave adventurers as they trek through the shattered ruins of Xak Tsaroth. Their quest is to confront the ancient dragon Khisanth, guardian of the fabled Disks of Mishakal, and claim the relic for the good of the realm. The game’s narrative centers on this perilous journey and the battle to retrieve the sacred disks.