D&D fans will be pleased with new video game

You don't have to roll any multiple-sided dice to come up with the hit-points for this "Dungeons & Dragons" game. In fact, you don't have to have a Dungeon Master, either.

The hit points, charisma scores and the rest of the D&D criteria are all part of the program. And there's no interaction with a DM.

But that's OK.

Because the focus here is playing the game. And the only thing players really have to do is fight, search for treasure, find secret passages and solve puzzles. And while doing only that might take a little of the fun out of the whole Dungeons & Dragons experience, D&D fans will not be disappointed.

Based on the world-famous role-playing game, "Dungeons & Dragons Heroes" pits a dwarf cleric, a human fighter, an elf wizard and a halfling rogue against the forces of evil.

The evil force this time around is the resurrected wizard Kaedin, whom the four heroes defeated 150 years ago, before they were wiped out thanks to one of Kaedin's death spells.

The heroes have been called back from the dead and have lost most of their power, but they have the ability to regain their former attributes through the many tasks assigned them in this game and once again defeat Kaedin.

While "D&D Heroes" has some similarities to the "Baldur's Gate" games, another D&D-based video game, it has better features.

Those features include better graphics, a better zoom-in function, better weapons and a more logical control system.

The weapons are easily accessible and when a character levels up (gains hit points, strength, etc.), the player has the option to upgrade at a later time, thus not interfering with any battles that are taking place.

Another great feature is the one- to four-player selection. New players can enter or exit an adventure at any time, regardless of what level they have achieved.

As with many role-playing games, there are levels of difficulty from which to choose — easy, normal and hard. There is also a nightmare level that unlocks once the player completes the hard level.

With every D&D adventure, there have to be monsters.

This game is no different. Everything from skeletons, hobgoblins, trolls, beholders, iron golems, fire giants and red dragons are mixed among the dark elves, frost worms, gargoyles and giant spiders, just to name a few.

There aren't, however, any gelatinous cubes or green slime like there are in "Baldur's Gate," but there are mind flayers and yuan-tis — reptilian warriors and sorcerers.

"Dungeons & Dragons Heroes" is worth its weight in gold. The adventures, which give the players hours of spell-casting fun, are challenging and rewarding, without pushing the players into pits of frustration.

Details: "Dungeons & Dragons Heroes," Atari for X Box, Wizards of the Coast, rated T for teens, $44.95.

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