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Highly requested first-person RPG classic The Dark Heart of Uukrul joins GOG.COM’s always-growing library of titles today. Originally released in 1989, it's one that holds a special place in many people’s hearts, including Scott Greig (Kill0byt3), who sadly passed away while working on bringing this game back to gamers everywhere.

Scott had a monumental role in re-releasing this game. Sadly, he passed away back in March 2020, while working on making it a reality. According to GOG Stream Team member, Kilg0re, “Scott was a huge fan of the game. He contacted the devs, got them interested, and organized the re-release with the two people responsible for making it, Ian Boswell and Martin Buis.”

His friend, Gregory Wilson (ArvanEleron), also wanted everyone to know how dedicated Scott was to the project: “Canada and Winnipeg area native Scott Greig was a graphic designer and web designer, an aspiring author, streamer, and lover of video games. For a number of years, he was the webmaster and principal graphic designer for GOG's Twitch streamer ArvanEleron, responsible for many of his on stream videos, overlays, and graphics (several of which are still featured every week on Arv's Pen & Pixels show on GOG). Scott was also a mod on a number of channels, and both well-liked and well respected by many online and offline communities.”



So, if you aren’t familiar with this classic game, we’ll catch you up to speed so you can hopefully get a better understanding of why Scott and so many others wanted to see this game brought back from the limbo of history and onto modern PCs everywhere.

The Dark Heart of Uukrul is a first-person turn-based RPG that has you playing as a party of four. You’ll take control of some classic high fantasy characters: a fighter, a paladin, a priest, and a magician.

In Eriosthe, a huge underground city, there are winding tunnels and twisting caverns, monsters that you’ll need to fight, and puzzles that you’ll need to solve. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as safe havens created by the Ancients will give you a place to heal yourself, teleport to other areas, and even level up your team of adventurers.

Need to get some new gear? You’ll need to make your way over the lone marketplace, where traders and cooks are more than happy to make a deal with you. In the case you’ve lost party members along the way, you’ll be able to revive them at the mausoleum, or you can visit the local guild to replace them.

The game is a hidden gem in a sea of RPGs from that era, and what makes it that way is that not only was it not really marketed, but it was released near the end of the Apple II’s lifespan, meaning many gamers missed out on this title.

Thankfully, through Scott and other people’s hard work, The Dark Heart of Uukrul is getting a second life.

Have you heard of The Dark Heart of Uukrul before?
I've never heard of that, but thanks for bringing the game here. I love you, GOG ;)
Insta-wishlisted!
high rated
Nice release and great announcement post.

GOG, could you include essential goodies like the manual and the code sheet?

The MobyGames page says this (I don't know if it applies to DOS version):

"Copy protection
The game includes a rather complex players guide which includes a back-story and code book for access to the shrines in the game. The code sheet is printed on red paper to help minimize the ease of photo-copying the manual and making it harder for people to pirate the software, as the game is unplayable without the decoder sheet (and the codes are different every time you play)"
Post edited November 12, 2020 by Glaucos
high rated
this is like Christmas and birthday combined. Never thought I could ever get my hands on an all digital release of this gem at all.

I even took out my old physical copy and cried after that...
Attachments:
Congratulations for Scott Grieg being so awesome. Here on Earth we salute you. Rip.
And see guys, hard work pays off. Thank you, Scott.
Post edited November 12, 2020 by victorchopin
I never played the game but I remember it had a cult status in Spain among RPG lovers and I always heard it had some of the best CRPG dungeons ever made.

"CRPG Addict" loved the game and had this to say about it :
http://crpgaddict.blogspot.com/2012/11/dark-heart-of-uukrul-final-rating_17.html?m=1
Old CRPGs are always a welcome addition. Never got around to playing Uukrul, but heard some good things about it.

Also:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0OHofVhR9A
Post edited November 12, 2020 by Aemenyn
Nice, but manual and extra is missing ???
high rated
Great game; one of the best classic CRPGs.

Some of the best level design I've seen, with levels having highly unpredictable size and layout, and the last level being the most diabolical mapping challenge ever.

The magic system is quite original and combat is quite good even if being a bit on the simplistic side.
The artwork is great and the graphics is nice and crisp; the rather cartoony style has aged well.

I recommend it for those who like a challenge. Not suitable for the "I play games for the story" crowd.

Interview with the designers: https://rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=8320

A brilliant Let's Play: https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/lets-play-dark-heart-of-uukrul-dead-and-done.54028/
Post edited November 12, 2020 by PetrusOctavianus
Think I would like this game?
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Glaucos: GOG, could you include essential goodies like the manual and the code sheet?
Can anyone confirm that the GOG release of "The Dark Heart of Uukrul" includes the game's manual and if the Copy protection is still intact?
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GOG.com: Scott Grieg (Kill0byt3), who sadly passed away while working on bringing this game back to gamers everywhere.
Very sad news, rest in peace.

I'm glad Scott's efforts to get the developers to re-release were able to bear fruit.
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GOG.com: Have you heard of The Dark Heart of Uukrul before?
I'd heard of The Dark Heart of Uukrul before and seen a screenshot or two, but I never thought I'd have the pleasure of playing it myself.

Time for some dungeon crawling!
Post edited November 12, 2020 by SpellSword
high rated
Manual & amulets are included in the installation folder :)
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padlinka: Manual & amulets are included in the installation folder :)
Thank you!
I never heard of it, and it looks a bit too ancient even for me, but I'm always glad to see lost classic games getting a new life. Plus, that cover artwork is fantastic.
Why does the game have 88MB size when the game itself is only 1MB (and DOsbox 20). Is the included manual and copy protection?