Genre: Role-playing / First-person dungeon crawler
Developer: APh Technological Consulting
Publisher: Mattel Electronics
Year: 1982
Platform: Intellivision
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin is the second Intellivision title released under the Dungeons & Dragons license, following 1982’s Cloudy Mountain. Unlike its predecessor, which used a top-down perspective, Treasure of Tarmin presents the action from a first-person viewpoint. The game places players in a labyrinth of interconnected rooms and corridors, where they must explore, battle monsters, and search for treasure.
The core objective is to survive the dungeon while locating the legendary Treasure of Tarmin. Players manage two health pools—war and spiritual strength—both of which can be diminished by different types of enemies or attacks. Weapons and magic are scattered throughout the dungeon, ranging from bows and axes to spells, each with unique properties. Randomly generated layouts ensure that each playthrough offers a different challenge, adding replay value to the experience.
Visually, the game employs simple but effective graphics for its time, representing walls, creatures, and items through colorful, iconic designs. The first-person view was innovative on the Intellivision, helping distinguish Treasure of Tarmin from other role-playing games of its era. Audio is minimal, with sound effects mainly used for combat and movement feedback.
Upon release, the game was praised for its depth and complexity compared to most other console titles of the early 1980s. Critics and players noted the strategic nature of managing two health systems, as well as the variety of weapons and enemies encountered. Today, it is often recognized as one of the most ambitious role-playing games released for the Intellivision and a pioneering example of first-person dungeon crawling on a home console.
