SerpentHead (1994)

Many years ago, the sorcerer Salorann, brother of the Royal Mage Ophiuchus, tried to take over Xanaria with the help of Stolm, the King of Dragons. Ophiuchus prepared a magical staff called the SerpentScepter and used it to defeat Salorann and his army after their nine-day attack on Castle Serpenthead, but Salorann escaped. Ophiuchus then broke the staff apart and hid its pieces in the ruins of Castle IronGate.

During the reign of Ethor V, the Royal Mage Cendric foresaw Salorann’s return and recovered the staff’s pieces. He reassembled the SerpentScepter at Castle Serpenthead, but Salorann attacked, took the staff from him, and then killed Cendric and the royal family. Salorann now rules Xanaria, while many who enter the castle in search of the staff never return.

The player takes the role of Sir Mharim, who must enter Castle Serpenthead, find the SerpentScepter, and defeat Salorann. It is a first-person adventure game with a verb-based interface, node-based movement, fixed-perspective rooms, and a scoring system. Players retrieve objects, solve puzzles, and overcome obstacles and traps.