Archon Ultra

Archon Ultra, an action-strategy title for MS-DOS, was created by Free Fall Associates and came out in 1994 through Strategic Simulations. It serves as an updated version of the 1983 game *Archon: The Light and the Dark*, itself an early Electronic Arts release. The remake brought improved visuals and audio, along with new gameplay additions such as secondary weapons that grant each unit two distinct abilities. Battle sequences now use a diagonal overhead perspective to suggest a third dimension. A modem-based multiplayer mode was also included.

Critics had mixed reactions. *Computer Gaming World* felt the new features made the game appealing to fans of the original without upsetting its balance, noting the computer opponent's strength in the middle and late game. The magazine concluded the developers had modernized the graphics and sound while making minor gameplay tweaks that preserved the original's classic qualities. *PC Gamer (US)* gave it a 76%, praising the blend of strategy and arcade sequences for strong replay value. *Dragon* awarded only 1 out of 5 stars in 1994. James V. Trunzo, writing in *White Wolf* #45, rated it "Excellent," urging players who enjoy chess-like tactics and fantasy creatures to buy it. However, TJ Talasmaa in *Pelit* (Issue 1/1994) gave a 79% and expressed disappointment, arguing Free Fall Associates had violated the "if it's not broken, don't fix it" principle. He found the pieces sluggish compared to the original's combat, the new battlefield making some units overpowered due to damaging terrain that let fliers hover safely over lava, the 3D perspective making hits too hard to land and ruining the original's tight shoot-dodge-shoot rhythm, and the zooming battlefield—reminiscent of *Star Control II*—badly needing borders.