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Illustration of Archon: The Light and the Dark

Archon: The Light and the Dark

Overview

Archon: The Light and the Dark is a strategic board game with some similarities to chess. Two sides, a light one and a dark one, consisting of 18 pieces each compete on a board divided into (9 by 9) squares. You win the game by having one of your units on each of the five powerpoint squares, by removing all opposing pieces from the board or by imprisoning the last remaining creature of the opposing side.

However, you can't just remove a piece from the board by landing on it. When two pieces clash, the outcome is decided in the battle arena during one-on-one real-time combat. If the real-time combat takes place on a dark square, the dark monster gets a health bonus (longer life bar). On a light square the light side gains an advantage. There are also some squares whose color changes over time (from afternoon, to dusk, to night, to dawn etc.), which adds an extra layer of strategy to the game.

Unlike chess the two sides are not identical. Both sides consist of mythological creatures. For example the light side has among others unicorns, valkyries and a djinni while the dark side features basilisks, banshees and manticores. The differences are not just cosmetic. Two special pieces are the light wizard & the dark sorceress, they can both cast magical spells like: imprison a unit on the board, shift the flow of time (change day/night cycle to your advantage), bring one unit back from the dead etc.

The different pieces have their own movement restrictions regarding the number of squares they're allowed to travel on the board and whether or not they can jump over other units (like the knight in chess). Units also behave different in combat; some units are faster than others, some use melee attacks while others fire projectiles.

Archon can be played with either one or two players. The NES version, which was released a few years after the other versions, has improved graphics for the real-time combat part. Each type of square has it's own colored background and the unit sprites are larger.

Publishers
Electronic Arts
Platform
Apple II
Alternate Names
  • Archon

Media

Box - Back

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Box - Back (North America) - 800x800
North America -  800 x 800

Box - Front

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Box - Front (North America) - 800x799
North America -  800 x 799

Clear Logo

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Clear Logo (null) - 1200x191
1200 x 191

Disc

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Disc (North America) - 800x765
North America -  800 x 765

Fanart - Box - Back

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Fanart - Box - Back (North America) - 800x803
North America -  800 x 803
Archon: The Light and the Dark - Fanart - Box - Back (North America) - 800x826
North America -  800 x 826

Fanart - Box - Front

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Fanart - Box - Front (North America) - 800x768
North America -  800 x 768

Screenshot - Game Title

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Screenshot - Game Title (null) - 580x400
580 x 400

Screenshot - Gameplay

Archon: The Light and the Dark - Screenshot - Gameplay (null) - 580x400
580 x 400