You are on the beta version of My Abandonware. The live site is still myabandonware.com. Your favorites and ratings here are copied to the live site. Comments and other changes are not — we delete them every morning at 08:00 Paris time, when this site goes down for about an hour. Leave feedback through this link to Pastel (email required).

Search more than 30000 retro games
/ Genres / Role-Playing (RPG) / Gateway to the Savage Frontier

Gateway to the Savage Frontier

DOS - 1991
Also available on: Amiga - Commodore 64

Gateway to the Savage Frontier and Treasures of the Savage Frontier are the last two releases in SSI's famous but by-now-overused "Gold Box" engine.

Both games take place in the world of "Savage Frontier," a welcome change from the worlds of Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance used in most other Gold Box games. Gateway starts with your party drugged and robbed blind of all possessions. Soon, you get involved in a brewing political plot, and assigned the monumental task of defeating the evil wizard Vaalgamon. In the sequel Treasures of the Savage Frontier, the action starts after the first game leaves off: you are summoned to help the dwarves in their battle against the evil forces of Zhentil Keep.

If you have played Gold Box games, you'll know exactly what to expect here: a solid blend of real-time first-person perspective and turn-based isometric combat. Similar to other Gold Box games (and especially the Krynn series), there is a LOT of fighting in Gateway and Treasures: so much so that anyone who dislikes AD&D mechanics will likely feel frustrated. Fortunately, the mostly interesting stories help keep things interesting.

The best thing about these two games in my opinion is the character-specific side-quests: in Gateway, there are two NPCs that give you access to optional side quests, as well as different endings to the game. As befits the final Gold Box game, Treasures adds two welcome features: the effect of weather in battles, and the ability to call in reinforcements. Die-hard AD&D fans might complain about the low level caps (for example, eighth is the highest fighters can reach), but in a way, this serves as a nice throwback to the classic Pool of Radiance.

All in all, two worthy additions to every RPG's library, although the engine is clearly "long in the tooth," showing its age, and you still have to slog through far too many battles.

Review By HOTUD

Comments and reviews

Naniyue 21 Aug. 2020

The first Gold Box game I ever owned! I knew of the existence of the series, but had no machine to play them on before this. At the time I had to use a 286 with damnable CGA graphics, but had fun nonetheless.

0
Divarin 17 Jan. 2017

The "Please insert disc 3" message comes up if you saved your game before you "Begin adventuring". Once you've started the game, if you then camp and save, you will be able to load fine.

0
confused 22 Jun. 2015

I got the game to run, sorta. My problem is that I cant pull up a save !! It keeps asking me to insert disk 3. Any help or recommendations.

2
RC 18 Sep. 2014

For those who want it, the journal:
http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.516

2
Mike 27 Sep. 2013

Where's the journal? Kind of need it to play this game.. or have the game fixed so you can just press enter without the journal. Still need it for the entries, though.

0
Animus Furiae 08 Jun. 2012

Thanks for the tip re: DFend Reloaded, Admin. Never knew this gem existed. #$!ing fantastic site, BTW; you're a saint.

0
Ook 18 Jan. 2011

Yay

0
admin 26 Oct. 2010
Admin

Run it with DosBox and DFend Reloaded. Read the "How to play" guide to know.

0
mm 15 Oct. 2010

it won`t run... which exe is the one? any recomendations?

0
great 17 May. 2010

IT'S THE CHEESE

0

No comment nor review for this game at the moment.

Comments posted on the beta are not kept. We delete them at 08:00 Paris time and they never reach the live site. Post on myabandonware.com if you want your comment to stay.

Buy on Digital Stores

Gateway to the Savage Frontier is available for a small price on the following websites, and is no longer abandonware.

Extras

Manual Manual 1
Extra file
DOS 4 MB English English
RefCard RefCard 1
Extra file
DOS 569 KB English English
Misc Misc 4
Cluebook
DOS 9 MB English English
Adventurers Journal
DOS 10 MB English English
IBM Data Card
DOS 1 MB English English
Instruction Manual
DOS 2 MB English English

Similar games

Curse of the Azure Bonds
4.6/5 - 52 votes
Curse of the Azure Bonds
DOS, Mac, Commodore 64, Amiga, Apple II, PC-98
1989
Secret of the Silver Blades
4.4/5 - 39 votes
Secret of the Silver Blades
DOS, Mac, Commodore 64, Amiga
1990
The Dark Queen of Krynn
4.3/5 - 35 votes
The Dark Queen of Krynn
DOS, Mac, Amiga
1992
Treasures of the Savage Frontier
4.7/5 - 15 votes
Treasures of the Savage Frontier
DOS, Amiga
1992
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
4.6/5 - 77 votes
Buck Rogers: Countdown to Doomsday
DOS, Commodore 64, Amiga
1990
Heroes of the Lance
4.3/5 - 32 votes
Heroes of the Lance
DOS, Commodore 64, SEGA Master System, Amiga, MSX, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, PC-88, PC-98
1988