Fighting Fantasy Retrospective #6: Deathtrap Dungeon

Comments · 49

• GR

  @greg_in_oz8429 · 2 days ago

  Pure nostalgia. Glorious … borrowed this a few times from my junior school library some time in the mid to late 80’s … that cover will always be the most iconic image of fighting fantasy books for most of us. So badly want to recollect these magnificent books now as I turn 50.

• ST

  @steveforfilms · 2 years ago

  It is amazing to see those drawings again after 35+ years and instantly remember them. Thanks Mike.

  4

• MA

  @matthewshelton9803 · 4 months ago

  Up there as one of faves, another that was played through multiple times, artwork was superb.

• LI

  @linuxaudio100 · 2 years ago

  OOhhh. One of the few FF books that I bought rather than borrowed. I read Deathtrap Dungeon so often that the pages fell apart so, sadly, I had to throw it away. Damn. Baron Sukumvit would not be pleased. Where to start? <br>1. Yes, its setting is oriental. Ian LIvingstone said he was inspired by a trip to Thailand. Think Thailand. River Kok think Bangkok. <br>2. At <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEUembVe1fo&amp;t=323">5:23</a> in this video you show the illustration of a man tied to a door. Who does HE look like? He&apos;s an Easter Egg. Surely you can work out who! <br>3. I agree about the artwork. It is the best artwork of the whole FF series. It has a gothic or even surrealist horror vibe. I&apos;m reminded of the Crowley Tarot Deck. <br>4. I didn&apos;t share your perspective on realism. In a fantasy world people could see inside with magic items like a crystal ball. No need for a stadium. I agree though on the monsters: they put up with a pretty bad existence. You would think that one of these terrifying denizens would say stfu and emerge from the dungeon to get revenge on everyone. After having its dinner of various pretty puny handlers. <br>5. To me this was the third best FF book. City of Thieves best, House of Hell second and then Deathtrap Dungeon third.

  6

• ZZ

  @ZzaphodD · 2 years ago

  It&apos;s the age old &apos;How does dungeons really work?&apos; question we just don&apos;t ask...

  1

• MA

  @magnuslauglo5356 · 1 year ago

  The more you think about it logically, the less fun you&apos;ll have. <br><br>It also takes this popular trope of a dungeon crawl to a next level. But somehow it is more than a series of encounters with terrifying enemies and traps (and maybe this is the key to a really great dungeon crawl). The worldbuilding around it all makes it more than a sum of its parts. You meet this sadistic Baron who builds this dungeon complex to make his otherwise ordinary town infamous and bring in some money. And I think perhaps this is a more interesting reason to go on a dungeon crawl than to steal a bunch of treasure or kill a baddie (like in the first two FF books). <br><br>The art is a huge part of the ongoing appeal - it is dark and creepy while still feeling fantasy-like as opposed to horror.

  1

• JO

  @johnmccabe2687 · 1 year ago

  I hear what your saying but I loved this as a teenager. Was one of my favourites. Never really thought about the fact that &nbsp;the spectators lose sight of you once you all enter. Loved the way there were other contestants that you meet. Like others I was upset about Throm. Great art too.

  1

• MI

  @milthyswinbuckle5158 · 2 years ago (edited)

  A great book, but I too found it too hard to complete (got right to the end but never escaped when I played it as a kid in the 80&apos;s). Probably my favourite artwork from these books, both gory, graphic and beautifully horror filled, something else they wouldn&apos;t do nowadays for books meant for youngsters. But what harm is there in it? After all, we all turned out perfectly normal... Anyway, must dash. It&apos;s a full moon tonight and I&apos;ve got to sharpen up my sacrificial dagger and get some howling practice in!!!

  4

• FA

  @FAGV · 1 year ago (edited)

  Thank you for the review. What I remember the most about this book is teaming up with Throm, the barbarian, and then later having to kill him. I was VERY upset. I just wasn&apos;t fair having to kill him 🙁Recently I started playing Trial of Champions for the first time, almost 40 years after reading Deathtrap Dungeon 🙂 Keep up these reviews. They are great 😉

  2

• SB

  @sbtechdif · 1 year ago

  The scorpions and grubworms probably aren&apos;t on a salary, but the orcs and trolls and suchlike probably are. Either that or they are slaves promised freedom once all of the adventurers have been killed. Others have mentioned one of the book&apos;s great strengths being that you can meet the other adventurers, including Throm, but most of them I seem to recall. It seemed to me as a kid one of the more mature books from the very early part of the series. <br><br>1 - Deathtrap<br>2 - Forest<br>3 - Citadel<br>4 - Warlock<br>5 - Forest<br>6 - Starship

  1

• TH

  @TheSunlight74 · 2 years ago

  Really enjoy these reviews!

  2

• JU

  @julieborel3043 · 2 years ago

  Very enjoyable video. I love the artwork!

  2