Years before Baldur's Gate came along, the CRPGs made in the Gold Box engine, including Curse of the Azure Bonds, were my introduction to the Forgotten Realms. Which is why I'll always associate the setting with women in impractical armor and names that can't be taken seriously. In Curse that's the priest Gharri of Gond, though a few years later Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures would introduce the unforgettable Lunit Bdufe—a name that makes Drizzt Do'Urden seem downright mundane.
The Gold Box games also introduced me to factions like the Zhentarim and the Red Wizards of Thay, two of the organizations in Curse of the Azure Bonds trying to control you via the magic tattoos of the title. Nothing can ever just be blue in a fantasy novel when it could be azure or sapphire or cerulean, right? I think Hoodoo of the Blue Tattoo would have been an even better name myself.
Curse kicks off when you wake up with magic tattoos and a month of missing memories. When those tattoos compel you to attack a local royal, you learn they're a medium for mind control and set out to get them removed. It's funny how that quest to remove something that's controlling your mind foreshadows Baldur's Gate III, even down to the amnesia if you play the Dark Urge.
SEWER LEVEL
This story is from the January 2025 edition of PC Gamer US Edition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2025 edition of PC Gamer US Edition.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"The War Within itself has kept me coming back most evenings too"
WORLD OF WARCRAFT remains my jailer, and I couldn't be more pleased about it
OK BUILDER
SATISFACTORY is the new titan in building and crafting games
HELL YES
DIABLO IV: VESSEL OF HATRED is a transformative expansion
MOUSE: PI FOR HIRE
This mouse wants to be more than just a gimmick
WINDBLOWN
Dead Cells dev's new roguelike has me afraid for my free time
NO MORE ROOM IN HELL 2
As the zombie horde surrounded me just moments after taking down my two remaining teammates, the writing was really on the wall. Armed with just a chef's knife, it was clear I stood no chance, but I was going down swinging, hoping for a miracle... it didn't come.
OWNED BY STEAM
VALVE cordially reminds you that your games aren't yours
CURSE OF THE AZURE BONDS
These classic games haven't aged badly, but I sure have.
DEEP FREEZE
Endure a blizzard of tough choices and rough consequences in FROSTPUNK 2
NEW HORIZONS
Building up REMNANT 2 outside the live service game grinder
