Ludography
Gemstone Healer cover

1986 · Adventure · Beat 'em up

Gemstone Healer

1986 video game

Released
1986
Platforms
Apple IICommodore 64Commodore C64/128/MAX
Genres
AdventureBeat 'em upRole-playing
Developers
—
Publishers
Strategic Simulations
Modes
Single-player
Perspective
Third person
Themes
ActionFantasy
Country
United States

About

Gemstone Healer is an action-adventure game created by Canadian developer Paradigm Creators for the Apple II and Commodore 64 and published in 1986 by Strategic Simulations. The sequel to Gemstone Warrior, the player controls an armored figure in search of treasure and the way to heal the Gemstone.

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The player is asked to name the dungeon that will be created for the game. Dungeon map generation is based on the first twelve letters of the name that the player gives their dungeon ensuring that new names will create new dungeons for added challenge. Three major difficulty levels are also offered.

The game is viewed in a 2D screen displaying the playing area, health, and inventory. The player controls an armored figure that wields a crossbow with a limited supply of bolts that can be replenished by finding more within the dungeon areas. Special "fireballs" can also be launched against foes, although these are limited and are not as common. The player is also able to use a sword. There are also magical tools and other items that can be collected to provide a variety of benefits such as goblets that can restore health to crystal balls that can annihilate everything on the screen.

Story

The game takes place after the events of Gemstone Warrior. In the first game, the player had to recover the Gemstone, a relic of incredible power forged by the gods and focusing the natural magic of the world. This, they entrusted to Man alone and for a time, there was great prosperity and peace. But the Demons, led by Nicodemius, had managed to boil to the surface and take the Gemstone.

Unable to destroy it, Nicodemius fragments it into five pieces that they hide in their vast lair. By going into the Netherworld, the protagonist is assumed to have succeeded in this quest and returns with the Gemstone.

Reception

Gemstone Healer was much less successful than its predecessor, only selling 6,030 copies in North America.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Commodore C64/128/MAX31 December 1986North America
Apple II31 December 1986North America

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Platform libraries

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.