Abandoned Places: A Time for Heroes vs Rifts: Promise of Power

Abandoned Places: A Time for Heroes is a 1992 fantasy RPG where you control four heroes on a mission to stop the evil arch‑mage Bronagh and save the world of Kalynthia. The game blends a 2D top‑down overworld with 3D real‑time dungeon crawling reminiscent of Dungeon Master, offering a sandbox feel and plenty of side activities beyond the main quest. The interface lets you travel to towns by clicking symbols for services like healing or hints, while combat is point‑and‑click: select a weapon or spell, then click the monster, with cooldown timers after each use. This mix of exploration, party management, and real‑time action creates a deep, nostalgic adventure for solo players.

Rifts: Promise of Power adapts the pen‑and‑paper Rifts system to a turn‑based, action‑point combat engine for single‑player play. Players choose a proto‑class—Mercenary, Psionic, or Magic User—and later specialize into paths like Borg, Burster, or Ley Line Walker. The game introduces the exclusive Elemental Fusionist class, later incorporated into the Rifts Ultimate Edition core rulebook, and offers a shallow but broad sampling of the series' hundreds of classes, delivering strategic depth within a sci‑fi setting.

• Rich open‑world exploration
• Blend of 2D and 3D perspectives
• Simple yet engaging point‑and‑click combat
• Deep party customization

• Rich Rifts setting adapted for video games
• Clear turn‑based action‑point mechanics
• Variety of class and specialization options
• Unique Elemental Fusionist class

• Dated graphics may not appeal to modern eyes
• Limited UI feedback during cooldowns
• No multiplayer or co‑op options

• Limited to single‑player experience
• Shallow depth compared to tabletop source
• Outdated graphics by modern standards