Demon Stalkers Raid On Doomfane

Demon Stalkers: The Raid on Doomfane - the 1987 top-down action RPG for
Commodore 64 from Electronic Arts.

Descend through the cursed halls of Doomfane, slaying monsters,
collecting keys, and uncovering the mystery of the ancient temple’s
origin.

Core loop
- explore maze-like dungeons floor by floor
- fight demons, skeletons, and traps in real time
- collect keys, food, and artifacts to survive and advance
- find runes to piece together the story of Doomfane

Systems and items
- two-player co-op - simultaneous play with separate inventories
- weapons and scrolls - ranged or magical attacks with limited use
- keys and doors - manage supplies carefully to avoid dead ends
- rune tablets - lore fragments that reveal backstory and clues

Level design and feel
Over 100 dungeon floors filled with monsters, teleporters, and secrets.
The pace mixes frantic arcade combat with light puzzle-solving. Smooth
scrolling and eerie music create a foreboding, Gauntlet-like atmosphere.

Why it is notable
- developed by Micro Forté, later known for “Fallout Tactics”
- often compared to “Gauntlet” but with stronger narrative depth
- includes password-based save system for extended campaigns

Tips
- clear enemies methodically—rushing leads to swarming traps
- conserve arrows and scrolls for boss-level encounters
- collect rune pieces; missing them locks out parts of the ending

At a glance
Year - 1987
Developer - Micro Forté
Design and programming - John De Margheriti - Joseph Hewitt
Graphics - Micro Forté team
Music - David Whittaker
Publisher - Electronic Arts
Genre - Action RPG
Players - 1 or 2 simultaneous (co-op)
Controls - Joystick in port 2 (port 1 for player two)