Temple of Elemental Evil (ToEE), an RPG release from Atari/Troika Games, is a classic D&D adventure set in the Greyhawk realm.

Created using the new 3.5 rule set, it provides a fun, if occasionally frustrating, adventure for fans of D&D expansions. As the game begins, you lead a group of adventurers into a town where something just isn't right. Odd things are happening everywhere—people are gossiping about lizard people, and bugbears are seen wandering near the village. It's up to you to find out what is going on, and to stop the evil that is being spread.

You have the option of creating your own characters, or choosing from a variety of pre-generated heroes. There are 13 classes of characters in 9 different Alignments, creating the potential for all sorts of havoc. You specify your characters' races, deities, alignments, and skill sets. You can attempt to beef up your stats and adjust them, or choose Ironman mode and just take the first roll of the dice given to you.

Once your characters are created, you head into the village of Hommlet, where you get acquainted with the townsfolk and their problems. After you learn of the people's wants and desires, you can carry out their will…or, crush their hopes and dreams, depending on your alignment. Of course, this may also affect your characters; for example, a lawful Paladin in a group that steals would lose his ability to practice his/her religion.

You gain experience and progress in class as you battle various beasts of the realm on your way to the Temple of Elemental Evil, where most of the enemies are waiting to be slain. While the game is graphically stunning, it can get choppy when there are many characters on the screen, such as in the tavern in Hommlet. Also, some of the quests you are given during the game cannot always be completed, although this is mostly corrected with the first patch, found on the game's official website, www.greyhawkgame.com.

While the bugs are there to be found, the game is very fun to play and progress in. The graphics of the towns, the rivers, and characters are elegant and very well-drawn, and Atari would seem to have its second straight successful D&D product, capitalizing on the success of its Neverwinter Nights release. However, this game doesn't come close to the complexity and greatness of NWN. I'd give it 3 Headies and a Torso.