Everytime I play this game, I draw a map of the Grotto. I did it the first time I played it (back in 1997), but I guess there is a curse on this maps, because they ALWAYS got missing... So, for me, it became a sort of tradition to draw a new map (room by room) every time I wanted to play the game. I know that today I could found that map on Google... But I just get used to draw the damn thing by myself, LOL. (And yes, the last map I drew went missing again...)
I think Lands Of Lore: The Throne Of Chaos had something similar to the vanishing gems. You could put items into a cabinet in the wall and push a button. If it wasn't the right one, it would just be gone. That RPG was also made by Westwood.
Had fond memories of playing this back in the day, around the same time as a bunch of the later KingsQuest titles and I've had this on a short list for re-playing at some point... gees perhaps I should steer clear? Cool review btw.
This game is full of mazes - the Serpent's Grotto and the castle dungeon aren't the only ones. The castle itself is a completely separate one, and there are about three forest mazes as well. I'm pretty much the same as you - I used to love this game, but replaying it all these years later...makes me want to drop kick a puppy.
I'm playing this for the first time, and wow you weren't kidding. Not only do you solve the gem and potion puzzles by random guesswork, but the game actively misleads you on BOTH puzzles. For the gems, the wizard tells you to put them in order of seasons (starting with summer), which I tried for a long time. But only the first gem went along with this, and the rest were random. And then with the potions, Brandon keeps saying "I wish I had one of her cookbooks", which made me think that I needed to find a cookbook to solve that puzzle. There isn't one. I love the graphics and music though, and I understand why people have nostalgia for it (the same way I'm nostalgic for the King's Quest games even though most of them are super unfair).
When I first played the game I also died all the time in the maze, and fortunately mapped out the place by hand while placing the "intact" fireberries on the ground of the cavern.
To the reviewer: You don't have to die when you go through the maze. Place the fading fireberries on the ground of the cavern and it'll light the place up. The Westwood team designed the maze so that you never have to take a step into the next room without the fireberries burning up. Make sense?
As always, great review! Thank you! I wish you were still doing these mate... I'm halfway through your channel and I'm dreading the time when I see there's no more... I'm sure you're aware of this, but your voice is top notch, just spot on perfect, in all terms - tone and pace. I could hear you describe and analise videogames all day long, 'cause, besides your voice, you talk about aspects of the games that very few reviewers talk about, and you are able to convey so well the feeling you have towards the story and art in these games. I guess what I'm sayin' is, do go on reviewing man! :-) Cheers
I do agree with the pegasus landing part. When i played this as a kid, I didn't carry a flower when I needed it, and had to go to a previous save-- fortunately not starting all over.
I just finished replaying this game, and I agree with you: There really isn't much to like about it - but somehow I still did enjoy playing it. I remembered the gem puzzle from my childhood, so I was prepared for it - and it is only 4 restores, anyway. The general emptiness of the game were much worse: 200+ rooms were only about 30 of them have anything of interest. I did like the music though. I think that was the main reason I found some enjoyment in walking through all the empty rooms :-)
Hah! I think the only real terrible design is the "birthstone" - and if you save before inserting the stones, you're good. I absolutely love the Legend of Kyrandia series (the first being my favorite - I found Brandon's dialogue throughout the game to be so great!), although I feel like Legend of Kyrandia 2 was better designed (no mazes! Less random!) but Legend of Kyrandia 3... and the Cat Island is... a nightmare! I recently finished all three (long play and commentary) on my channel.
Man your review breaks my heart. I loved this game. It has a beautiful soundtrack and setting. And btw, whenever you get to a maze, you make a map yourself. Any adventure gamer worth his/her salt knows that.
...man... my brother and I would play this but we were young and the maze like environment was...meh... my father actually eventually made a map for us... I agree 2nd was the best.
Woah woah woah. Follow a walkthrough for the fireberry maze? What are you saying?! Suffering through that goddamn maze, way back in the day without the availability of online walkthroughs, was an important part of my childhood. Everyone should be forced to meddle through it too, I say! Also, this was a good game. The second in the series, Hand of Fate, is a GREAT game.
This is simply good old school grind and fun. I mean, did you just encourage people to go online and search for a map of this game? Naaaah, man - you make the map yourself; with pencil and paper; on math paper and so on. So, yeah, for me it's rose colored glasses all the way.
Everytime I play this game, I draw a map of the Grotto. I did it the first time I played it (back in 1997), but I guess there is a curse on this maps, because they ALWAYS got missing... So, for me, it became a sort of tradition to draw a new map (room by room) every time I wanted to play the game.
I know that today I could found that map on Google... But I just get used to draw the damn thing by myself, LOL. (And yes, the last map I drew went missing again...)
Funny, how I couldn't remember the name of this game until earlier this morning, but I never forgot how dreadful the maze was inside the grotto. Lol
I think Lands Of Lore: The Throne Of Chaos had something similar to the vanishing gems. You could put items into a cabinet in the wall and push a button. If it wasn't the right one, it would just be gone. That RPG was also made by Westwood.
Had fond memories of playing this back in the day, around the same time as a bunch of the later KingsQuest titles and I've had this on a short list for re-playing at some point... gees perhaps I should steer clear? Cool review btw.
This game is full of mazes - the Serpent's Grotto and the castle dungeon aren't the only ones. The castle itself is a completely separate one, and there are about three forest mazes as well.
I'm pretty much the same as you - I used to love this game, but replaying it all these years later...makes me want to drop kick a puppy.
I'm playing this for the first time, and wow you weren't kidding. Not only do you solve the gem and potion puzzles by random guesswork, but the game actively misleads you on BOTH puzzles. For the gems, the wizard tells you to put them in order of seasons (starting with summer), which I tried for a long time. But only the first gem went along with this, and the rest were random. And then with the potions, Brandon keeps saying "I wish I had one of her cookbooks", which made me think that I needed to find a cookbook to solve that puzzle. There isn't one.
I love the graphics and music though, and I understand why people have nostalgia for it (the same way I'm nostalgic for the King's Quest games even though most of them are super unfair).
When I first played the game I also died all the time in the maze, and fortunately mapped out the place by hand while placing the "intact" fireberries on the ground of the cavern.
To the reviewer: You don't have to die when you go through the maze. Place the fading fireberries on the ground of the cavern and it'll light the place up. The Westwood team designed the maze so that you never have to take a step into the next room without the fireberries burning up. Make sense?
I remember calling the tips hotline for this game quite a bit. Even back then it was like $3 a minute.
As always, great review! Thank you! I wish you were still doing these mate... I'm halfway through your channel and I'm dreading the time when I see there's no more...
I'm sure you're aware of this, but your voice is top notch, just spot on perfect, in all terms - tone and pace. I could hear you describe and analise videogames all day long, 'cause, besides your voice, you talk about aspects of the games that very few reviewers talk about, and you are able to convey so well the feeling you have towards the story and art in these games. I guess what I'm sayin' is, do go on reviewing man! :-)
Cheers
Great reviews. They remind me why I spent the last 2 years of my life developing a retro adventure game in the first place.
I do agree with the pegasus landing part. When i played this as a kid, I didn't carry a flower when I needed it, and had to go to a previous save-- fortunately not starting all over.
I just finished replaying this game, and I agree with you: There really isn't much to like about it - but somehow I still did enjoy playing it.
I remembered the gem puzzle from my childhood, so I was prepared for it - and it is only 4 restores, anyway. The general emptiness of the game were much worse: 200+ rooms were only about 30 of them have anything of interest.
I did like the music though. I think that was the main reason I found some enjoyment in walking through all the empty rooms :-)
Hah! I think the only real terrible design is the "birthstone" - and if you save before inserting the stones, you're good.
I absolutely love the Legend of Kyrandia series (the first being my favorite - I found Brandon's dialogue throughout the game to be so great!), although I feel like Legend of Kyrandia 2 was better designed (no mazes! Less random!) but Legend of Kyrandia 3... and the Cat Island is... a nightmare! I recently finished all three (long play and commentary) on my channel.
Man your review breaks my heart. I loved this game. It has a beautiful soundtrack and setting.
And btw, whenever you get to a maze, you make a map yourself. Any adventure gamer worth his/her salt knows that.
There are only two apples in the game. If you unwittingly eat both you make the game unbeatable.
How are the graphics so good and smooth? Mine was a 320x200.
DosBox with filters or ScummVM
Never played it, visually looks very beautifull but seems so frustrating.
...man... my brother and I would play this but we were young and the maze like environment was...meh... my father actually eventually made a map for us...
I agree 2nd was the best.
Woah woah woah. Follow a walkthrough for the fireberry maze? What are you saying?! Suffering through that goddamn maze, way back in the day without the availability of online walkthroughs, was an important part of my childhood. Everyone should be forced to meddle through it too, I say! Also, this was a good game. The second in the series, Hand of Fate, is a GREAT game.
Another excellent review. Thank you!
This is simply good old school grind and fun. I mean, did you just encourage people to go online and search for a map of this game? Naaaah, man - you make the map yourself; with pencil and paper; on math paper and so on. So, yeah, for me it's rose colored glasses all the way.
I still love this game.
I was wondering if anyone else in the world remembered this game...lol. Thank God for Google and RUclips :)
@ArixOdragc hah!
Yea you can.
Going on the Internet and finding a map of the cave? I used to draw it myself, for God's sake!
things have improved : ) Retro gaming dose not need to relive the worst parts.. only the best.
@@AdventureReviews Two weeks ago played it again and drew everything again, enjoyed every bit of it)
@@pushista9322 hehe... each to their own, glad you had fun.
This game is so beautiful, I mean it, but at the same time so infuriating... I have very fond memories of it though :'(