Thoughts by SB1988 (10 Jul 2017) – PC (DOS)
Easily one of my all-time personal favorites, The Legend of Kyrandia features stunning artwork, gorgeous music and an incredibly user-friendly environment.
The story is simple: Malcolm, the evil jester, has escaped after 18 years of imprisonment for murdering the king and queen. Wreaking havoc on the land, he threatens to destroy Kyrandia once and for all, unless Brandon, rightful heir to the throne, is able to defeat him.
The first entry in the Fables & Fiends series, and Westwood Studios' first foray into the world of 3rd person point-and-click adventure gaming, The Legend of Kyrandia is easy to play yet will prove a challenge to newcomers. Many of the tasks are trial-and-error based; supporting characters will often give you just enough hints to get started, but it’s up to you to figure out what to do with those hints. The solutions won’t be handed to you on a plate – you’ll have to deduce what comes next yourself. There’s also a complex labyrinth segment which will require mapping. In many ways, Kyrandia plays like a text adventure with graphics, which is fitting, considering the title is based upon a text adventure.
If you’re willing to give the gameplay mechanics a chance, you’ll be rewarded by the sumptuous atmosphere. The Legend of Kyrandia features some of the best pixelart of all time, and Frank Klepacki’s incredible score perfectly complements each area of Kyrandia. The numerous characters also prove a delight – from the sinister evilness of Malcolm, to Brandon’s constant moaning and groaning, to the diverse personalities of the four Royal Mystics (noble Kallak, patient Brynn, befuddled Darm and wisecracking Zanthia), colorful characters are peppered throughout your journey.
First released on floppy disk, the game also had a well-received Amiga port. The later CD-ROM version included digitized speech, with Command & Conquer's Joe Kucan providing the voice of Brandon.
Though it may not be as complex and layered as many of Sierra On-Line’s many titles, this little gem is well worth your time and effort, and is a must for anyone who enjoys escaping into worlds of beautiful fantasy.