I would like to thank Silver Lemur Games for the review key to this title.

Three dictums are oft-cited. First, simple is best. Second, classics never die. And finally, retro never goes out of style. Legends of Amberland II applies all three to its easy-to-learn yet very entertaining retro computer RPG experience and has a lot to recommend.

The game is a mega-throwback to the computer RPGs (CRPG) of the 80s. Games like Wizardry, Might and Magic, and Ultima. That means lots of grid-based maps, first-person perspectives, hand-drawn graphics, and a charming high fantasy aesthetic. Legends of Amberland II draws heavily from this well but does have some modern touches. Worth noting it does have a story, but it's mostly just an excuse to get your adventure started so you can do all sorts of quests and adventures.

Like most CRPGs, it uses a party-based engine that takes more than a few notes from Dungeons and Dragons. You do quests, explore the overworld and dungeons, fight monsters, and so on. It all takes place in a world where time passes and various new areas can be explored depending on your equipment, skills, and story progression. Thankfully, unlike the CRPGs of the 1980s, this game doesn't force you to draw your own maps on graph paper and has a much more easily navigable interface that doesn't require memorizing half the keyboard.

Graphically, this is a retro-inspired title that adheres closely to the hand-drawn Western cartoon art common during the eighties and early nineties, and it all has a very pixel-based aesthetic for the authentic old-school experience. It's very simple yet charming and if you enjoy this aesthetic, like I do, you'll feel right at home.

The music and sounds are a throwback to the days of chiptune-style music, except with more modern instrumentation, and set the high fantasy mood pretty well. 

The game controls harken back to the old days of early mouse movement where you had to manually change your direction in places by pressing left or right to turn until you faced the proper direction and forward and back would help you move. Thankfully, unlike the days of old, these tank-style controls are far more responsive and I found it easy to get used to. You can use a mouse and frankly, it does make using certain menus feel better, but the game can be played entirely with a keyboard, though you'll need to remember some key shortcuts. Steam-compatible game controllers are also supported, though you'll have to use the controller shoulder buttons for turning and using key shortcuts modified for the controller for the menus. Thankfully, the game does have a built-in guide for the shortcuts so they can be memorized with a bit of practice.

Game stability is solid. If you can turn your computer on, you can run this game. It natively supports Windows, but will run on Linux via Steam Proton and is Verified for the Steam Deck.

This game does not have very many moral issues. The creator was kind enough to answer questions, confirming they are a Catholic who at best used a small portion of J.R. Tolkien's The Simillarion for inspiration and strove to keep this as tame as possible.

Violence is typical RPG style "give orders and watch it happen". There is no blood or gore. Language is quite clean and there is nothing of concern in the sexual content area. The game takes pains to avoid the occult and all magic is entirely fictional and generic. At best, some mild fairy tale-style magic is shown, but that's about it. Morally and ethically, your party is a legitimate band of heroic adventurers who do standard quests for various people and legitimate authority is sought for many of them. 

It's not going to win awards for breaking new ground, but technically, it's sound and a nice modernized retro throwback to the CRPG era of yore. Morally, it's acceptable for nigh any age. Suffice it to say, as someone who had their retro RPG itch scratched nicely by this game, I highly recommend it.