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

I rarely review the first game in a series AFTER the second title, but I was reassured Legends of Amberland was just as fun, accessible, and easy to get into as the second, and I can safely say I was not lied to.

First, a bit of background. Legends of Amberland is designed as a throwback to the earliest video game RPGs, called CRPGs (computer RPGs). Such early titles as Might and Magic and Wizardry debuted in the 1980s and were the forefathers of nigh all digital RPGs since. Legends of Amberland is a modern-day take on their conventions. It has a story to give you a reason to play, but for the most part, it's not super deep nor has an overarching plot spanning multiple titles. While the first and second games do share a world and some references, each is self-contained.

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 (except for towns, they act more as hub worlds with menus for various services than being properly explorable like the second game) 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. Like the second, there are no audio clips of voices, save a few generic grunts here and there.

The game controls harken back to the old days of early mouse movement where you have 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.

Like the second game I reviewed prior, this title uses the very same game engine, with improvements to the second having been backported to the first where needed. Stability is rock solid. If you can turn your computer on, you can run this game. While not officially Verified for Steam Deck use, I can confirm it works just as well as the second game, which is officially at the Verified level. It is playable from start to finish on Linux of all kinds via Steam Proton.

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 fairytale-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. There is a reference or two to alcoholic beverages, mostly their existence and little more.

Like the second game, this is not going to win awards for originality, but it's technically sound and does its job of being a fun throwback to the olden days of classic CRPGs. Morally, there is not very much at all to be overly concerned about for nigh any age. Like the second, this game does a great job of scratching any retro CRPG itch you may have, and I heavily recommend getting it if you feel the same. If possible, try to get it on sale as part of a bundle with the second title.