Legend
| Developer: N/A | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Mindscape | Sound: |
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| Year: 1992 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Role-playing game | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
8/10 | |
The forces of Chaos are threatening the kingdom of Trazere. Four heroes join forces to confront them…
Known as The Four Crystals of Trazere in the United States, Legend might remind you of Hero Quest at first glance. However, unlike its turn-based counterpart, this game plays out in real time. This makes it more dynamic but also demands extra effort to master the frantic, often chaotic combat. With its isometric 3D presentation and intuitive interface, I’d say it’s a spiritual ancestor to “modern” RPGs like Baldur’s Gate (PC, 1998).
You’ll guide a party of four adventurers—your standard lineup of warrior, thief, mage, and bard—each of whom can be individually controlled within the same room. You’re free to explore the realm via the “world map” mode, which displays moving armies and city statuses like a strategy game, or you can take the traditional route: dungeon crawling and questing in whatever order you prefer.
The rune-based spell creation system is complex and practically demands the manual. Even in the first dungeon, you’ll need to use your mortar and pestle to open two doors, setting the tone for one of your main tasks: gathering ingredients and mixing them into new recipes. The possible combinations are almost endless!
Beyond that, the gameplay is classic RPG fare: epic battles, challenging puzzles involving doors and levers, and plenty of treasure and enchanted gear to keep you hooked for hours. The mouse controls are straightforward, and the overall presentation is polished. Notably, this was one of the first RPGs to include automatic mapping. A delightful touch: the music you hear in dungeons is played by your bard, with each tune providing specific bonuses.
You can find it on Planet Emulation under “F” as The Four Crystals of Trazere.
The sequel, Worlds of Legend: Son of the Empire, followed in 1993.
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