C&VG


Legend
By Century
Spectrum 48K

 
Published in Computer & Video Games #44

Legend

The instruction book read "Legend, the game, is not based on or inspired by Legend, the book." This raised a big question in my mind as I loaded the game into my Spectrum. Why use the title 'Legend' and then why include the 380-page book?!

These questions were answered just a few moves into the Adventure for, as I was bidding Horeb the innkeeper farewell, he beckoned me over to kiss his three daughters, saying "You remember their names, of course?"

Although the game does not follow the plot of the book, it is set in the world of Legend, and the characters are the same. You must therefore read the book to find out who's who and to answer some historical questions.

Legend

You take the part of Rek, adopted son of Horeb, with the task of becoming the Eagle of Bronze and raise an army to defend Dros Delnoch against the Nadir barbarians from the north. Not an easy task for, as well as trying to do all that, you must search the kingdom for the magic armour and sword of the Eagle.

The method of input and output is unusual, with full text used to describe the locations and answer the more complex puzzles, whilst multi-choice input is used for movement. Graphics come into play when you enter into combat with other characters, or run the length of a Cave of Doom. To negotiate these caves is rather like driving north up the southbound carriageway of the M1.

I found that coming to grips with some of the objects take some thinking about. In a large number of locations, you are given the option to search, and in most cases you get a reply like: "What would you like to find?" If, for example, you can deduce what you need to gain entry into a tower in the Valley of Tears that item will then turn up!

Should you become tired of playing the Adventure, you can flip the tape and play part two which is an arcade game. This recreates the final battle at Dors Drenai but, finding it somewhat repetitive, I soon gave up in favour of part one.