Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown

Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown is a classic first-person dungeon crawler RPG inspired by 90s Western RPGs, blending old-school gameplay with modern streamlining. Set in a lighthearted, medieval fantasy world, the game offers turn-based combat, a fairy-tale atmosphere, and a mix of epic and humorous storytelling, designed for players seeking a nostalgic yet accessible adventure without excessive grind.

Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown – A Modern Homage to Classic Dungeon Crawlers

Introduction: A Love Letter to the Golden Age of RPGs

Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown is a game that wears its influences proudly on its sleeve. Developed by Silver Lemur Games, a studio essentially run by a single visionary, Krzysztof Koźmik, this title is a deliberate throwback to the dungeon-crawling RPGs of the 1990s, particularly the Might and Magic series (3-5), Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder II, and the Gold Box games like Champions of Krynn. Released in 2019, it arrived at a time when retro-inspired RPGs were experiencing a renaissance, yet it carved out a niche for itself by adhering so closely to the design philosophies of its predecessors—both their strengths and their quirks.

At its core, Legends of Amberland is a first-person, turn-based, party-based dungeon crawler with grid-based movement and a strong emphasis on exploration, combat, and character progression. It is a game that unapologetically embraces the “blobber” subgenre, where players control a party of adventurers as a single unit, navigating labyrinthine dungeons and an expansive overworld. The game’s premise is simple yet intriguing: a royal wizard discovers that a powerful spell of forgetfulness has erased the memory of an ancient crown from the minds of the kingdom’s inhabitants. The player’s party is tasked with uncovering the crown’s whereabouts and lifting the spell, all while contending with the looming threat of an ogre invasion.

What makes Legends of Amberland fascinating is its dual identity. On one hand, it is a meticulously crafted homage to the games of yesteryear, capturing the essence of what made those titles so beloved. On the other, it is a modern indie game, streamlined and polished for contemporary audiences, yet not entirely free from the limitations of its one-man development team. This review will delve deep into every facet of the game, from its development history to its narrative, gameplay mechanics, world-building, and its place in the broader context of RPG history.

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Development History & Context: A Labor of Love

The Studio and the Vision

Silver Lemur Games is, for all intents and purposes, a one-person studio. Krzysztof Koźmik, the game’s designer and programmer, is the driving force behind Legends of Amberland. His vision was clear from the outset: to create a game that recaptured the magic of the 1990s Western RPGs he grew up with. In an era where many indie developers were experimenting with roguelikes, Metroidvanias, or narrative-driven experiences, Koźmik chose to revive a subgenre that had largely faded from the mainstream—first-person dungeon crawlers.

Koźmik’s inspiration was deeply personal. He sought to create a game that was “light, fairy tale, epic, heroic, and slightly humorous,” a stark contrast to the darker, grittier RPGs that dominated the market in the late 2010s. He wanted a game that didn’t demand endless hours of grinding or require players to sink dozens of hours into a single playthrough. Instead, Legends of Amberland was designed to be accessible, nostalgic, and, above all, fun.

Technological Constraints and Design Choices

Given the game’s indie roots, Koźmik faced significant technological and resource constraints. Unlike the AAA studios of the 1990s, which had teams of artists, programmers, and designers, Koźmik had to outsource much of the game’s visual and audio elements. The pixel art, handled by Krzysztof Matys, is a standout feature, evoking the aesthetic of classic RPGs while maintaining a modern polish. The music, composed by Eric Matyas and Markus Heichelbech, is similarly nostalgic, with tracks that feel like they could have been lifted straight from a Might and Magic game.

The game’s engine is built to be lightweight and efficient, allowing it to run on virtually any modern hardware, including older machines. This was a deliberate choice, ensuring that the game would be accessible to as wide an audience as possible. The turn-based combat and grid-based movement are not just nods to retro design but also practical solutions to the limitations of a small development team.

The Gaming Landscape at Release

Legends of Amberland was released in August 2019, a time when the RPG genre was experiencing a resurgence. Games like Divinity: Original Sin 2, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, and Wasteland 3 were dominating the CRPG space, offering deep, narrative-driven experiences with modern sensibilities. Meanwhile, indie developers were exploring retro-inspired designs, with titles like Legend of Grimrock and Underworld Ascendant reviving the dungeon-crawling subgenre.

However, Legends of Amberland stood out by embracing a more traditional, almost purist approach to dungeon crawling. While Legend of Grimrock and its sequel leaned into puzzle-solving and environmental interaction, Legends of Amberland focused on streamlined combat, fast-paced exploration, and a straightforward quest structure. This made it more accessible to players who wanted the nostalgia of classic RPGs without the frustration of some of their more archaic design choices.

The game’s release on Steam and GOG was met with modest commercial success, though it struggled to gain widespread critical acclaim. Its subsequent port to the Nintendo Switch in 2020 helped it reach a broader audience, particularly those who appreciated its retro aesthetic and turn-based gameplay on a handheld device.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive: A Fairy Tale Quest

Plot Overview

The story of Legends of Amberland is deliberately simple, drawing inspiration from classic fairy tales and heroic fantasy. The game begins with the royal wizard discovering that a powerful spell of forgetfulness has erased the memory of the kingdom’s ancient crown from the minds of its people. The crown, once a symbol of the kingdom’s power and unity, is now lost to history, and its absence has left the land vulnerable to invasion by ogres and other dark forces.

The player’s party is summoned by the royal wizard and tasked with uncovering the crown’s whereabouts, lifting the spell, and restoring the kingdom’s strength. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters, from dwarven miners to elven sages, each with their own quests and challenges. The narrative is not particularly complex, but it is charming in its earnestness, evoking the spirit of classic fantasy adventures.

Characters and Dialogue

The game’s characters are archetypal, fitting neatly into classic fantasy roles. There are no deep, morally ambiguous protagonists here—just noble heroes on a quest to save the kingdom. The dialogue is functional rather than poetic, serving primarily to advance the plot and provide quest objectives. While this lack of depth might disappoint players accustomed to modern RPGs with branching narratives and complex character interactions, it aligns perfectly with the game’s retro inspirations.

One of the more interesting aspects of the narrative is its non-linear structure. The world is open from the beginning, with few locked areas, allowing players to explore at their own pace. Quests can be completed in different orders, and some are even optional, though completing them all is necessary to fully experience the game’s content. This design choice reinforces the game’s focus on exploration and player agency, a hallmark of classic RPGs.

Themes: Nostalgia, Heroism, and the Power of Memory

At its heart, Legends of Amberland is a game about memory and legacy. The central conflict revolves around a spell that has erased the memory of the crown, symbolizing the loss of history and identity. The player’s quest to restore the crown is, in many ways, a quest to reclaim the past and ensure that it is not forgotten.

This theme is particularly resonant given the game’s status as a homage to classic RPGs. Koźmik’s decision to create a game that so closely mirrors the design and aesthetic of 1990s RPGs is itself an act of preservation, a way of ensuring that the legacy of those games is not lost to time. In this sense, Legends of Amberland is not just a game about memory—it is a game that is memory, a living tribute to the titles that inspired it.

The game also explores themes of heroism and the power of unity. The player’s party is a diverse group of adventurers, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, who must work together to overcome the challenges they face. This emphasis on teamwork and cooperation is reflected in the game’s mechanics, particularly its party-based combat system, which rewards strategic positioning and coordination.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems: A Retro Revival with Modern Tweaks

Core Gameplay Loop

Legends of Amberland is, at its core, a dungeon crawler. The gameplay loop is straightforward: explore the overworld, enter dungeons, fight monsters, collect loot, level up, and repeat. The game’s turn-based combat and grid-based movement are reminiscent of classic titles like Might and Magic III, but with a few modern tweaks to streamline the experience.

One of the most notable aspects of the gameplay is its speed. Combat is fast-paced, with minimal downtime between actions. This is a deliberate design choice, aimed at reducing the tedium that often plagued older dungeon crawlers. Similarly, travel between locations is quick, with no loading screens or unnecessary delays. The game’s emphasis on efficiency ensures that players spend more time engaged in meaningful gameplay and less time waiting for animations or transitions.

Combat System

The combat system in Legends of Amberland is turn-based and tactical, with a strong emphasis on party positioning. The player controls a party of seven characters, arranged in a 3-1-3 formation (three frontline fighters, one middle character, and three backline support). Enemies attack the frontline characters first, making tanky warriors and knights essential for survival.

Combat is initiated when the player’s party encounters an enemy on the map. The game uses a traditional turn-based system, with each character and enemy taking actions in sequence. The player can choose to attack, cast spells, use items, or flee. The lack of random encounters is a welcome change from some classic RPGs, as it allows players to engage in combat on their own terms.

One of the game’s most interesting mechanics is its encumbrance system. Each character has a weight limit that determines how much equipment they can carry. This system adds a layer of strategy to character progression, as players must balance the benefits of heavier armor and weapons against the penalties of reduced mobility and spellcasting efficiency. For example, a wizard wearing plate mail will suffer a significant reduction in their Arcane stat, making their spells less effective.

Character Progression

Character progression in Legends of Amberland is straightforward but satisfying. Players can create their party from scratch, choosing from a variety of races, classes, and sub-races. The game offers a good deal of customization, though some classes and races are more viable than others. Warriors and knights, for instance, are essential for frontline combat, while wizards and healers provide crucial support.

Leveling up is a simple process: defeat enemies, gain experience, and allocate stat points. The game does not feature a traditional skill tree or complex progression system, which may disappoint players accustomed to modern RPGs. However, this simplicity is in keeping with the game’s retro inspirations, where character growth was often more about raw stats than intricate skill builds.

Inventory and Equipment

The inventory system in Legends of Amberland is one of its most modernized features. Unlike classic RPGs, which often featured cumbersome inventory management, Legends of Amberland offers a streamlined, weightless bag system. Players can carry an unlimited number of items, though equipped gear is still subject to the encumbrance system.

Equipment is varied and often randomized, with chests containing loot that can differ from one playthrough to the next. This adds a layer of replayability, as players may encounter different gear in subsequent runs. However, the randomized loot system can also be frustrating, as it may result in players finding redundant or useless items.

Questing and Exploration

Exploration is a key component of Legends of Amberland. The game features a large overworld with numerous dungeons, towns, and points of interest. The world is non-linear, with few locked areas, allowing players to explore at their own pace. Quests are plentiful, though many are straightforward fetch or kill missions. While this lack of complexity may disappoint some players, it aligns with the game’s retro sensibilities.

One of the game’s most notable features is its fast-travel system, which allows players to instantly teleport to previously visited locations. This system is a welcome addition, as it reduces the tedium of backtracking and allows players to focus on exploration and combat.

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World-Building, Art & Sound: A Nostalgic Fantasy Realm

Setting and Atmosphere

Legends of Amberland takes place in a classic fantasy world, complete with castles, dungeons, forests, and deserts. The setting is deliberately generic, drawing inspiration from the archetypal fantasy realms of Dungeons & Dragons and Might and Magic. While this lack of originality may disappoint players seeking a unique world, it serves the game’s purpose well, evoking a sense of nostalgia and familiarity.

The game’s atmosphere is lighthearted and heroic, with a touch of humor. The story is not particularly dark or complex, but it is charming in its simplicity. The world feels alive, with NPCs offering quests, merchants selling gear, and enemies lurking in every dungeon. The lack of random encounters ensures that exploration is rewarding rather than tedious.

Visual Design

The visual design of Legends of Amberland is one of its strongest features. The pixel art, created by Krzysztof Matys, is a loving homage to the graphics of 1990s RPGs. The game’s dungeons, monsters, and characters are all rendered in a style that is both retro and modern, with a level of detail and polish that sets it apart from many indie titles.

The game’s dungeons are particularly well-designed, with varied layouts and distinct visual themes. Each dungeon has its own unique aesthetic, from the eerie glow of a wizard’s tower to the damp, moss-covered walls of a subterranean cave. The overworld is similarly diverse, with forests, deserts, and mountains all rendered in vibrant pixel art.

Sound and Music

The sound design in Legends of Amberland is functional but unremarkable. The game features a small selection of sound effects, from the clanging of swords to the casting of spells. While these effects are serviceable, they lack the depth and variety of modern RPGs.

The music, composed by Eric Matyas and Markus Heichelbech, is one of the game’s highlights. The soundtrack is a mix of orchestral and synth tracks, evoking the sound of classic RPGs. Each dungeon and location has its own unique theme, adding to the game’s immersive atmosphere. While the music is not particularly complex or innovative, it is well-suited to the game’s retro aesthetic.

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Reception & Legacy: A Niche Classic

Critical Reception

Legends of Amberland received mixed reviews upon release. Critics praised the game’s faithful recreation of classic dungeon-crawling mechanics and its charming retro aesthetic. However, many also noted its lack of innovation and its adherence to some of the more frustrating aspects of older RPGs.

Digitally Downloaded, for instance, praised the game for capturing the appeal of Gold Box-era RPGs but criticized it for emulating their flaws as well. Similarly, eShopper Reviews noted that while the game streamlined many of the core mechanics of the genre, it suffered from feeling generic and lacking in depth.

Despite these criticisms, the game found a dedicated fanbase, particularly among players who appreciated its nostalgic design and fast-paced gameplay. On Steam, the game has a “Very Positive” rating, with 94% of reviews recommending it.

Commercial Performance

Commercially, Legends of Amberland was a modest success. It sold well enough to justify a sequel, Legends of Amberland II: The Song of Trees, which was released in 2023. The game’s port to the Nintendo Switch in 2020 helped it reach a broader audience, particularly among players who enjoyed its turn-based combat on a handheld device.

Influence and Legacy

Legends of Amberland is not a game that will redefine the RPG genre, but it is an important title in the context of retro-inspired dungeon crawlers. It proves that there is still an audience for games that embrace the design philosophies of the 1990s, even in an era dominated by open-world RPGs and narrative-driven experiences.

The game’s success has also demonstrated the viability of indie dungeon crawlers, paving the way for other developers to explore the genre. Titles like The Darkness Below and Stellar Monarch (also developed by Silver Lemur Games) owe a debt to Legends of Amberland, which proved that there is still a market for classic-style RPGs.

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Conclusion: A Flawed but Charming Homage

Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown is a game that defies easy categorization. It is simultaneously a loving tribute to the dungeon crawlers of the 1990s and a modern indie RPG with streamlined mechanics and a polished aesthetic. It is a game that embraces the strengths of its inspirations while also inheriting some of their flaws.

For players who grew up with Might and Magic and Dungeon Master, Legends of Amberland will feel like a long-lost friend—a familiar experience that evokes the magic of those classic titles. For newer players, it offers a accessible entry point into the dungeon-crawling subgenre, with fast-paced combat, a straightforward quest structure, and a charming, lighthearted story.

However, the game is not without its issues. Its lack of depth in certain areas, particularly its quest design and character progression, may disappoint players accustomed to more complex RPGs. Its adherence to some of the more frustrating aspects of retro design, such as its randomized loot system and occasional lack of guidance, can also be frustrating.

Ultimately, Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be—a nostalgic, fast-paced, and fun dungeon crawler—and it succeeds in that goal. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is a charming and enjoyable experience that scratches an itch few other games can.

Final Verdict: 7.5/10 – A flawed but charming homage to classic dungeon crawlers, perfect for fans of retro RPGs and those seeking a nostalgic adventure.

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Additional Notes

• Platforms: Windows, Nintendo Switch
• Release Date: August 1, 2019 (Windows); April 20, 2020 (Switch)
• Developer: Silver Lemur Games
• Publisher: Silver Lemur Games, Pineapple Works (Switch)
• Genre: Dungeon Crawler, Turn-Based RPG, Party-Based RPG
• Playtime: 20-50 hours (typical playthrough: 25-40 hours)

Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown is a game that deserves to be remembered, not just for its nostalgic appeal, but for its role in reviving a subgenre that had largely faded from the mainstream. It is a testament to the power of indie development and the enduring legacy of classic RPGs.