Eat, Sleep, Slay
Times of Lore, released in 1989 by Origin Systems, might initially appear like another Ultima, but it's actually more of an action-adventure. The story revolves around King Valwyn of Albareth, who once defended his kingdom against invading barbarian forces. This victory came at a terrible cost. Wounded, he abandoned the city in search of healing only to vanish without a trace. Well, that was a wise move! Now the kingdom is vulnerable, and the land cries out for a hero. Yep, you! Your mission is to journey across Albareth in search of three powerful artefacts once thought to safeguard the realm. Let’s get out there and save the day!
The game starts with the "Times of Lore" logo being chiselled and coloured, a process I thoroughly enjoyed watching unfold. When you begin, a wonderful introduction featuring fantastic artwork details the storyline. I loved this as it is informative and atmospheric, and it features remarkably well-drawn illustrations. After that, you choose your hero; nothing more. It's not true character creation with stats, skills, rolls, etc. Simply pick from three pre-made archetypes: a barbarian, a knight, or a valkyrie. They all appear much the same, but I noticed the Valkyrie seemed to have weaker damage, so I went with the Knight.
Your adventure begins after spending a night in a tavern in Eralan. Wipe the sleep from your eyes and head downstairs - it's like a Wetherspoons, with people already up and enjoying themselves. Take a look around, and you will soon see a Monk who asks for your help. He sends you on your first quest: recovering the Foretelling Stones from the woodlands north of town. Before you leave, have a chat with the Innkeeper to see what he knows and maybe buy some provisions for the journey. There are various Inns scattered about the land, and you'll soon find that these places are most essential. Also, conversations feel surprisingly satisfying, especially compared to the limited one-liners I recently experienced in Questron II.
I never thought I’d quickly find another game to capture my interest so soon, but here we are...
With three characters to choose from, I went straight for the burly knight!
As you explore, you'll meet plenty of people... To kill.
Adventures of Albareth
As you begin this quest, it feels like the game is offering a tutorial. The initial gameplay will feel sluggish, a deliberate design choice due to the items you’ll later seek out (no spoilers). You quickly grasp the structure and gameplay mechanics, such as the sudden unfriendliness of creatures outside the town. Yep, the countryside is teeming with wandering enemies like Orcs, Skeletons, Rogues, and more (later).
The most striking thing about Times of Lore is the sheer size of its world. Albareth feels genuinely enormous. There’s freedom to wander almost anywhere you like, and that open-ended exploration is easily one of the game’s biggest strengths. It reminded me of Questron II in that respect, only on a much larger scale. The curious part is that this game somehow feels both linear and non-linear, at the same time.
Everything is viewed from above, with movement in four directions. Combat is incredibly simple and brutally direct: just hammer the fire button to swing away at anything that looks mean. Defeated enemies collapse into tombstones and occasionally leave behind items. Early on, I found a throwing dagger, which adds a ranged attack (but it’s a bit annoying that it doesn’t automatically collect when walking over it).
The user interface is excellent and performs as well as in Battlemaster, which I found most pleasing. There are several icons at the bottom of the screen that you can access by tapping the spacebar: talking, examining, picking up items, checking your inventory, giving items, and more. After only a few minutes, it becomes second nature, and it fits the style well when interacting with someone/something.
Use the icon to check your inventory! Make sure you have enough rations, it's a long journey...
What I love about the characters is, oddly, their death as they crumble into bones.
The wilderness is dangerous, but towns are friendly. So, chit-chat with the locals.
Wandering Into Trouble
As you begin the Monk's quest, you'll notice there are no limits. Nothing physically stops you from ignoring him and heading off in a completely different direction. Of course, early on, this freedom can be dangerous, as you're not fully equipped (as you'll soon discover). Also, more than once, I caught myself wondering whether Albareth might actually be a touch too big for its own good. Inside the box is a map - pin it on your wall.
So, getting back on course, we should instead follow his request and head north into the forest. As you travel, you'll notice that the world is in real-time, with people and monsters going about their daily business. Time is remarkably well thought out, using a long day/night schedule. This doesn't affect gameplay much, but certain key characters might be asleep at night. And no, you can't wake them up!
The world is daunting, and you're glad there is a map inside the box (or online for those with a dodgy copy). Follow the track, passing by a building that you should investigate. A little later, you begin to see water - that marks the time to head into those forests to properly begin. These woods are a maze, but remember the dead ends as you turn around to take the right track. Eventually, you will reach an opening, and battle commences. These guys are tough!! Why not use the static obstacles to your advantage?
Have I mentioned the map inside the box enough times? Also, get ready to make notes...
Surely you checked out that cabin in the woods?
After what feels like a slog, you make it to the campsite for your first quest!!
No Gold, No Bed
By now, you've realised that Times of Lore is not an RPG in the traditional sense. Sure, there’s an overhead viewpoint reminiscent of Ultima, towns filled with NPCs offering hints and gossip, food to keep you alive, taverns to sleep in, and even a day/night cycle. However, there are no experience points, levelling systems, armour upgrades, or much real progression beyond obtaining some important items later on.
Other RPG features also seem absent, such as reputation systems, although after many hours of play, I noticed something curious: people happily welcomed me in Eralan and Lankwell, yet those in Hampton and the Last Hope Inn suddenly started ignoring me. Perhaps I accidentally killed someone important, or maybe I was a little too enthusiastic, swinging my weapon near civilisation rather than safely out in the wilderness.
Hit points are displayed as a burning candle down the side of the screen - the lower the flame sinks, the worse your condition becomes. Standing still restores a tiny amount of health, although it’s painfully slow, making inns the best option for recovery and saving your progress. Interestingly, being inside (most) buildings is always a safe refuge from wandering enemies. Also, it doesn't cost a penny! If you have time?
The game has a mild magic system with a few potions and scrolls (you can carry only one of each type). However, there is no identification scroll, and using the menu's eyeball option often provides little information beyond its appearance, not what it does. Thankfully, I did find a green potion, which proved most helpful, especially during those underground explorations, as it restores your energy/hit points.
Like a Gauntlet warrior, get up close and personal to hit your opponent hard in the face. As you can only move in four directions, so can the enemies. Their path to you is humorously odd, but it works well. As you progress, good explorers will easily find alternative weapons after listening to NPC chatter. Again, no spoilers as I don't wish to ruin the adventure, but there is a superb range weapon south of your starting point.
Gold is used differently than I expected, as there are no shops or trade possibilities. Instead, it's used for a night's rest at a tavern (also saves the game). Additionally, you can also purchase provisions (food packs), which your character will automatically eat at periodic times. So, let that gold build up to around 100+ units so you can rest often, eat well, and be ready to buy the upgrades, if you explore well enough.
The challenge comes from listening to NPC clues, making notes, exploring unfamiliar territory, and figuring out where you're expected to go next. Your main concern is remembering what you've been told, listening to advice, using the map, and keeping track of food supplies. Staying alive is paramount. Shocking, right?
Much of that was tough to explain without using spoilers!! So, read on...
