Swashbuckle in first-person
Legends of Valour is one of the last Atari ST games I bought before shop shelves started to fill with PC/console games. I remember that it received relatively favourable reviews, with its first-person engine getting lots of praise for a 16-bit computer. Personally, I loved it and was smitten by its storyline, depth and longevity, not to mention playing in what felt like a cross between Wolfenstein and Dungeons and Dragons.
Our journey begins in the city of Mitteldorf in search of our cousin, Sven. He previously set out to find his fortune and is now missing - what an idiot. It's been far too long since anybody heard from him, and thus, our adventure begins. The storyline is a little lame, but it leads you into a world fresh and full of strife.
At the start of the adventure, players can choose to become a Human, Elf or Dwarf. Each race possesses different strengths and weaknesses, influencing everything from combat effectiveness to interactions. Begin by designing your appearance, including clothing and armament. Also, select hair, eyes, nose, and so on to create your demi-god, or perhaps your character will end up looking like a freak? Well, mine did lol.
Let's take a break and see the first screenshot...
It isn't long before somebody nice and welcoming pops up to greet us as new travellers.
Get lost ...in an amazing world!
Once you're dandy, enter the city and heed the advice from the local who pops up for a chat. I would advise you to take the time to explore and familiarise yourself with your surroundings, because this is such a massive place and you will need the necessary amenities, like safe lodgings, income, beer to sup, and grub to nosh. Yes, it's pen-and-paper time! Think of this game as your new virtual life, and be prepared.
Mitteldorf is a fortress city, populated with interesting characters, secretive guilds, curious places, and even a labyrinth of dungeons hidden underground. Of course, these are waiting to be explored, but be careful because you might not like what you find down there. Tip: your cousin wrote a letter which explains his story. Perhaps it might feature hidden clues that could help you out along this quest. Heck, you never know?
All exploration is through a first-person engine not too dissimilar to a shooter like Wolfenstein with fully texture-mapped graphics - a testament to what our 16-bit computer can knock out. The display can be configured in three sizes: small to large. Any ST will perform well, but the largest setting requires 16 MHz.
The user interface can be intimidating due to the number of icons, but it soon becomes easy to use with a little effort. However, I admit, it's a little OTT, so please read the manual. Anyhow, wandering the city is feasible with the GUI's icons, but it can become laborious due to the immense size of the play area; right-clicking activates mouse control, unlocking its full potential. Which is a tremendous way to explore.
Not all the people you meet are nice and helpful. Many are offensive, like this nasty guy...
Wow, there is no need to take that attitude with me. A festering sore? lol excellent!
Chill, relax, chat with the yocals
This isn't something you play for a few short moments; you live it. Life here is open-world, a "sandbox" if you like. You are free to roam and do almost anything you want, day or night. This genre has always fascinated me, and although it's an early example, it works extremely well. All the requirements we have in life exist: eating, sleeping, health and personal safety when in dodgy locations, especially late at night.
Exploring Mitteldorf is exciting and full of characters, monsters, temples, stores, taverns, employment opportunities, and more. I love the Olde English medieval setting, which is portrayed and experienced in real time, so day and night pass by with their own consequences. So, many places like shops will open and close at different times of day, and citizens follow their own unique routines. The city is alive.
Beyond the storyline, several Guilds can be joined. These offer unique quests, rewards, and opportunities, allowing you to access areas and information that would otherwise remain hidden. Also, Temples serve a greater purpose than providing healing or sanctuary. You can choose to align with various factions, opening new paths and possibilities while occasionally creating conflicts with rival groups across the city.
I find refuge (and a few ales) at The Hanged Man tavern. Always a good idea, but perhaps that's me? Just don't get too tipsy and end up in lockup. Ohhh, yes, this is a game offering massive potential.
Mitteldorf is bursting with places to eat, shop, trade and read messages...
There are many places to trade, even with this dodgy-looking fella.
Mitteldorf has many interesting places to explore, so don't rush and miss a thing.
Turn over every stone
This game is humongous, but stick with it and learn the city of Mitteldorf. Yes, it might be overwhelming, so make notes and a basic key to complement the official map (I wish). So much can be understood by communicating with the citizens - get chatting with them over a beer. Don't forget those strange folk who appear to aimlessly wander the streets. Remember, you're living inside this 'RPG', so experience it.
Progression is driven by a mix of inconspicuousness, exploration, guild membership, temple allegiances, and (of course) quest-solving. Rather than simply wandering aimlessly, you'll need to gradually build a reputation within Mitteldorf, unlocking new opportunities and uncovering deeper layers of the city.
And it's now you realise combat is unavoidable. This is handled through a straightforward system that lets us attack, defend, and use our abilities in real time during encounters. This can sometimes feel a little clumsy and repetitive compared to the game's more immersive elements. An afterthought, if you will.
So, be prepared to defend yourself when set upon by King's faithful knights in shining armour. But even a little old lady can throw a barrage of humorous insults before giving you a good slap, which was rather unexpected. There's only one thing left to do - slap her back!! That's right, why not hit an old lady?
Beneath the bustling streets lies an extensive network of sewers, caverns, and dungeons filled with monsters, treasure and hidden secrets. These dangerous underground regions provide a stark contrast to city life above and form a substantial part of your adventure. Explore and live this game.
What great advice for such a wondrous place. Also, let's pause for a couple of screenshots...
Arghh!! I've been caught again. I guess I look too dodgy?
This means I've been thrown down before the King's mercy. Sigh...
The CryptO'pinion?
Legends of Valour is something special, offering a vibrant, exciting place to live a life of intrigue. Many characters, taverns to frequent, secret guilds to master, monster-infested dungeons to plunder, and then there are side quests. As you begin to make progress and delve in, you soon realise just how much more potential there is just waiting to be discovered. Heck, I had almost forgotten to search for Sven!
Nothing is perfect, and I feel Legends of Valour falls short in a couple of areas: the battles could have been better executed, and it's disappointing to discover that most buildings are (visually) empty. Also, audio is limited to spot effects, which is a shame considering the number of disks in the box - a few ambient samples or more chippy fx could have improved the atmosphere, especially during the night scenes.
Legends of Valour is epic. It's incredible and massively enthralling. Allow yourself to get lost in this advantageous world, because there is so much to see and do. One of the best Atari ST games you can play.
Grab the hard-drive version by 8BitChip.
