Defender of the Crown

The Good
This is indeed a favorite of mine. I remember playing the Amiga version on a neighbour's computer, then getting the PC game and (a month ago) getting the EGA version (which I frankly like a lot less). This game has simply amazing graphics, beautiful and memorable music and incredibly addictive levels of gameplay. With many subgames and versions for just about every platform in existance, how can one go wrong?

The Bad
Nothing! It's amazing!

The Bottom Line
One of the best games you'll ever play (if you like old games, that is).

The Good
Alrighty, I, along with every pre-teen and teen gamer, KNOW we were first attracted to this game because of the phenomenal Cover Art! Who didn't stare for hours and hours at that Damsel in Distress slung unconscious over the horse?!? :)=)

As for the game itself, it was a FUN combination of real time strategy, some Arcade action, some luck, and a steep learning curve. Raiding enemy castles was FUN as heck! The sword fighting a-la 3 Musketeers style, how you have to do a final death-stab into the enemy, and figure out the puzzle of what to do with the final 3rd enemy guard in the castle.

And yes, you get to rescue the Damsel in Distress. It's a mission, kinda long but still fun. The makers of this game are on record saying they were aiming for a much more mature audience... by adding the little sex scene after you rescue the very thankful Damsel in Distress. It's tastefully done, but the intended target audience is obvious - more mature gamers. The Amiga graphics were mind-blowing. The Commodore-64 graphics pushed the limits of the C-64.

I also like how you get to take over parts of the map. And the various choices available to aid you in your conquest. Castle raiding, Jousting, Sieging, blatant attacking, different military units including calvary, and more. There are different levels of play, depending on which character you pick.

There are also a few puzzles - not too strenuous on the mind though (compared to the games Bard's Tale I, and Bard's Tale II ! LOL!)

The re-play value is very high. Expect to get months of re-play value. I played it a solid 4 months. Then off and on every 3 months or so.

Modern games are much better now, with far better graphics, and gameplay equal to this game. Alas, few modern mainstream games have continued to pursue and program tastefully adult elements like this game has. But if you want a trip in time back to when modern graphics were just starting to show up, this is the game to check out.

The Bad
The learning curve is VERY steep when first starting this game. One has to have a never give up attitude. You will get mashed like crazy by the many NPC kings. After one figures out this game, then it becomes even more fun, and much easier to play. It took me a few weeks of brainstorming to figure out what worked and didn't work. Lots of trial and error, and some minor puzzle solving. The puzzles are a love hate thing. Love them because they make the game harder and more interesting. Hate them because they make the game more harder heheheh.

After 2 or so months of playing this game, it becomes very easy to finish, and win almost every time. You will then play it maybe once every 3 months or so. But it will not stay permanently forgotten, buried in the bottom of your closet.

The Bottom Line
A mix of Arcade Action, Map conquering Risk-style game play, with some tastefully adult themes programmed into it. The learning curve is very steep when first starting out. After roughly 1 month of gameplay the game becomes much easier to figure out and play. Still loads of fun all the way, with nice re-play value as you try the harder levels by choosing the harder characters.

Too bad the current, modern, definition of adult games is a game with excessive violence, and maybe some swear words. It would be interesting to see some new modern games pursue the course this game went on - having tastefully done adult sex scenes. Sans the excessive violence, and no swear words.

The Good
The atmosphere of the game is so firmly set that the PC version, even though it lacks the bright colors and sound of the Amiga version, is a joy to play and watch. Even in CGA, the subtle shadows in dimly-lit scenes are visible.

The strategy of the game is simple, which is both a good and a bad thing; for those who don't like to think too heavily playing strategy games, it's fun.

The Bad
Since the strategy is so simple, gameplay will occaisionally swing to the side of "hit or miss" -- that is, half of the games played will be long and evenly-matched, and other games will end violently in less than 15 turns.

Also, the PC CGA version's sound/music leave much to be desired (the Tandy version's sound/music is much better, but you need a Tandy to hear it).

The Bottom Line
If anything is representative of "the classic computer gaming renaissance," it's Defender of the Crown. The definitive Cinemaware game deserves to be played by everyone at least once.