So, we’ve all had a chance to dive into Legends of Amberland II: The Song of Trees by Silver Lemur Games. First impressions, team?

I personally found it quite captivating. It takes me back to the nostalgia of 90s RPGs – Might and Magic, Wizardry, you name it. The user reviews too echo this sentiment: the joy of exploration, the turn-based combat that maintains a good balance between quickness and decision making. But, some found the storyline to be drab.

Yeah, the exploration aspect was excellent, and I guess for new players, the storyline serves its purpose. It does have its charm: it’s a light, fairy tale, epic adventure that doesn’t require endless hours to complete. Plus, the open world with fast travel options caters well to the modern audience too.

Loved the quick combat system and the fast travel option, really helps in optimizing the gameplay time. But some of the game’s mechanics, like selling items at the Pawn Shop, were quite disappointing.

I agree, but besides those elements, the gameplay mechanics are good – particularly the party-based system and swift, turn-based combat. However, what about the world-building elements and the narrative?

Yes, the storyline could have been more engaging. Still, the game has a rich world lore, with quests and historical events that contribute to a more comprehensive storyline, which I quite enjoy.

Indeed. The explorative nature of this game isn’t limited to its environment, but also its lore and narrative. However, the skill rewards being merely gated by gold feels a little unfulfilling. They could’ve incorporated that into some crafted side quests for added depth.

Moving on, what are your thoughts on the game’s visual and audio elements?

Visually, it’s a nice throwback to classic RPGs with a first-person perspective and 90-degree rotation. However, we could’ve had a little more information on the audio side of things.

I found the aesthetics quite fitting for the game’s theme – fairy tale, epic, heroic. The visuals, along with the game’s story and world-building, offer a comfortable and exciting gaming experience.

Let’s talk about the characters and their development.

The characters do maintain the classic RPG charm intact, and the manual assembly of your party adds an extra layer of strategic gameplay. It’s a shame though that they’ve made no mention of any character interactions, which could’ve enriched the narrative.

The difficulty level and the challenge it presents – thoughts?

Some user reviews mentioned that some ailments felt punishing in the early game – which I found too, especially when trying for an optimized run. It adds to the challenge, sure, but it sometimes interrupts the fluidity of the gameplay.

Replay value?

I reckon much of the replay value lies in discovering the myriad of hidden paths and secrets the game world harbors. But branching paths or different endings could have added more.

Comparing it to other similar games and your final thoughts?

While it might lack the narrative depth of Ultima or the challenge level of Wizardry, it holds its own with light-hearted adventure and homage to the 90s era RPGs. I’d certainly enjoy more depth in side quests and character interactions in future iterations.

Hopes for the future?

I’d love to see an improved game economy and better implementation of status ailments. But, I am eager to see what Silver Lemur Games develop next, given their penchant for harking back to classic RPG elements.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, folks. Let’s hope Silver Lemur Games continue to bring that nostalgic charm while catering to modern conveniences in their future projects.

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