A Tale of Two Kingdoms
- January 10, 2009
- Crystal Shard
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"A Tale of Two Kingdoms" is a graphical adventure game set in the world of Celtic mythology and fairy tales. The kingdom of Theylinn is threatened by internal conflict and external enemies, and players must navigate political intrigue and perilous challenges to ensure its survival. With multiple sidequests and alternate endings, the game offers a rich and immersive experience in a world of magic and mystery.
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game captures the nostalgic feel of classic Sierra point-and-click adventure games, with beautiful retro-style graphics and a well-composed soundtrack.
- It features a solid story with multiple endings and optional side quests, providing good replay value and encouraging exploration.
- The voice acting is professional and enhances the overall experience, making the dialogues more engaging.
- The hint system is basic and not very helpful, which can lead to frustration when trying to figure out what to do next.
- Some critical items and actions can be easily missed, potentially leading to dead ends and unsatisfactory endings.
- The game lacks character progression and RPG elements, which may disappoint fans of the Quest for Glory series.
- story42 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story of "A Tale of Two Kingdoms" is generally well-received, with users noting its engaging narrative, well-written dialogues, and multiple endings that enhance replayability. While it draws inspiration from classic Sierra adventure games, some players found the lengthy cutscenes and dialogues tedious on subsequent playthroughs. Overall, it is considered a solid adventure with a charming story, though some reviewers still prefer the developer's previous title, "Heroine's Quest."
“The story is interesting and the dialogues are pretty well written.”
“No dead ends, multiple endings, optional side quests and scenes, vibrant characters, engrossing story with a steady pace, it's just really really damn good.”
“While heroine's quest has more charming graphics and memorable music, so far this one has a more involving story and lacks battles (which I like).”
“As a King's Quest and Quest for Glory fan, I wanted to like 'A Tale of Two Kingdoms' so badly, but I feel like it's only a shadow of those classics.”
“There are different endings and optional side quests in this game, so while those longer scenes and dialogues aren't so bad the first time around, they become a bit tedious on additional playthroughs.”
“Despite the fact that he's been falsely accused of regicide, it doesn't seem to faze him - he's pretty relaxed throughout the game's story.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and epic quality, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players find the music puzzles frustrating and believe that the soundtrack could be improved to elevate the game further. While it may not be as memorable as other titles, it still supports the engaging narrative.
“The atmospheric and epic soundtrack enhances the overall experience of the game.”
“I played twice before, then bought the soundtrack to support the game creators.”
“While Heroine's Quest has more charming graphics and memorable music, this game offers a more involving story.”
“There's a music puzzle that's not that hard.”
“Features my arch nemesis in point-and-click games, the dreaded music puzzle!”
“Played twice before, then bought the soundtrack to support the game creators.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a retro pixel style that may not appeal to all players, but the hand-painted backgrounds and character portraits are praised for their beauty and detail. While some improvements have been noted, comparisons to other games highlight a balance between charming visuals and engaging storytelling. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's aesthetic.
“The retro style pixel graphics may not appeal to everyone, but I found the hand-painted backgrounds to be beautiful, and the character portraits were nicely done, with some of them looking quite stunning.”
“While Heroine's Quest has more charming graphics and memorable music, so far this one has a more involving story and lacks battles (which I like).”
“Graphics and music are good, voice acting is good.”
“The retro style pixel graphics may not appeal to everyone, but I found the hand-painted backgrounds to be beautiful, and the character portraits were nicely done, with some of them looking quite stunning.”
“Well, I do appreciate the extra effort involved in having this option and it is in keeping with the Q4G aesthetic.”
“Graphics were somewhat improved.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a rewarding experience with approximately $1 per hour of enjoyment, appealing particularly to fans of "hygge" style gaming. Players appreciate the lack of overly simplified mechanics, such as automatic interaction hints, and the presence of multiple endings enhances replay value. However, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the cutscene mechanics.
“If you play through, exploring well and trying to do everything, it probably comes out to about $1/hr of gameplay, which I think is a pretty good deal considering how enjoyable I found the game.”
“Fans of 'hygge' style gameplay will approve!”
“Multiple endings that increase gameplay replay value.”
“There's none of that 'hover the mouse over anything and the game automatically tells you if it's an interactable or not, and what it is' BS -- another dumbed-down mechanic I hate.”
“The main thing I didn't like was the cutscene mechanic.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly during multiple playthroughs where revisiting lengthy scenes and dialogues can become monotonous. While the presence of different endings and optional side quests adds depth, it also necessitates repetitive gameplay that some may find frustrating.
“There are different endings and optional side quests in this game, so while those longer scenes and dialogues aren't so bad the first time around when you're taking it all in, they become a bit tedious on additional playthroughs.”
“That being said, for reasons I'll mention later, it's tedious to go back and go through all those different paths if you wish to do so.”
“Without this option, it can be tedious to go back and play through all the various endings.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through its multiple endings and optional side quests, encouraging players to revisit it. However, to maintain a sense of freshness, it's advisable to space out playthroughs by several months.
“There's some replay value in the different endings and optional side quests, but I would recommend spacing out additional playthroughs by at least a few months, so that it feels more enjoyable and fresh.”
“Multiple endings that increase gameplay replay value.”
“There's some replay value in the different endings and optional side quests, but I would recommend spacing out additional playthroughs by at least a few months, so that it feels more enjoyable and fresh.”
“Multiple endings that increase gameplay replay value.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by an atmospheric and epic soundtrack, which significantly contributes to the overall immersive experience.
“The atmospheric and epic soundtrack truly immerses you in the game world.”
“The combination of stunning visuals and an atmospheric soundtrack creates an unforgettable experience.”
“Every moment is enhanced by the atmospheric music, making the gameplay feel even more epic.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players found the humor in the game primarily through the amusing behavior of NPCs, particularly noting the comedic effect of the crowd algorithm that governs their movements.
“The crowd algorithm that has NPCs moving around was kind of funny.”
