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.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- A Tale of Two Kingdoms captures the nostalgic feel of classic Sierra point-and-click adventure games, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- The game features beautiful hand-painted backgrounds and character portraits, enhancing the visual appeal and immersing players in its fantasy world.
- With multiple endings and optional side quests, the game offers significant replay value, encouraging exploration and experimentation with different choices.
- The hint system is basic and can leave players feeling lost, as it provides general guidance without specific directions, leading to potential frustration.
- Some puzzles and critical items can be easily missed, resulting in dead-ends that may require players to backtrack significantly to achieve better endings.
- Long dialogues and cutscenes can be tedious on subsequent playthroughs, especially since they are not easily skippable, which may detract from the overall experience.
- story164 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game draws heavily from classic Sierra adventure titles, featuring a well-written narrative with engaging dialogues and multiple endings influenced by player choices. While the plot is generally interesting and incorporates elements of Irish/Celtic mythology, some players found the lengthy cutscenes and dialogues tedious on repeat playthroughs. Overall, it offers a charming experience reminiscent of beloved adventure games, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessor, 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.”
“Additionally, the game now has a playable prologue that explains the story setting, rather than a big info dump serving as an opening narration.”
“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 are a bit tedious on additional playthroughs.”
“I had to trudge back and forth to locations many times to trigger all the cutscenes and complete all the side quests, making for about 11 hours for a full playthrough with as many achievements as you could get in one playthrough.”
“I personally would prefer a game to focus more on having a very solid core story/experience/one primary path versus relying on having multiple paths to help justify a higher price.”
- music29 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and epic, enhancing the overall experience, though some players find the music puzzles frustrating. While the soundtrack is appreciated, there are suggestions for improvement to elevate the game's impact further. Overall, the music complements the engaging story, though it may not be as memorable as in other titles.
“The atmospheric and epic soundtrack enhances the overall experience of the game.”
“I played twice before and then bought the soundtrack to support the game creators.”
“So far so good, yet I can already say the music could raise the game to a new level if improved.”
“Features my arch nemesis in point-and-click games, the dreaded music puzzle!”
“There's a music puzzle that's not that hard.”
“The interaction between duff and song kept me wanting more.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a retro pixel style that may not resonate with all players, but many appreciate the beautiful hand-painted backgrounds and well-crafted character portraits. While some reviews note improvements in graphics, comparisons to other games highlight that this title offers a more engaging story despite having less charming visuals. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, complemented by good music and voice acting.
“Graphics and music are good, voice acting is 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).”
“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.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its enjoyable exploration and a rewarding experience that offers about $1 per hour of playtime, 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 criticism is directed at the cutscene mechanics, which detracted from the overall experience.
“If you play through, exploring well and trying to do everything, it probably comes out close to about $1/hr of gameplay, which I think is a pretty good deal considering how enjoyable I found the game.”
“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.”
“Fans of 'hygge' style gameplay will approve!”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing crowd algorithm and the engaging personalities of characters like Ram and Aelsong, who elicit genuine laughter. Reviewers appreciate the blend of humor with other elements such as romance and drama, noting that the characters are consistently funny and entertaining throughout the series. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the storytelling, making it a standout feature.
“Ram is hilarious and Aelsong; I love her character so much.”
“Just that little preview had me laughing out loud!”
“The story was an entertaining mixed bag of romance, humor, a bit of suspense, a wee bit of drama, and a few rather nondescript love scenes.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly during subsequent playthroughs where longer scenes and dialogues become repetitive. While the presence of multiple endings and optional side quests adds depth, revisiting different paths can feel laborious without streamlined options to skip or expedite the process.
“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 are 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.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers notable replayability through its multiple endings and optional side quests, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, reviewers suggest spacing out playthroughs by several months to maintain a sense of freshness and enjoyment.
“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.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by heart-wrenching moments of separation and reunion, particularly between the main characters, which deeply resonates with players. The narrative explores themes of emotional growth and healing, evoking strong sentiments that can lead to tears, making it a touching experience for those who appreciate romantic and sentimental storytelling.
“Kept away from each other and then finally being able to be with each other only to be ripped apart again is so heart-wrenching for the two of them.”
“Aspects of the story were so sweet and emotionally stirring that being susceptible to the sentimentality of romance and the healing of emotional wounds, of course, at one or two points I shed a few tears.”
“Rosie grew physically really fast but emotionally she needs more time and goes into hiding.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its atmospheric and epic soundtrack, which significantly enhances the overall experience.
“The atmospheric and epic soundtrack truly enhances the immersive experience of the game.”
“The game's atmosphere is elevated by its atmospheric and epic soundtrack.”
“With its atmospheric and epic soundtrack, the game creates a captivating and immersive environment.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the character development, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience of the game.
“As always, the character development was spot on.”
