The Order of the Thorne: The King's Challenge
- January 26, 2016
- Infamous Quests
- 2h median play time
The Order of the Thorne is a title that is best left to the 80’s for all intents and purchases. Buy it if you are a child of the 80’s or just insanely curious.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "The Order of the Thorne: The King's Challenge" , players assume the role of Finn, a bard tasked with completing the King's Challenge to become the "Hero of the Faerie Kingdom." This classic point-and-click adventure allows players to explore the land, interact with various creatures, and solve puzzles using Finn's magic lute. The reward for success? A single wish, granted by the Faerie Realm's ruler, King Quilhairn.
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Reviews
- Charming and nostalgic art style reminiscent of classic point-and-click games like King's Quest.
- Engaging story with a light-hearted fairy tale theme, featuring a lovable protagonist, Finn the Bard.
- Simple and intuitive gameplay mechanics, including a unique lute-playing feature that adds a fun twist to puzzles.
- The game is quite short, typically taking only 2-5 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- Some voice acting is mediocre, and the overall quality of the audio can be inconsistent.
- The vast map can be confusing to navigate, leading to excessive backtracking without fast travel options.
- story151 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Order of the Thorne - The King's Challenge" is a lighthearted fairy tale adventure that follows Finn the bard on a quest to find the queen as part of the king's challenge. While it evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click games like King's Quest, many reviewers noted that the plot is simple and straightforward, lacking the depth and humor found in other titles from the same developers. Overall, it offers a charming experience with a pleasant narrative, though some found it underdeveloped and too easy.
“You join Finn the bard on his quest to write 'the greatest ballad ever' as he undertakes 'the king's challenge'.”
“The story is well written and concise, with several nods to fairy tales and classic adventure games.”
“Overall this was a very enjoyable game with lots of personality and a nice story, despite being quite short and small-world.”
“The story is okay, and though I will probably never know the end, it had some kind of plot, but bare minimum... really nothing fascinating.”
“A boring story with no challenge whatsoever.”
“The plot isn't too exciting and the world is a bit generic.”
- music64 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charming 80s fantasy vibe and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with enjoyable lute mechanics that allow players to interact with the environment. While many players appreciate the soundtrack and voice acting, some find certain character voices annoying and feel that the music puzzles could have been more developed. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's whimsical and pleasant atmosphere, though there are calls for greater variety and depth in the musical elements.
“Lovely 80s fantasy soundtrack, pixel art, and general mood.”
“The music puzzles are a nice touch and not too difficult.”
“Playing beautiful songs as a bard was the best thing for me in this game.”
“The music puzzles can all be done after finishing the main story by reloading your file, if you don't want to try to learn the songs during the game but still want all the achievements.”
“- little word about the music: awful.”
“Music was mostly all right but nothing special, bordering on annoying in some places.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that pays homage to early 90s adventure games, featuring detailed backgrounds and character portraits. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it nostalgic, others criticize it for feeling outdated, especially given the game's 2016 release. Overall, the visuals are well-crafted for fans of pixel art, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking modern graphics.
“The art style is a pretty pixel style with detailed backgrounds, artworks, and slightly less detailed sprites.”
“The throw-back graphics and vibes were combined well with the medieval/fantasy elements.”
“Graphically, the game is retro-beautiful.”
“The graphics are horrible to the point of being unplayable.”
“The dilemma comes with the reasoning that since the game came out in 2016 it should look and feel much better than the classics as these games did not have the technology to produce the graphics we have today.”
“If you aren't going into this expecting dated graphics that recall older adventure games, you might be disappointed, but for those who have played the good ol' Sierra games, this will look friendly and familiar.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a nostalgic blend of traditional point-and-click mechanics, featuring inventory management, dialogue interactions, and a unique lute system that allows players to influence the environment through music. While the game offers a straightforward and linear experience reminiscent of classics like King's Quest and Loom, some players desire more variety in the musical mechanics and puzzle designs. Overall, it successfully captures the charm of old-school adventure games while providing satisfying and engaging gameplay.
“The gameplay includes going around the world, gathering items, using those items to complete tasks, and playing songs on your lute.”
“The game is a wonderful throwback to old-school point and click adventures, more so in the realm of Loom, The Bard's Tale, and King's Quest; albeit not as convoluted in gameplay or problem solving.”
“The king's challenge also features fun and interesting puzzle mechanics, including the use of Finn's lute - and a magical, music-based GUI that controls spells to aid you on your quest!”
“With thirty years of hindsight, you'd like to see them find ways to incorporate some fresher ideas, whether in the story, the puzzles, or the mechanics.”
“The gameplay is mostly linear and straightforward as you will be told what your next step is as soon as you complete a given task.”
“This is one of those games that takes on 'King's Quest' or 'Quest for Glory' mostly in style, rather than in gameplay.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of witty dialogues and charming writing, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, though some reviewers feel it falls short compared to other titles in the genre. While some find it short, lovely, and heartwarming, others express disappointment in the lack of comedic depth and the absence of humorous character deaths. Overall, the humor is appreciated but inconsistent, with some nostalgic elements overshadowed by a less engaging narrative.
“Well good luck! Thank you, lovely fairy! Like... literally... a point and click in the style of Lucas or Westwood is nothing if there are not crunchy dialogues, witty texts, and hilarious descriptions, in a Pratchett kind of style.”
“The story is well written and dialogues are quite humorous.”
“It’s short, lovely, funny, and heartwarming.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and nostalgic storytelling, reminiscent of classic adventure games like King's Quest. Players appreciate the lighthearted and wholesome narrative, which fosters immersion through engaging characters and a charming atmosphere, making it suitable for all ages despite its lack of challenge. Overall, the game delivers a delightful and uplifting experience that resonates with those seeking a feel-good adventure.
“In true King's Quest fashion, they play it totally straight from start to finish; and as a result, this humble little game manages to create a heartwarming nostalgic experience.”
“It flowed well and the characters made me feel immersed in the storyline.”
“It’s short, lovely, funny, and heartwarming.”
“The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I felt no emotional investment in the plot; it was predictable and uninspiring.”
“The game failed to evoke any real feelings, leaving me indifferent to the outcomes.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has minimal replayability, with most players noting its short duration of 7-10 hours and repetitive tasks. While there are a few secrets to discover that add some value, many recommend it only at a discounted price due to its limited content.
“The game is a lot more playable than those classics though.”
“So there are a few secrets to uncover that lend the game a little replay value.”
“Not the sort of thing I'd normally play nowadays, and not much in the way of replay value, but it was a fun, nostalgic game to play through.”
“So short, there's really no replay value.”
“Minimal replay value.”
“I recommend it if you get it on sale for $4.99 or less as it is a very brief game, 7-10 hours at most with little replay value as the same tasks will have to be done.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a nostalgic late-80s to early-90s vibe, enhanced by simple yet effective music that contributes to a cozy and delightful experience. The art style complements the overall ambiance, making it a charming and quirky environment, particularly highlighted by the unique gameplay element of playing a lute.
“This game has to have one of the most comfy atmospheres.”
“The entire atmosphere of the late-80s, early-90s media landscape is encapsulated in this one, delightful game.”
“This game has to have one of the most comfortable atmospheres.”
“The king's challenge certainly delivers on atmosphere and art style.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and uninteresting, with some noting that movement can also feel laborious. However, the option to switch between hard and easy modes provides a way to alleviate some of the grind for those who find it challenging.
“All in all, this was rather tedious and uninteresting.”
“Good game, but a little tedious.”
“Moving around can be tedious.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a generally enjoyable experience with the game, though some minor glitches and issues with achievements have been noted, indicating that stability could be improved.
“Only complaint is that the achievements seem buggy.”
