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MobyRank
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
3.8
MobyScore
5 point score based on user ratings.

Description

The Legend of Kyrandia is the first in a trilogy of adventure games by Westwood. In this game the player controls Brandon, grandson of Kallak - a wizard of the realm of Kyrandia. Malcolm, a psychotic jester imprisoned in the past by Kallak, has broken free and wishes to take over the land as well as lay down his revenge. He turns Kallak into stone leaving him with only his eyes, so that Kallak is not denied his tears for Kyrandia's sake.

This is where Brandon steps in; returning home shortly afterwards only to find that his grandfather has been turned into stone, Brandon is being told by a messenger from the Realm of the Land that he has been chosen to embark on a journey that will rid this realm of Malcolm and his evil. He has to prove himself not only a hero, but a worthy heir to the crown and ultimately of becoming a king.

Throughout the journey Brandon will collect many items and also learn how to master magic. Available spells include disappearing, healing yourself, summoning ice upon fire and shifting into a wisp. Interaction with the environment is confined to highlighted items, and a single cursor is used for all actions, without differentiating precise commands.

Alternate Titles

  • "דברי ימי קירנדיה" -- Hebrew spelling
  • "Kyrandia 1" -- Informal title
  • "Fables & Fiends - The Legend of Kyrandia, book one" -- Alternate/informal title
  • "키란디아의 전설 " -- Korean spelling

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User Reviews

There are no reviews for the Macintosh release of this game. You can use the links below to write your own review or read reviews for the other platforms of this game.


The Press Says

Jeuxvideo.com Sep 23, 2011 14 out of 20 70

Forums

Topic # Posts Last Post
Game Compatibility 4 YID YANG Bronze Star Contributing Member (162353)
Apr 17, 2009

Trivia

CD version

The CD version adds speech and support for Windows 3.x (albeit completely identical to the DOS version).

Development

The Legend of Kyrandia is based on the text adventure Kyrandia: Fantasy World of Legends, a BBS game. It was designed and programmed by Scott Brinker and Richard Skurnick in 1988, and based on multiplayer interactive game concepts by Tim Stryker.

According to Rick Gush, Mike Legg and Brett Sperry played the game online, bought the rights to the game and were sued later on by the person who sold the game to them, but after several years the court case was decided in favor of them.

The game introduced a single-icon cursor for all actions, and Brett Sperry and Louis Castle, thinking that this was their secret weapon, presented a demo of the game to Ken Williams. But Ken showed them King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder which was in development then. It had its own new icon-driven interface, so it was a big letdown moment. Ken liked the game though and asked them if they want to sell Westwood to Sierra, but at that moment they preferred their freedom and control.

Extras

The Legend of Kyrandia CD-ROM version came with a free poster based on a painting by Roger Loveless.

Awards

  • GameStar (Germany)
    • Issue 12/1999 - #88 in the "100 Most Important PC Games of the Nineties" ranking
  • Power Play
    • Issue 02/1993 – #2 Best Adventure in 1992
Information also contributed by game nostalgia and Roger Wilco


This entry was contributed by Martin Smith (63223), Terok Nor (16797) and Tomer Gabel Bronze Star Contributing Member (4418)
 

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