Classic minimalist adventure
The original Kingdom of Kroz was a superb slice of truly old-school adventuring that mixed incredibly basic visuals with tough but strangely compelling gameplay to great effect. This third game in the series, after Dungeons of Kroz, doesn't change the formula too much, but adds in a few more elements just to keep things from going completely stale and remains as enjoyable as ever, especially for fans of rogue-likes such as Rogue and Hack. The objective of the game is pretty simple but as with so many retro experiences, actually achieving this is anything but. Here, your goal is to explore a series of dungeons (all right, caverns) and find the exit before you get munched by the myriad beasties which are roaming around and out for your blood. There are also plenty of obstacles to get in your way as well as various puzzles which require the correct use of the appropriate object to get past safely and which are both challenging and fun to solve. If you've not played an old game like this before, it's easy to scoff at the crude visuals and pass the game over in favour of something a little flashier. However, to do so would be a mistake as while the graphics are undeniably crude, the gameplay really has stood the test of time and proves that it's what's inside that counts. The action is fast and furious, and pretty difficult right from the start, so if you like easy games, this might not be for you. However, if you like a challenge, then this is addictive stuff and it's easy to get sucked into the bizarre but lovingly crafted adventure. Check out the final instalment in the series, Lost Adventures of Kroz, for perhaps the finest entry in this popular franchise.
