Review for The Legend of Skye

The Legend of Skye by Point & Pixel Adventures is a reverent homage to the LucasArts classics. The interface, which emulates the beloved Script Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion (also known as SCUMM), ties together vivid graphics and haunting music. Together, they relate a tantalizing and humorous tale bolstered by cunning puzzles that proved to be some of the hardest I have encountered. Though challenging, the conundrums are not unsolvable and provide the player with a pleasant feeling of accomplishment. Adventurers – particularly those seeking a traditional experience – will enjoy The Legend of Skye.

As the story begins, multiple dangers threaten an isolated forest environment. The animals and the Spirit of the Forest elect Skye, a young druid with a reputation for creative problem-solving, to get to the bottom of the unfolding disaster. Skye wears a cloak as blue as the sky that is her namesake, which contrasts with her long blonde hair. Her first mission is to locate a missing tribe member, and the search is lengthy and puzzle-laden. But his quirky appearance, and the eventual interplay between this character and Skye, make the effort worthwhile.

The Legend of Skye contains a variety of coherent, narrative-related tasks to challenge the player in mind and body. Early in her adventure, Skye engages in a duel. It’s a well-programmed battle with a witch – using a different interface and the arrow keys – with clear instructions for the player. If Skye loses this battle, she will die; left-clicking resurrects her. She comments on her experience as if it were a dream. Death might also occur if Skye loses her way in the forest; an observant player should be able to ensure her safety. My favorite amusing puzzle involved using a conch shell and a helmet to disguise Skye as a guard to access a necessary item. Another engaging conundrum required capturing and using a mouse (the kind that squeaks) to obtain a certain object. In one instance I failed to solve a riddle because I was paying attention to the wrong aspect of a confusing situation. Thankfully, this puzzle has since been updated to make the proper solution more apparent.

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Mesmerizing pixel-art locales include an alluring forest filled with lush and verdant shades of green, a spooky tower of stone, a role-playing game shop in a quaint village, and pathways through snow-covered mountaintops. The soundtrack perfectly complements the graphics. In certain places it is reminiscent of Celtic music; other locations feature eerie orchestral music and an uplifting brass ensemble. I especially enjoyed the main menu track. Slow and ethereal, it eased my mind into the game’s fantasy-rich plot.

A simple interface makes it easy to appreciate this imaginative world. Left-clicking on an area of interest causes Skye to walk there, quickly and fluidly. The player directs Skye’s actions using the verbs in the lower-left corner of the screen. Using an item requires clicking on the word “Use”, then on the item, and then on the area of interest. Clicking on “Talk To” and then on a character activates a series of dialog topics that help Skye learn about her circumstances and her environment (the game does not feature voice-overs). Left-clicking topics of interest, which are listed on the bottom of the screen, will activate further conversations that add to the intricate and absorbing story.

The Legend of Skye makes the player the focal point of an inspiring Hero’s Journey narrative that builds to an exciting, memorable finale. It will delight players’ eyes and ears and spark positive comparisons to the adventure classics.