Preview: Tales of Chivalry: The Sword of Justice
Tales of Chivalry: The Sword of Justice
Developer/Publisher: Cryo
Projected Release Date: 2001
Platform: CD, DVD
Genre: Action/Adventure
Cryo seems to be very busy right now developing and releasing its Legend series. The New Adventure of the Time Machine and Odyssey: The Search for Ulysses have already been released in Europe and seem to be making their way to the shores of the U.S. Tales of Chivalry: Sword of Justice and Casanova are planned for a late fall/early winter release. There are few of us that love the adventure game who are not waiting for these titles and hoping that they will be as wonderful as some of the other Cryo products have been.
Cryo tends to change their titles between European release and release in the United States. If you have read about this game and are confused, be calm. It will be called Arthur’s Knights in Europe and Tales of Chivalry in the U.S. Okay, I think that I have that clear now.
There tends to be great disagreement about the Arthur stories. Some scholars believe that they are nothing but myth and yarn. Others believe that Arthur is a compilation of the lives of many kings who actually existed over the historic developmental years of Great Britain. Still others believe that Arthur was a real person and famous king whose life has been turned into a synthesis of fiction and truth and that someday enough proof will be found to add him to the pages of the history books.
Supporting the faction that is convinced that Arthur really lived are some interesting points. A town named Camelot was first introduced into the Arthurian legend by the 12th-century poet Chretien De Troyes, in his works on Lancelot. But Camelot’s actual status within the Kingdom of Great Britain has never been established. Extensive excavations were begun on Tintagel Island (Great Britain) in the early 1930s. It was hoped that the birth site of Arthur would be found. Digging still continues on the island and at Tintagel Castle. Dark Ages occupation and occupation at other times have also been found, but proof of Arthur? No one is sure of that, and solid evidence is, thus far, not existent. Writings have been found that translate to a word that is considered to be close to the name of Arthur. But once again, who knows. However, Tales of Chivalry does not rest on the premise that Arthur and his companions were real, and I hope that this little peek at the pearls of history concerning the time when Arthur might have been king and knighthood was in bloom will whet your appetite for this Cryo jewel.
Now, let your mind drift back into seventh-century England. The English and the Celts are battling over what remains of the once-great Roman Empire. This duality of English versus Celt allows for your first important game decision. You have the opportunity to select your ancestry. After your choice, the remainder of the game will differ, depending upon which path you decide to follow. And this will affect every aspect of the game–dialogue, puzzles to be solved, and interaction with other game characters. If you play as Bradwen the Christian (and illegitimate son of a lord), you will lose your birthright to your half-brother and will ally yourself with Lancelot and Bishop Novelius. If you play as Bradwen the Celt, you will suffer the same losses but will seek guidance from Merlin, the great magician, and his world of fairies. To obtain justice and recover what is yours, you must become a Knight of the Round Table. You will engage in heroic quests, explore the unknown, fight mythical beings, and all in an effort to prove yourself as the proud and heroic figure that you are.
According to Cryo, “This game is the first real adaptation of the Knights of the Round Table into a PC game.” The game will have an outstanding and original soundtrack. You will play in gorgeous landscapes, animated by a new game engine, Cryogen, which combines Omni 3D with characters in real time 3D. And, last but not least, as is the pattern of so many games based on history, you will have an Encyclopaedia of Celtic Legends that has been included so that you may learn more of the authentic context of the era.
The second chapter of the epic will be released in 2001 and will be called The Hidden King. In this game, Bradwen will learn that he family is cursed and … we will have to wait and see.
If you want to indulge in some light reading about the age of Arthur and his mysteries, I suggest that you read the Merlin trilogy by Mary Stewart. You can also read The Mist of Avalon books. And to really perk up your knowledge base, type King Arthur on to a search engine on your PC. The material that you will find is limitless and marvelous to read.
