Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy is a remake of the classic adventure game from 1999, developed by Microids. The game, originally created by the renowned Belgian comic artist and video game designer Benoît Sokal, has been updated with modern technology while preserving the core elements of the original.
In Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy, players journey to the fictional South American region of Amerzone. You explore this mysterious world as a journalist tasked with uncovering secrets and preserving an endangered environment. The game features intricate puzzles at every turn, requiring careful examination of the environment and documents for clues. At the beginning of the game, players can select a difficulty level to adjust the level of assistance and hints provided.
While I haven’t played the original 1999 release, the remake boasts significant graphical improvements thanks to modern technology, resulting in vibrant and immersive environments. The updated lighting effects and water rendering are particularly impressive. Character animations have also been refined, though they don’t quite reach the visual fidelity of the environments. The sound design has been enhanced with a new soundtrack composed by Inon Zur, known for his work on titles such as Syberia and Fallout.
Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy retains the classic point-and-click gameplay style, but with modernized mechanics for smoother transitions and more intuitive puzzles. New puzzles have also been incorporated to challenge veteran players. Initially, the fixed-perspective movement system felt restrictive, limiting free movement within the 3D environment. However, as I progressed, I began to appreciate how it preserved the aesthetic of the original game. Furthermore, the ability to bypass the walking animation allows for quicker navigation once familiar with an area, exceeding the speed of manual walking or running. A welcome addition is the fast travel feature, enabling rapid movement between different locations to facilitate puzzle-solving and overall game progression.
I tested Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy on Playstation 5 using a controller, and it became apparent that the game is better suited for mouse and keyboard input. Controller input feels less precise, and object interaction within the environment can be cumbersome. I also encountered a few instances where intended actions failed to execute correctly. For example, early in the game, activating a light switch in a basement proved impossible. After aimlessly exploring the area, I restarted the game and attempted the same switch again, which then worked. This was a frustrating experience.
Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy serves as a respectful tribute to Benoît Sokal’s (1954–2021) legacy, offering both longtime fans and newcomers an opportunity to experience this cult classic. I recommend giving Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy a try. While the initial pace may seem deliberate, the game progressively improves as you delve deeper into its world.
Microids provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial objectivity.
