Conquest of The Longbow is a classic Sierra adventure game that was released in the early '90's. Its lush graphics and beautiful story telling make it an all time favorite of mine. Anyone who is familiar with the old Robin Hood literature will instantly recognize it's characters and locations. It expertly mixes the old english mythology, magic, and a little english history for the perfect blend a fantasy and realism.
Your main objective, as you play the game over a period of several days, is to raise enough ransom to free King Richard the Lionheart from the French. Playing as Robin Hood you will have the options of going to several interesting locations (Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, the Monastery,) practicing your skill with the bow and competing in the fair's archery tournament, waylaying rich travelers and plundering them for their riches, and strategizing with your Merry Men.
This was the first Sierra game to employ the action icons at the top of the screen, making it a landmark game in that respect. It was also one of the first games to have multiple endings depending on the choices you make throughout the game. At certain points in the game you and your men will gather, and will all suggest a plan of action for a given problem. It's your responsibility as the leader to decide who's plan will be implemented, and every plan has a different outcome. The fact that main characters live or die depending on your actions and your ability to strategize set this game apart. It adds an exciting tension to game play that you don't usually find in other games from this era. Mini games and puzzles in Conquest of the Longbow are challenging but not impossible, making it a delight to play. And if they're not your cup of tea at all, you have the option of turning them off or decreasing the difficulty. Because the reason you're playing games is to have FUN right?
This game is a gem. Anyone who enjoyed the "Golden Age" of Sierra games would be remiss to not have played this wonderful game. Style-wise, I would compare the graphics and game play to Kings Quest 6 or Quest for Glory 3. I have always been a fan of the classic Robin Hood legends, and so in my opinion this game absolutely did, and still does, deliver that same wonderful experience.
Written by:
~RanmaCMH
