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The Legend of Kyrandia: Hand of Fate

From Alfawiki
Westwood Studios
IndustryVideo game development
Headquarters
United States
ProductsThe Legend of Kyrandia: Book Two - Hand of Fate

The Legend of Kyrandia: Book Two - Hand of Fate is a 2D point-and-click adventure developed by Westwood Studios and released by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in 1993. Serving as the follow-up to the 1992 game The Legend of Kyrandia and the second installment in the Fables & Fiends series, it centers on a young alchemist's quest to prevent Kyrandia's destruction.

This sequel is distinguished by its increased whimsical humor and more intricate puzzles compared to its predecessor, factors that contributed to its commercial appeal. While the puzzle design received acclaim, the game's shorter duration was noted. The franchise continued with Malcolm's Revenge in 1994. In 2013, GOG.com issued emulated editions for both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X platforms.

Gameplay

Players assume control of Zanthia, a youthful magic practitioner who explores various environments and solves puzzles through a streamlined point-and-click interface, replacing the verb-based command system used previously. The inventory system was enhanced to hold more items, with options to drop objects for subsequent retrieval.

A central mechanic involves brewing potions using a cauldron interface that requires specific ingredient combinations; each concoction yields a limited number of uses, and the cauldron can be emptied to prepare new mixtures. Additional potion recipes become accessible by collecting spell pages. Unlike the original title, only certain items persist throughout the storyline. Some hazardous scenarios result in an immediate game over, necessitating reloading or restarting.

Plot

Set several years after The Legend of Kyrandia, the kingdom confronts a crisis as sections of its territory vanish mysteriously. The Mystic—the realm’s elite magic users—investigate alongside newcomer Marko and his assistant, The Hand, a living oversized left glove. Their inquiry reveals that Kyrandia’s survival depends on securing a magical anchor stone from the world’s core. Zanthia, the youngest Mystic and adept alchemist, is assigned this mission but discovers her home has been ransacked, preventing her from crafting a portal potion.

Employing concealed older apparatus, Zanthia journeys through Morning Mist toward a volcanic island connected to the world's center. Marko finds The Hand carrying one of Zanthia’s alchemical tools but cannot explain why. Upon reaching the core, as Zanthia attempts to retrieve an anchor stone, Marko appears via portal and reveals that the stone is unnecessary; instead, Kyrandia’s destiny is linked to the "Wheels of Fate," which have been tampered with. Before providing further assistance, The Hand forcibly drags Marko away.

On the surface, Zanthia proceeds toward the Wheels of Fate and encounters two men chasing a living foot. She uncovers that The Hand is part of an ancient malevolent sorcerer intent on destroying Kyrandia to reconstruct itself. After discovering that The Hand removed a crucial gear powering the Wheels, Zanthia repairs it and, with Marko’s aid, defeats The Hand. They return home safely, with Marko subtly expressing his affection for Zanthia.

In a post-credits scene, lightning strikes a junkyard near the castle, releasing Malcolm from his statue imprisonment.

Reception

Author Rick "Coco" Gush characterized Hand of Fate as commercially underperforming, with sales approximately half those of its predecessor. He attributed this decline to an obscure marketing campaign overseen by an overconfident vice president of marketing who was subsequently dismissed. Nevertheless, packaging Hand of Fate alongside The Legend of Kyrandia and Malcolm's Revenge increased sales by tens of thousands during initial months. By August 1996, combined series sales exceeded 250,000 units.

Due to its relatively low challenge level and brief gameplay duration, InfoWorld (1993) recommended it primarily for novice players and enthusiasts of King's Quest, highlighting its enjoyable experience throughout playtime. The Hand of Fate received a 4 out of 5 stars rating from Dragon magazine. In 1994, Scorpia from Computer Gaming World commended its elimination of unwinnable states and enhanced puzzle design compared to its predecessor but criticized its short length and arcade-style finale. Overall, she deemed it a worthwhile concise adventure that resolved many issues found in the original game.

Reviews

External links

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