Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Immortal combines precise puzzle-solving with tense action combat to create an unforgiving yet rewarding dungeon-crawling experience. You guide your hero through eight intricate levels filled with spike traps, flame jets, moving floors, and other lethal contraptions. Progress hinges on trial-and-error: each death teaches you the next pattern, transforming each previously fatal hazard into a navigable obstacle once you’ve memorized its timing.

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Inventory management plays a key role in your success. Scattered throughout the dungeon are potions, keys, torches, and special items that must be used at just the right time. Figuring out which object fits which puzzle encourages experimentation, but the lack of an in-game save system means one wrong move can force you to replay an entire level. Fortunately, passwords let you jump back into later stages if you’re willing to track down the right code.

Beyond static traps, The Immortal throws in a handful of unique set-pieces that break up the crawl. You’ll find yourself racing on a magic carpet through a corridor of flame jets, riding a barrel down an underground river, and other creative interludes that demand quick reflexes and split-second decision making. These moments add welcome variety to the puzzle-heavy gameplay.

Combat is straightforward yet tactical. When you encounter an enemy, the view shifts to a one-on-one arena where foes telegraph their attacks a moment before striking. You can dodge to the left or right and counterattack from either side, creating a simple rock–paper–scissors dynamic. Since health is limited and healing items are precious, you’ll learn to pick your fights carefully or risk being sent back to the level’s start.

Graphics

For its era, The Immortal’s isometric visuals stand out with detailed dungeon tiles, flickering torches, and grotesque enemy designs. The top-down angle gives you a clear view of traps and pathways, which is essential for planning your moves. Walls, columns, and floor patterns are distinct enough to help you keep track of your position in the winding labyrinth.

Character and monster sprites are well-animated for an early ‘90s title. Your hero’s movements feel fluid when running, sneaking, or swinging a sword. Enemies range from skeletons and giant spiders to dark sorcerers, each with its own animations and attack cues. While not as polished as modern indie isometric games, these visuals evoke a moody, gothic atmosphere that holds up if you appreciate retro charm.

The color palette favors earthy browns, damp greens, and fiery reds, reinforcing the feeling that you’re deep underground. Lighting effects—particularly in torchlit corridors—add depth to otherwise flat environments. Though there isn’t advanced shading or 3D modeling, the art style’s consistency helps you stay immersed in the dungeon’s grim world.

On the downside, occasional visual ambiguity can make trap recognition tricky until you learn each level inside out. Some floor panels blend into the background, and fast-moving hazards like rolling boulders can be hard to spot at first glance. Still, the game’s overall aesthetic succeeds in delivering a tense, foreboding atmosphere.

Story

The narrative premise is straightforward: your old mentor Mordamir has vanished, likely kidnapped by sinister forces lurking beneath the earth. Armed with little more than his teachings and a trusty sword, you plunge into a sprawling dungeon to unravel the mystery and, hopefully, rescue him alive. While the plot doesn’t veer into deep lore, it provides enough motivation to keep you hacking through each deadly chamber.

Storytelling in The Immortal is minimal but effective. Most of the narrative unfolds through brief conversations with friendly NPCs and cryptic inscriptions scrawled on dungeon walls. These hints occasionally steer you toward hidden passages or warn of upcoming dangers, rewarding players who pay attention to environmental cues.

Encounters with non-hostile characters are rare but memorable. A stew-selling merchant might offer a healing potion in exchange for gold, or a wise old hermit could drop a cryptic hint about a trap’s pattern. These interactions give the world a bit more life and can prove crucial when you’re low on resources and need that extra edge.

While The Immortal doesn’t boast a deep, character-driven storyline, its sparse narrative aligns perfectly with the game’s old-school challenge. You’re not here for emotional cutscenes or branching dialogue trees—you’re here to survive, learn, and delve deeper into the darkness.

Overall Experience

The Immortal offers a tough but fair challenge that will appeal to players who love learning by doing. Every success—beating a trap, outsmarting an enemy, or completing a special sequence—brings a genuine sense of accomplishment. If you’re the type of gamer who revels in trial-and-error and doesn’t mind replaying sections to master them, this dungeon will become a playground of hidden strategies.

However, the absence of a save feature can feel brutal by modern standards. Be prepared to invest time in repeating levels after especially frustrating deaths. The inclusion of level-skip passwords softens the blow, but hunting down or jotting down those codes can become a chore in itself.

Thanks to its atmospheric graphics, inventive puzzles, and pulse-pounding combat interludes, The Immortal remains an engaging retro experience. The audio—featuring ominous background music and biting sword-clash SFX—further heightens the tension, making every step forward feel hard-won.

In summary, The Immortal is a niche classic designed for those who appreciate unforgiving gameplay and gothic dungeon atmospheres. It demands patience, memorization, and quick reflexes, but rewards perseverance with moments of genuine thrill. If you’re seeking a challenging slice of gaming history that still packs a punch, this dark labyrinth awaits.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10