Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Excelsior Phase One: Lysandia delivers a classic tile-based RPG experience that immediately feels familiar to fans of the early Ultima games. Movement and exploration occur on a grid, where every step can unveil new secrets, hidden treasures or lurking enemies. Character creation lets you customize attributes like strength, intelligence and dexterity before choosing skill sets such as swimming, music and seamanship, each of which plays a significant role in puzzles and environmental challenges.

Combat unfolds in a turn-based system that balances simplicity with tactical depth. You’ll switch between swords, bows and a wide variety of magic spells to keep battles fresh. Magic users can conjure elemental attacks or protective barriers, while fighters can specialize in weapon proficiency, parrying and critical strikes. The synergy between physical and magical combat makes each encounter feel purposeful, especially when you adapt your party composition to face different types of foes.

Outside of combat, the world of Lysandia is populated with quests and side-quests that encourage exploration and skill mastery. Traditional fetch quests sit alongside more elaborate tasks, such as tuning a magical instrument to pacify a water spirit or navigating treacherous currents to reach a hidden island. These optional adventures not only reward experience points and unique items but also deepen your understanding of the planet’s lore.

Graphics

Visually, Excelsior Phase One embraces the charm of retro pixel art. Tiles are crisp and colorful, with environments ranging from verdant forests to ominous dungeons. While the resolution is modest by modern standards, attention to detail shines through in animated water tiles, flickering torchlight and distinct terrain features that tell stories on their own.

The user interface is clean and unobtrusive, with a simple portrait and inventory display that harks back to the genre’s roots. Tooltips and an expandable world map help you navigate sprawling landscapes without feeling lost. Character portraits and equipment icons are rendered with just enough personality to keep you invested in your party’s progression.

Lighting and color palettes shift dynamically to reflect time of day and weather effects, breathing life into each region of Lysandia. Dawn’s pale hues give way to the deep purples of night, while thunderstorms deliver dramatic flashes that heighten tense moments. Although the engine is modest, these subtle touches demonstrate how deliberate design can enhance mood and immersion.

Story

The narrative of Excelsior Phase One: Lysandia centers on the chaotic presence threatening to engulf the planet. As a newly minted hero, you arrive at the city of Arinthia and learn of ancient prophecies pointing to your destiny. From the outset, the game establishes stakes with grand imagery: tainted forests, corrupted rivers and scattered remnants of once-glorious civilizations.

NPC interactions drive the story forward, offering hints about Lysandia’s past and moral dilemmas that test your convictions. A humble fisherman pleads for help restoring his ancestral boat, while a blind seer warns of a betrayal within the royal court. These encounters weave a tapestry of personal and political drama, ensuring that the quest to eliminate chaos carries emotional weight.

Side-quests often tie back into the main storyline in unexpected ways. Saving a kidnapped minstrel not only grants you a powerful magic lute but also unlocks a hidden archive chronicling the planet’s creation myth. Discovering these connections lends the narrative a sense of cohesion, encouraging thorough exploration and replayability to uncover every secret.

Overall Experience

Excelsior Phase One: Lysandia strikes a satisfying balance between old-school RPG mechanics and thoughtful modern design. Its engaging combat, retro-chic visuals and branching storylines combine to create an experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Every aspect—from skill-based puzzles to world-spanning quests—contributes to a sense of genuine discovery.

While newcomers to tile-based adventures may face a steeper learning curve, the game’s in-depth tutorials and accessible difficulty settings ease the transition. Veterans of the genre will appreciate the robust character customization and the opportunity to master diverse skills. Minor rough edges, such as occasional pathfinding quirks or menu navigation delays, never detract significantly from the overall enjoyment.

For players seeking a richly detailed world with meaningful choices and classic RPG sensibilities, Excelsior Phase One: Lysandia is a compelling pick. Whether you’re drawn by the promise of epic quests or the lure of mastering a complex skill system, this game offers countless hours of exploration and adventure. Lysandia awaits your heroism—prepare to chart your own legend.

Retro Replay Score

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