Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Fantasy 5 delivers a remarkably diverse gameplay experience by bundling five classic titles—King’s Quest II: Romancing the Throne, Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra, Populous, The Summoning, and The Magic Candle III—onto a single CD. Each entry shines in its own genre, from the point-and-click puzzles of King’s Quest II to the turn-based dungeon crawling of Might and Magic III. You’ll find yourself switching mental gears constantly, whether charting a course through the cosmos or wielding divine power as a fledgling deity in Populous.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The compilation’s strength lies in its flexibility: solo puzzle solving, party-based exploration, god-game strategy, and tactical combat are all at your fingertips. Newcomers can follow the straightforward text instructions on the CD to install or launch each title, while veterans will appreciate being able to revisit these longtime favorites without hunting down multiple floppies. Save-game support and adjustable difficulty settings in several titles mean both casual players and hardcore RPG fans will find an appropriate challenge.

Multiplayer? While most of these classics are strictly single-player affairs, Populous introduces an indirect competitive edge by letting you spawn natural disasters against AI or human rivals (via hotseat). The Summoning also offers a light competitive mode for two human players who take turns moving squads of soldiers in skirmish maps. Overall, the sheer scope of mechanics—from conversation trees to hex-based tactics—keeps the gameplay loop fresh across dozens of hours.

Graphics

Although these titles date back to the late ’80s and early ’90s, Fantasy 5 still looks charming on modern displays. VGA pixel art has a timeless quality, and the CD’s games run in crisp, colorful resolutions by today’s standards. King’s Quest II dazzles with hand-painted backgrounds and expressive character sprites, while Might and Magic III’s isometric dungeon tiles evoke a deep, immersive labyrinth.

Populous breaks the mold with its top-down, cartoon-style terrain, instantly readable icons, and simple yet satisfying animation when mountains rise or armies march. The Summoning and The Magic Candle III both adopt darker palettes and denser UI panels, which perfectly suit their gothic and medieval settings. Despite their age, menus are generally well-organized, and text remains legible even on widescreen monitors.

One small caveat: running these DOS/Macintosh classics on current operating systems may require a DOSBox frontend or similar emulator. Thankfully, the inclusion of plain text installation guides on the CD demystifies the process. Once configured, however, you’ll find these pixel-perfect visuals more evocative than flashy modern 3D graphics—nostalgia and aesthetic cohesion carry these games a long way.

Story

King’s Quest II casts you as Prince Alexander in a fairy-tale quest to rescue Queen Valanice, weaving playful puzzles into its regal narrative. Its lighthearted tone and witty dialogue are iconic, setting a high bar for adventure storytelling. In contrast, Might and Magic III sends you on a globe-spanning voyage to recover shards of an interdimensional artifact, blending straightforward heroism with branching side quests that reward exploration.

Populous offers minimal narrative—your rise from mortal to god is implied rather than spelled out—but this freedom to create your own mythos becomes part of the fun. The Summoning dives headfirst into dark fantasy, pitting you against a demonic army as you gather mercenary troops and unravel a sinister conspiracy. Its mature themes and atmospheric text descriptions create a surprisingly engrossing tale for a strategy-RPG hybrid.

The Magic Candle III rounds out the collection with an epic, character-driven saga of political intrigue and arcane struggles in the land of Amtor. Party members argue, allegiances shift, and each choice carries weight. Although some plot threads feel dated, the depth of optional dialogue and side scenarios still impresses, creating a sprawling world that rewards players who savor lore as much as loot.

Overall Experience

Fantasy 5 stands out as a phenomenal value—five fully featured classics for the price of one CD—ideal for collectors, retro gamers, and curious newcomers alike. The convenience of having text-based manuals onboard keeps you from scrambling for printed booklets, and the intuitive file structure makes accessing each game a breeze. Install once, and you’ve unlocked hundreds of hours of gameplay across multiple genres.

While you may need to tinker with DOSBox mounts or compatibility layers on Windows, Mac, or Linux, the payoff is enormous. Each game’s interface, music, and level design have aged gracefully, offering a nostalgic trip that still holds up under modern scrutiny. Fans of old-school RPG mechanics, strategic depth, or narrative puzzles will find something to love here.

Ultimately, Fantasy 5 isn’t just a compilation—it’s a curated snapshot of gaming history, showcasing the creativity and ambition of early PC developers. Whether you’re charting star systems, raising armies of followers, or unraveling courtly intrigue, this CD-ROM collection provides a diverse, enduringly fun experience that’s hard to beat at this price point. Highly recommended for anyone seeking classic adventures in one neat package.

Retro Replay Score

null/10