Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge delivers a deeply immersive three-day eventing experience, splitting your time between Dressage, Cross Country, and Show Jumping. Controls are intuitive yet offer enough nuance to challenge both newcomers and seasoned equestrian fans. You’ll guide your horse through precise movements in Dressage tests, maintain a gallop over varied terrain in Cross Country, and carefully time your jumps under pressure in Show Jumping. Each discipline demands distinct skills and strategies, keeping the gameplay loop fresh and engaging throughout your journey from two-star to four-star events.

A critical gameplay element is the horse care system. Beyond competition, you’ll spend considerable time tending to your horse’s needs—feeding, grooming, watering, and ensuring overall happiness. This routine isn’t just cosmetic; a well-cared-for horse performs better, regains stamina faster, and reacts more responsively to your cues. You’ll also allocate earned points to improve core stats like Speed, Stamina, Jumping, Agility, and Trust, making each victory feel meaningful as you shape your mount’s strengths to suit your riding style.

As you progress under Lucinda Green’s tutelage, event difficulty scales naturally. Starting at local two-star competitions and advancing through three-star challenges, you’ll eventually compete at four-star level events in Adelaide, Kentucky, Badminton, and Burghley. Each venue is faithfully recreated, with unique course layouts that force you to adapt your approach. Expect to face rising competition from the world’s top riders—Polly Stockton, Mary King, Phillip Dutton, and many more—making each win a true testament to your growing skills.

Graphics

The title boasts remarkably detailed environments that bring famous eventing venues to life. Lush paddocks shimmer in the morning light, cross-country courses wind through rolling hills, and stadium jumps look vibrant under the arena lights. You’ll notice subtle weather effects—dust kicked up on dry tracks or the shimmer of rain droplets—that add realism without overwhelming performance on mid-range hardware.

Horse models are a highlight, with anatomically correct muscle movements and lifelike animations. From the subtle swish of a tail to the expressive ears during Dressage, these details immerse you in every ride. Rider avatars also display dynamic motion, leaning forward in a gallop or sitting tall during Dressage tests. Even off the course, the care animations—grooming, feeding, watering—feel polished and add to the sense of responsibility you hold for your equine partner.

The user interface is clean and functional, guiding you through menus for training, equipment, and competition entries without clutter. In-competition HUD elements are minimal, ensuring your focus stays on the course. Quick-access icons let you switch between horse-care tasks and prep screens seamlessly, so you never feel pulled out of the moment. Overall, the graphics support both immersion and clarity, striking a balance that serves the gameplay exceptionally well.

Story

At its heart, Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge is a mentorship tale. You start as a promising two-star rider, taken under the wing of Lucinda Green—an icon in the eventing world. Her voice-overs, training tips, and on-screen guidance create a genuine sense of growth as you learn the subtleties of each discipline. The narrative arc feels personal, transforming what could be a sterile tutorial into a journey of self-discovery and equestrian mastery.

The progression is punctuated by encounters with real-life top riders. As you advance, you’ll cross paths with the likes of William Fox-Pitt, Megan Jones, and David O’Connor, each offering unique challenges and friendly competition. These interactions break up the standard event routine and give context to the escalating difficulty. Challenging a living legend and beating them on their home turf adds palpable excitement to your four-star goals.

Beyond competitions, small story beats—like choosing prize ribbons, unlocking new riding outfits, and attending award ceremonies—build a sense of achievement and celebration. Even if you’re not typically drawn to narrative-driven sports sims, the game’s emphasis on mentorship, rivalry, and triumph creates a surprisingly compelling storyline that keeps you invested in both rider and horse development.

Overall Experience

Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge stands out as a definitive eventing simulation. It strikes a superb balance between realistic horse care and accessible riding mechanics, ensuring you never feel overwhelmed or bored. Whether you’re fine-tuning your Dressage precision or galloping at full tilt across varied terrain, the game delivers consistent and rewarding challenges.

The licensed venues and top-tier rider roster add authenticity that fans of equestrian sports will appreciate. Each four-star event—Adelaide, Kentucky, Badminton, Burghley—feels distinct, and competing against real professionals lends weight to every fence you clear. On top of that, the unlockable ribbons, outfits, and performance-enhancing items provide a steady stream of motivation, encouraging replayability as you strive to refine both your skills and your horse’s abilities.

Ultimately, this title offers more than just a series of events; it provides an emotional journey of partnership and perseverance. With polished graphics, a heartfelt story of mentorship, and deep gameplay systems, Lucinda Green’s Equestrian Challenge is a must-play for anyone intrigued by the world of eventing or seeking a fresh, engaging sports simulation.

Retro Replay Score

null/10