The Adventures of Robin Hood Longplay (PC DOS)

Developed and published by Millenium in 1991

When I first started recording videos for my channel, the first Amiga game I recorded was The Adventures of Robin Hood. It was among the first games I ever played on my real Amiga and, coming from the Commodore 64, the graphics, sound and mouse-driven interface was a true revelation to me.

Conceived by Steve Grand and Ian Saunter as a tongue-in-cheek adventure based on the legend of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, the game was actually released on the PC first and converted to the Amiga afterwards. Given that I'm a huge fan of the Amiga computer, I was curious to see how the PC version of the game compared to the Amiga.

The game itself in and around the grounds of Loxley Castle, of which Robin has just been deposed by the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and his entourage of Norman soldiers. The ultimate objective is to defeat the Sheriff, reclaim the castle and save the peasants from the rule of their oppressive Norman masters.

Complicating matters somewhat is the fact that, at the start of the game, poor old Robin is seen as a bit of a loser. Thrown out of his own castle with but a few coins to hims name, the peasants have no love for Loxley and the game is as much about winning the hearts and minds of the people as much as assassinating the Norman invaders.

To improve his reputation, Robin can must look out for his people and ensure that they don't come to harm. Between the merchants charging exorbitant prices for food and crushing taxes, it's not long before the local peasantry runs short of cash, whereupon starvation begins to set in. Come winter, it's a common sight to see starving people sitting outside the castle walls, begging for food. Robin can earn serious kudos by giving any money he has to the peasants, but be mindful that any adoration will be short lived - rumbling bellies can only be silenced for so long before the general mood sours once again.

Of course, Robin has to acquire money before he can give it back to the people. The usual way to earn cash is to find a merchant and to rob him blind, although the most brazen of outlaws may dare to rob the Sheriff himself. Of course, there's nothing to say that Robin has to give his money away - it's possible to drown his sorrows in the tavern by spending it all on cheap mead!

What makes the game remarkable is the way the world and the characters in it feel so alive. The peasants, guards and other characters move around the world, carrying out their own chores and activities, irrespective of whether Robin is around to observe them; women will collect firewood for the home, whilst you'll find men out hunting deer for food out drinking ale in the local tavern (some things never change).

The player can make Robin interact with the world through a series of icons located to the left of the screen. The UI is remarkably intuitive for it's day and I particularly like the way the icons are contextual depending on the character you're clicking on. For example, the 'Steal/Take' icon (closed fist) usually causes Robin to rob the person clicked on, but using the icon on one of the Merry Men will instruct them to go and steal from someone.

On the subject of Merry Men, the player must locate them and work out how to recruit them to Robin's cause. Given the free-form nature of the game, it's perfectly possible that the player fails to recruit these followers - this could be out of choice (nobody says you have to be be best buds with Little John), but it's possible to mess up and a character die before being recruited.

Unlike so many games where plot-critical characters are impervious to harm, everyone in the Greenwood is susceptible to death. Even if you do manage to recover and win the game, the absence of a Merry Man at Robin's marriage to Marian serves as a painful reminder of previous mishaps.

As to how the game compares to the Amiga version, it's as I expected. It runs a lot more smoothly and is the best of the two versions to actually play. The graphics and art are fairly consistent between the two versions, although the PC uses higher contrast colours that result in everything being easier to see, whereas the Amiga graphics appear to use more colours.

What the Amiga does have is better sound - the AdLib sound option used here isn't bad, but the FM synthesis doesn't sound as good as the Amiga's digital samples.

Whichever platform you choose to play it on, The Adventures of Robin Hood is a great game worthy of your attention, remaining memorable for it's non-linearity, humour and AI scripting.
#retrogaming

[JeremyNaus]

I have fond memories of this game. Might try it again using an emulator.

[BMWMANIAC]

ive spent hell alit of time on this game. Already did everything in the video, learned about mushroom from the comments. ive never found it. By the way i found a speedrun for the game. Actually you can finish the game in a minute. At the start of the game run directly to the gate and shoot the king. Try to run away from the guard in the castle. When guard cathes you click sword on him. While fighting run back then turn and shoot arrow. i used to finish game in seconds but people kill you at the end for being viallin. Funny i just killed them 😂

[scrutch]

I was fascinated by this game as a kid without understanding any of the mechanics or language

[ALRetrogamingLongplays]

The Adventures of Robin Hood Longplay (PC DOS): Aid Robin Hood in his quest to help the poor and reclaim the land from the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham in this highly innovative PC release!

Read the video description for my review!

[DeimosHatebreed]

i finished this game.. long time ago in a galaxy far far away

[robinusher]

I remember this. Enjoyable and, in places, humorous.

[JoeDope]

Dragon gives you fire breath and you immediately kill it. Harsh.

[finlanderxx]

You didn't pick the mushroom, tough I don't remember what it did.

[amosjohansen]

i remember finally going somewhere in this game with a m8, we were 8 or 9 years old and playing really well, when suddenly we got swallowed by a wall glitch that meant that we got stuck inside the wall, those were the days

[misteromostro]

A mushroom in the forest. I can't remember... For what?