A lasting winter, colder and harsher than any before it, plagues Jarnvidr. One might say it is the work of frost giants, if not for the fact that these vile creatures were banished long ago. Convinced that this is, in fact, the case, the jarl has called upon a heroine to solve this problem. But will it be enough, or will she die trying, in this… Heroine’s Quest?
With its pixelated art style, point ‘n’ click interface and RPG mechanics, it’s safe to say that the inspiration for this one lies within the Quest For Glory series. And quite frankly, it was about time someone ditched the strict puzzle-based design, in favour of a genre-blending experience like this, once more. Sure, there’s Hero-U and Quest for Infamy, but unlike Heroine’s Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok, neither is available at this point.
Upon starting a new game, and after naming the heroine, her class must be picked: shall she be a fierce warrior, a spellcasting sorceress or a cunning rogue? This decision is not to be taken lightly, as it in no small way defines your playing style. How puzzles are solved, enemies fought (or evaded), your ability to persuade someone, barter a better deal, and much more depends on your choice of class. The rogue, for example, starts with points in Stealth, Thievery, and Throwing, talents neither the warrior nor sorceress possesses.
In theory, this means you could play through the game three times, as you won’t be able to e.g. pick locks or be all sneaky-sneaky, as a mighty warrior. You will, however, be able to bonk noggins and bash the skulls of trolls, giants, wolves and other less-than-friendly creatures with ease. Or you could simply conjure up a fireball or two, and BBQ them as the arcane sorceress. High replayability – check.
That said, its core mechanics are still rooted deeply in the point ‘n’ click style of yesteryear, complete with ye ole walk/examine/interact/talk icons, and chatty NPCs (all of which are voiced, I might add). On top of that, would ya look at those lovely graphics? Just look at them. Go ahead. See what I mean? Exactly. Some may be getting a wee bit tired of the ‘pixel style’ at this point, but as long as they make it look good… why not?
Seeing how Heroine’s Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok is available for free from the official website, you’ve got everything to win and nothing to lose by answering this call for a heroine – time to save the world!