Review by: Bob Mandel
Published: June 17, 2002

Some of the most enduring historical legends surround King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. If you think about it, we really do not learn much else at all about sixth century Britain, when traditions were so different from today; in the Arthurian world, honor was well worth the sacrifice of one’s life, and chivalrous deeds abounded. Now the French company Cryo Interactive has developed for Dreamcatcher Interactive an epic-length 3D adventure based on this era, Arthur’s Knights II: The Secret of Merlin.

Arthur’s Knights II is a sequel to a story begun in its predecessor, Arthur’s Knights: Tales of Chivalry (released in 2001). Indeed, the first chapter in Arthur’s Knights II is quest six, reflecting the continuation of an existing plot — there are four quests here, with the final ninth one posing the greatest challenges. While it certainly would be helpful to have played the earlier chapters in the predecessor first, that is not absolutely necessary; nor is it essential to be intimately familiar with the legend of King Arthur, as the great monarch hardly makes an appearance in this new release. Instead, this new game places attention on how the famed sorcerer Merlin affects power politics in the Dark Ages.

After vanquishing his half-brother Morganor, Bradwen — the illegitimate son of King Cadfanan of the Atrebates — returns from Camelot to his home castle Uffington to claim the throne as King of the Atrebates. He soon finds out that his crown is missing, and after acquiring it he discovers there is an age-old mysterious curse, brought on by nefarious activities, afflicting all kings of the Atrebates. From that point on, Bradwen’s quest is to undertake a complex series of steps overcoming many obstacles to undo the curse, restore peace and stability to the land, and claim his rightful position on the throne. The tale is told by Master Foulque, the chronicler of the Knights of the Round Table, and he recounts the exploits of Bradwen to a young page. This story is quite intricate, twisting, and convoluted, and it is easy to get confused at any point.

As you pursue your quest you encounter a variety of intriguing characters, and the interplay between the two species of humans and fairies is absolutely fascinating. The hero of Arthur’s Knights II is Bradwen, and most of the action revolves around his exploits. You learn about the prevailing attitudes of the day through encounters with people of both high and low rank. You have so many informative conversations with so many different characters that you almost lose track of all of them, particularly since you need to speak to everyone you meet about all possible subjects to get the clues you need. Along the way you also confront a number of foreboding monsters, including the Devil, the Horned Snake, the Mighty Ogre, and St. George’s famous Dragon. These adversaries are very impressive, particularly the dragon which you fight toward the end of the game.