Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King Review

Now firmly established as the darling of adventure gamebook apps, it's understandable to approach any of Tin Man Games's latest releases with a certain set of expectations. Fortunately, Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King continues to match such expectations, offering a great and nostalgic experience. New and old players will appreciate what's here.

Offering something a little different from other titles, Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King requires the player to free slaves and lead them to defeat the tyranny of the Lizard King. It mixes things up sufficiently enough that, even though it isn't the most geographically varied of stories, it's still remarkably memorable.

Game engine wise, Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King is solidly dependable. Much like other Tin Man Games titles, there's an auto-mapping feature, the ability to use quick dice rather than watch each roll, as well as the option to change the difficulty level. This is where the cheats and wimps win through, with the option to lower things so that one has free rein to do whatever they wish in the gamebook. It's also where experienced hands can ramp things up, making the tale even harder than the book. Such variations immediately lend replayability to Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King.

A selection of achievements further reinforce this as well as an art gallery for those wanting to gaze at the classic illustrations within.

Steadily refining the formula, Tin Man Games has done another sterling job in its adaptation of Fighting Fantasy: Island of the Lizard King. Adventure gamebook fans will, yet again, love this and the nostalgia it brings. Arriving at this time of year, it's the ideal story to curl up with at Christmas time. After all, what says festive more than inciting a mutiny against lizard enslavers?