The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge
A jester seeks revenge and innocence in a comedic adventure.
In this 1994 point-and-click adventure, Westwood Studios and Virgin Interactive closed out the Fables & Fiends trilogy. Players control the first game's villain, who initially schemes revenge but later works to clear his name after being framed for murder. The game uses the same interface as its predecessors, adding a personality-switching mechanic and a scoring system. Westwood also introduced a custom .VQA video format. Critical reception was mixed, and sales suffered as the studio shifted focus to Command & Conquer. A digital version arrived on GOG.com in 2013.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Westwood Studios
- Publisher
- Virgin Interactive Entertainment
- Director
- Rick Gush
- Programmer
- Michael Grayford; Michael Legg
- Composer
- Frank Klepacki
- Series
- Fables & Fiends
- Platforms
- DOS, Macintosh
- Released
- 1994
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
The game uses the same point-and-click interface as earlier series entries, allowing interaction with objects, environments, and characters through clicks. Items can be stored in an inventory for puzzle-solving, and players may drop items in a scene to remove or retrieve them later; the inventory is sometimes cleared, with some items recoverable. Malcolm's Revenge introduces a point-based system awarding points for specific actions and a laughter-track for comedic moments. Players can switch the protagonist among three personalities—truthful, normal, and deceitful—to solve puzzles, and at one point must choose among three options, two of which permanently fix the personality.
Plot
In his childhood, Malcolm was guided by his good conscience Stewart and evil conscience Gunther. As Malcolm grew unruly and played tricks, Stewart disapproved while Gunther encouraged him. The consciences fought for control, leading to Stewart's banishment and Gunther's sole influence. Malcolm became court jester for King William and Queen Catherine of Kyrandia. After the rulers were murdered, Malcolm was wrongly accused, retaliated, and was defeated by their son Brandon and the Mystic leader Kallak. Turned to stone by his own spell, Malcolm was dumped in a junkyard until a storm freed him after Hand of Fate. Seeking revenge, he left Kyrandia for the Isle of Cats, recruiting pirates by securing a spell that turns people into anthropomorphic mice. He stormed Kyrandia but was betrayed by the pirates. Brandon and Kallak sent him to the edge of the world. Climbing down, he knocked himself out and awoke in Limbo as a servant to its queen. Reaching the Underworld, he shed the queen's collar but could not stay. Transported to the surface, he returned to Kyrandia and reunited with Stewart. Forced to choose between consciences or have both work for him, Malcolm found Kyrandia in ruins under pirate control. He tricked the pirate captain into accepting a gem for ransom and giving him the collar, ending the pirates' rule.
Reception
Designer Rick Gush stated that Malcolm's Revenge was under-marketed because management focused on Command & Conquer, but he estimated the game was a commercial success with sales exceeding those of Fables and Fiends and Hand of Fate combined. A later bundle with its predecessors added tens of thousands of copies in the first few months. By August 1996, the entire series had sold over 250,000 units. Scorpia of Computer Gaming World found the game refreshing yet frustrating. It won Electronic Entertainment's 1994 Best Adventure Game award, and PC Gamer US nominated it for the same category, though it lost to System Shock. Next Generation praised its visuals, humor, and puzzles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge available on?
The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge was released for DOS and Macintosh.
Who composed the music for The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge?
The music for The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge was composed by Frank Klepacki.
Is The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge single-player or multiplayer?
The Legend of Kyrandia: Malcolm's Revenge offers single-player play.
More in Point-and-Click Adventure Games of the 1990s
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