Anemoia : the nostalgia for something you never experienced... And the exact feeling I had when playing the game.
I was too young for the C64 but this game scratched an itch I didn't know I had. Of course, you should not expect anything too complex or deep about Skald.
Indeed, evrything, from the writing to the combat system and quests is rather straightforward. You don't have a ton of options, be it for dialogs, skills, quests resolutions or places to go, hence the game can be finished well under 20h.
However the game oozes charm and atmospheren the pixel art is exquisite. You deeply feel the tragedy that befell the Outer Isles and even when you score a victory, there will be losses and further, dire obstacles to overcome. There's a "nice" sense of doom, even if gameplay-wise, it doesn't translate that well.
Combat is almost never difficult in Skald, sometimes just a bit drawn out- I never felt the need to craft much potions or to bother with spells and clever positioning that much. The final boss itself is quite disappointing.
I would say that it's a Lovecraftian horror theme done right- except for the ending, which is a mixed bag for me. On the whole it's a well-crafted classical experience, honest to its retro inspiration.
I would say, though, that the pacing is off. Chapter one has a nice length, while chapter 2 and 3 are over in flash- a bit disappointing for the narrative crux on the first isle. Chapter 4 could be also way too short if not for a clumsily hinted optional quest, and an optional village with a big Lovecraft reference- a nice touche, if a bit forced.
Chapter 5 does feel a bit rushed and while you can expect not to undersdtand everything when cosmic horror is involved, I think there are some nonsense thrown into the mix, as well as some foreshadowing leading nowhere conclusive.
For such a price, if you are charmed by the graphics and the premises, I would still recommend it. I would be delighted by an extended version of the game, or a sequel
