As an avid collector of role playing and simulation games, The Magic Candle series has long been one of my favorites. As a child Magic Candle I was one of the first games that I had on my old Apple II computer. Not until recently have I discovered Magic Candle II and III which have also become favorites of mine. The premise of the Magic Candle games circle around a group of six adventurers of your choosing to journey across a fictional land to ultimately defend it from a terrible evil, taking a different form in each of the three games.
It is so titled Magic Candle because by rebuilding the Magic Candle featured in the game, you save the land and its inhabitants from otherwise certain doom. Magic Candle III features an evil called the "Blight" that has taken over the island of Oshcrun, where the game takes place. Similar to Magic Candle I and II, Magic Candle III features battles as well as excellent character interaction. Unique to Magic Candle III are the four libraries that are scattered throughout the land. Within these libraries are clues to help you solve the puzzles in the game. Personally I enjoyed this new spin on the game as it added more of a puzzle solving aspect to the game and kept things interesting. Those who have enjoyed
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Magic Candle II will recognize old characters and locations from this game; this does not however make Magic Candle III any less exciting. It is a large gaming world. There are many diverse options for controlling your characters, whether it is directing them in combat, or making them stay behind to take on a profession and improving their skills. I always apreciated these games for their concentration on character detail and involvement. I also appreciate that the game does take quite some time and dediction to solve as their are many towns and dungeons to explore. The dungeons, in particular, at times can be quite challenging. For a trilogy that was created in the late eighties and early nineties, it is certainly much more entertaining than some of the role playing games available to today's youth! Definitely recommend it to both fans of Magic Candle I or II as well as new players. Although I probably enjoyed Magic Candle I more, Magic Candle III is still a really great, classic role playing game. Two thumbs up!
