Over twenty five years after the original Amerzone launched as Benoît Sokal’s debut in the adventure game world, the remake titled Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy reimagines that journey with modern visuals and design, while trying to preserve the spirit of the 1999 classic. Developed by Microids Studio Paris and published by Microids, this updated version walks a fine line between nostalgia and accessibility, offering a calm, atmospheric alternative to the action-heavy pace of most of today’s games. While it doesn’t modernize everything flawlessly, it largely succeeds in rekindling the charm and mystery of the original adventure – adding both polish and content in the process.
You play as a young journalist who inherits a dying explorer’s last wish: to return a stolen egg of the fabled Great White Birds to its rightful home deep in the heart of Amerzone. This narrative, steeped in melancholy and laced with environmental themes, unfolds slowly as players uncover documents, converse with locals, and learn about the country’s troubled history. The story remains compelling even if it sticks closely to the original’s pacing, with a strong focus on exploration and introspection rather than high-stakes drama.
Gameplay-wise, Amerzone leans heavily on classic point-and-click mechanics but updates them with more intuitive controls and a redesigned interface. On PlayStation 5, the experience is smooth and easy to navigate, with the game supporting both controller and traditional cursor-style movement depending on your preferences. That said, puzzles can sometimes feel too straightforward or disconnected from the story’s emotional weight, and some interactions – especially those involving the versatile “hydraflot” vehicle – could have benefitted from more depth or interactivity. Still, the pacing allows the game’s world to breathe, making it more about the atmosphere and sense of place than constant puzzle-solving.
The world of Amerzone is the real star here, with lush jungle backdrops, abandoned colonial outposts, and mysterious relics of a crumbled dictatorship setting the tone. The remake impresses with richly detailed environments, strong lighting, and water effects that give each area its own identity. Character models, however, don’t quite match the environments in quality, with stiff animations and flat facial expressions that sometimes pull you out of the immersion for a brief moment. Despite this, the world remains visually arresting and faithful to Sokal’s blend of realism and surrealism.
Audio design is solid throughout, with a subdued score that amplifies the game’s quiet, reflective mood. Voice acting is serviceable but not always emotionally resonant, with a few lines that feel too stiff or detached to fully sell the moment. Still, ambient effects – from rustling foliage to distant animal calls – do a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to selling the illusion of an untamed land teetering between myth and ruin.
For fans of classic adventure titles, Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy is a lovingly crafted homage that stays true to its roots, perhaps to a fault in places. Its slower pace, minimalist gameplay, and linear structure might not appeal to those looking for more interaction or freedom, but for players who enjoy rich lore, beautiful environments, and narrative discovery, it offers a gorgeous and thoughtful experience. The remake clearly understands the soul of the original, even if it doesn’t reinvent the formula.
Ultimately, this is a game that works best when approached with patience and curiosity. While some aspects – particularly the puzzle design and character animations – show the limitations of its source material or the studio’s resources, the overall result is an evocative journey into a land shaped by myths and memories. It may not be for everyone, but Amerzone still holds a unique place in the adventure genre – and this remake makes it easier than ever to revisit or discover it for the first time. Classic adventure games are a rare breed on consoles, but this is one worth checking out.
Score: 8.0/10
Press Play Media 