We reviewed Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy

Driftwood
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 4:00 PM
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GSY Review PS5 Xbox Series X PC

While rumors are still circulating about the closure of Microïds' Paris studio, Amerzone - The Explorer's Legacy is preparing for its release, with the game arriving on PC and consoles in just two days' time. To find out what we think of this new remake of an all-time classic, read our verdict!
Note: For some unknown reason, the last three minutes of our PS5 Pro dont have sound, we apologize for the inconvenience.

PS5 Pro gameplay

Verdict

As it is often the case with Microïds, Amerzone's biggest flaw is its technical side. On PC as on consoles, the results don't always live up to expectations in terms of performance, and even if the game displays very pretty landscapes most of the time, it's still very uneven visually. Blurred textures, outdated lighting, traces of aliasing, it can't hide its double-A game roots, but don't forget that the retail price takes this into account, as the game is priced between €35 and €40. More annoyingly, slowdowns are to be expected, even on PC where stuttering can also occur for no real reason. On the PS5 version tested, which features the classic Quality mode and Performance mode, framerate drops are more frequent and visible when you opt for 60 fps, bearing in mind that image quality also takes a hit, with a much lower resolution. That said, there are also some unpleasant frame drops when playing in Quality mode, with the busier environmenrs even giving the PS5 Pro a hard time. The lack of DLSS/FSR/XeSS on PC does not compensate for the excessive demands of the Unity engine. What's more, it's impossible to fine-tune graphics parameters, so you'll have to make do with the three available presets. Last but not least, it's impossible to fine-tune the graphics parameters, so you'll have to make do with the three available presets. All these technical considerations aside, Amerzone is still a very pretty game, with plenty of surprises in store in terms of scenery.

The remake dares to retain the same approach to character movement as the 1999 original, which is bound to be a bit of a letdown for those who loved last year's Riven remake. Of course, as the game is designed this way, everything works well, but we still think that such a choice of game design will put off younger players. On the other hand, the addition of new sequences and puzzles, all cleverly integrated into the original structure, is to be underlined as it includes newcomers and old timers alike. This also helps to extend the title's longevity, which was one of the original game's problems. There's also the possibility of making things a bit more accessible with the progressive clue system or even the Story mode, a difficulty level designed for players with little interest in puzzles. In the end, despite all the criticisms we've evoked thus far, we can't deny that we've fallen under the spell of Benoît Sokal's universe, which took us on a wonderful journey to the other side of the world, a journey that we certainly don't regret taking. Unsurprisingly with Microids, the voice acting is pretty solid and the English actors are all very competent. In short, given the low price tag, this remake is clearly a good opportunity to go back in time and replay an old classic, or expand your video-game culture while catching up on a title you may have missed. At the end of the day, make no mistake, Amerzone is more than just a story about the explorer's legacy, it's above all the very legacy Benoit Sokal has left us players.