Ivanhoe

About

Ivanhoe is a side-scrolling beat 'em up where you play a knight navigating 12th-century Europe to rescue King Richard from captivity. The game blends hand-to-hand combat with exploration as you cross villages, forests, and castles, fending off enemies tied to King John’s treachery. Combat feels punchy with basic but responsive controls, while the medieval aesthetic leans into knights, archers, and castle sieges. The story echoes Sir Walter Scott’s novel but simplifies the plot into a straightforward rescue mission. What sticks is the game’s straightforward action and historical trappings. The mix of land and sea-based levels offers variety within the genre, though difficulty spikes can feel abrupt. Community feedback notes the challenge curve and dated graphics, but many praise the satisfying melee mechanics and the thrill of storming enemy fortresses. A relic of late ’80s arcade-inspired design that still works for quick bursts of sword-swinging fun.

Storyline

The mighty Legend! Enter a mediaeval world with the Knights of the crusades. A 12th Century adventure to rescue King Richard from those in collusion with the evil King John. Cross Europe by land and sea to Austria where Richard is imprisoned in a fortified castle. The most dangerous part of your crusade now begins as you seek his liberation. Will you succeed to become a legend...or perish in the process?