The Legend of Blacksilver (1988) Sequel to Legacy of the Ancients, blending top-down exploration with first-person dungeons The Legend of Blacksilver is a fantasy role-playing game developed by Quest, Inc. and published by Epyx, serving as a spiritual sequel to Legacy of the Ancients. Built on an enhanced version of that game’s engine, it invites players into the troubled kingdom of Bantross, where Baron Taragas has uncovered the powerful substance known as Blacksilver and threatens the realm with its misuse. Summoned in a dream by Princess Aylea, the player is charged with rescuing her captive father, King Durek, and thwarting Taragas’s ambitions. Gameplay unfolds in a mix of overhead and first-person views. Towns, castles, and the overworld are navigated from a top-down perspective, while dungeons, temples, and archives shift into immersive, pseudo-3D maze environments. Combat is turn-based and situational: outside of dungeons, players can choose to approach, stalk, talk, or flee from encounters; inside, all enemies are hostile. Unlike traditional RPGs, experience is earned not through combat but by completing quests and challenges set by temple game masters. With a wide variety of spells, equipment, and money-making options—from odd jobs to gambling to treasure hunting—Blacksilver offers a robust and varied adventure. While Computer Gaming World found it derivative, Dragon Magazine awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, recognizing its refined mechanics and blend of narrative and exploration.

Part of The Masters Collection by Epyx, which was created for slightly more challenging titles,  this title was developed by the Dougherty brothers Charles and John of Quest Software.  That iteration of Quest software seems to have closed in 1992 (according to Charles Dougherty’s LinkedIn Profile), and there’s little information about exactly how the relationship worked (work-for-hire, royalties, etc).  If you’re serious about reviving this title in a meaningful way, we’re happy to dive further into our archives and/or reach out to the Dougherty brothers.