What’s old is new (and also old) again! It’s been 40 years since the release of the classic Amiga strategy game Defender of the Crown, and to mark the occasion it has received a new PC port called The Legend Returns that packages in the original game alongside a complete visual revamp and a totally fresh roguelike mode.

Defender of the Crown, for those unaware (and likely those under the age of 30) is a strategy game set in medieval England following the death of the king, prompting a range of factions to vie for control. Essentially your main goal is to build up a bigger army than anyone else, invade some castles, and occasionally do a bit of jousting. That’s all there in The Legend Returns, complete with its original, pixelated Amiga graphics, but then there’s also the new classic mode.

This one’s essentially the same game, but with some modern graphics, “refined mechanics, and smoother systems.” I’m actually quite pleased to see that visually, a lot of the game still uses pixel art, just with contemporary detail and flair. The jousting in particular looks really well realised, a satisfying approach to retaining the spirit of the original game while still providing the option of playing that version too.

And then, there’s a totally new mode, the kingdom mode. This one mixes deckbuilding and dice-driven combat, meaning yes, it’s a roguelite. Maps are procedurally generated in this mode, and you’re tasked with “[uniting] the kingdom by defeating three enemy lords across a war-torn map, all while contending with brigands, rogues, and relentless Norman forces,” as a press release explains. “Runs grow increasingly complex as players unlock new dice types, relics, and mechanics, while the world beyond the battlefield offers tournaments to enter, Saxon ladies to rescue, gold to raid, and castles to besiege.”

Rescuing the Saxon ladies part is still a touch dated, so do take that with a pinch of salt. Otherwise, it’s neat! You can pick it up on Steam right here.