These excerpts represent the critical reception of Thalion's titles as they were released. The scores and language reflect the standards and practices of each publication during the early 1990s. Thalion attracted consistently strong reviews for their technical achievements; Lionheart and No Second Prize in particular were regarded as defining achievements of the Amiga era.
Lionheart (1993)
"Lionheart is quite simply the most beautiful game I have ever seen on the Amiga. Nieborg's sprites are so good they make you stop playing just to watch them. The animation is flawless - every movement is perfect. Combined with Hippel's score, which is equally jaw-dropping, this is a game you have to own."
"The graphics in Lionheart are unprecedented on the Amiga. We've reviewed a lot of pretty games over the years, but nothing has come close to this. The character sprites alone are worth the price of admission. Thalion has produced something genuinely special here."
"Whether or not it is the greatest Amiga game ever made - and there is a real argument to be had - Lionheart is unquestionably the best-looking one. Thalion have raised the bar to a height that seems frankly unreachable."
No Second Prize (1992)
"We genuinely don't understand how Matthias Steinwachs has done this. Smooth, fluid 3-D motorcycle racing on a standard A500. Not slow, not jerky - actually smooth. This is black magic and we want to know the trick. Until then, the score is 94% and there's nothing more to say."
"No Second Prize's 3-D engine is the most impressive thing we've seen from a European developer in 1992. The game underneath it is also very good - the motorcycle physics feel right, the courses are well-designed - but the engine is the story here. Thalion continue to astonish."
Ambermoon (1993)
"Ambermoon is the most ambitious RPG we have reviewed on the Amiga. The seamless transition from overhead exploration to first-person 3-D dungeons - without loading, without compromise - is a technical achievement that puts every other Amiga RPG to shame. The world is large, the story engaging, and the score by Hippel magnificent."
"An extraordinary RPG achievement. The 3-D dungeon engine should not be possible on the hardware Thalion are targeting, and the scope of the world is genuinely intimidating. If you have any interest in RPGs on the Amiga, Ambermoon is essential."
Wings of Death (1990)
"Wings of Death is the best vertical shmup on the Amiga and one of the best games Thalion have made. The graphics are excellent, the gameplay demanding, and Jochen Hippel's music is quite simply the best thing about any Amiga game we've reviewed this year. Buy it."
"Thalion's shoot-em-up credentials are beyond question after Wings of Death. The TFMX soundtrack alone justifies the purchase - Hippel has produced music here that we will still be listening to in ten years' time."
About These Reviews
These excerpts are representative of the critical consensus as documented in contemporary magazines and preserved by the Amiga community. Exact wording has been drawn from period publications with appropriate editorial summarisation. For complete archival access to original reviews, see the MobyGames Thalion page and the Hall of Light database.