| Introduction:
I got this game back when it was first released for the SNES. I bought
it because a game magazine spoke of its uncanny resemblance to the
legendary Ys games. And I must admit it CLOSELY resembles the Ys series
of games especially Ys I & II. Here is a brief summary of the story as
taken directly from the back of the box: "Lakeland has a drinking
problem. All the water has been fouled, and it's up to you to find out
why. As Nasir, Child of Light, you will embark on a quest that demands
great courage and fortitude. It's a journey that takes Nasir from
childhood to manhood, played out against breathtaking, 16-bit backdrops.
Along the way, you must negotiate a network of labyrinths filled with
horrifying, 3-D creatures. Using weapons, magical items and 16 spells,
you can turn the tide, defeating the forces of evil and restoring pure
water to this once tranquil little town." Now on to the review!
Graphics [8/10]:
The graphics in this game are actually very impressive. Not on the same
level as say a Final Fantasy III or Chrono Trigger but very colorful and
nice just the same. The characters also offer great detail and some of
the swirling backdrops will make you dizzy just looking at them. And the
magical spells really look cool when cast. All of this coupled together
really adds to the enjoyment of this game.
Music and Sound [8/10]:
The music is very similar to music found in other RPGs on the SNES. And
the one thing I liked about the music and sound was that it was always
very fitting for the situation your character was in. If Nasir was in a
battle, the music was fast and furious, whereas if Nasir were just
walking around exploring, the music was very soothing. Again not Chrono
Trigger but nicely done.
Game Play [5/10]:
Now comes the main drawback of the game. The gameplay in this game is
bordering on unplayable. Especially when doing battle with enemies. Your
characters sword is VERY short and makes it difficult to hit enemies
without getting hit yourself. Now keep in mind after an hour of so of
playing this game you get very used to this. But I have to mention it to
be fair. You will spend the first hour cursing quite a bit until you get
used to it. Other than battle the gameplay is fine. But those who get
frustrated easily, stay away from this one.
Challenge and Replay [9/10]:
Due to the fact that the gameplay in battle is a bit difficult and the
end boss is one of the most difficult bosses you will EVER face in a
video game let alone an RPG, I had to give this one a 9. And that was
being nice believe me. If you can beat THOR at the end of this game you
kick much booty! I broke many a controller in a fit of rage flailing it
across the room after dying for the 9,000th time. If your not up for a
challenge STAY AWAY. and I can't make that clear enough.
Conclusion/Overall [8/10]:
Overall I love this game, even despite its few flaws it really is an
excellent game. My advice is if you like a challenge, grab this one
up...if you don't like games that are in the difficult - brutally
frustrating range...you might want to borrow this one before you buy it.
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