Ryuukihei Dan Danzarubu for SFC

Image: MobyGames

Ryuukihei Dan Danzarubu

Ender's Game in a Mech suit

Genre: rpg - japanese

Publisher: Yutaka

Year: 1993

System: SFC

Gameplay Score: 2

Gameplay Notes:

This is an odd bugger. At its core the gameplay is pretty standard, although instead of simply choosing to Attack, you must pick Item and select a weapon to use. The problem is that's no rhyme, reason, or explanation for the game's mechanics. Is this a good weapon? Is it effective against this enemy? Is it more powerful than the one currently equipped to this character? Can this character use the mech suit? What about these armors, which one should I equip? There's nothing to help you make any selections. Truly baffling design, if you ask me. It's games like this that make me truly appreciate how far Square was out ahead of their competition at the time. The only compliments I can give this game are that the game moves quickly and doesn't require much grinding. At least not when compared to its contemporaries. Your walking speed is brisk and can be adjusted up or down from there. Nice to move quickly for a change.

Level Design Score: 2

Level Design Notes:

The game is a series of intensely linear missions. There's no exploration, backtracking, side quests, or optional content. However, I was quite annoyed by the way that so many levels require certain characters to be in your party. You'll often run into a roadblock and a text box will inform you that Jan needs to be in your party. So then you have to walk back to the ship to add the missing character to your party. Pretty annoying.

Theme Score: 3

Theme Notes:

It starts out with you as a soldier-in-training with a bunch of other kids. It gave me serious Enders Game vibes, especailly when your commander informs you that something terrible happened to your father and brother and that your sister and mother are in trouble. The mission-based narrative spoon feeds you the story one helping at a time. The story is this game's best asset, and it's only mildy interesting.

Art Style Score: 2

Art Style Notes:

NES quality graphics. The enemy designs are decent, but don't expect much else.

Audio Score: 3

Audio Notes:

I wanted to knock this down even further, but the music isn't terrible. It's annoying at times, but I didn't mute it, so that's got to count for something, right?

Overall Score: 43

Review ID: 1815