Tengai Makyou Zero (Far East of Eden)
Equal parts Dragon Quest, Animal Crossing, and TamagotchiGenre: rpg - japanese
Publisher: Hudson Soft
Year: 1995
System: SFC
Gameplay Score: 4
Gameplay Notes:
Most of the QoL improvements you'd expect - fast movement, snappy battles, cursor memory, and auto-equip. Magic and abilities are interesting, but I didn't see much that I haven't in dozens of other JRPGs. Several good ideas, like the ability to save a recorded set of actions for each member of your party. For example, you could save Set A as your melee attacks, Set B as heal everyone, Set C as magic attacks, and so on. There's a weird mechanic that tracks the calendar and time which influences in-game activities. For example, some shops are only open on Thursdays or after 6pm and festivals happen on specific days of the year. Very Animal Crossing of it. There's also a complicated optional game within the game where you can raise a virtual pet.
Level Design Score: 4
Level Design Notes:
Way too much time in a one-person party. Kind of vague as to where to go next, although signs on the overworld help. The map is next to useless - it's far too zoomed out. It's good, but not terribly intriguing.
Theme Score: 4
Theme Notes:
Pretty standard stuff (you're the chosen One) but with a very overt Japanese setting. Also, you're 12 years old, which seems young to me.
Art Style Score: 5
Art Style Notes:
Fantastic pixel art. The environments could use a little more detail but overall this is a good looking game. The battle graphics are outstanding! Great animations and effects.
Audio Score: 5
Audio Notes:
Loved the music and the sound effects. This is Hudson at the height of their craft. The music is again overtly Japanese and would fit well in a Goemon title. I like how the music even dampens when you go inside a building. Great attention to detail in the sound design.
Overall Score: 84
Review ID: 1922
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