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Our Manual Critic Crow T. Robot Reads: These animalized creatures came down from the sky and committed the most atrocious cruelties. In a single day, they established the kingdom of EVIL. |
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Tom Servo Says: It took God six days to create his kingdom. These creatures must be REALLY EVIL. |
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The Bent Kangaroo Says: Would I Count As An Animalized Creature? |
What Kind Of Game Is This?
A platformer of sorts that borrows from action, adventure, and RPG elements.
Successfully?
Indeed. Your name is Rygar and you need to bring peace to the world blah, blah, blah. While the plot itself is not all that interesting, the adventure itself brings out the imagination. And the gods you run into provide great humour, when you realize that their advice, originally resembling koans, is simply horribly translated.
What Are The Action Elements?
This is the primary aspect of the game, as all enemies are defeated using your diskarmor, a gorgeous weapon that shoots out like a chainsaw and makes the sound of a hundred shurikens cutting the air. It can be increased in length as you gain experience, and is quick and very easy to use. You can fire in the four main directions. Of course, dodging is often as effective as fighting, and Rygar is very easy to control. He can jump fairly high, and can even change direction in mid-air many times.
Adventure Elements?
I lied when I called the game a platformer. There aren't really levels per say, as there are areas. There are about ten different lands to visit, but you can only visit a few areas before you acquire various items that help you traverse otherwise impossible terrain. Items won and frequently used include the grappling hook, pulley, and crossbow. If you get confused on where to go next, the aforementioned gods (randomly located throughout the land) usually provide some advice if you can understand them.
RPG Elements?
You become stronger by defeating enemies. While you have infinite lives, every time you die you have to start building experience once more. Defeating the tougher enemies is not impossible if you're weak, but the longer you can stay alive, the easier the game becomes.
Anything Frustrating?
No save feature! This game takes at least three to five hours to win for a good player (i.e. not a freak who has every pixel of the game memorized and can win blindfolded), and even as a kid I had a hard time finding the time to give this game a shot. It's not a problem now with emulators and save states, but I never would have won the game without new technology. One time my brother and I got to the final enemy on the cartridge, but we lost immediately and had little motivation to build up experience again to try and face him, especially since it was probably bed time.
Do I Need To Turn The Volume Off?
Absolutely not! The music changes from area to area and is equally haunting and energetic. Also, the graphics are for the most part splendid, far surpassing the competition not only of the time (1987) but of many games even released at the end of the NES run.
Wasn't There An Arcade Version?
Yes, but it was a platformer rather than a hybrid. The action parts are very similar, but from what I hear was not the game this is.
So Who Would You Recommend This To?
I can't think of anyone not to recommend it to, especially if you have an emulator and don't have to worry about the lack of a save feature.
Links
GameFAQs (Game Genie codes here as well)
MobyGames
Rygar Info Site
RPG Classics
