Great Greed Game by Namco Reviewed by Adrock adam@dmgice.com Size: 1 Megabit Save: Battery Released: 1992 **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Philip bought me this game as a gift, and since it is so rare. Thank you Philip! This game is good stuff. This game got looked over. Most definetely. It's like you see Kool Keith's CD behind Nelly and you're like "Oh this is DOPE!" But you buy Nelly instead because you're a corporate sucker. This is the treatment that Great Greed got. Shame on you! Play this game! **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Great Greed is a quirky, overhead RPG bearing quite a resemblance to games like Final Fantasy Legend 2, but with a big difference in the fighting engine and also... well, it's just different. A lot of the characters are named after food. It starts out that you're walking around on the shore of an island to find yourself in this strange land having to suddenly save the kingdom. Some parts of the game will leave you like "Did I miss something?" But that's more than can be said for a lot of the games coming out these days. You can probably guess what will happen next, but by that time, the game has you guessing again. The plot does a good job of staying on it's feet, and despite character names like "Calorie", the game also has a serious side as you play on. The plot should keep veteran Game Boy gamers interested, and the battle engine being non-menu based, might catch the attention of younger gamers. Let's talk more about that battle engine. If you've played Xenogears or Super Mario RPG, you should know about games that have button menus over the traditional Dragon Warrior or Final Fantasy cursor menus. The menus in this game work like this, each arrow direction is a certain task, like Fight, Magic, Healing and all that. This makes the battles go by really fast... instead of choosing what you want to do from going down a menu, you hit a button. Also, the enemy does not wait on you to attack, take too long and you'll get wailed on. You only use items outside of battle. The battles are intentionally quick and easy to manage, which is probably why this game made it over here in the first place. Overhead, things are pretty similar to what you've seen, maybe a tad simple compared to later GB RPGs, but this game came out in 1992, so you can expect that. Other than the strange content and quick fighting engine, this is a by-the-book RPG, but done so right. It's got multiple endings (damn!) There is even automatic save which is a BIG plus. Liked: This game was ahead of it's time, but it either got tossed out of the way or didn't even make it to your local gaming store shelf. Hated: The game's translators might have butchered it a bit but that's not uncommon. Maybe too active for more thoughtful than impulsive RPG players. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: A very nice looking game for it's time. Pretty much formulaic, looks a lot like Final Fantasy Adventure or Rolan's Curse or something like that. That's not really the point anyways, or at least back in the day... a good plot and a good menu system was all you needed. Now you've got FMV and Hi-Res and what not, but that's another story. The diversity comes with the Anime style characters you will meet and the strange enemies (with even stranger names.) Liked: On par graphics with easy to read text, no one is complaining, if they are, shoot them. Hated: More sprites for during the dungeons, which get semi-tedious. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The music is just as diverse as the rest of the game. You want to say "Dragon Warrior" but it's just weird... it's got it's own unique thing going on. Not really classifiable, but these tunes might feel at home on, say, the bagpipes. Liked: Fabulous. Game Boy pulled this off? Hated: Nothing. One of the most unique parts of the game. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Never have I seen an RPG keep me on my toes like this one has. It's a shame this engine went to waste. It is stupid not to think that this game won't get updated sometime in the near future, at least see the engine used in another Game Boy game. So well designed and such a breakthrough, you shouldn't pass this one up if you are an RPG fan or wanting to ease your way into being one. :-) Liked: Three save spots as well as temporary save, multiple endings, very abstract (dare I resurrect the term, "mind-expanding") plot. This game is the diamond in the rough. Hated: Nada. **************************************************************************** Improve: Let's see this battle engine somewhere else. A sequel could be even better. RIYL: Final Fantasy Legend/Adventure, Zelda: Link's Awakening, Xenogears, Mario RPG **************************************************************************** Final Words: If you find this game, you should not pass up buying it. Sure it may not be a must have, you probably won't see it on many Game Boy gamers' top 10 list, but this game is one of a kind. If you've grown tired of today's Game Boy games (throw on a license, poof! Instant best seller.) Why don't you go back and give this one a try. You'll gina back that hope you thought you lost. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 25 Final Score: %100 **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: No.