Rolans Curse Game by American Sammy Corp. Reviewed by pikamom pikamom@supernet.com Save: passcode Released: 1990 Works with: any gameboy **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: What should I say. It's not the best game I ever played, and it's not the worst, either. Read on to find out what I thought. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: I got this game because I'm into RPG's. This is not really an RPG in the true sense, though. I'ts more like wandering through mazes, trying to get from point A to point B. Liked: The game looks good. There's a nice supply of items to find, there are different terrains to traverse, and cool enemies to fight.. Hated: Rolan moves EVER so slowly! He only has one speed: slow. There are no menus to manage; i.e. you can only ever have one item at a time on your A and B buttons. If you walk over another item, the one you had will be replaced with no way to get it back until you find another one. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: There aren't any cut scenes, only a small amount of text to read in between beating the bosses. The character and enemies are large and detailed. There are five different areas (towns, forests, surf, caves, and castles), but once you've seen them for the first time, you've seen it all. Liked: Across the bottom of the screen is a bar that shows your health (in hearts) and what you have on your A and B buttons. And the thing I liked best of all, was, when you die, you become an adorable little white spirit and float up to the sky! Just like in Lufia II for SNES. Oh, by the way, I heard they are making a Lufia game for GBC! Yeah! Hated: The graphics are well done, but it all becomes disturbingly familiar after a short while. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The music is above average. It fits very well with the theme of the game, and there are quite a few different songs. There are some sound fx, most notably the invincible one, that reminds me of invincible in DKL III. Liked: Wear headphones so you can hear it all. In fact, some of it will be missed if you don't. The score is actually high quality, with lots of layering and an underlying beat. Hated: nothing to hate here. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: For a game that claims to be an RPG, there just isn't a story here besides the ever so popular "HELP, save us from the ferocious beast." In fact, you start out in the first (nameless) town and the (nameless) people say exactly this: "Your quest has begun". "The creature is ferocious". "Oh, you brave warrior. Please defeat that monster". How original. NOT!! The design of the game is to wander through mazes in the diguise of forests, caves, surf and castles, until you either come to another identical, nameless town with identical, nameless people like the town before, who say essentially the same thing, or you come to a boss. Along the way you find items in treasure chests or by defeating enemies. Pick them up by walking over them. The items are assigned to A and B buttons and used by pushing said button. To see the status screen depress the start button. There you will see your attack power, life power and passcode. Some of the things you can find are: shield of valor, magic axe, fire rod, hearts, invincibility, medicine. Oh, and one last thing. This game has a 2 player option, but I don't know how this works as I don't have another copy and don't plan on getting another copy. Of course, this is another game I got used without an instruction book, or I'd be able to tell you about the 2 player game. Oh well. Liked: The game does have some variety and resemblance to an RPG. In some places, you can't get through unless you use the magic axe to clear a path. But this is not necessary to complete the game. Each item has it's own effect, and that keeps a little interest, too. Also the fighting is in real-time like in Zelda and Final Fantasy adventure. I always like real-time as opposed to turn-based. Hated: If you accidently walk over an item and replace one you really like, you can't use the old one anymore. It is gone. You won't get to use it again until you find another one. You can't name your character, either, and you don't meet any one along the way who will join your party. Plus there are no menus to manage. No riddles, no puzzles to solve. Just maze after maze, going from point A to point B... it all becomes rather pointless. **************************************************************************** Improve: They DID do a sequel in 1992 called (what else?) Rolans Curse II, and it is GREATLY improved from this first go-around. I think it (the second version) could be even better if they made it in color, and got rid of those tedious, boring mazes, and gave it riddles and puzzles to solve instead. RIYL: I would recommend by-passing this one and go with Rolans Curse II instead. Even better is Final Fantasy Adventure, and best of all is Zelda, Links Awakening. **************************************************************************** Final Words: A mediocre game. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ** and a half Graphics: *** and a half Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: ** Personal Opinion: ** Total: 14 x 4 Final Score: 56 % **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: not that I'm aware of. if you do have this game, try using the new codebreaker. you can save in real-time and not have to worry about passcodes. or try using brainboy for double-speed so you can move faster. rolan moves VERY SLOW. too bad you can't use codebreaker and brainboy at the same time.