Revelations: The Demon Slayer Game by Atlus Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 megabits Save: Battery, 3 slots Released: 1999 Works with: all Game Boy versions. **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: This game is referred to as "Last Bible" in Japan and it is part of the "Persona" series; although loosely. The game supposedly has "Religious Elements" and such. It also has a "Monsters join you" aspect to contend with. You can morph together monsters to create new ones. And the only reason I was interested in it; was because it was a Game Boy Color RPG and I like RPGs. An RPG is a "Role Playing Game". Did I like it? Well, after finishing up the superb Great Greed and playing through a few "weaker" RPGs like Quest for Camelot and Conker's Pocket Tales.. I am primed to take on this little number. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: To be honest; the game is weak in this department. The story starts out with a "This should be cool" layout and fizzles into a dull experience; thanks to the fairly uninspired characters. There seems to be little depth to anyone in this game. Unlike games like "Great Greed", "Link's Awakening", "Pokémon", etc. We are presented with fairly dull and placid characters and supporting characters. None of the characters appeared to be "interesting" in the least to me. And the plot wasn't very intrigueing at all.. almost "sub-par" As for plot twists? There really isn't any. In Great Greed, I was tossed from unusual situation to unusual situation and that was fun. In Final Fantasy Legend 2.. despite some "translation"; the game had unique places and nice little twists. Final Fantasy Legend 3 had some good twists as well. The plot seems to be very set and predictable. No surprises. Religious elements? That's from the names really. "Lucifer", "Micheal", etc. And maybe the little pentagram on the floor when you meld monsters. Nothing that I haven't seen in games before and even that fails to make me the least bit interested in the story. The two player mode is *really* weak compared to Pokémon's two player modes. No trading monsters.. and it's mostly about what items, and spells you have. No fancy element types or complex -yet simple- concepts. To get a monster in your party you need to "talk" to it and that is dull and usually doesn't work most of the time. (Even with high level monsters in your group.) It makes it really not much fun and the only real reason to have the creatures in your party is to keep yourself alive; as the three main characters are really weak and don't seem to level up much or quickly. When you die; -and you most likely will- you lose a lot of money and that makes it tough to buy good weapons.. so most of the time.. you'll be wandering in a circle looking for monsters to kill to get a lot of money. Most the time you will lose before you can get something to join your party. Lots of options in battles, mainly average RPG options and they make the combat slow as the game has a TON of menus. It may be more "true to form" for an RPG; but the menus are a drab yellow and that eats away at my eyes and is a bit ugly. Saving, melding, etc. takes ages and the menus are unclear at times. It's not for everyone.. I suppose that if you didn't care about a good story; or interesting characters; then you'll like it more than I do. The game is a bit unforgiving for some players.. be careful to check stats; as melding two monsters together does NOT automatically mean you will have a stronger monster. The game is fun in spurts; but for the most part.. it is tiresome and a bit heavy-handed and lacking. Liked: It's complex in design and while slow.. provides a fairly decent distraction. Hated: The characters.. the story... ugh. It's too cliche, the two player mode is weak and the monsters are boring. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Now, this game was an old Game Boy game in Japan and color has been added for the US version.. and it shows. A lot. The enemies are layered with colors and the edges/seams/etc. show a lot. You can tell that it was an old game. There isn't a sequence in here that doesn't remind you that it was black and white. The little edges, the odd "colors for the sake of colors".. it's too "washed out". The towns all are different from each other and that is cool. The overworld is yucky looking. At best.. it looks like an old NES game. Listless in a basic term. The colors for some things seem wrong and the menu is ugly. Liked: To be honest.. it's clear and a little colorful. Nice Super Game Boy border Hated: Although at time it is "fruity" and the colors are badly made. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: The music isn't bad.. it's not on par with -say- Final Fantasy Adventure; but it's decent. There are not many tunes in the game for areas and no notable character themes. The music is just "there". The sound is just there as well.. unlike some Game Boy games.. the music has no "hook". The sound effects are par for the course as well. Liked: It's not annoying. Hated: It's not epic either. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: I think the menus in this game are poorly designed and that hurts the gameplay as most of the time.. you will be in those menus. For example.. the main menu.. you save and go back to it automatically. That actually makes it harder to do multiple saves... and using items, sorting through creatures, and using magic become more tedious because the menu does that. The game really could have used some more polish and spitshine for a Game Boy Color rerelease. At least Nintendo had the courtesy to add a new dungeon and more text and pictures to Link's Awakening. The least we could have here is some type of printer support or something "extra".. maybe better text and a more interesting story? Liked: It's an RPG. Hated: Needed so much work.. really... should have been more polished. **************************************************************************** Improve: Better Color, better plot, better characters, better monsters, better music (More "feeling"!!!!!!!), and well... make it more accessible. RIYL: RPGS. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Are you itching for a new RPG? Revelations isn't a must have; but it will do. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: *** Sound/Music: *** Play Control/Game Design: *** Personal Opinion: **** Total: 16 out of 25 Final Score: 64% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: None.