Warlocked Game by Bits Studios / Nintendo Reviewed by Sebulba113 (Sebulba113@yahoo.com) Size: Megabits Save: 1 Battery-Backed Campaign Slot, In-game save, 5 Armies slots Released: 2000 Works with: GameBoy Color ONLY! **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: When I first heard about Warlocked, I thought "No Way." Real-Time Strategy isn't what I think of when I think of portable gaming. I was still intrigued, though, so I picked up a copy. Did it work out? Well... **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Real Time Strategy games usually have two basic gameplay choices - Campaigns (missions that are part of a storyline) and Random Maps (Single, stand-alone missions). RTSs usually offer two or more types of playable civilizations as well. Warlocked has only Campaigns, but does include the option to play as Humans or Beasts. Both campaigns are fairly straightforward, mainly a basic "Destroy All (Beasts/Humans)" in each mission. The Beasts and Humans are basically evenly-matched sides, merely with different graphics for each side. Players must use workers (Grunts for Humans, Goblins for Beasts) to collect fuel and gold to train soldiers and build buildings. Also thrown into the mix are Wizards and Dragons, units that each have special, stronger-than-the-average-soldier powers. Wizards have special abilities, like the ability to teleport units, or to conjure up tornados or earthquakes. Wizards, however, are fairly weak in defense, and once they're gone, they're gone. Dragons are large, slow, and POWERFUL. Regular knights have nothing on these guys, the only way they can be killed is by arrows or other dragons. The game also has two two-player modes. One is the basic RTS game, played head-to-head over a Game Link cable. The various two-player maps can be found in the one-player game, and each has unique settings for gold, fuel, etc. The other game is an IR "Army Battle". All units left over from one-player campaigns are added to your armies, as well as gold and any new wizards. Players choose the units they want in each of the six waves. Every unit has a different elemental type - either Fire, Water, Earth, or Wind. Each element is strong against a different type of element, and will result in victory. The winner recives a code that allows him to view the outcome, as well as his opponent's units. The loser...well...loses all of his defeated units, and gets a swift kick in his/her egotistical butt. But wait: there's more! The game also has some mini-games, including a poker game and a slider puzzle. The slider puzzle features pictures the wizards in one of those fun little rearrange-the-picture games. The poker game is (highly) addictive, and you can earn money for your armies in the two-player IR game. Liked: Challenging, engrossing gameplay. Nice mini-games, good two-player modes. Good Replay value. Hated: No random map feature, but it's no big deal. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The graphics are incredible. Units are large, and you won't confuse your units with the enemy's. Buildings are detailed, as are the terrains (evil faces on rocks in the Beast underworld, etc.). Use of color is extensive, and makes everything look even better. Pictures of the Wizards and Dragons steal the show, being large, colorful, and very crisp. These graphics are cleaner than a fat man's eatin' hand. Liked: Everything. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Digitized Speech have been used a lot in GBC games lately, but not like this. Every unit will respond to your command with a shout of "Okay!" or (my personal favorite) "Yes Master!". Besides letting you know they've responded, you also get a rush of power every time you tell one of the poor saps what to do. Captured wizards cry out "Help me!", and fighting units scream "Attack!". I can't even describe how well these clips come out, they're crystal clear and very understandable. The music, which some critics have complained about, is just fine, but it can drown out the sound of the units. Just turn it off. Liked: Digitized Voice. Simply Incredible. Hated: Music can drown out the voice. Again, no big deal, just off it. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: You can tell that a lot of work was put into this game. Controls are fast, responsive, and simply perfect. You'll never have trouble getting the cursor where it needs to go, and you'll always know what type of unit you have selected, because the cursor changes for grunts and soldiers. Levels are designed well, with unexplored areas being marked by large blocks with a "?". Units can be a safe distance away to tell what's ahead. Wizards are vital units in later levels, but only a certain number can be found in each game. You have to trade with another copy to collect all 25 wizards. (Hmm...where have I heard that concept before?...) The only problem is character AI. Sometimes the selected unit can't tell how to get around a platoon of soldiers, or they'll try to go the wrong way to attack. It can get very frustrating. Liked: Tight, responsive controls. Level layout is top-notch. Wizard collection adds challenge. Hated: Stupid troops that don't know what to do. **************************************************************************** Improve: Add a random map option, make the music a little softer, and add more wizards. RIYL: Nothing else like it on GameBoy...You'll have to look into PC titles (Age of Empires II, The WarCraft series) or consoles (StarCraft on N64). **************************************************************************** Final Words: Warlocked is simply fantastic. It's simplified, but it's still an RTS on GameBoy Color, and it works. The game is challenging, it requires planning, and most importantly, it's FUN. Warlocked is a must-have for any GameBoy Color, and is destined to become a classic. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Stars Total: 25 Final Score: 100% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: No codes, but a strategic tip: A good way to clear out a path of enemies is to combine the powers of Telewiz and Sleepwiz - They'll be teleported to a random location, and they'll be asleep, so they'll pose no immediate threat.