"Daiblo with a twist..."

Okay, I gave the game a low score. I LOVE this game!
This game is just so addicting! It's like fountain Mr. Pibb! I just can NOT get enough of it!

Graphics: Okay, this is the Dreamcast right? Well, then where are my bustling graphics??? Everything looks brown and dark! Well, maybe they saved it for the size of the game... who knows. But the graphics aren't great. But if you get past square trees, and blocky shrubs you'll see great itty-bitty details everywhere else!? How odd. The detail on your character, other characters, enemies, treasure boxes, sometimes leaves, and decent water & fire effects. Graphics are a SIX it teaters, between actually good!, but screaming - this could have done MUCH better with a few extra months.

Playability: This is where the meat of the game lies. This game takes a while to adjust (esp. the button placement - easy to get used to), but after you take over the Goblin town... the game has JUST started! There is SO much to discover, find, assimilate, add, upgrade, transform, and magic! You want a hack 'n slash (where is Charlie Cook when I need him...) with D&D elements!? Then this is da bomb! Plenty of status to keep up with. Ancient words and Ancient Power to equip on your items. Plenty to find and experiment with. Your blacksmith really is your savior in this game! It just takes LOTS of Mithril to get what you want. Level building can be fun, it is just missing a 2 players option (another negative).
There are plenty of side quests and characters out of the Lodoss War story to interact with also. I believe the game falls between the OAV and Chronicles of the Knight.

Sound: Well, the music fills the emptiness, but isn't anything to write back to Cybertron about. You can turn either sound or the music off which is a nice option. After playing without the music for a fwe hours, the music really adds to the atmosphere, but it's tolerable, but it gets old after a while. The sounds within the game itself are well done, everything is fairly clean and easy recognizable. It's annoying after a while, but there IS a spell you can equip with a helmet to ''see'' all sounds. It looks a water droplets over you or enemies. I'd give the sound a 7.

Overall: Graphics & music aside, the game is the most solid game on the DC other than PSO & Skies. There is much depth to the game, the story (somewhat), and exploring. If you like Role Playing Games to the TRUE extent, Diablo, or even Record of Lodoss War... DEFINITELY pick this game up! You will not regret it! The only missing link is a multiplayer mode.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/12/01, Updated 06/12/01