Seventh Cross Evolution

"A good game, that could have been better"

First off, this is definitely a game that you should rent before buying because it is certainly not for everyone. And it is also a game that I love.

Gameplay: This game has one of the most revolutionary ways to progress in a game instead of just going around finding or buying upgrades to get a predetermined character you actually have to evolve your character by playing with their DNA by using a 10x10 sheet of blocks which can be coloured in with different colours standing for attack, defense, Et-A (mental powers), dexterity, intelligence, and healing. And the game has the ability to make up its own rules and ways for you to acquire new parts for your character, making each players game a whole different ballgame. Though at the beginning of the game it does seem to be more of a hit and miss situation until the AI finds somewhat of a method or pattern in your work. But all in all this is one of the greatest ways to advance in a game. Combat is where the game tends to get somewhat annoying it is a mixture of real-time and turn-based, with the turn-based being at the worst times, as well as the real-time being at the worst time. basically it is just a game of who is the most powerful with little to no strategy involved, except for the bosses, where the fighting can actually be quite fun. 8/10

Graphics: Well, SC:E was the first game I bought for my DC and I was a little bit disappointed with the graphics considering I owned the most powerful console on the planet and these were the graphics I got, I think more time should have been tooken on the animation of the character, basically all that he does is move his (or her) legs and swing his arms, not much at all. Also the game suffers from some slowdown in areas, especially the water area and tends to be rather annoying. But then again the game is about A LOT more that just being pretty so the graphics are definitely good enough to get the point across. 7/10

Controls: The controls are quite bad considering the digital is used and the turn rate of your character is horribly slow, so slow in fact that by the time you turn around to fight someone behind you, you have already gotten hit about 3 times. But the menus are very efficient and the buttons easily used to egotiated them. But for SC:E 2 I would definitelyadvise the use of the analog! 6/10

Music: Well... It isn't that bad and is something you don't hear everyday but it definitely could have been better. The sound effects leave something to be desired and remind me of the Genesis sound effects though they are much clearer. 7/10

Replay Value: This is a game that you will definitely come back to over and over to find the perfect evolution, and even after that to take a different way of getting to that state. A game that will be a constant game in the machine no matter how big your DC library gets. 9/10

So in the end a game that still has a few bugs to be ironed out but I can't wait for SC:E 2!

Learning Curve: 2 hours.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 01/02/00, Updated 01/02/00