"This may be the worst RPG related game I've ever played"

I'm a big fan of Yugioh and have enjoyed playing it's various card games for quite some time and I must tell you that this is perhaps the worst thing that could have happened to the Yugioh series. Before you start insulting me about how wrong I am let me take you for just a glimps of what you can expect out of this game.

As a gaming junky, I value gameplay over grapics anyday. If this was not the case, I would have enjoyed this title a bit better but still it's got nothing over the other Yugioh titles. Let's start with the story.

The game takes place shortly after the battle city tournaments and Yugi and his friends get invited to try out a new virtual game simulator based on the game Dual Monsters. Sure enough the game glitches and your stuck in the virtual world. Ain't that an emmy for ya.

The game works alot differently then the Yugioh then your used to, instead of a ''my card beats your card'' kind of game, you have a cheap imitation of the standard RPG. Your characters can move about on a field map like a strategy game similar to Advanced Wars except that everything occurs in real time. As you make your move, the enemy is making theirs. Your units move at different speeds depending on which monster is leading the unit. You don't have cards either. Instead, you have a team of up to 3 monsters, each of which you can equip up to three kinds of items. You earn gold as you capture cities and clear missions which can be used to purchase items and magic which would be okay if you could only earn a bit more. You will definitely be living paycheck to paycheck in this game because the monsters you are using have a gold cost as well as you purchasing items and fortifying your bases. You'll be lucky to get a dime when everything is said and done.

Unlike every other Yugioh, The Falsebound Kingdom allows your monsters to get stronger by defeating enemies and gaining experience. Sounds good huh? If only that were the case. The game is poorly executed with very boring combat and an excruciating camera. They cut out alot of monsters in the game so don't be expecting anything like Queen of Autumn leaves or other non famous cards. They only decided to add monsters that have some remote populartiy or that have been on the show more then once. You recruit monsters by walking into certain areas on a game field and battling them with intention of winning. You only get one shot so you have to succeed or you lose the chance to acquire the monster forever or atleast until the next time you start over again.

Also like a traditional RPG, a single attack likely won't KO a monster but it will inflict a certain amount of damage to it. Monsters have HP now and can take several hits before they go down. This would be good if it weren't so poorly executed.

Saving in this game is very cumbersome and you can't save during the hour or so long battle field missions. All and all this game has alot of points about it that they could have taken the time to fix it up but instead staple the fact that you can use god cards and slap on the Yugioh name. Here's a brief summary...

Story: 5/10

Very cheesy, not a first for the Yugioh series

Graphics: 8/10

The games best feature but it will do little to keep you interested for long.

Gameplay:1/10

Pure awful, I haven't played an RPG like game that's this bad in a long time.

Control: 6/10

point and click.... boring..... No innovation what so ever

Cameral: 3/10

You know it's bad when the camera prevents you from viewing the damage you inflict on an enemy from time to time

Music: 7/10

Completely ripped from Duelist of the Roses. It's still not bad though.

Originality: 6/10

This is a first for the Yugioh series. I commend them for stepping into uncharted territory but there is no feature in this game that I would consider very inventive.

Overall: 3/10

To buy or rent??? neither. HardCore Yugioh fans will weep and anyone else with a remote interest in Yugioh will be turned off immediately.

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 11/25/03