Quest 64

"A sorry excuse for an RPG"

This is one bad game. Truly, this is something to be entirely avoided! RPGs are generally games with a more in-depth storyline, more detailed battles, challenging side quests, interesting enemies, etc. However, Quest 64 definitely fails to deliver ANY of these things. I'm not some newcomer to RPGs either; I've played Final Fantasy I (yes, the first one), Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Koudelka, Paper Mario, Pokemon R/B/Y, Pokemon G/S, Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Stadium 2, Lost Kingdoms, and RPG Maker. Plus, I've played my fair share of video games in general, and RPGs are my favorite type of video game. However, Quest 64 is quite a disappointment. Read on...
Controls: 8/10:
The controls seemed pretty good...But, this doesn't make up for everything else...
Game Play: 5/10:
Here's the scoop; as you're traveling with your character along a path, in a forest, etc., when you get ambushed by an enemy, your character is then incased in an odd, small, grid-like area. The enemy/enemies are outside of the grid-like area will attack you from the outside. To run away from a battle (which you can't always do), you must try to run in place near the edge of the grid-like area, and you might eventually get out of the grid-like area. You don't get any party members; just your one, plain, character. I don't recall any side quests or anything; just boring, enemies...
Graphics: 6/10:
Not bad for the Nintendo 64, nothing too special though. Some of the magics looked good, but otherwise, pretty mediocre stuff.
Story: 3/10:
.......This is a real bore. NO spoilers, plot twists, hardly any slightly complicated or interesting characters, and almost no effort as far as the storyline goes. I don't like giving much of this so-called 'story' away, but, you play as a kid that has to go and save his father, the King. That's...it?! You wield this boring, mage-like wooden staff and a few magic powers. Nothing much else to enjoy here. I consider the story to be the heart of any game, especially RPGs. Without a solid story as the backbone of this game, it completely falls apart. If only this game had a good story and a better battle system, it would have done much better than it did.
Challenge: 5/10:
Uhh, what? Come again? Is this actually a real RPG, or a joke? There isn't too much challenge, just trying to attack the enemy while moving about in that cumbersome battle area!
Sound: 6/10:
It seemed okay, nothing too special though. The enemy attacks sounded the worst; most sounded kind of muffled...
Music: 6/10:
The music was okay; nothing memorable, that is. Most of the musical pieces fitted the scenery alright, but otherwise it didn't add much flavor to this game.
Replayability:
Why would anyone want to play this game again?! Usually, RPGs don't have too much replayablitity; once you complete the story part of the game and finish all of the painfully hard to complete side quests, why would you want to go through it again? But, usually, RPGs have more detailed stories, and you'll want to play it a second or third time to relive your memories again. Not so with Quest 64; the story isn't worth revisiting again! Absolutely no replayability here.
Buy or Rent?:
I would say, without much thought: neither! If you like RPGs enough, I guess you could rent it or buy it if it's cheap, but otherwise, it isn't worth much! Casual gamers might want to pick this up if they just want to play it every once and a while; but if you've never played an RPG before, please don't get this! It will surely blur your interpretations of how an RPG is like and it won't make you want to play any RPGs, therefore you'll be missing out on lots of great games! Yes, it's that bad! Especially the battle system, as it is nothing like any other battle system I have seen before, and not in a unique and good way, either! It's awful! Stay away! Don't come any closer! If you see this game, RUN!
Final Score: 4/10:
This does shame to RPGs. Really. Please, don't get this! You'll regret it later! I'd reccommend getting ANY other RPG. Anything but this!

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/03, Updated 04/20/03