Rygar: The Legendary Adventure

"He's back in a big way..."

It's been a long wait for arcade and Nintendo fans alike. I'm pleased to report that it was well-worth it. Tecmo has delivered everything they've promised in interviews and articles and it makes one heck of a package.

Story The new Rygar doesn't necessarily rely on the mythos in the Nintendo version. Gone is the land of Argool, the Gran mountains, Garloz, the gods of Indora, and Ligar. Instead, the chosen mythos is heavily rooted in Greek and Roman mythology. The land of Argos is invaded by the evil race known as the Titans. When Argos's Princess Harmonia is kidnapped, a lone gladiator with no memory of his childhood rises to save his land and his people. Thus begins your quest...

Audio/Video Breathtaking. Have you seen the screen shots? Gorgeous. But the best part is, those screen shots don't reflect the best parts of the game. They reflect the ENTIRE game. From Greek shrines and Roman coliseums to deserts, mountains, and more, the environment never fails to get dull or uninspired. The graphics are great, the animation is smooth and one can't help but to stay glued to the screen.

But that's not all! The audio is also very rich. Surprisingly, the sounds of fighting are a bit repetitive, but as the Diskarmor whizzes from left to right, it feels like it's alive in your room. The background music has also taken a turn from the Nintendo version. You don't hear much of the ''valiant hero'' music you heard in the first version that was akin to themes like Chariots of Fire, Superman, or even Indiana Jones. Instead you're treated to more ''celestial'' music. Opera. Still, the themes come alive in this game and do not fail to disappoint, although I was hoping for a taste of the old music from the Nintendo version that I still hum today. Maybe I'll hear it before I finish the game...

Gameplay The best part. Set amidst the beautiful environments and appropriate music is the gem of Rygar. The gameplay. You are treated to 3 different Diskarmors, a huge array of combos that just gets bigger as the game progresses and tons to do. There are plenty of opportunities to backtrack and uncover hidden secrets. As you twirl the Diskarmor in the air, enemies and environments alike fall. The developers weren't kidding when they said you can destroy just about everything. And the thorough adventurer will find that breaking everything heralds its rewards. The controls are intuitive, easy to use, hard to master, and each Diskarmor truly has its own feel and use. Combine that with the ability to summon help and some thought-provoking puzzles and you have a game you can't put down. When I think about it, I've only put the game down from interruption. Not frustration. Not boredom. Something literally tore me away. My sole complaint is that you can start a lengthy combo in one direction and you can't stop until it's done. I think it would've been nice to lock onto an enemy, but I also think that ''locking on'' with a free-swinging weapon like the Diskarmor might've hindered instead of helped. I love swinging at one enemy and taking 2 or 3 more as well. Anyone should be able to pick up this game and enjoy it.

Replayability Tons. 4 difficulty levels and only 1 is available when you start. Plenty of things to find. What does it take to unlock all the secrets? I have no idea. But I would think you could complete the game at least a couple of times without getting everything. And who wouldn't want to pick this game up again?

Buy or rent To be fair, I think this game could be finished in a rental, but I don't know if you could get everything in that time period. This game also looks like one you'll put in every once in awhile simply to enjoy all over again. Like earlier PS2 hits like SSX or a game from the Dynasty Warriors series, this is a game you'll want to play again for sheer enjoyment if there's nothing left to unlock.

This game was highly anticipated by a number of people and we all pored over each publication, reading about what was to be delivered. And think the general consensus was not one of disappointment. I think everyone who has picked up this game has yet to put it down, even if they're on their third or fourth trip through. Definitely a game worth checking out.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/30/02, Updated 11/30/02