Rygar: The Legendary Adventure

"Rygar want smash things NOW!!"

This game was one of those that I had to see in action first before thinking about buying it. I really wanted it to be a must-buy game, but I had to see it in action before actually making that decision. After a long enough delay, I finally saw the game being played and from that point on, the game became a must-buy for me.

****GRAPHICS****
The visuals in this game are outstanding. The outside environments are lush when they need to be and the inside environments are done very well. Also, Rygar's character animation is splendid as are the enemies'. Overall from a graphical standpoint, this game is high on the list. One interesting point I'd like to point out is a striking resemblance that Princess Harmonia kind of looks like Britney Spears, which is kind of freaky.

****STORY****
The typical, cliched ''save the princess'' storyline here. It takes place shortly after the Roman Empire's conquest of the Egyptian Dynasty, on an island under Roman control called Argus. Your character, Rygar, is receiving honors for his role in a naval battle from Princess Harmonia. During the ceremony, monsters burst in and kidnap the princess. Also, the monsters knock Rygar into a crevice and while he is in it, he is awakened by a mysterious voice and receives the Diskarmor. With this in hand, he must rescue Harmonia and defeat those that kidnapped her.

I love the setting of the story, but the story is cliched and overused in many games. If you love ancient antiquity though, then the setting is perfect for you.

****GAMEPLAY****
This is where the game shines, I would say. Your main weapon is the Diskarmor, which can be basically described as an oversized spiked yo-yo. You can perform various combos with it, some which launch an enemy up into the air, grabs it and brings it back down to the earth in a painful way. Later on in the game, you'll get a couple new Diskarmors, which have new combos and looks.

You're also able to power up your Diskarmors through the use of orb-like objects you can pick up from the destroyed environments and fallen enemies. You also have items that you can collect: some for healing purposes, some that can be attached to a Diskarmor to up stats, and some that can be used to open up images and movies in the Gallery. I must say that the gameplay is very Devil May Cry-ish, for those that want to compare it to something.

****SOUND & MUSIC****
Excellent music from what I've heard, plus it's done by the Moscow International Symphony Orchestra, which is always a plus in my book. The sound effects are also top notch, with the proper sounds being played when needed.

****REPLAYABILITY & DIFFICULTY****
The only shortcoming of the game, in my eyes, is the fact that it's a pretty short game, only totally around 10-15 hours the first time through most likely. The good thing though is the fact that new difficulties are unlocked when you beat the game. I'm not sure how many there are, but there are enough to keep you playing for a good while. Of course, with new difficulties comes a higher challenge though the game doesn't seem all too hard the first time through.

If you're looking for an action game similar to Devil May Cry, then this game is a definite buy. If you're just looking for an action game, then by all means you should buy this game. A great game with lots of smashing and bashing.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 01/12/03, Updated 01/12/03