Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses

"Ok, but not quite what I expect from Yugioh..."

I'm a huge fan of Yugioh, a huge fan and I like everything about yugioh but this...Well, pretty much a waste of money but somewhat kinda an improvement from Forbidden Memories. I didn't like it because of the rules and how the cards have changed from the real ones but some of them are good also. Also, like people say, it's like chess, which I don't really like but a worse version of it, first off, crush card, it's messed up...when you use the crush card, it doesn't infect the enemy's deck but rather it's much likely a field card, also, Deck Leaders? It's just a waste of a card, you have to run around if you're surrounded which I don't like and it can't defend itself, also summoning spaces? if it's all covered, you're dead. Well, onto the grades then...

Graphics 9/10: Great, it's really good and makes the monsters more realistic than Forbidden Memories. But the one thing I don't like about it is that some characters looks deformed O_o. But also, when you look at your cards, you can look at it and change your camera angles and look at what monster you are looking at which is pretty useful sometimes when you want to know how does your favorite monster looks like.

Story: 9/10: Superb, a interesting story to learn in the Yugioh Series. But one thing that I don't like about it is that the story is a bit too short when you finish, it's basically the same thing either side your choose, just beat the people you fight with then fight the leader of that group then you go the Stonehenges and fight the Card Guardian, where you ''Teleport'' back home supposely. And just if you are wondering, you are not Yami, or any other character in the Yugioh series, you are yourself sent from the 20th centery to medieval Europe. But I wonder, Konami should make a longer story and let us be able to play the Regular version of the TCG if we wanted since the gameplay in DOTR is crap.

Gameplay: 4/10: Poor, this is completely like chess mixed with DDM (Dungeon Dice Monsters), also, with magic and trap cards, enemy unit can kill them easily if they wanted too, which is sometimes good but also bad if they are gaining up on you to kill you. And back where I said that DOTR is like chess fused with DDM, it's half and half, stragety and luck, you need good luck to get the cards you want also. Passwords, well the good thing is that there's no starchips or anything like that but the bad thing is that this isn't relating to the TCG passwords, there are acutally passwords at the end of the game when you finish it. When you win cards from the enemy's graveyard after the battle, it's a slot machine, basically 3/4 luck, 1/4 skills good luck on collecting cards and there is more than 500 cards to collect. WHEW! Also, there's a DC level, (which may be in the other games but) if your deck level is too high, you can't battle them, you have to get an equal or lower amount than the enemy you are going to versus and the most complicated part is that when you are in Yugi's team, and when you versus Bones, his deck level is like around the 700's, That's the lowest deck level there is in the game. Also, in the story mode, your deck leader can't fight, it's just some helpless monster doing the work for you onto the field. And there's this new thing called ''Destiny Draw'' is good and stuff, but it RARELY happens when you are playing, so rare that you'll just forget about it. Also, I haven't had the slightest idea why konami made the game this way...

Sound/Music: 6/10: Ok, but can be done in a better way. The sound is great at first but gets quite irritating after awhile, also, the music is not really good since I also like music alot. But I have to say that the Intro music was extremely good, so good that it made the game look like the best game there ever was too bad that wasn't really true.

Replayability: 9/10: Ok I suppose but once you are done with both sides, you are free to duel where ever you want but the thing I don't really like about this is that, where's the unlocked level where I can do something fun or something, but there isn't, just your normal people where you have to change your deck level one after another. And I wonder, why are the extra space on the map?? I don't see why they are suppose to be there since there isn't any other person to fight with. Also, once you go card hunting after a while, you'll probably get bored of it and sooner or later will become tired of it and get gameshark (which I would do only if there is an extreme situation at hand). Plus, when you fight the people, they just use the same stragety like they always use and sooner or later you'll know what it is inside-out, beating the crud out of them everyday.

Overall Score: 5/10: It's an ok game in my catagory but I completely recommend it that you rent the game first before you buy it, it's better safe then sorry, especially if you are yugioh fan who just wasted 50 dollars on this game. a fun game to play the first time but not alot of fun stuff in this game, there's just battling and yeah, not a whole lotta of story to know about this. And it's extremely short. For pete's sake I rather play Super Smash Bros. Melee because of the funtimentals elements in it but too bad yugioh was a failure this time, hopefully Konami will realize their mistakes and fix it.

Review...

Graphics: 9/10

Story: 9/10

Gameplay: 4/10

Sound/Music: 6/10

Replayability: 9/10

Overall: 5/10

Short Comments: A good game to waste time with but not really worth buying but if your really want if, suit yourself, it's better to rent before buying and also, it's better to wait for some other game you were going too. A good game but not the best made by Konami.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 03/01/03, Updated 03/01/03