"Another attempt to attack the average gamer"

Yeaagghh! Im literally sickened by this. Please! Just build a huge beacon saying -<*(WE WILL HYPNOTIZE YOU -- SCEI)*>- Could it be any more obvious?? Good lord, now they are trying to get people who don't even like RPGs to play them. The button combo system was a very well disguised(Sarcasm) attempt from SCEI to attack you, the average gamer, into uniting with all the other millions of dial-a-combo hardcore fighters who have ''ascended'' to RPGs. This game should be against the law.

Graphics - 6
Alright, now im really getting pissed. THEY INTENTIONALLY MIMICKED FF7! Good golly batman! Look at how they try and trick you, lie to your face, use all this statistical knowledge they have collected to try and create a perfect million seller, to leech of you, the consumer. What a game to pick! FF7 of all of them, the peonizer of populations! These graphics are good, but damn, I just can't get over how blatantly obvious they are of a rip off. Most people that can think for themselves would be happier with better designs and more well thought out ''schemes''. Most graphical credit goes to the attack animations, which actually look kinda cool, and much credit goes to whoever designed Rose ^_^

Sound/Music - 0
Its too bad im almost out of ranting energy, this is by far the lowest point in the entire game. Its bad, period. The writer is obviousoly some guy from sony with a degree or something and no feelings. The music never displays any emotion, as a matter of fact, all it displays is that crap from back in the mega man days, im not kidding, the simplesaw in one of those battle songs is just something his son did while playing with the keyboard. This music is fake, superficial. The town musics are trite little tunes that even an amature like me could have put to shame. The battle music while fighting in winglie ruins seriously made me want to hang myself. The man is obviously def, and he needs to be shot. The sound effects are ok, nothing memorable.

Challenge - 1
Yes thats right folks, this game is another FF7. Storyline with battles put in to slow you down, made specifically for people who ''think'' they like storylines, but rant all day about ''Yu SuX!!1! B00ks R for Panzeez!!11!''. Its really sad how people will play a game and become obssesed with it becuase its popular. Truthfully, I have never died in this game. I still wonder what that game over screen looks like(If they even bothered to put one in). The biggest challenge is drudging through 30 different towns talking to people about the dry storyline.

Storyline - 2
This is ridiculous, this storyline needs to be shot along with the composer of this game. It starts out ok, but SCEI is obviously filled with mentally challenged asses that have a below average IQ. They don't know how to hint a storyline twist, they just GIVE IT AWAY! God, How stupid, could you possibly be to not know whats going to happen next. They think they give you a small hint, BUT YOU MUST BE STUPID IF YOU CAN'T PUT 2 AND 2 TOGETHER. They ruined alot of good plot twists with this sewage. The foreshadowing isn't the only problem. SCEI then proceeds to make the main story a platitudinous copy of some mediocre arthurian fantasy paper-back, its not even very interesting. Once again, sitting through the long talks about static characters is the real challenge of this game.

Gameplay - 5
Finally, an almost good point. This is the only thing that kept me going throught the game. Searching for stardust, learning additions, and feeling the satisfaction of doing demons dance with my eyes closed :). For some strange reason, I just loved fighting. I didn't particulalry like the combo system, just the way they level up after uses is what turned me on. The enemy elements put a bit of a twist on things, but sadly, thats about all the strategy there is to it. Go on quest, go to town, go on quest, go to town, go on quest, go to town. I wasn't able to spot any side quests until the very end, I love side quests :(

Replay value - 5
Yes! There could actually be some replay value here. If you spolied your replay value by using different characters, then I feel sorry for you, becuase thats all the replay value that exists! I certainly wouldn't want to play this whole game over, its too linear for such a thing. Going through the game with diffeent characters could be somewhat interesting.

Final Thesis: Rent it, ONCE, beat it, and never think about it again. DO NOT give SCEI the pleasure of another game bought! They have their sights on you, don't give them a penny. Its only worth a rental - Hardcore RPGers only.

-- Kilgamesh*Killer of mods :)
Geomedus@Aol.com

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 10/05/00, Updated 10/05/00