Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories

"Millennium old cards are fun? Of course!"

At first glance, Yu-Gi-Oh! has everything going against it. The game originally came out in Japan 6 years ago, meaning the graphics are hardly what we've become accustomed to even on the PSX. Also the game focuses on a card game, which traditionally don't do well. Combine all this with the fact that it's coming out during a time when PSX is considered all but dead, and this game is at a serious disadvantage.

So how does it overcome all of this? What it lacks in timing and graphics it more than makes up for in most other areas.

When you first play this game you'll find that you aren't playing the loveable kid that has a 30-year-old's voice most of the time. Instead you're in the role of the original King of Games, the guy that possesses Yugi in the show whenever he gets into a duel. Your adventure covers the back story of the show and the original story of the Millennium Items the show loves so much. You encounter many duels in this gameplay and even get to duel some of your favorite (and not so favorite) characters from the show, or at least alternate versions of them.

Gameplay is also noticeably different. While the RPG aspect of the game is fairly linear, you still get plenty of extra options with the cards, especially in 2 player duels, that more than make up for it. For those that have played the card game and have good knowledge of it, you'll find some of your favorite magic cards missing, including Monster Reborn, Polymerization, and Change Of Heart. Polymerization is no problem since fusion is closer to the original show than the card game, but the other two leave a serious gap in the strategy the real game is all about. Still with over 700 cards to choose from and the simplified rules, you'll hardly miss the few cards they leave out.

The game provides some interesting options while dueling, as well. Duels can be fast paced, or you can draw them out by watching the 3D animations of the monsters fighting. Yes, the graphics are good for a 1996 game and they do have graphics for all of the monsters in the game. There's quite a bit of satisfaction in watching the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon you so pain-stakingly built up obliterate an opponent's measly defenses.

The gameplay's main drawback is the fact you can only get one card at a time, despite being able to get them three different ways. You can get them by winning duels, trading with friends, and there's a password system, as well. All Yu-Gi-Oh cards have a code that allow you to access them on Yu-Gi-Oh video games, and this is no exception. If your cards are in the game, you can get them automatically, provided you've won enough Star Chips to buy them. (Star Chips, by the way, are won in duels, the better you do the more you get, up to 5 at a time) Still with no way of getting multiple cards at a time, collecting gets tedious at times, especially when you're out of new opponents.

Like most card games, this is for friends that both have the game and can duel each other. This is where the gameplay picks up, playing a human opponent is drastically different from a predictable computer AI.

Overall this is a must-have game for Yu-Gi-Oh fans, it provides some good insight to the history the show is based around as well as shows you how the monsters of these cards really look like in 3D. This is by no means a replacement for the real card game, but it is a lot of fun and worth it if you can find a copy of it.

Graphics: 7
Back in 1996, this would have been higher, but today it doesn't compare to a lot of games very well. Still the graphics barely matter in this game.

Gameplay: 9
The RPG could have used more thought, but dueling the computer and friends in 3D is great way to play the card game.

Sound: 7
No voices or any real sound effects, and some of the monster sounds don't really match very well. Still the music is good, just remember this game is 6 years old.

Control: 8
Very easy controls, nothing to really learn, just not a lot you can do with them. You can hit X to attack without animations, or Square to attack with animations. After that, it's limited.

Replay Value: 8
After the RPG is done you can still go collect cards from opponents, but the real replay is showing off your invincible deck against your friends.

Fun Factor: 9
This game has a lot of hours in it despite the linear RPG, and once again the duels are a lot of fun.

Overall: 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/26/02, Updated 05/26/02