Dark Savior

"It's a 2D/3D, Fighting, Action, Platform, RPG crammed into one"

Trying to expand my Saturn collection after it's demise, I started getting only ones that star Marvel Super Heroes, then wnet over to action (TOMB RAIDER), survival horror (RESIDENT EVIL), fighting (FIGHTERS MEGAMIX), strategy (WARCRAFT 2), driving (WIPEOUT) and finally sports (FIFA '98, VIRTUAL OPEN TENNIS). The only field I didn't cover was RPG. I solved that when I discovered some Saturn games in a RPG store that just opened. I purchased DRAGONHEART, MYSTARIA and DARK SAVIOR. I had second thoughts getting the last game because it require a analog control pad. Something I don't have, nor planning to get, but I found out it's only use to shift points of view and the regular is just as good to use. While MYSTARIA is a true RPG, DARK SAVIOR is less than that. More like a 3D action platform. I was pleased with some features, yet disappointed in others.

DARK SAVIOR is a 3D view isometric game. You play the role of Garian, a fierce bounty hunter. He and a talking bird named Jack escort a notorious body-snatching prisoner named Bilian on a transport ship bound for Jailer's Island. Along the way, Bilian escapes and wrecks havoc on the ship before jumping overboard and swimming to the Island. The alarm awaken Garian and Jack form a strange dream and discover a Blue Rose on Garian's bounty hunter's handbook. From there, you rush to the captain's deck to find Bilian and head for Jailer's Island for further adventure.

The 3D background Graphics are superb. They are sharp, bright, very detailed and colorful. Better than on TOMB RAIDER, except that it's isometric and the characters are 2D drawn sprites. The characters and background blend quite well. A few times, however, you would see Garian floating a bit when he's standing on the edge of a platform. Like TOMB RAIDER, camera view can be shifted and rotated on a limited basis. It helps you see the blind spots on certain areas. The loading time is quick and the animation is smooth, although it's limited considering Garian swings his sword a lot, whether he's hitting a button, switch, wheel or an opponent. There's also a bit of slowdown when there is too much detail on the screen.

The music is excellent. Some are up-beat, dramatic and fits the mood well. Unfortunately, it not to be played outside the game on CD tracks. There's only one track with some Japanese saying, but if you wait for a minute and a half, you would hear a story the mention a blue rose, follow by 4 pleasant sounding songs. The sound effects although great are a disappointment because it's not much and is common. Just has Garian slashing, walking, running, jumping and screaming, plus the background noises in certain areas. The characters don't talk, but have printed text underneath follow by low pitched typewriter like sounds.

The controls are tight and responsive, but it's hard to adjust and position Garian since he moves in diagonal directions, rather than simple up, down, left, right. It makes it difficult to jump from platform to platform at times.

Speaking of which, this game shouldn't be labeled as RPG or even action platform. It should be called a jumping platform because that's what this game mostly consists of. It's follows by a few manipulation puzzles, i.e, take a box to the button on the floor, avoid the trap. There's also a fighting scene, in which Garian comes across a being who challenges him to fight. If Garian accepts, you are put in a real time Street Fighter like mode which is 3/4 view, has two fighting moves, plus a charge up special and limited to one line field. Garian must best two out of three rounds to win. Sometimes he can even capture his opponent, a la Pokemon and use him in future battles. The problem is if the captive fighter goes in Garian's place and loses, the game is over. Garian doesn't fight afterwards and you must start over. The only RPG themes in this game are the experience points, which is mostly use to have Jack help Garian if he fails the jump or to avoid fights. It can be use to get Hit Points and Level ups as well. There are also items to obtain and people to chat with, but it's not as much as the jumping scenes. You can save your progress, but, like in RESIDENT EVIL, they are few and far between.

The only saving grace is the storyline. There are many parallel paths that you will enter depending on how you do on the Seabandits ship. Garian's speed in getting to the destination determines the outcome. You may have to go through all the parallels to fully understand the story and the hidden messages.

Although Dark Savior is not a breakthrough game, it come pretty close. Less on the jumping and more on RPG and fighting would improve it. Only the graphics and storyline stand out the most, making this game good to rent if not buy. If the puzzles, the isometric view and the jumping don't annoy you, then get this game.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/09/03, Updated 06/09/03