Secret of the Stars

"A really enjoyable game!"

• Introduction - Your main character is a boy who's grown up without knowing his parents, though people are talking about how great a warrior his father was. After some evil events that cause him to leave his hometown, he sets out on a mission to find his four companions and save the world.

• Gameplay - Secret of the Stars is a good, oldfashioned SNES RPG, the story's not very long and it's quite easy to play. There aren't many options, you just play on and do whatever you're told to do. You always find clues about where to go by talking to the people in town. There are some puzzles in the game, you sometimes have to walk around in places where you can't see your character and randomly push A button to find something or someone in a hidden spot. sometimes the game requires you to just revisit the cities and talk to all the people all over again to find out what to do next. There are also quite many mazes to walk through. If you like a bit of thinking, the game is really good. My biggest problem was the need to level up, which took up most of my time. Before you go anywhere new, you should really focus on getting at least a couple of levels higher. All in all, a very easy game. The controls are simple, A button to accept/select, B button to decline/deselect. Basic SNES RPG battle mood, everyone takes turns to do their attack.

• Story - The story in this game is quite basic, five kids who never knew their parents somehow get together and set out on a mission to save the world from the evil Homncruse. As the game goes on, your main character builds a town on a mysterious hill and it's your job to find all the different people that is needed for the town to grow, doctors, item keepers etc. This is a part of the game that I really like, makes it more "human" and more interesting. Along the way you also meet warriors of the Kustera-family, who will help you in your battle.

• Graphics/Sound - The game looks like many other SNES games, the map, dungeons and towns are quite flat, 2D, the battle mood is more detailed. If you change your weapon or put on a costume, your characters' appearences will also change in the battle mood. The music is good, a different melody for all different places, very well adapted. Nothing that really stays with you, but it still makes the game more enjoyable and sets the mood everywhere you go.

• Play Time/Replayability - Since I've been home sick while playing it, I can't really say how long time it will take, it took me two days. It's not a game I will play again soon, you don't get any more options after completing the game, no exp. mode or treasure mode, maybe replayable in a couple of years. It's still a game with a good story.

• Final Recommendation - It's a good game to have, a bit sentimental for me since I love the classic RPGs. It's definitely a game to add to your collection.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/05/09

Game Release: Secret of the Stars (US, July 1995)