"How could you possibly find a game better than that?"

This game is the first one of the ''Lufia'' series,that lately saw it's third chapter appear on the GBC.And let me tell you something:this game is really high quality.VERY high-quality.This game has arguably one of the greatest story I ever saw in an RPG (and I saw MANY).You truly get literally HOOKED on the game after a while.

Graphics:8/10

The graphics are slightly below-average.It's one of the very few flaws I found for this game.In both towns and dungeons,everything seems very geometric and not very realistic,even for the SNES.Sprites,outside of the main characters,aren't very impressive.Even the sprites of the main baddies do not look especially menacing.Also,when you enter a battle,the screen just fades to gray,then enemies and your characters appear and the battle is on.The spell effects all look very neat.However,most enemies,when they attack,simply do some kind of ''dance'' on your screen,then a character's sprite moves a little,and the enemy attacked.Some of the bosses (or really huge enemies) do not even move at all.This can be overlooked,however.The enemy graphics are also pretty well detailed,and there are not too many palette swaps (usually no more than 2 or 3).One good thing I have to say,however,is that the characters do not ''enter'' the main character.They just follow in a straight line.

Gameplay:8/10

The moving around the town runs pretty smoothly overall.You take a pretty fast trot when you are in populated areas.However,in dungeons,you walk veeeeeerrrrryyyyyy ssssllllooooooowwwwwllllyyyyyyyyyy.Well,not that much,but exploring is often tedious.There are also random battles,and the encounter rate is pretty high.This makes this game pretty annoying at times.You learn magic by leveling-up,so don't worry about it.you should stock up on ''sweet waters'';it lowers the encounter rate a little bit.

The battles are pretty turn-based,but a little chaotic as well.The turns of each characters come in separately,but this isn't exactly ''active-time''.So the battles can be a bit unpredictable.However,they are also surprisingly enjoyable for a reason.The one thing many dislike about the fighting system is that when you attack normally,you cannot choose only ONE enemy;you target a ''group''.This can be very frustrating,as you cannot concentrate on only ONE enemy.The computer chooses which enemy the character will attack.Also,if one character finished a group of enemies,but that some others still remain,then the other character you chose to use his attack on the group will not attack the remaining enemies:he will use his weapon (or spell) on thin air,wasting his turn.So,you must evaluate the strength of your attacks,so that you do not lose time ending your enemies.

Sound:9/10.

The sounds and music are really GREAT.There is an ''habitual'' town music,but there is also another town music for port towns,for castles,etc.There is a tune for caverns,and towers too.There is also a cheery tune that plays when you shop.The battle theme is very good too.It feels like this tune gives you the will to battle on,instead of being simply a pompous fighting song.The boss battle theme gives you a feeling of urgency.All tunes are very appropriate and add greatly to the gaming experience.

Story:10/10!

The story is one of the greatest I ever saw!I think that some video games should definitely look up to Lufia.Here is a brief synopsis of the game:

100 years ago,4 heroes named Maxim,Selan,Guy and Artea killed the sinistrals,four beings that had the powers of destruction,terror,death,and chaos.Maxim wielded the Dual Blade,a mystical weapon,whose only purpose was to destroy the sinistrals by amplifying the strength of it's wielder.In the end,Maxim and his wife Selan died in doom island,the fortress of the sinistrals,while Guy and the elf Artea barely escaped.After that,peace came to the world.

A few years ago,in Alekia,a young boy (and descendant of Maxim) finds a young girl named Lufia,that only remembers her name and nothing more.She gets adopted by the boy's caretaker,and both become great friends.

Now,the young boy is an Alekian knight,and Lufia has grown into a beautiful young girl.The young boy,despite the times of peace,still trains,as he wants to be ready if the sinistrals ever return.However,everyone else has grown a little lazy,as no monsters attack,and peace reigns everywhere.However,one day,rumors come to Alekia,saying that Sheran,a neighboring country,has been attacked.The hero then goes to see for himself,and sees the whole place devastated.He and Lufia then try rescuing the royal family of Sheran,and make it.However,as they are coming out of the castle of Sheran,a mysterious man appears before the Hero,and identifies himself as none other than Gades,the sinistral of destruction!He nearly kills the Hero,but decides to leave for some reasons when he sees Lufia.The Hero's mind is set:he will hunt down the sinistrals!Lufia decides to come along,knowing he needs all the help he can get.Both embark on this journey,in search of the sinistrals,and the Dual Blade.

This is a rather ''conventional'' beginning,but the way the story is developed just grabs your mind and doesn't let go.The characters are very likeable as well,all having a very unique personality and way to behave.Also,one of the plot twists you will get to hear near the end of the game will truly cut your breath short,and make you go ''WHAT???''.The story is done very nicely,and has stayed nearly unsurpassed.

Overall:9/10.

If you overlook some of the minor flaws of this game,then it will be a great experience.The story is plain FANTASTIC,as is the one of the two other Lufia games.If you consider yourself an RPG fan,try this game NOW!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/10/01, Updated 11/10/01