Soul Blazer

"Just get past the tulip, and it's a fun game"

Wow. I just... wow. I remember playing this one when my sister just wanted to watch... And it's still fun.

Gameplay: First time players will be pulling out their hair. In order to move on, you have to defeat an enemy lair. Some enemies come out when you defeat the previous one, some are time release, and some are already out. So why would players be annoyed? Simply put, there are some enemies where you have to think about how you can kill it. Do you want to go face to face, or do you want to stand to once side and toss around Light Arrows (which are, by the way, fun fun fun)? Bosses are prime example of this. The amount of thinking and difficulty this takes isn't too bad, but it's enough to be enjoyable.

Story: Er... if you want a long and involved story, you aren't getting it here. You're just some angel sent down to release humans that have been stupid and gotten themselves captured. Oh, yeah, you also meet people along the way that have stories to tell you and things to give you. It's not the best story, but it's suffices.

Graphics: Looking back on it, they're pretty average. Oh, wait, that's just the out of battle area graphics. The monsters actually look pretty cool. And almost every monster is different. No, really. But the spell effects... whoo! Light Arrow sticks out in my mind the most, probably because it was my magic of choice, but the Phoenix was a lovely sight to see as well.

Audio: I could listen to Lisa's theme all day... It does seem like the music repeats itself a lot. You will get very used to the town theme. Each level, though, has a different battle area music. Some are cooler than others, I admit. But they are pretty good, all the way around.

Replay value: Very high. Extremely high. There are hidden items, and if you can find them all, more power to you. Bracelets, all the Medical Herbs, Emblems... yes, quite a few. It takes a few tries, though... You up for the challenge?

Buy or rent?: Which can you do first? I recommend playing this AT LEAST once, even if you're playing it over at a friend's house. If you're hooked, then buy it.

Oh, and guys? Watch out for the tulips. They can tell you nice things or have interesting things under them... And now I know my best friend has some... words... to say to me about the tulip, so I'll leave you to your own decisions.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/29/02, Updated 06/29/02