"Don't dismiss this game."

Lufia and the Fortress of Doom is a true diamond in the rough. I bought it soon after it came out for the SNES (as a truly starved RPG gamer I picked up everything that I could- times were much tougher back then). I expected next to nothing and the game turned out to be better than higher profile efforts like Earthbound and Super Mario RPG. Although it never really reaches the heights of the Final Fantasy series, Lufia comes awfully close and proves a joy to play.

The story plays itself out in a nice interactive sequence in which you control the heroes. One hundred years ago, four heroes (Maxim, Selan, Artea, and Guy) fought four evil beings called the Sinistrals (Gades, Erim, Adon, and Chaos). You are truimphant, as your characters are extremely powerful and destined to win. However, half of the victorious party dies in the explosion that occurs in the castle after the battle ends.

Now, 100 years later (in the present), you assume the role of one of Maxim's distant descendants. Peace has reigned for the last century, but recently rumors have begun to spread that monsters are spreading across the countryside and that a neighboring kingdom has been ransacked. Since it has been so long since any real danger has been present in Alekia (your hometown), you cannot get your fellow soldiers to check out these rumors. So, you and your childhood friend (the mysterious orphan Lufia) set out to discern the validity of these claims. As they say, this is when the real quest begins...

Graphics
Incredible for an RPG of its time. Lufia is colorful (especially things like the hero's bright red hair and the deep green of the grassy plains on the world map) and at the same time incorporates a gritty, shady look that hints at a resurgent evil. There are little touches like passing clouds overhead and limited refelction effects in certain areas that really help to top it all off. The enemies lack any real animations in battle, but they are nicely detailed. Also, the spell effects range from bland (Dew) to impressive (Sunder is my personal favorite). The game just has this style that really lends itself well to the dark, fantasy feel.
(8/10)

Sound
The tunes in Lufia rival the Final Fantasy series on many levels. The world map music is great- dramatic, with plenty of drum beats and trumpets. It never gets old. The town music is pleasant and the more specific themes found in areas like laboratories are whimsical and upbeat. The sound effects work, although when enemies attack it sounds a little like when you crumple and rip paper. I liked the style again that made the whole thing fit and very few games are memorable like this.
(8/10)

Control
The control is dead on, with the standard Cancel and Confirm and move with the crosspad system that I allude to in all of my RPG reviews. There is plenty of menu wading to do here but it is streamlined and fast. The best part of control comes in the battle system, where your actions are displayed in a crosspad shape with icons depicting the action to be chosen. In order to select an action you press and hold the cross pad in that direction while pressing the confirm button. It is a great idea and after a minute or two proves to be easier and more intuitve to control than any other RPG out there. Battles have never seemed so worry free.
(8/10)

Gameplay
The crosspad system that I just mentioned carries over into the Gameplay, so already this game has a lot going for it. In addition, the game plays like a tried and true RPG, only there are some nice variations on the normal that give Lufia its own feel. For example, there is dungeon with tons of treasure and one unique prize on each floor. You may enter this dungeon and collect the normal items and sell the unique treasure for a princely sum. The reward increases the farther into the dungeon you get, but the enemies also get insanely hard! This is a nice idea and you may enter the dungeon whenever you want during your quest. It is one of the best side quests I have seen in an RPG in a while: it's very simple, challenging, and exciting. You often are tempted to use the elevator to enter a lower floor just to see how hard the monsters are. Also, this game is well-paced with Boss monsters about where they should be. There are also numerous vehicles, including a submarine that adds some more depth to the world. This game clearly has all the right elements. It's also nice to play as the former heroes of legend- I don't think this has been done before and it is a great idea. There are a few jokes interspersed throughout the peppy dialogue, and it helps to give the game a lighter feel. The only real downside is that if one of your four heroes attacks an enemy group that has already been defeated earlier in the round, they will attack ineffectively like in the original Final Fantasy. However, this is a forgivable flaw.
(8/10)

Story
The story is incredible. It seems lighthearted but it will capture you from the awesome opening sequence all the way to the end. The plot twists around and around until you may not even be sure where anyone's loyalties lie. It takes an old good vs. evil story and claims it as its own quite well.
(8/10)

Replay Value
This game is for the most part straightforward. It is also relatively easy, although the Bosses can often give you nightmares (and that's the way it should be!). It will take several tries to defeat them. There is also a plus game available after you beat the game, and this makes traveling through the plot a second time a lot faster by increasing the experience you earn from fighting. This is good because you can catch up on plot points you may have missed in a painless way.
(7/10)

Average (8/10)...Lufia stands above most of the other RPGs out there. It proves that a well-done game will always prove better than a noteworthy one with lots of ideas and little follow-through (like Breath of Fire 2). It also has a true style to it that permeates through every aspect of the game (something Earthbound really lacked). It's a great experience for any gamer.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/01/00, Updated 03/01/00