Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards

"So Close Yet So Far"

*sighs*...they have made some decent Yu-Gi-Oh games thus far, but none more so than decent at best sadly, and this game follows in stride.

This game is a painful reminder of previous hand-held games in which it seems that it was rushed or even produced simply for money (for example, The Legacy of Goku, or the copycat pokemon games that were identical, with the exception of a few minute changes). It's not to say this game isn't enjoyable, despite the fact it is rather short and/or shallow, but theres so much missing it's disappointing.

The basis of the game, the cards! Many cards were added that were missing from previous games, namely the god cards, among other ones that people so desperately wished to use before but couldnt, and perhaps it is that that they find most appealing. The addition of what cards that were added from the show and elsewhere had a very positive impact on the game, what Yu-Gi-Oh fan can claim they didnt want to use the gods or other rare cards from the show? However many other factors were changed and taken out that I think hurt the game badly. The effect monster cards for the most part were ripped from the game, and everyones favorites were suddenly gone (man eater bug, penguin soldier), and that took a definite piece out of the games strategy, as well as magic/trap cards, whose importance were obliterated, with the sole strategy of ''get more stronger monster out'' to win. So instead of having to think things through and play smart, you're goal is basically to just throw out your strongest cards and blast away, and 9 times out of 10 it will work, unfortunately.

The graphics are pretty good however I'd say. Despite the cheesiness of the cards ''attacks'' it's rather pleasant to the eye. The sprites are rendered well and the act of walking about battle city and following the show was a nice change of pace after the 100% linear games before it.

However that does not pull you away from the almost painful at times gameplay. The fact that your deck is predetermined before a duel is annoying as hell, and probably the part you were looking forward to most, building your deck after ''winning'' the finals and perfecting it is stripped away! That means that you are only able to use Osiris (Slifer) and Ra in the finals after you get them, and by then you can't even make any real use of them anyways. It's these little things that most will find aggravating about this game. It would have been extremely simple to make it so you could battle after the finals and continue playing, and this would have given it some value, rather than simply pounding weak duelists before hand to get enough space for your good cards. As it would have been easy to keep the strategy of the trap/magic cards within the game.

All this being said, it can still be a fun little play through for the tiny amount of time that it lasts. Perhaps we will all get lucky and they will some day combine the fun elements of each game and come out with a GOOD Yu-Gi-Oh game, but until then you may want to keep yourself busy by renting this game, you'll be much happier that way than buying it.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/06/03