Magi Nation

"A great new RPG for the Game Boy Color!"

Magi Nation was developed by Interactive Imagination, a fairly new game company. And from the looks of this game, they're off to a great start.

Magi Nation is a fantasy RPG game that takes on a ''collecting'' feature like Pokemon. But let me say that this game at NO time feels like a Pokemon rip-off. In this game, the new boy in town, Tony Jones, is challenged on a dare to go inside a cave. He goes in, but suddenly the cave gives way and he finds himself in a strange world. Dream Creatures are the most noticeable creatures that live there, and they can be summoned by Magi and used to battle each other. Tony finds that he must save the world from a disaster, and the only way to do so is to master the secrets of the Dream Creatures.

Gameplay (9/10): Magi Nation offers a unique battle system in which you summon Dream Creatures to do battle. The battle system is very good, and very challenging. Over 80 of the creatures can be found and summoned, each more fantastic that the last.

Now for a good question: ''Is this game difficult?'' You bet it is. The game starts gentle, but quickly becomes more and more difficult as you delve deeper into the world. This is not one of those games that you can just plow through. It takes time, effort, concentration, and loads of patience.

Movement in the game is fairly simple. There are two types of ''moving'' screens. The first is an ''overworld'' view, where Tony can walk between the different areas in the game, comparable to Peach's castle in Super Mario 64. The second is your normal view, where Tony moves about, finding treasure, navigating mazes, etc. Movement at times does get very tedious, as you will find yourself walking back and forth, back and forth, then finding that you're not supposed to be here yet, and it's back to where you started.

Graphics (10/10): Astounding. This game truly shows the Game Boy Colors capabilities in the graphics department. Almost everything is crystal clear and easy to distinguish, and the use of color is fantastic. Perhaps the most fantastic is the Dream Creatures themselves, which range from the tiny to the monstrous.

One thing's for sure, you will never get tired of the same old scenery, as each area has it's own unique look to it, and each one is amazing.

Sound (10/10): One of the few Game Boy games that won't make you want to turn down the sound within the first few minutes. The musical scores are excellent, and they change as you progress through the game. Not even all the battle themes are alike, as each area you enter has its own unique musical theme.

If there's one thing that's left to be desired, it's in the sound effects department. There are very few sound effects, and the ones that are there leave something to be desired. Basic, to say the least.

Replayability (10/10): You'll want to come back again and again to collect all the Dream Creatures, relics, and hidden goodies scattered all over the world. And that's only after you complete the game! The one-player mode is an excellent play, and it will keep you busy for hours.

Buy or Rent? Buy. This is an awesome game, and you simply won't be able to put it down once you start playing.

Overall (9/10): One of the few ''great'' games for Game Boy. The game will have you busy for a long time, as you try to find every secret and locate every last Dream Creature. A few minor flaws are scattered here and there, but you probably won't notice them, as the game captivates you and lures you in.

An excellent game for and excellent system.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/16/01, Updated 04/25/01