Warlocked

"Not perfect, but very good for what it is"

This quite possibly is one of the greatest rip-off games ever made, at least on the GBC. This game's inspiration came greatly, if not completely from Starcraft and Warcraft for the PC. This just goes to show that a game does not have to be original to be good. I don't even really like strategy based games, but I enjoyed Warlocked. What this game is, you build up and control your army of humans or beasts (you get to play as both), and send them against the opposing army, trying to destroy their fort before they destroy yours. Simple concept, very easy to screw up on a handheld system. Miraculously, this game doesn't suck.

Graphics: Nothing to get excited about, but it gets the job done. This is common in GBC games, and you really can't expect much. The use of vibrant colors is well played, but the screen tends to get a touch choppy when the action heats up. Sprites are decently drawn, and the little ''cutscenes'' are of good quality. 7/10

Control: You are a cursor in this game, plain and simple. You move around the battle field, ''telling'' your men what to do. The makers of this game do a great job of getting around the GBC's lack of buttons, everything you need to do is greatly accessible. There are a few glaring problems, however. It can be hard to know exactly what is going on with all your troops at all times. When the alarm goes off telling you that you are being attacked, it's hard to figure out who or what is being attacked. Also, your troops tend to get ''lost,'' or at least have great difficulty maneuvering around objects. These problems can be annoying, but it could be a lot worse. 6/10

Sound: Like all but about 5 GameBoy games out there, the sound is average. Being a GB veteran, I have learned to accept this, and I rarely listen to the sound anyways. However, Warlocked has some nifty voice samples, although it adds fairly little to the overall experience. The music is fine, standard fare for this type of game. 6/10

Debugging: Things get a bit screwy when when there is lots happening, but no real glitches to speak of. This is a very solidly made game. 9/10

Replay: As good as it is, I don't see myself playing it that often. That doesn't mean it's not worth the money, though, I'm definitely glad I have it. The minigames are cute, but they don't really hold my attention too well. You can play the game through as beasts or humans, but you must play through as both to fully complete that game. if you live for strategy games, this, at least on the Game Boy, is your Mecca. 6/10

Overall: As good as it gets for the GBC. If you are one of those people who wants the best of every genre for the GameBoy, rush out and get this game... if you can find it. This is a very solid package, and it is lot of fun. I wish they would put in more minigames, but they weren't obligated to put in any, so I'm not complaining. This is the one strategy GBC game to remember. 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/13/03, Updated 04/13/03