Legend of Xanadu (PCE CD)
Graphics-8.5 Sound-8 Control-6.5 Challenge-6.5 Story-?
Level Design-6 Frustration-7.5 Fun-6.5 Originality-5
Overall Score-6.5
*action sequences only
+
Fast paced (action sequences)
Great art direction and use of color
Decent cutscenes
Mixes RPG with sidescrolling action
You can block and sometimes deflect shots
AI companions (basically mirror images, not very smart as they often jump down pits)
Some huge bosses (most aren't animated at all though)
Some decent bosses (some are pretty much buttonmashers and most have very simple patterns)
Secret mode lets you play only the action sequences (hold select + run while on the middle option in the main menu until you hear a chime)
Bosses give an exaggerated speech before you fight them
Charge attack (can only be shot left or right for some reason), slide move (useless), downstab (seriously overpowered), good art direction and use of colour, some nice effects (final boss), nice cutscenes
+/-
Auto-use potions (good in a way because of the invincibility time problem)
-
Poor camera (character moves too close to the edge of the screen leading to trial & error)
Poor jump control (vertical based like Contra, can't adjust height)
Overly flat level design with only a few platform elements here and there
Spikes that blend into the background
No invincibility time (+ some knockback)
Bland autoscrolling level
Trial & error (bosses, some pixel perfect jumps, 'invisible until hit' enemies, living platform blocks your shots when standing on it even when it's frozen)
The short invincibility time sucks when later enemies take over a third of your life per hit (6k out of 16k)
Dull fire dragon boss (stand in one spot and shoot, move slightly to the left and shoot, repeat)
Uneven difficulty (chimera boss is a joke)
Some flicker, minor slowdown
Level Design-6 Frustration-7.5 Fun-6.5 Originality-5
Overall Score-6.5
*action sequences only
+
Fast paced (action sequences)
Great art direction and use of color
Decent cutscenes
Mixes RPG with sidescrolling action
You can block and sometimes deflect shots
AI companions (basically mirror images, not very smart as they often jump down pits)
Some huge bosses (most aren't animated at all though)
Some decent bosses (some are pretty much buttonmashers and most have very simple patterns)
Secret mode lets you play only the action sequences (hold select + run while on the middle option in the main menu until you hear a chime)
Bosses give an exaggerated speech before you fight them
Charge attack (can only be shot left or right for some reason), slide move (useless), downstab (seriously overpowered), good art direction and use of colour, some nice effects (final boss), nice cutscenes
+/-
Auto-use potions (good in a way because of the invincibility time problem)
-
Poor camera (character moves too close to the edge of the screen leading to trial & error)
Poor jump control (vertical based like Contra, can't adjust height)
Overly flat level design with only a few platform elements here and there
Spikes that blend into the background
No invincibility time (+ some knockback)
Bland autoscrolling level
Trial & error (bosses, some pixel perfect jumps, 'invisible until hit' enemies, living platform blocks your shots when standing on it even when it's frozen)
The short invincibility time sucks when later enemies take over a third of your life per hit (6k out of 16k)
Dull fire dragon boss (stand in one spot and shoot, move slightly to the left and shoot, repeat)
Uneven difficulty (chimera boss is a joke)
Some flicker, minor slowdown