Magician Lord (ARC/NG, 1990/1991)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-7.5 Control-6.5 Challenge-9*/8
Level Design-5*/6 Frustration-9.5*/8.5 Fun-5.5*/6.5 Originality-5
Overall Score-5*/6
*NG console ver.
+
Shapeshifting (ninja, lizardman, ice knight, bomb chucker, electro dude/Raijin)
Some cool effects
Good variation
8-directional shot (only as lizardman though and very short ranged and slow to change directions while firing)
Pretty good bosses overall
Some large and detailed sprites, respawn on the spot (you’ll warp to a checkpoint on NG and back to the beginning of the stage after a credit is used (alternate set rom - tested in kawaks), annoying how the screen goes to black after every life lost though because you'll be losing many of them), no slowdown, some funny engrish, difficulty options (8 levels - affects your lifebar (anything below 4 (default) increases the standard lifebar by 1 but nothing affects the “transformed state” lifebar – tested in kawaks), starting lives (up to 9), continue count (0-99 or infinite (default)), alternate set rom (NG console ver.) includes a decent intro cutscene
+/-
Die in two hits on normal
No running
Need to jump to shoot downwards
No temporary invincibility or shield power ups
Far between power ups
Sometimes forgiving hit detection (first boss's shots), in the alternate set rom you'll have a lifebar of 6 (3 for transformed state) and start with 3 standard HP but changing the difficulty to 3 or lower increases it to 8 (4/4 split) – not sure if 8 is enough to offset the new checkpoint system (can't access difficulty options unless you're emulating?)
-
Low rate of fire (can't be upgraded?)
Short invincibility time
Very hard to stay transformed since you'll revert in just two hits (normal/4 and easy/3, you'll often have to take fairly long detours to get to power ups (slows the pace down)
Can’t shoot when on ladders
Can't jump onto or off of ladders
Heavy trial & error (a few maze segments, some dead ends, traps, leaps of faith, falling sections with spikes, ladder sections with spear traps, bosses), somewhat odd jump control (accelerates when you hold the button, also a bit too sensitive making you jump higher than you might want), slow walking speed and you can’t dodge enemies if they surround you, poor walking animation, somewhat generic sprite designs overall, can’t look up/down, lame voice acting, sometimes sloppy hit detection, extremely tedious platforming in the Gal Aide level, last mini-boss is pretty cheap (Zelda 2 style swordsman)
Level Design-5*/6 Frustration-9.5*/8.5 Fun-5.5*/6.5 Originality-5
Overall Score-5*/6
*NG console ver.
+
Shapeshifting (ninja, lizardman, ice knight, bomb chucker, electro dude/Raijin)
Some cool effects
Good variation
8-directional shot (only as lizardman though and very short ranged and slow to change directions while firing)
Pretty good bosses overall
Some large and detailed sprites, respawn on the spot (you’ll warp to a checkpoint on NG and back to the beginning of the stage after a credit is used (alternate set rom - tested in kawaks), annoying how the screen goes to black after every life lost though because you'll be losing many of them), no slowdown, some funny engrish, difficulty options (8 levels - affects your lifebar (anything below 4 (default) increases the standard lifebar by 1 but nothing affects the “transformed state” lifebar – tested in kawaks), starting lives (up to 9), continue count (0-99 or infinite (default)), alternate set rom (NG console ver.) includes a decent intro cutscene
+/-
Die in two hits on normal
No running
Need to jump to shoot downwards
No temporary invincibility or shield power ups
Far between power ups
Sometimes forgiving hit detection (first boss's shots), in the alternate set rom you'll have a lifebar of 6 (3 for transformed state) and start with 3 standard HP but changing the difficulty to 3 or lower increases it to 8 (4/4 split) – not sure if 8 is enough to offset the new checkpoint system (can't access difficulty options unless you're emulating?)
-
Low rate of fire (can't be upgraded?)
Short invincibility time
Very hard to stay transformed since you'll revert in just two hits (normal/4 and easy/3, you'll often have to take fairly long detours to get to power ups (slows the pace down)
Can’t shoot when on ladders
Can't jump onto or off of ladders
Heavy trial & error (a few maze segments, some dead ends, traps, leaps of faith, falling sections with spikes, ladder sections with spear traps, bosses), somewhat odd jump control (accelerates when you hold the button, also a bit too sensitive making you jump higher than you might want), slow walking speed and you can’t dodge enemies if they surround you, poor walking animation, somewhat generic sprite designs overall, can’t look up/down, lame voice acting, sometimes sloppy hit detection, extremely tedious platforming in the Gal Aide level, last mini-boss is pretty cheap (Zelda 2 style swordsman)