Video Game Reviews
Title: Rygar: The Legendary Adventure
Review rating: **1/2
Platform/console: Playstation2
Release date: November 2002
Genre: Role-playing/action
Players allowed: 1
ESRB rating: T (blood, gore, violence)
Production company: Tecmo
Stomp, tackle, lift, grapple and attack enemies in mid-air
in this exciting role-playing adventure that has familiar
controls, challenging bosses and environments. Great graphics
and music. Don’t hit start to get past the beginning
sequence! Watch the excellent graphics and music pull you
into the story which involves ancient Roman and Egyptian worlds
that involves mystical characters including Argus.
The battles would be too great without your Diskarmor, battle
shield of the Gods which shields as well as attacks enemies
sometimes from long distances. You can get big air on the
jumps and you can’t fall off ledges and cliffs. Don’t
worry about falling debris or hitting walls with your weapons
– you receive no damage. Whenever you feel vibration
on your analog controller you know a big monster is coming.
The bosses are fairly easy once you know their weaknesses.
Your powers will advance to include summons to use a orberus
(dog that burns enemies) or siren (freezes enemies) when your
basic skills and weapons aren’t enough. Camera control
seriously lacks here as you really have now way to look around
at your environment and see elements that are mostly off screen
especially when you get to a stopping point, like knowing
where to slide under a space to advance.
You can access the One World mode when you clear a stage.
This stage evaluates play time and your combo attack moves.
You can also visit the Gallery and access the theater, music
and pictures. The on screen help text will help you with the
problem solving elements of the game, but pay special attention
when you see location text so you’ll know where you’re
going when you access the map. The lead character’s
campy voice doesn’t leave much of an impression but
the song “Wish” by Izzy Cooper, a 26 year old
soprano singer, is a welcome element of this satisfying game.
Review by Michael Siebenaler
© Tecmo
®
