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Dark Savior is an action/rpg game (90% action,10% rpg) with 3d backdrops, 2d animated sprite charactes, and mutple camera views. The game consists of 5 differnet storylines that basically have the same theme.

Graphics 7/10

I'd have to say the graphics are very good. I think the 3d character sprites look like crap though. The background looks sharp though. Reminds me of virtua cop stuff. Basically it's 3d isometric with limited rotation and scaling.

Gameplay/control 2/10

This is where the game fails. the reasons are 1. The character is limited to only 4 directions(diag up,diag down, diag right, diag left). This creates a tremendous problem. Some areas require you to jump left, not diag left or diag down- so you end up having to jump 1st daig down and then in the middle of the jump diag left(I call these square jumps). These are extremely frustrating. Also, some planes force you to walk in this square type motion to prevent falling.

2. Camera may only be shifted and rotated on limited basis. You always have a "blind" side in which you can't see. Some of the puzzles use this to make the difficulty higher. Limited view, makes it hard to see what you are supposed to do next. This is so retarded.

Example: You walk behind wall, sometimes you can't rotate the camera to a position in which you can actually see your character. In the instances where you actually can see you character, you can't lock the camera A LOT of the puzzles require you to kind of guess you position and jump to the next platform which is probably moving.

3. The charater is a sprite, you can't tell what plane he is on some times. He tends to mysteriously float in mid-air. Also he drawn badly(sort of like they wanted him to look like the guy in Legend of the Oasis but failed miserably)

4. When you screw up, you must restart from either the last save spot or the start of the room. Very frustarting.... One mess up, do the whole damn thing over. Kind of feels like playing Dragon's Lair.

5. Combat is stupid. Ultimately simple, and midiocre at best. Imagine a 2d fighting game in a 3d isometric view and like 3 or 4 moves. It's like they wanted to something good here.

6. ANNOYING! MORE ANNOYING! I can't rember if this is a platform game or a action rpg when I play it, there so many supid arcade elements.

Speed 7/10

Bearable, slowdown doesn't effect gameplay that badly. Load time is fast.

Sound 7/10

Music gets repetative, and sound effects get cracky sometimes. Ot her then that it is fairly decent.

Replay Value 7/10

If you can get over the ARCHAIC gameplay, the 5 differnt storylines should keep you interested for a while. Event though I finished the game in a couple of days.

Difficulty

The puzzles aren't hard, rather the action sequences are. Getting to Garian to do what you want him to is really annoying. It does feel good to conquer the cheesy gameplay though.

Overall 3/10

I really can't forgive the gameplay. It's just to cheesy. Perhaps Climax will make a sequal with polygon characters and more of atraditional rpg feel. As it is now, Legend of the Oasis is a lot better action/rpg the this game. You want action rpg though, Secret of Mana for the SNES kiks this little games ass. Actually, there are a lot of 16 bit games that are a hell of a lot more fun then this game. If you really like platform type games and stuff, I suggest you get this game, if you are a RPG fan, skip this one and get a Working Design game