Soul Blazer, released in Japan as Soul Blader, is an action-RPG video game for the Super NES developed by Quintet and published by Enix. It was released in 1992 in Japan and North America, but not in Europe until 1994.
I'm a fan of action RPGs. I wanted to check this game out as it shows how action RPGs existed before they evolved with today's heavy 3D graphics.
The Story
Obsessed with the lust for wealth, King Magridd cuts a crafty deal with the ruler of evil. Now the Freil Empire is in misery and you are chosen to save it. Free the kingdom's citizens. Teach the King a lesson. Rescue a lovely maiden. Get the cool inventory.
You'll go through six stages in this action RPG. Many weapons, armor, and magic are at your disposal. After you save the kingdom, you will face Deathtoll. ruler of evil. Then, make him suffer.
The Graphics and Sound
The graphics are good or were pretty enough for back in the day when this game first came out. It is pretty easy to distinguish everything from something else. But for what it was, this game was pretty good-looking.
The music, while not being the best that I have ever heard, some of the songs will remain in your head for a long time to come. Some of the better-sounding levels would have to be the many areas of the underwater city. There is a sound effect for just about everything in the game. Which is okay.
The Gameplay
The controls take about 1 or 2 minutes to get used to. There's a button for magic, one for physical attacks, and another button to strafe, while holding your sword out. This gives you a defensive type of attack. So basically the controls are okay.
The game is usually linear, and a bit repetitive. There are 7 areas that you will explore. In each area, there's a safe zone, which is no sign of life at first, and then there are monster zones. The monster zones have these portals called lairs which monsters come out of. After you defeat all the monsters from the portal, it brings out a switch, which brings something back to the safe zone. For example, an animal or a person. After you have beaten all the lairs, you will have rebuilt a town.
It is a pretty original idea, even by today's standards. A quality that too many games are missing. The only complaint is it does get a bit repetitive. But much fun that you will barely notice it. The fighting is good, you get stronger weapons, armor, and magic as you progress. Magic is used by collecting gems, which are left by defeated monsters. Should you die, you lose all your gems and are taken back to the start of the area you are in.
The replay value is okay. You can play again to get all the secrets you missed.
My Verdict
Try Soul Blazer if you are a fan of the Zelda-style action RPG games and have never played this before. Pick it up. You will not be disappointed.
Play it on the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a reliable emulator.
Let's keep on gaming in the free world!
