The 7th Saga
Reviewed by Istar
The 7th Saga is a game that has all the elements of a great RPG. It's
got the weapons/armor, dozens of monsters and characters to interact
with, quests, puzzles, and of course, magic. Though frustrating at
times, The 7th Saga will undoubtedly provide many hours of entertainment
for die-hard RPG fans.
Graphics 6 out of 10
While the graphics in The 7th Saga are good, they're not great. The
characters aren't all that detailed, and the animations consist of only
about 2 or 3 frames each, but it doesn't detract from the game as a
whole. The magic effects are good enough to provide all the visual
stimulation you'll need (but again, they're not great).
Music and Sound 6 out of 10
The music, while of a good quality, can become irritating if you listen
to it for too long (especially the combat music). It simply isn't
inspiring, and lacks the enthusiasm of other games' soundtracks, but
it's suitable for a game of this caliber. The sound is also of an
average quality. There are a very limited number of sounds (three at
most) for successful weapon attacks, but the number of sounds associated
with spells (of which there are quite a few) is adequate.
Game Challenge 7 out of 10
Sometimes, there's a very thin line drawn between what makes a game
challenging, and what makes it simply tedious. The 7th Saga takes a
good deal of time to finish, and that can be attributed to the many
puzzles and quests that you need to solve in order to progress. But
you'll also find that you spend a lot of time wandering around,
traveling from town to town, and dungeon to dungeon... especially at the
beginning (and towards the end) of the game. You'll probably also run
into the problem of linearity. If you don't complete one task first,
then you won't be allowed to complete the next task (this isn't always
the case, but it does happen several times throughout the game). This
isn't a game that takes a lot of strategy to finish - you usually have
to rely on brute force (basically killing everything in your way to get
to the treasure).
Game Play - Fun 7 out of 10
It's fun, up to a point. Once you reach that point, it's just annoying.
Frustration
For me, this game was quite frustrating. The first time through, the
frustration factor was minimal. There is a point in the game when I got
a feeling of being helpless, like I'd lost everything and had to start
all over. After that, the game lost some of its appeal. But that's
just me, maybe no one else will have that problem.
Replayability 6 out of 10
The 7th Saga allows you to start with any of seven characters. This
allows you a certain amount of variety in your gameplay, but it doesn't
change the storyline very much. You still follow the same path, and
have to complete the same objectives.
Game Value - Worth The Price? 7 out of 10
If you're starving for a decent role-playing game, The 7th Saga should
satisfy you. Play through with one character, then try it with another.
It'll keep you busy for a while, anyway. But if there's a better game
available, don't spend your money on this one.
Overall 7 out of 10
It's a good game, with multiple characters to portray, and plenty of
substance. But if you're in the market for an RPG, try Chrono Trigger,
Secret of Mana, or any of the Super NES Final Fantasy games. You'll probably
get more enjoyment out of those.