I like the RPG elements in those turn-based RPG’s, but I can’t stand the waiting involved with those games. Luckily, there is a solution to that. It’s called an Action-RPG. Yay Zelda!!! If you haven’t played a Zelda game, then shame on you. They combine the RPG elements with the ability to control the character. You get the freedom of actually wielding your weapon in a battle instead of selecting what your character does from a menu. But this review isn’t about Zelda, which pioneered this genre. We’re talking Soul Blazer here. Made by Enix (think Final Fantasy), Soul Blazer allows the player to actually recreate the in-game world.

If you’ve ever played an Enix game, then you already know the basic storyline. It revolves around morality. King Magridd, a greedy little bastard, kidnaps an exceptional inventor named Dr. Leo. Leo is forced to invent something capable of summoning Deathtoll, the King of Evil. King Magridd, being the greedy little bastard, makes a deal with Deathtoll that will give a piece of gold for every living creature the Magridd gives to Deathtoll. Basically, you, being the hero of the story, has to release the captured creatures and save the empire from Deathtoll.

Have you played Actraiser? No? Didn’t think so. Like the gameplay in Actraiser, you have to fight a group of enemies to release a creature, be it an animal, a plant, a whiny little bitch of a person, or someone who is actually helpful. Actually, pretty much everything you release is helpful in some way. Except goats. Damn goats. So you go through the lands releasing more and more helpful creatures using your trusty sword. Oh ya, there’s magic too. Actually, if you beat this game without using magic, you’d be my hero. But only for a day. All the magic you use works with the sword. As in any game, if you pay attention to the attack patterns of the enemies (and the bosses), then they are very easy to beat. However, if you decide to run in like Rambo (minus the guns), then you’ll be very easy to beat.

On to the graphics. It’s a Super Nintendo game so graphics suck by today’s standards. So all you graphic’s whores, stop reading now and go play your Xbox 360. The game uses a lot of bright colors, but it isn’t psychadelic or anything (except for the last level). The colors are used quite well though so you will never be overwhelmed. The bosses are animated and well drawn. Soul Blazer looks amazing considering it was released in 1992 without any of the amazing Mode-7 effects. It’s definitely one of the better looking Super Nintendo games out there.

Combining great gameplay, a great storyline, and good graphics, Soul Blazer is one of the most enjoyable games you may ever play. If your looking for the awards Soul Blazer received, you won’t really find any. If you want to see how popular this game is, go to ebay and compare its price to other Super NES games.