Since I'm not quite in the mood for a "heavy" RPG, I decided to try something lighter for my next game du jour. The game of choice was Shining Wisdom for the Sega Saturn.
This is a game that I've been eager to play for a while because the screenshots made it look like it'd be something similar to Secret of Mana, a classic Zelda title, Alundra, or even the more modern 3D Dot Game Heroes. Essentially, it looked like a typical top-down, 2D type of action game.
While it is, there are little things about it that aren't jiving with me. At least not yet. First, the walking speed for your hero is slow. Terribly slow. In order to move faster, you need to rapidly hit the Z button and then hold it when you get to top speed. However, if you want to talk to someone or examine something, you need to let go of the button and you'll end up dropping speed. If the normal walking speed was quicker or dashing was done with just one button press, then I'd have no problem with this. But, it ruins the flow of the game. This is especially annoying since monsters move faster than you. Which brings me to the combat. Again, at a glance it looked like simple but effective action. In some ways it is, but in other ways it's tedious.
The Sega Saturn has 6 buttons. Why couldn't they map your sword to one button, your sub-weapon to another button, your items to another button and the dash button to another button? No, instead you need to equip your sword, slash away and then open up the menu and equip a sub-weapon to use it for a puzzle. Then you need to go back and re-equip the sword. It's like...the developers never played an action game in their life. Why would anyone think that was a good idea? In most action games, you ~ALWAYS~ have your sword; but not in this game.
So, yes, there are things that are making me go..."What the?!" but there are other things that are enjoyable. The game has fantastic music, fantastic visuals, and the Working Design translation is in top form as usual. But, can the aesthetics carry the game if I have to put up with the questionable game play mechanics? We'll see...