I was hoping to write something awesome and meaningful for GameSpite tonight, but I’m still really sick and living life in a muzzy haze of drugs. So you’ll have to live without. Instead, please enjoy this:
A very nice article on Secret of Evermore penned by Mike Zeller. It is quality stuff, even though my work ethic fills me with crippling guilt for simply reposting someone else’s work. This is why I will be a burnt-out ember of despair by age 40. Though, to be honest, the looming proximity of 40 alone makes me feel rather ember-like all on its own.
I don’t know what to think of this game’s box art. The giant bug-thing looks really scary, but I know in reality it’s just a big immobile background that doesn’t do much to speak of with those terrifying claws. Meanwhile, the dumb kid’s jazz-hands approach to combat makes me wish the dog would nudge him into the spike put below and put him out of everyone’s misery.
I’ll admit, I actually like Secret of Evermore better than Secret of Mana. It’s got its own problems but it’s pretty solid, especially for a western-made console game release in the 90s. I would’ve loved to have seen what else that team could’ve done.
Always had a soft spot for this game, playing it a lot as I did in my youth. But it could never really hold my attention for more than a few hours at most. Maybe it’s time to give it another try…
I like the mysteriousness of the German boxart a lot better in this case (also: no jazz hands!).
Again, we got a big box version that came with the big player’s guide like Secret of Mana, Terranigma, Lufia II, Illusion of Gaia, etc.
http://pics.mobygames.com/images/covers/large/1149510526-00.jpg
It’s kinda random but also a little more intriguing since it shows set pieces from various locations and the colors are warm and convey a sort of magical aura … or something :)
One of my five favorite SNES games. And I never got tired of summoning a giant stone fist to come crush my enemies over and over and over.
Right out of my notebook and on to the cover of a game. Rad.
One of my favorite games of all time. I still have fond memories of it. I remember playing it for hours on end, just wandering around the different locales and soaking up the ambiance.
I remember quite enjoying the ambience, aesthetics, and goofball charm. Played all the way through once or twice; I remember the last time I played I wound up quitting somewhere around the damn poodle maze. …now that I think about it, I could probably cheat my way through that with some layer dickery in an emulator. Hm.
oh yea, that maze was a pain! I remember that part not so fondly…
Honestly, there’s really just two tweaks Evermore would need to raise it up towards the level of Secret of Mana. Improve weapon skills by type, not individual weapon. Let someone pick up the second controller and play the dog. Fix those, rerelease it, and I’m good.
I tried this game, but after reading about the bugs and encountering the convoluted alchemy system i gave up. i wanted to like it.