Shortly after my last Summer Game Challenge I had a decision to make.  Which game next?  The most logical choice was to finally mop up X3: Terran Conflict.  After all, I had well over two-hundred hours on it before I transferred it to Steam, spending most of my time accumulating money and ships with only minimal storyline progression.  With the three M6 Corvette class ships I had at my disposal it really wasn't that difficult finishing the main storyline.  Now now, I know this game isn't in my list, but after reading Pauly3433's forum post regarding the 10 year game of Civ II, I thought it might be time to bite the bullet and finished it. 

The next game I chose was also fairly easy to pick, as Crabmaster2000 had expressed interest in it.  I had also learned at some point that it was likely a PC-style dungeon crawl (someone let slip about a requirement for graphing paper), so it just seemed natural.  With no reservations (and a pad of graphing paper) I started Swords and Serpents.

About twenty hours later I can safely say that this is a good game.  Not a great game, mind you, but really and truly not bad at all.  It is in fact a PC-style first-person view dungeon crawl but with a Japanese slant that simultaneously makes it feel unique and keeps it from becoming a great game.

The first thing you notice after starting the game (most people just use the pre-rolled party initially) is the automap that appears on the upper-right part of the screen, much like the NES version of Bard's Tale, though unlike that game the random encounters do not kick you to a separate screen for the battle, which I must say is very nice considering the amount of grinding in this game (more on that later).  Also the pictures used for enemies are quite large and very detailed (especially the zombie variants).  Battles run super quick: You just the B button until the end, though when you start the second level you will need to think more strategically. The menu system is a freaking mess, though, and the password system makes me want to cry (a password for the game and four more for each party member).  Yikes.

The game plays as thus: You move around the level, fighting random battles and occasionally meeting NPCs (whom are tied to a specific spot on the map), buying and selling equipment, and that is about it.  There is a story, which is progressed using NPCs spread throughout any given level, but it really doesn't seem important, partially due to the static nature of the NPCs (who will only appear after entering a spot then disappear after leaving), but also because it seems king of silly.  If you are going to find any kind of enjoyment here it will be in the grind.  And boy does it have a grind.  Sixteen level, that is what you have to face, and despite the ease of the first level the enemy strength ramps up quite a bit around the middle of level two.  Despite this the game isn't overly hard, not once you learn that age RPG tactic (level, level, level; don't forget to run) applies here as well.

I like this game. While there are much better choices available, it's still a great title.  It hits a lot of enjoyable spots, and while there are a few annoying features (super grindy, annoying menu structure) I know that I will be revisiting this again in the future, just maybe not for the whole sixteen levels.  That and I'll emulate it and take advantage of save states (five passwords be damned!).

Now, for those of you wanting to attempt the dark dungeons of SaS, I have a few pointers (this will be especially useful to those without instruction booklets):

1) Make your own party!  While the structure of the pre-rolled party is fine, they start off weak and need better stats (basic attributes do not increase with level!).  Rolling your own will keep you from starting over from the beginning (I had to do this).

2) Pressing the directional pad during combat will allow you to aim your attacks.  Some enemies are more vulnerable to certain directions.

3) If you have a good head for directions I doubt you'll need a map, though one will doubtless help with remembering landmarks.  The first thing you mark on your new maps?  The location of the temple.  There are only three in the entire game!

4) While I do not condone playing emulated games over physical ones (missing that tactile experience and all) you might want to do it for this game.  Having to write down five passwords to save a game gets annoying quickly (and in an RPG, too), especially if you are a pick-up-and-set-down player like I am.  If you are able to just leave the NES running that will work too, one of my kids managed to bump my idle NES twice during this playthrough.

5) Don't forget to run!

I think I'll try one of the more action oriented titles on my list now.  While I am playing Ultimate Stuntman (and really liking it), I crave something more traditional (maybe Conquest or Ironsword).

For this entry

Conquest of the Crystal Palace
Ironsword
Dr. Chaos
Total Recall
Ultimate Stuntman
Tombs and Treasures
Swords and Serpents
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine
Driver: San Francisco

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