Story & Characters
<b>Plot</b>
This game's plot is good! Everything is set up more of an opera than a magic-style game. A short synopsis:
Four years ago, several cultists attempted to ressurect the evil spirit Azrail. In response to this, the Order of Saint
Overia sends Sieg Wahrheit, Victor Delacroiz, and Siela Riviere, all good friends (the latter two lovers) to stop this.
Delacroiz was to be the successor for head of the Order, and Sieg is a Legionator, or a person that uses Legions. Azrail
possesses Siela, whom later dies. This causes Sieg and Delacroiz to become enemies. After that, Delacroiz desires to
find the Dark Glyphs, three in all, all possessing incredible, forbidden power. In response to this, the Order sends
Sieg to stop him. But who is the real enemy to Sieg?
<b>Characters</b>
Actually, there are only around 8 characters in the game, four of which are major. The other 4 or so are merely
referenced or have no real major roles. The four major are Sieg, Delacroiz, Siela, and Arcia, a girl that Sieg meets
while chasing Delacroiz. The four others are Sieg's commander, and the other three or so are Arcia's
relatives, whom are only mentioned and not seen (except for one possible scene).
<b>German 101</b>
Sieg Wahrheit is German. "Sieg" is "victory;" "Wahrheit" means "truth."
Rating: 10
Art
All the cut-scenes and gameplay is set up in psuedo 3-D-anime. This makes everything always in proportion (that means
some of the huge enemies are really huge!). Also, all the Legions have their own unique look that fits their role; the
"Guilt" are swordsman that have a sort of graceful look, "Hatred" look like humans with buff bodies
and a rather indimidating face, and "Thantos!" In its "adult" and "perfect" form, its huge
and menacing, not to mention powerful looking, fitting for a creature with the name of the God of Death.
Also, all the buildings have a gothic look to them (think of the Notre Dame in France), which makes the have the feel of
the aforementioned opera.
Rating: 9
Sound
The speech is good, with above average attack sounds. There are no massive explosionss (except dying bosses, but
that's several small explosions, not like a single, massive blast, like a nuke). Sieg has this cool, determined
voice, Delacroiz has an either crazed or insane voice, or this vengeful tone, and Arcia has this kind-sounding
voice.
The background music is fairly quiet, but has a haunting, gothic feel to it. While it's nowhere as grand as
"One Winged Angel" from Final Fantasy VII (despite the platform differences...), it serves its purpose well.
There are no over-the-top, fast-tempoed music, but it isn't always slow.
Decent, overall.
Rating: 7
Presentation
<b>Gameplay</b>
This RPG has an interesting twist from the way the experiance points and health are used. (Get his directly and your
life health suffers, health hits zero equals death. Kill enemies and get experiance). However, there is another bar,
Soul, and the Legions. It is the <i>Legions</i> that gain the EXP, and even so, only the ones that were
brought along get them.
These EXP are used to increase their abilities (more attacks, more members, better attack and defense) or the abilities
they give Sieg when they're equiped. For example, the "Guilt" Legion gives Sieg the ability to use the
"Dark Ripper" in place of his "Midnight Ripper," which gives him a total of 6 normal attacks
instead of the usual 4.
Also, the Legions aren't indestuctable, and everytime they recieve damage, Soul is drained. If the Soul hits zero
from Legion damage, the crest gets broken, and it takes a LOT of Soul to fix it in the current mission. However, Soul
has another purpose. Sieg (the gamer) has the option to fight alone, which is good on one-on-one combat since he's
faster and hits harder. He can also use a Legions special attack, which uses Soul, but, if use correctly, can result in
massive damage. There is another mode, which is when Sieg calls upon his Legions. He moves slower and his hits
aren't as damaging, but gets assistance from having allies.
Sieg gets better from collecting dropables that increase his base stats.
Everything is from third-person perspective, with good camera positioning.
<b>Difficulty</b>
This game has 4 difficulty settings, Easy, Normal, Hard, and "Super." All except the last one affect how
difficult the enemies are, that being their attack and defense. It also affects how much EXP the player gets if he
retreats from a mission. "Super" mode is a special mode, Sieg has a blade giving off red instead of blue,
which instantly kills any enemy hit by it. He also has infinite Soul, meaning infincible Legions. The catch? Sieg dies
in one hit from ANYTHING.
There also is a ranking system that grades how well the player does. This creates a multiplier for EXP gained during the
mission.
<b>Originality</b>
Quite original, to say the least. Even though it uses a semi-cliche story of two friends-turned-enemies, the way the
story presents it and with the events and ideas behind it, all within a gothic opera feel to it, makes it good again.
Recommended, depending on one's tastes.
Rating: 10
Final Verdict
9.3333 (very good)
Reviewed by AtmaCashino, Oct 01, 2005