November 1998 Issue

MediEvil

A Halloween Treat!

Size: 1 CD-ROM
Style: 1-Player Action/Adventure
Special Features: Computer Generated (CG) & Real-Time Cutscenes; 24 Levels of Mayhem; Lots of Weapons; Hilarious Voice-Overs; Memory Card Required; Dual Shock & Analog Compatible
Replay Value: Moderate
Created by: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for SCEA
Available: October 20 for PlayStation

This Halloween, PlayStation gamers will be given a special treat in the form of MediEvil. Although it may look like a hack'n'slash game on the outside, on the inside it's an adventure game. And quite an adventure at that, reminiscent of Wizards & Warriors and Ghosts & Goblins, but brought to the modern day with spectacular graphics, an intriguing story, and 3D gameplay.

The evil sorcerer Zarok has returned to the land and covered it with his darkest magic. The warrior, Sir Dan Fortesque (pronounced for-tes-cue), has risen from the dead to put a stop to Zarok's reign of terror and avenge his previous death. Though he died by Zarok's hands in the past (which explains Fortesque's gruesome look), this time things will hopefully be different. That is, if he can find his way through the 22 levels of puzzles and pratfalls that await him.

The player travels from level to level by means of an overhead map. But to open up each level, the player must find and obtain certain items (like keys, talisman, and runes), or sometimes even travel back to a previous world to conquer a particular puzzle. Between levels, the player is greeted with fantastic CG movies and real-time cutscenes complete with voice-overs to add to the effect. Much of the game (and the story) is zany, but quite humorous. Fortesque encounters everything: zombies, shadow demons, deadly frogs, crazed pumpkinheads, and dragons.

Sir Dan will also happen upon a few subquests. For instance - the Ant Caves. To enter this level, Sir Dan meets a witch who shrinks him down to the size of an ant. Now he must explore the anthill and find her some amber. But while he's down there he finds some fairies in need of rescuing. There are also multiple item-goals on the levels, because if Dan kills enough enemies on a level, a secret Chalice is unlocked. Find the Chalice and Dan is given passage to the Hall of Heroes. Here, heroes of the past will mock him, but they will also give Dan a number of weapons ranging from crossbows to axes.

This adventure won't be an easy one, but it certainly is one that shouldn't be missed. It comes out just in time for Halloween, and offers an entertaining gaming experience. Not only is it funny, but it's just spooky enough to get you into the Halloween spirit.

Andy, The Game Hombre
Concept:	8.5
Graphics:	9
Sound:	9
Playability:	8.5
Entertainment:	8.25
OVERALL:	8.75
"MediEvil is a pleasant surprise for the PlayStation. At first I thought I was going to have to agonize over another action game that didn't do anything different from the 10 before, but MediEvil is nothing like any game before it. The story plays a big part in this adventure and is superbly executed with a mix of CG and real-time cutscenes. Plus, the voice-overs are hilarious. And if you are worried about the way this game plays, it's super tight, and features a number of different elements. One level is puzzle-heavy, while the next is a hack'n'slash fest. Overall, this game has the whole package: graphics, sound, and gameplay. This one's definitely going to be a cult hit that adventure fans won't want to miss."

Paul, The Game Professor
Concept:	8
Graphics:	8.5
Sound:	8.75
Playability:	8
Entertainment:	9
OVERALL:	8.5
"Just in time for Halloween comes this cross between Nightmare Before Christmas and Wizards & Warriors. The hack'n'slash fighting is nothing spectacular, but the new weapons and items keep things moving. On the other hand, the puzzles will stump you every so often, as will searching every nook for extra booty. With decent graphics and a comical nature, MediEvil is a serious surprise from the folks over at Sony Europe. It's not one of those games you should rush out and buy, but MediEvil is worth a look."

Jon, The Greedy Gamer
Concept:	8.75
Graphics:	9
Sound:	9
Playability:	9.25
Entertainment:	8.75
OVERALL:	9
"I am totally surprised. I saw this game two years ago and laughed, it was that lame. Now, MediEvil demands great respect. The work that was done to this title almost boggles the mind. All the CG movies are awesome and the story is well told. I've never been a big fan of hack'n'slash, and even as I watched Andy play, I still thought MediEvil wasn't that cool. But I was totally wrong, MediEvil rocks. The programmers did almost everything right: the gameplay is fast, the items are easy to pick up, the levels are very unique, and the enemies constantly surprise you (some can even steal your weapons, it totally sucks). The creepy Halloween feeling is done perfectly, and the graphics really get your attention. Games like Ninja could learn from MediEvil. Definitely consider this game for a purchase."