Faria/Gameplay

Introduction

In Faria you control a female hero in a quest across the fantasy world of Faria. During the game, the hero can progressively acquire several weapons and armors, but also many other items and a wide array of spells.

Faria is a role-playing video game. Specifically, it belongs to the sub-genre of Japanese-style RPVGs.

Three aspects that can define the genre of RPGs are listed here, and they apply to Faria as well:

1. Dialogue is an essential part of the game, and the characters have to talk and interact with non-evil characters to proceed in the adventure;
2. There are permanent upgrades, in the form of enhancements of the various attributes of the characters (attack, strength, experience, magic etc.);
3. There is freedom of exploration, all the areas are connected by an overworld, and areas that have been previously cleared can usually be re-visited; in other words, the game is non-linear.

Japanese-style RPVGs like Faria focus more on the plot, while American-style RPVGs focus more on exploration and "body-building" of the characters. Nevertheless, all three aspects are present in every RPG.

Gameplay basics

Area types

There are three modes of play: safe area, enemy-infested area, and in-battle.

When the player is in a safe area, usually in a town, she can walk around as much as she wants. The player can talk to non-player characters (NPCs), buy and sell items, search for hidden items, and rest at an inn.

When the hero is in an enemy-infested area (overworld wilderness and dungeons), she can travel from town to town, and even enter hidden locations. From time to time, she will encounter some enemies at random.

When the player is in battle, the perspective shows the battlefield with the hero and the enemies. The player can attack, cast a spell, use an item, or run. If the hero wins, she gets experience points and gold.

Gaining experience results in attaining levels which improve a character's skill. Buying better weapons and armor with the money improves a character's fighting ability.

Saving the game

You can only save your game at the inns that are found in every town.

Similar games

Faria shares elements with many other role-playing games, especially those where the player controls a single character.

The graphics and gameplay of Faria are between two famous games from a same series. Somehow, it could be defined as "The Legend of Zelda 1.5".

• Dungeons are shaped like a more complex version of those found in The Legend of Zelda 1, but on multiple levels; the battle system is similar, too.
• Character attributes and the experience points system are more reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda 2, as well as the world geography and townsfolk dialogue.

Two more "Zelda clones" were released for the NES after Faria: Willow (1989) and Crystalis (1990).