Magician/Gameplay: Difference between revisions
From StrategyWiki, the video game walkthrough and strategy guide wiki
expanded
(created stub) |
(expanded) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Header Nav|game=Magician}} | {{Header Nav|game=Magician}} | ||
== Genre == | |||
'''''Magician''''' is officially a role-playing game, but it fits better the definition of {{c|Adventure}} game. Think of ''{{c|The Legend of Zelda}}'' series: they are officially action-adventure games, but they fit the definition of role-playing game far better than ''Magician''. | |||
The two characteristics that distinguish role-playing games from adventure games are freedom of exploration and character progression. | |||
* '''Freedom of exploration: '''''Magician'' lacks it completely. It is made of six well-separate level, and backtracking is impossible, even if you missed an important item. Most levels are in a straight side-scrolling line, with minimal branches (more akin to ''{{c|Mega Man X}}'' action games). | |||
* '''Character progression:''' role-playing games offer a large choice of equippable items (weapons, armours, accessories), but ''Magician'' includes none. Also, player characters in role-playing games have a series of attributes that improve with game progression, but ''Magician'' only has one: the mana (spell points) total. | |||
Therefore, ''Magician'' is better described as an {{c|Adventure}} game, that are characterized by an emphasis on puzzles. In fact, this game provide three varieties: | |||
# '''Item puzzles:''' find an item (or a spell), then use it at the appropriate location. | |||
# '''Puzzle rooms:''' they are just trial and error until the correct path is found. | |||
# '''Combat puzzles:''' fighting consists of knowing the enemy's strength and weakness, then prepare the appropriate shield and attack spells, then mash the attack button; otherwise, the player can simply decide to avoid the fight by casting Fleet Foot or Jump. | |||
Apart from bosses and sub-bosses, combats provide no rewards at all. | |||
== Similar games == | == Similar games == | ||
Another adventure game with a similar quest is ''[[Tangled Tales]]'', released the previous year for home computers. | Another adventure game with a similar quest is ''[[Tangled Tales]]'', released the previous year for home computers. That one has more role-playing elements, though. | ||
There are very few adventure games released exclusively for the [[NES]]: | There are very few adventure games released exclusively for the [[NES]]: | ||
* ''[[Princess Tomato in Salad Kingdom]]'', a graphical text adventure made in Japan. | * (1984) ''[[Princess Tomato in Salad Kingdom]]'', a graphical text adventure made in Japan. | ||
* '''''Magician''''', this game. | * (1990) '''''Magician''''', this game. | ||
* ''[[Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth]]'', a multi-genre game, with some text adventure sections. | * (1991) ''[[Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth]]'', a multi-genre game, with some text adventure sections. | ||
* ''[[Stanley: The Search for Dr. Livingston]]'', | * (1992) ''[[Stanley: The Search for Dr. Livingston]]'', a game made in the United States, with interface and many mechanics similar to '''''Magician'''''. | ||
{{Footer Nav|game=Magician|prevpage=|nextpage=}} | {{Footer Nav|game=Magician|prevpage=|nextpage=}} | ||
