                          A review of Sega's:
 
                              LANDSTALKER
                       The Treasures of King Nole
 
 
BACKGROUND
 
     Before shelling out the big bucks for video games it is usually best to
first read reviews or to rent games before making a purchase. It was the posts
in the "rec.games.video.sega" newsgroup in mid-January that caught my interest
in LANDSTALKER and while I've noticed the posts have slowed down, I thought I'd
let everyone else know what they are missing.  I realize that LANDSTALKER was
released over 5 months ago but I had never seen a LANDSTALKER review or FAQ and
I thought, why not now. I found LANDSTALKER to be well worth the money but for
those of you who are skeptical, rent it from your local video store.  And while
it is not my forte to review video games, after completing LANDSTALKER
recently, I decided to reconsider.
 
 
     LANDSTALKER was given a modest review by Scary Larry in the November issue
of GAMEPRO Magazine.  His only complaint was that the controls were difficult
but I really don't believe he played it long enough to give it a chance.  I
will agree that the controls can be tricky moving in the games' diagonal
perspective (especially with platform jumping), but it takes nothing away from
the game; your own abilities do.  After some moderate practice, it'll be second
nature.
     Scary Larry also downplayed the graphics and sound which I felt were
superior to most games that are currently available.  The graphics, as well as
the 3-dimensional aspect, are indeed superb.  He gave LANDSTALKER a 4.0 for
graphics and The Legend of Zelda on the previous page, a 5.0 (best).  If you
still have this issue, compare the sample graphics yourself.  What was he
smoking?  (Please note that I feel that GAMEPRO is the better of the video
magazines currently published and their reviews are often more objective.  An
editor at VideoGames Magazine informed me that they refused to even review
LANDSTALKER because Sega sent them a review copy after their Christmas issue
was published.  These guys just haven't grown up yet (what should one expect
from a Larry Flint publication?).
     As with most business decisions, timing is everything and I feel that the
release of LANDSTALKER and GamePro review just prior to Christmas may have kept
it from any Top 10 lists.  I say this because people who got a Genesis system
for Christmas may have missed the chance to see this review.  I know I
originally did.  The price for this game seemed to be quite steep but I've seen
it for $50.
     I also want to point out that of all the games reviewed in "Nick's Genesis
Game Ratings" in the past 5 years, LANDSTALKER ranks up there recently at #14
with a 4.333 rating (out of 5).
 
 
INTRODUCTION
 
     LANDSTALKER is a combination adventure/role playing game where you are an
elf called Nigel, a young treasure hunter (88 years old) whose main quest,
along with a nymph named Friday, is to ultimately find the treasures of King
Nole.  LANDSTALKER is a walk-around, pick up objects, and fight monsters
type-of-game with a mixture of platform jumping and having to solve intricate
mazes and puzzles in one huge labyrinth after
another.  LANDSTALKER will definitely amaze you for endless hours in it's
complexities of action, adventure and mystery.
     Your character's strength and abilities will improve as the game goes on
similar to role playing games.  The most interesting aspect of LANDSTALKER is
the definitative storyline and plot that you have to follow in order to
successfully proceed through the game, with you as the central character.
     Another key feature of LANDSTALKER, in my opinion, is the music. As Scary
Larry put it: "The music adds an element of cinematic panache. It always
accentuates a mood, whether it's light and cheerful in the villages or dark and
menacing in the caves".  I couldn't agree more. The ominous music in the caves
and shrines will definitely pump your adrenaline as you wonder what lurks
ahead.  The melodic music varies and flows throughout the game based on your
location or situation.
     I found LANDSTALKER very entertaining and challenging and after 39 hours,
I finally completed LANDSTALKER with 88 total Hit Points (HP). LANDSTALKER has
battery backup which allows you to save up to 4 separate scenarios.  I probably
could have shaved a few hours off my original game but I spent quite a bit of
time exploring and building up my gold reserve which allowed my to purchase and
maximize my supplies (which wasn't always necessary).  Expert gamers can
probably finish this game the first time around in around 30-33 hours.
     I hope those of you who venture out there and attempt this adventure
masterpiece enjoy it as much as I did.  Sega informed me that LANDSTALKER was
one of the favorites among the Sega gameplay assistants when it was first
released and that it received the majority of its (Game Play Assistance) calls
in January and February.  With a little support from us, hopefully a
LANDSTALKER sequel isn't far away.  If you haven't taken a look good at
LANDSTALKER, now is the time.
 
 
THE STORY
 
     To give you a brief summary of your LANDSTALKER adventure without trying
to give away too much, here is the beginning sequence to the game.
     In LANDSTALKER you start your quest in the Mountainous Region of an Island
called Mercator.  This area offers little difficulty but allows you a chance to
acquire initial supplies and to test your ability to maneuver Nigel (you).
After reading the sign "Woe and death unto those who step onto this land", you
will explore your first labyrinth and end up running from a giant boulder only
to fall on a raft that sends you crashing over waterfall into a town called
Massan where the villagers ultimately rescue you.
     Once you awaken in Massan you will now begin your adventure.  Be sure to
explore everywhere and to open every treasure chest you encounter and remember
that throughout your adventure, be sure to read all the signs and talk to
everyone.  Communication with the islanders is extremely important in
proceeding throughout the game as the various villagers will offer hints or
advice.  After you have made your way around Massan you must leave the town and
head on your way.  The southern bridge to the town of Gumi is destroyed which
forces you to conquer your first labyrinth, the Water Shrine.  After talking to
Prospero in the Water Shine you should leave and head back to Massan where you
will find out that the villagers from the neighboring town of Gumi have
kidnapped Fara, the Mayor's daughter.  While your ultimate goal IS to find the
Treasures of King Nole, you will have to conquer other subplots throughout the
game in order to achieve your final destination.  In this case, you have to
save Fara.
     After witnessing a ceremony in Gumi you realize that Fara is being held
captive in another labyrinth called the Swamp Shrine.  There is a
puzzle associated with entering the Swamp Shine (see accompanying FAQ) and it
the first intricate labyrinth you will encounter; albeit the easiest.
     After conquering the Swamp Shrine and rescuing Fara, you will head back to
Massan where the Mayor will present you with Red Jewel (the purpose of which
will be given later).  After completing this mission you head back to Gumi and
exit to the south to continue with your adventure.
     On the road just west of Gumi you will come to a side path that leads up a
hill.  At the end of this path is Kado's House who may have something to offer
you.  To reach his house will involve your first tough encounter in solving a
jumping puzzle.
     After leaving Kado's House, further on is a fork in the road that leads to
Ryuma and Mercator.  From here on in, you are on your own (I feel like I've
already given too much away and I don't want to give away any more of the story
as this is still the early 3-4 hours or so of your total adventure.  There's
much more to come).
 
     Solving and proceeding throughout the game requires that you do things in
a predetermined manner; otherwise you will remain stuck wondering what to do
next.  For instance, to get into the town of Mercator you have to get a pass
from the Mayor of Ryuma.  But to get the pass from the Mayor, other events have
to happen like saving him from the Thieves Hideout.
     The same holds true in Mercator where you have to solve the puzzle to
advance on in the game which involves your entrance into the Palace. Along with
the Palace of Mercator you will have to conquer other ominous locales on your
journey such as the Witches house, Mir's Tower, Mercator's Castle Prison,
Twinkle Village, the Mercator Crypt, Greenmaze, the Town of Verla, the Verla
Mines, the Town of Destel, the Caves under Destel, the Volcano, the Lake
Shrine, the Mountainous Area, the Caves of Massan, the Underground Town of
Kazalt, the Under Caves of Kazalt, and then your final destination, King Nole's
Underground Palace - each with its own maze of rooms and puzzles to solve.  In
most cases you will have to solve part of the puzzle in one locale to advance
in another.
     For most puzzles throughout LANDSTALKER that involve precise skill and
timing (such as making certain jumps and getting across a room), it's up to you
to solve the problem.  Your only alternative is to have someone else try and
help you.  This is what I had to resort to in the Witches house where you have
to solve 4 puzzles to move on.  Although I knew exactly what to do, I just
couldn't perform the necessary skills to get past the 4th room; especially
after the 3rd room.  You too may feel the same.  This is not to say I couldn't
have done it - I just ran out of patience at the time.
     While you start your adventure with your basic sword and leather
breastplate and boots, you will eventually acquire more powerful swords,
breastplates, and boots as well as magic rings (four of each), that will enable
you to increase your strength and abilities to ward off monsters. Other items
you can acquire to help aid in your health include life stock (increases your
hits points), EkeEke (restores either 11 or half your hit points, Detox grass,
AntiParalyze, Restoration, Mind Repair, and Dahl (fully restores hit points).
 
      Througout the Island of Mercator are numerous towns and within each town
there is usually a church, a hotel, and some type of store. Most towns are
occupied by people who are carrying on in one way or another and again,
remember to talk to everyone.  As key events continue to happen throughout the
game, you may want to go back and talk to everyone again as each time they have
something different to say.
     The churches on Mercator Island serve many purposes but the most important
one is being that the priest can save your game.  In addition, the priest can
also cure you of the many ailments you may wind up getting in your journey.
     The hotels in town are used for Nigel to rest to allow him to restore hit
points and each shop or store offers various items for purchase that may or may
not aid Nigel in his adventure.
 
     During the course of your adventure you will encounter a large tree with a
pest problem.  If you rid this largest tree of its pests you will then be
allowed to use the Magic Tree Warps that are scattered throughout the Island.
These sets of matched trees will allow you to teleport safely from place to
place.
 
     There are over 30 various items that can be acquired while Nigel travels
throughout the Island of Mercator; most of which are of vital importance.
According to Sega, there were 5 other items that existed that I never came
across and these may vary for you based on how you play the game.  The Blue
Ribbon and Oracle Stone are two that come to mind.
 
 
GRAPHICS
 
     LANDSTALKER offers a unique elevated 3/4 overview of your immediate
surroundings that scroll smoothly while you walk and these incredible 3-D
graphics are created by a new system called Diamond Dimension.  This form of
perspective is totally new to role-playing games.  Because of these three
dimensional effects and viewing angle, it has become harder to gauge your
movement and coordination in jumping.  Here, practice is required.
     You will be thoroughly impressed by the detail in the 3-D graphics
throughout every aspect of LANDSTALKER and the creative imagination and and
well forethought storyline that make this an enjoyable game.  The people at
Climax Entertainment deserve very high praise for the planning and thought that
went into LANDSTALKER.  The area called Greenmaze is evidence to that.
LANDSTALKER II, where are you?
 
 
OTHER
 
     Publisher:     Climax Entertainment
     Theme:         Adventure/RPG
     Players:       One Player
     Complexity:    Intermediate
     Graphics:      95%
     Sound:         90%
     Enjoyment:     90%
     Playability:   75%
     Replay Value:  60%
     Price:         $59.95
     Size:          16 MEGS
     Available:     October 1993
 
 
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:  Copyright 1993, Edward Girard.  This review may be
distributed freely as long as no modifications are made to the original text.
All companies and video games mentioned in this text are trademarks of their
respective companies.  The reviewer is in no way connected to Sega Corporation,
Climax Entertainment or any other company mention throughout the text.
 
Edward J. Girard
May 3, 1994
Mail correspondence to: egirard@delphi.com

