NSFCD

The DS has proven time and time again to be one of the great platforms for RPGs. One thing I do like a lot about RPGs on the DS is the variety of them. There are just so many different types from remakes of all time classics like Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger to unique and fun new RPGs like The World Ends With You and the 2 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles games. However since the DS is such a RPG powerhouse there always comes games that not many people know about or consider trying out. Late last year I got to play the very enjoyable and basically unheard of Away Shuffle Dungeon and now I am getting the chance to play another relatively unknown DS RPG with Avalon Code. Here are my first thoughts on this unique DS RPG.

Now I found out about this game when I was looking though the details on Final Fantasy IV DS. Now like other remakes and ports of Final Fantasy games the DS remake of IV was not actually done by Square-Enix rather it was done by another developer and Square-Enix just published it. The developer in the case of Final Fantasy IV for the DS is a company called Matrix Software who also did Final Fantasy III on the DS. So while looking through projects the company had coming up I noticed Avalon Code and after taking a detailed look into the game I saw the potential for a good game. The company already made 2 solid DS RPGs with the remakes of Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV so I knew not only could they make solid titles but they knew how to work with the DS and work with it well.

Anyway upon first starting up the game there was a bit of an annoyance with a initializing of the game data on the card with took half a minute. I really don't even know why it needed to do that, I mean it is a new game it is not like there is going to be any data on the card before hand. That aside once I got the game started I was treated to some pretty impressive visuals for a DS title. Matrix really has got the engine they are using for the DS games working well to make some great visuals on the system. The characters have dynamics in there modeling which is something you don't usually see in DS games. You got eyes blinking, eye brows that move, mouths moving, and hair moving with the wind which are all very nice little touches. Another nice touch is the voice acting which works well, at least from what I have heard so far.


Presentation aside the game itself has some nice unique gameplay to it. It plays for the most part like a action RPG with you character wondering around fighting enemies and such. It feels very similar to the combat in the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles games on the DS actually. The unique bit comes with what is know as the book of prophecy which pretty much allows you to manipulate characters and enemies around. When you do what is known as a code scan to an enemy or other character you can change the attributes equipped to them. So lets say you are low on health and don't want to fight the stone goblin with high HP, well then just code scan it and remove the stone attribute to make it a normal goblin instead. It is very unique to say the least and quite cleaver I must say.


However I will say this is not perfect since really you are always having to switch between the face buttons which is what controls most of the actions and the touch screen which is where you make your modifications to characters. It can be a bit annoying, also another thing I don't like is when you are done your modification it does not automatically switch back to the map which is a bit on the irritating side.

So far I have to say this is a solid little RPG for the DS and quite unique. I do look forward to seeing more of the actually story as the game progresses and hopefully this will be another one of my favorite DS RPGs like Away Shuffle Dungeon is. From what I have seen I will say this game is definitely worth taking a look at if you are looking for a new DS RPG. It may not be as well know as other RPGs on the DS but it has it charm from what I have seen so far and it is very unique and enjoyable.

Really, this is just a title I can't get in to. I wouldn't recommend it to those that aren't purely fans of the genre/