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Alundra (PS)
by simon020187 == ALUNDRA == Alundra is another game which I feel didn't receive the credit it deserved. Alundra is an action adventure role playing game that was developed by Matrix Software and published by Psygnosis. Alundra is only available for the PS1 and Playstation Network and the PS1 version was released back in 1998. This was one of the ... first Playstation games that I bought myself and I still have this now. Alundra isn't just a hack and slash adventure game and it does feature a wide variety of elements and some of those is puzzle solving and platform segments. Alundra also offers quite an intriguing storyline and the game overall rarely disappoints. Alundra isn't just the name of the game as the main character is called Alundra as well and the story centers around him and involves him trying to save people by entering their dreams or nightmares. There was later a follow up to this game entitled Alundra 2 but that went down the pan and was quite poor. === STORY === In the game you control a mysterious guy by the name Alundra who can enter the dreams of people who are suffering and cannot awake from them. The game starts on a ship with Alundra about to head for bed. Whilst hes sleeping he has a dream and a strange being tells him about a danger on the way in the form of a demon that's over a 1000 years old and has just been released. Also in his dream Alundra has a vision of a nearby village called Inoa. Suddenly the ship Alundra is on crashes and causes havoc but shortly after a scene Alundra is found by a man named Jess and he takes him in and helps Alundra get better. After he wakes up Jess tells Alundra that hes in a village called Inoa and that he was the only survivor of the ship. Alundra later learns that he is in fact the Dreamwalker that everyone has been talking about and now he must enter peoples dreams and save them from their nightmares before its too late. Whilst doing this he must also find and stop the 1000 year old demon Melzas! === GAMEPLAY === Alundra isn't your average main character in a game because he has multiple skills to be classed as a hero and even a savior. The game has so much to offer and is definitely another underrated game. The main aim of the game is to simply follow the main quest and the island you're actually on is quite large but some it cannot be explored until you find or do certain things. Alundra is skilled at many things and one of those things is fighting. He uses weapons to take on enemies and he also uses some of his gained weapons to solve puzzles. There are quite a few different weapons that Alundra can use and some of these include his tried and trusted sword which also gets upgraded several times later in the game, an Iron Flail which can be used to destroy big blocks blocking your way to a new area, a Hunters Bow which is great for ranged attacks and even multiple Magic Wands. All of Alundra's weapons can be upgraded. Alundra usually receives weapons from Jess every time someone sadly passes away in the game. Alundra will also receive new armor and new boots. I love the new boots because they literally take Alundra to new heights because one pair makes him jump higher whilst another pair makes him move quicker on water. In Alundra's crazy adventure he will come across many kinds of items and some of which can prove extremely useful to him. Scattered throughout the world are herbs, some of which are stashed in chest boxes. He can also buy them from the village and the herbs he collects can be used to replenish lost health. Other items Alundra can find or buy include Strength Tonics which recover over half of his lost health, Magic Elixir to replenish Alundra's magic power and quite a few more. He will also come across items known as Gilded Falcons which are quite rare and can unlock special items including a rare weapon. Jess also gives Alundra some very exciting items such as bombs in order to blow up certain things to pave way to new areas and also a power glove that allows you to lift up heavy rocks to lead to new areas or secret bits. Its a good job Alundra receives so many weapons and items he can use as weapons because the game has some incredibly designed bosses that can take a fair while to beat. Usually beating them unlocks something like a magic spell or heart vial in which increases Alundra's maximum health. There are also many other items you may acquire on your quest. The puzzles in the game can be extremely difficult later in the game and they also become increasingly frustrating at times. Also a few of them involve platform elements with jumping around like a kangaroo just to get to your desired destination. Also some puzzles are timed and need to be rushed, fail and you must retry until you do it. Some of the platform elements are quite tricky in places as well but its nice to have a mixture of things in this sort of game. The dreams that Alundra has to enter are all part of the main quest so you cant miss any and to be honest the dreams are absolutely fantastic. Some of them are crazy especially when you get further in the game because most of them will cause you a whole lot of problems. You encounter enemies in most of them some of which include killer monkeys, fire breathing tortoises, overgrown blobs of gel and many more. There are also some superbly looking bosses such as a massive mummy, a HUGE monkey, a mysterious werewolf and a few others but most of them are ten times the size of Alundra. I have always classed Alundra as a proper role playing game there are no turn based battle systems and it actually gets straight into the action. You can only do the one attack with the weapon your holding which seems a little boring but it works and that's the main thing to remember. Some of the magic you get is really good and definitely effective against the bosses or if you get surrounded. you visit many different places of interest in the game, there is only the one town which is Inoa. You also visit places on the island such as the beach, a mine, desert, cliffs, temples, graveyard and even scary looking crypts. Overall Alundra is a great game and I enjoyed playing it a lot. === GRAPHICS === Alundra is one of the better 2D games for PS1. Alundra looks like a good character to play and he actually is as well. Other characters in this game also look quite good and there isn't any that look a like not even normal characters that aren't that involved in the game. The scenery in Alundra is fantastic there are a lot of features in them that stand out and make the game stunning for its age. Some of the dungeons and other places you visit in the game are also really well detailed for a 2D game and it rarely disappoints. I was very impressed with the basic design and colouring of some of the monsters and bosses. Overall Alundra has top quality graphics for a game that was released back in 1998. === SOUND EFFECTS === The music to the game is quite good especially the boss music because it stands out more than other tracks in the game. Some sound effects are a little weak but the some of the effects do make the game stand out. At first the game seems a little weak with the sound effects but they do get better. I have surround sound on my TV and this game sounds fantastic at full blast. Most of the creatures have their own unique sounds and some of them are a little annoying especially the giant blobs of gel and the nasty killer monkeys that make the worst sound ever. The sound effects are good but I think the graphics just edge it out the two. === DIFFICULTY & LONGEVITY === The game is quite difficult a lot of the time. Some of the dreams you enter are very tricky because most are full with puzzles. Most puzzles are common sense but there are a few that will have you scratching your brain. Some of the bosses can also be tricky and may cause some gamers some serious problems. There was only one boss I struggled with but after a while of working out its moves it became much easier. The controls to the game are simple and probably the easiest thing about the game. Also its an easy game to get lost or misguided in. Alundra is quite decent in terms of length. Its not the longest game of its genre but its definitely a big area that you can explore. Most places you visit are huge and can take you well over an hour each one. I would say Alundra is a 25 hours game but only if you know how to do everything and if you know where to go. Overall I feel Alundra has enough to be considered a long game and trust me its not easy so its going to be even longer! === PROS === *Decent story line. *Lots of cool weapons that you can use on all sorts of beasts and bosses. *The graphics and sound effects are still great for a 1998 2D game for PS1. *I like the fact its challenging and has puzzle, platform and role playing elements in it. *Lots of items, armor and much more to find and collect. === CONS === *Quite a difficult game at times and can become frustrating. *Not enough variety in the weapons you receive from Jess. *Only one attack with each weapon and it should have some sort of combos. *Some of the puzzles are far too hard especially for the younger gamers. *Hard to find the game nowadays. === FINAL THOUGHT === Alundra is a really good game worthy of being called a classic with everything the game has to offer. A great story with added emotions that run through it such as happiness, sadness and even anger. Alundra is what I call a proper role playing game of the best quality. When Alundra 2 was released I feel it ruined this one and any chance of a third. Don't be put off by the fact the second is terrible because the first isn't like the second in the slightest. I would recommend the game. If you still have a PS1 or play the PS2 and are looking for some older material that's still worthy of playing then this could be it. Its a good fun solid game to play and its also very addictive when you get into it. You like role playing games with a mixture of platforming bits, puzzle solving and some hack and slash action then look no further because Alundra is for you. If your into a good facsinating storyline then this is also for you. The game manual is quite short but its okay. The game is suitable for 11 years and up. I bought my game for this back in 1998 when it was released but I got it off a market stall. I'm not 100% sure how much it cost me but it was definitely over £20. The game is obviously now much cheaper but its quite hard to find seen as many places don't sell PS1 stuff anymore. Amazon however do have the game. Its on there for roughly about £6 which is great value for a game that can still offer a lot. Alundra is a top game and something i am very glad I own. I would give the game a very good rating of 8/10! Review also on Ciao under the username: MrBrightside1987! Read the complete review |
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Alundra (PS)
by after many people critised this opinion, and ive had it locked ive decided to re write it. The game is another classic RPG game released on the playstation. It was released about 4 years ago but it is still a classic. The game is like zelda but on the playstaion.You play a charicter called alundra who basically is ... found on a ship at the start of the game gong to some place. After a storm the ship is wrecked and you find your self on a strange island. Alundra has this magical power which enables him to enter peoples dreams. On this island (predictably) The people are having nightmares and you as the dreamwalker must help them out. The game also has other plots as well. You must defet an evil person whoseems to be following you around. This game is very fun and will have you watching the hours go by like mnutes. The game has the usual RPG features. You can change weapons, Equipment, and buy things with the money you collect.You also have the ablity to use magic once you recive it. In this game you wak around and can fight any monsters yu come across. In the game you are based in the main village in a mans house who has decided to take you in. here you can save your game and get some rest for the next days travels. The game is exciting, puzzleing and menataly challanging. I would recomens it to anyone who enjoys RPGs. Read the complete review |
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Alundra (PS)
by Cassanova Here I am again, reviewing another RPG, and on the Playstation. This time the game is Alundra. An RPG from a small developer called Working Designs, which is published by Psychnosis. It came out just over two years ago for the Playstaion and although isn’t well known, it is a truly excellent and enjoyable game. You ... can pick a copy up now for a very good price, somewhere around £20 or lower. Initial impressions The game starts with a general opening sequence showcasing the game with added cartoon movies in the usual Japanese style. The look is good, but clearly not in the same league as Final Fantasy. The music is good though, with a variety of moods, from exciting to a more calm section. Next follows the title screen, very basic and no special options. The game begins aboard a ship on a voyage to an island (I think). The main character, called Alundra, is on his way to a small village called Inoa. This is really all you know, unless you read the instruction manual provided, which tells you more about the plot and characters in the game. Basically, Alundra has the ability to enter people’s dreams, although if you don’t read the manual, you won’t know this until later in the game. Anyway back to the ship. When you begin play, you can talk to people and get a general idea of how the game works and the controls. One button for attacking with your equipped weapon, one for jumping, one for running (or dashing) and finally one for bringing up the menu screen. To talk to people you use the same button for attacking. Eventually you will end up in your cabin, and decide to get some sleep. You then have a strange dream in which a mysterious character tells you that it is your destiny to go to Inoa and save the people from an evil being called Melzas. This is a typical plot for an RPG, save the world from a big, bad, evildoer. But this doesn’t matter, as the story is never te dious or unexciting. You then awaken from your dream to find the ship is caught in a violent storm. The ship is rocking violently and the tension is great. After running outside and getting an idea of what is going on, the ship suddenly crashes into the island and then the screen goes white. Next thing you know, you wake up in bed in some strangers house. I will leave it there, as it goes on for a long time. Besides, I don’t want to spoil it for some people. Graphics and presentation The graphics are not brilliant, but the presentation is very good. The game uses a cartoon look like the old RPGs on consoles like the Mega Drive. This has been done before in a lot of games, and quite a few on the Playstation. Suikoden (and Suikoden 2) use it, Wild Arms and many others also use this look. But although you won’t be impressed by the graphical style, you will be impressed by the presentation. What I mean by this is the little touches like animation, lighting effects and other things like that. Light streams in through windows, water looks (and sounds) beautiful, and the animations are great. The first time I played this game, I was always stopping to admire the brilliant scenery. Locations are varied and great. From ancient temples, to the village of Inoa. From the baron desert to the Murgg tree. I love the locations in this game. Working Designs obviously have a great imagination. Even games like Final Fantasy will have a hard time in the locations department, up against this game. Anyway enough of that. The characters are also brilliant. Each one has a distinct look and story. Although there aren’t very many characters in the game, like Suikoden, what characters there are, are great. From the annoying views of Giles, to the warm hearted Jess. Plus the enemies are also very good. Each enemy has a unique look and animation. Some are easy to kill while others require mor e thought. But I will talk about this later on. Music and sound Well what can I say? The music in this game is truly wonderful. Maybe the best I have heard in any game. Although the music doesn’t have a huge variety of instruments like say Suikoden 2, the music is very well realised. Some themes are calm and relaxing, while others are very fast and exciting, and add tension to a scene. The sound effects are quite good, with different sounds for swinging your sword and explosions. Generally the sound effects are great, but sometimes you feel that Working Designs could have thought of using a few more different effects. Overall, hats off to Working Designs (or whoever produced the score for Alundra) for the music. It is incredible! Gameplay The playability is excellent with a style that harks back to the days of Zelda and Landstalker. Basically, you can equip one weapon and one item. So for example, you could have your trusty dagger and a tonic to restore your energy when it gets low. You can only attack the enemy with one move, but with later weapons, you can use an extra attack, for example the sword lets you charge it up and release a lethal strike. This idea has been used in almost every RPG (apart from turn-based RPGs) and works extremely well. It is such a good idea, as it means you can avoid a lot of the battles, unlike RPGs like Final Fantasy where you have to endure random encounters! The bosses are brilliant. They not only look really scary and are sometimes huge, but they take time and skill to defeat. Again the animations of the bosses are great and you look forward to them, like Zelda 64. Overall, the gameplay is great. Well done to Working Designs, again. Lastability It took me about 30 to 40 hours to complete, and I still haven’t found all the secrets in the game. Make no mistake, this game is huge. Unlike Final Fantasy, the game is big because of the amount of compulsory gameplay. In Final Fantasy you take so much time, because you spend hours just on the random encounters. If you took out all the random encounters from Final Fantasy, you would probably complete the game in half the normal time. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Final Fantasy, quite the opposite, but games like Alundra don’t make you mad and annoyed. The difficulty is quite good, with bits of the game being particularly tricky. Some people might say that the game is too hard, but I disagree. The only really hard part was Lars Crypt. You had to work out which order to turn the switches on, and it took me a whole day! Maybe it’s more obvious than I realise! Overall, the difficulty level is great. Some bits were a real challenge which was really rewarding when you completed that part. There are plenty of secret items to collect, mainly by finding the golden falcon statues. These can be exchanged for special items. But I won’t spoil it for you! Overall This game is shear genius. From the simple and addictive gameplay, to the excellently detailed environments. From the wonderfully scored music, to the exciting bosses. I recommend this game to anyone who loves RPGs and adventure games. Go buy it! Thanks for reading my opinion. I realise that I haven’t covered everything, but there are so many great bits about this game, I could go on forever! Cheers! Read the complete review |
Working Designs Playstation Game |
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13 reviews Manufacturer: Working Designs / Playstation Game / Role-Playing / Rating: T - (Teen) / Published by: Working Designs - An evil force is invading people's dreams and stealing their minds. As Alundra you have the unique power of entering those nightmares and saving these innocent victims. Explore extensive dun... |
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Manufacturer: Working Designs / Playstation Game / Adventure / Rating: T - (Teen) / Published by: Working Designs - Return to the world of LUNAR, in the completely reworked 32-bit version of the SEGA CD classic. Join Alex, the young adventurer as he begins a quest with his friends to save their land from the... |
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