 |
Mystic Defender had been a thorn in my side for the good part of 12 years. I came close to beating it once, but I couldn't get myself to try again. Not that the game was terribly difficult, but more along the lines that it couldn't keep my attention for the hour or so it would take to get through it. Everything about Mystic Defender is either mediocre at worse and average at best. Nothing really stands out and most people who have played it probably don't even remember playing it. It is that bland. The graphics aren't anything to write home about. They are your standard issue Genesis graphics from 1989-90. Not particularly colorful or flashy. The sound effects are fine, but nothing terribly noteworthy and the music provides adequate, though repetitious, melodies. Gameplay tends to be awkward making parts of the game unnecessarily frustrating. Controlling your character was rough and didn't flow well. The levels didn't offer much variety in design which only added to the monotony. Since I am a sucker for classic Genesis games, Mystic Defender will always have a spot in my collection. Most people aren't, so I wouldn't think many people would find enjoyment in Mystic Defender.Read full review
Mystic Defender is one of those early-run Genesis games that tends to be overlooked - often described as bland, too difficult, or lacking that special something that makes a game great. While it certainly shows its age, there is something here for the fans of side-scrolling action platformers, a la series like Shinobi or Castlevania. Controlling Joe Yamato is a breeze in his quest to rescue the "daughter of the supreme deity, Alexandra" from the clutches of the wizard Zareth (Oda Nobunaga in the JPN release). Joe moves quickly, and responds tightly to your commands. Most importantly, he has an assortment of magic to fight Zareth's thugs with. The degree of control over these attacks is praiseworthy - the charge time for attacks is short (and can be made shorter with powerups), you can cancel an attack at any time (no need to wait out an animation), and each magic is (for the most part) different enough to be useful in multiple scenarios. The fire tongue is probably the most useful and powerful, with a full degree of control over its range and movement. But the ricochet shots and your standard energy blast can be used to great effect as well (a good defensive weapon and offensive balanced weapon, respectively). Special mention must be made for the game's graphics. While they are a little rough around the edges as a first-run Genesis title (this is no Shinobi III), the game exudes a nice creepy horror charm. The bosses are H.R. Geiger'esque abominations, enemies melt into fleshy piles of goo, blood cakes the walls of a village, and the later levels have a bio-techno horror vibe going on for them. The final boss, the devilish god Zio is a writhing, pulsating Geigeresque mess. I personally love this type of stuff in games, as it adds a bit of punch and flair and gives the game an off-kilter feel. The game is short, clocking in at about 30 minutes. Its difficulty adds to the length considerably, as a difficulty spike in stage 4 assures many players that Joe will have to work to earn his rescued damsel. The controls and difficulty are configurable from the options menu. For those who want a solid, dependable Genesis action game, I very much recommend checking out Mystic Defender. I had a lot of fun with it, and the game is short enough to be pulled out from time to time to enjoy its well-executed run-jump-shoot mechanics and eery graphics.Read full review
Great game super value this game brings back memories back when the genesis was in it's hay day sega genesis to me is the best console ever. I wish sega would make another console
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
A great underated game for the Sega Genesis.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Platform shooter, unique and the music is cool too! Good challenge in difficulty.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Video Games
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
