The Gaming Experience
Shaun InguanzoSecret of Evermore (Review)
November 24th 2006 12:57
Players: 1
Genre: RPG
Developer: Squaresoft
Platform: SNES
Year: 1996 (PAL)
Secret of Evermore is often considered the poor brother of Secret of Mana. Evermore, unlike Mana, was also created by the American division of Squaresoft using Mana's game engine who happen to be the same people who developed Mystic Quest Legend (or Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest in the USA).
More often than not, people believe that Evermore pales in comparison to Mana. However, if you ignore those comparisons, it's a decent game in its own right. That is, if you can get out of the Prehistoric era.
Story: The story and characters are nothing special in this game. A boy and his dog get transported into another world and they travel through the worlds while trying to return to their own. You start off in the Prehistoric era, and travel through Ancient Roman, Gothic and Futuristic eras. Many people (including myself) quit playing the game in the prehistoric era without realising this, thinking that the game was extremely boring. However, if you manage to get out of the era, the remaining three are quite enjoyable and this is where Evermore shows what it's made out of.
Battle System: Very similar to Secret of Mana, but with a more limited list of weapons. You can only use 3 types of weapons, and each can only be charged up to level 3. You can play as your pet dog as well, whose bite can be charged up to 3 levels also. The dog doesn't obtain new weapons in each era, but he does change form.
Magic in this game is replaced with alchemy. Instead of obtaining spells and using MP to cast them, when you learn alchemy, you need to have the required ingredients to perform it. For example, your most Heal requires 1 part Water and 1 part Root. With use, your alchemy gains levels as well.
Innovation: Evermore makes good use of currency. Considering there's 4 different worlds, you'd figure there'd be 4 different currencies right? Right (though it doesn't seem to be applied in other games, where mysteriously, ever place uses the same currency). They are: Talons, Gems/Jewels, Gold Coins, Credits. Each has a different exchange rate as well.
In the Ancient Roman era you will find a market. There, is another more realistic representation of how trade occurs. You can buy some items using jewels. Alternatively, you can trade goods for goods. Sometimes one method yields a cheaper price than another. Sometimes items can only be purchased through trade.
The third innovation would be the alchemy as outlined in the Battle System section.
Graphics: It's up there with the rest of the late SNES releases. The only thing of note is that the game is rather dark, the prehistoric era being the worst.
Sound: Completely ignorable. In-game, and even the soundtrack alone. I've listened to the soundtrack on loop for a day and still can't remember anything that was on it. Evermore's is the only game soundtrack to accomplish this feat thus far.
Replayability: Average. Apart from items here and there, there isn't much appeal in replaying the game.
If you've played Secret of Mana first, you may find this game less than satisfactory. However, if you can look past the fact that the game engine is from Secret of Mana and appreciate the new features the game has brought in, then you may like the game nevertheless.
Score: 2/10 (If you've never left the Prehistoric era)
Score: 8/10 (If you have left that horrible era)
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