CORBIE'S GAME BLOG

As you are probably beginning to tell, I love a good rpg. Maybe that's why I'm such a diehard fan of the Super NES system with all of its outstanding rpgs. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals is a game that I actually missed the first time around. I already owned about 25 SNES rpgs when I walked into a pawn shop one day and saw this game sitting there. It was the very last Super NES game they had, so I took pity on the lonely cart and bought it. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the game as I'd never played a Lufia game before, but nothing could prepare me for just how outstanding this game was. You won't find too many rpgs that have that magical mix of great storyline, memorable characters, beautiful soundtrack, and rock-solid combat system in one single package that doesn't carry the Square or Enix name on it, but Natsume had a definite winner with this one. I have to tell you that this game came very close to nabbing the #1 spot on this list, and had it not been for the fact that the #1 game had just a slightly better storyline, Lufia II would have been my all-time favorite game. But #2 isn't bad either.

Lufia II was a typical turn-based rpg, but what made it special was the way the game used tricky puzzles in many of its dungeons. Not only did you have to deal with the many enemies hiding around every corner, but some of these puzzles were insanely crafty and challenging. You really had to put on your thinking cap for some of these puzzlers. The soundtrack is what probably surprised me the most. Absolutely beautiful and melodic tunes abound in this game, and go a long way towards setting the many different moods of the game. The storyline may not have been revolutionary, but it was solid enough that you began to actually care about the characters your were leading around and their quest. The combat system was simple, yet offered just enough strategy, using the IP system, to keep the many combat sessions interesting. The game placed a lot of emphasis on leveling up your characters, as well as constantly outfitting them with better weapons and armor. Offering up a good 30 hour quest, not to mention the countless hours you can spend in the Ancient Cave trying to get through all 99 floors alive, made Lufia II a package that, pound for pound, is one of the best rpg experiences money can buy. If you like an rpg that has it all, check out Lufia II.