Snes - Magic Knights Rayearth Review

This game requires a translation hack. Magic Knights Rayearth is a comic and a cartoon series I believe. This game covers the first season only. The game has been fully translated so you can play all of the game in English.

Gameplay and Interface: 7.5/10

The gameplay in Magic Knights Rayearth is pretty average. Each side takes turns whacking each other, no surprise there. The increases in the status of each character is quite rapid to the point where you find your Knights being able to defeat just about anything they throw at you without the help of Magic. Which is okay I suppose. One of the coolest innovations is the character expressions which are displayed as they speak. Also, there are "cinematic battles." Basically, in these battles you must do something specific like die or something will happen to you and then you become really powerful and can easily defeat the enemy. I like those battles, it develops the character's personalities. The interface is above average, everything is easily accessible, its a bit frustrating however because of the lack of graphical representation in the status screens and the fact that there is no automatic attack.

Storyline: 3/5

For most of the game, the story is mediocre and boring. Basically it goes like this. Three girls find themselves trapped in Cephiro. Clef, a magician tells them to find a box and he will tell them how to return to their world. After getting the box he tells them they must save Cephiro to return home. With no choice they agree. Cephiro unlocks the power of one but a villianess drops in and Clef summons a monster helping the Magic Knights escape. They manage wound the chasing villianess and land somewhere. After that they go on quests for their weapons, armour and magic. Of course they meet villians and villiannesses allong the way and defeat them. Then they go defeat the bad guy. Typical, very typical. But after the big bad guy is defeated... here is where the story gets interesting. The princess who summoned the girls here now explains that she is actually the cause of the monsters. An older version of her has fallen in love with the big bad guy and has forgotten to pray for peace in Cephiro. As a result there are monsters since in Cephiro, will is everything. The younger version knowing this has prayed for the Magic Knights to come and kill the older version of her as she can not be killed by anything in Cephiro. Not bad for an otherwise boring plot. So we fight the older version of her and save the land.

Graphics: 5/5

The graphics for this are bright and somehow not boring to look at. There are, on rare occasions, some cool pictures as well.

Level design: 4/5

Simple dungeons in Magic Knights Rayearth except for the last which is very long. This makes for quick game and chances are your patience will not be worn thin.

Music and Sound: 4.5/5

I love the music in the game and there are voices in the game although all they say is "hah!" and other battle cries. The only bad thing is the sound when you cast spells using the Mashins (play the game to find out what they are!) , it sounds more like a car starting then a huge creature using its magic.

For: Cool graphics, music, easy dungeons.

Against: Mostly boring storyline, no automatic attack.

Genre: RPG

Produced by: Tomy

Year: 1995

Platform: SNES

Runs on: ZSnes

Scoring Summary Gameplay and Interface: 7.5/10

Story line: 3/5

Graphics: 5/5

Level design: 4/5

Music and Sound: 4.5/5 Total: 24/30

Rating: 80%

Silver Award

-Reviewed by Barnabas