GENRE
	RPG
	DEVELOPER
	Amaze Entertainment
	PUBLISHER
	Vivendi Games
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	No
	BUY NOW AT

The word is out: there’s more money to be made in the video game industry than in Hollywood. Therefore, the studios producing the escapist thrill-fests that would have at one point sucked money by the boatload straight out of fantasy craving consumer’s pockets can no longer rely on their films alone to pay the bills—the licenses have to be sold off to developers. Thus, overexposed, lavishly produced video games can be made, often complete with genuine voice-overs from the film’s actors and employing all the same razzle-dazzle that its big screen counterpart features.

With tie-ins on every system, Eragon, the latest sword and sorcery blockbuster, is no exception to the rule. While many of the Eragon titles boast wildly different gameplay from console to console. But it is perhaps the GBA version that is the biggest surprise. Dispensing the impressive visual element, Eragon for GBA instead opts for tight gameplay in the form of a traditional turn-based RPG. Surprisingly, a deep, immersive experience is to be had here.

visuals

In an effort to depict characters as realistically as the limited GBA graphical capabilities will allow, Eragon utilizes pre-rendered models for its characters -- a technique seen in many Rare Super Nintendo games, such as Donkey Kong Country and Killer Instinct. Though they are not the most artful looking characters, they are big and bold, and very easy to differentiate.

The backgrounds in Eragon are nice, with a good variety to them. From dank caves to busy little villages, these landscapes are easy on the eyes and for a GBA game, rich in detail.

audio

Terrific clashes of steel and bursts of cinematically influenced strings (as interpreted through a synthesizer) hold Eragon’s fantasy setting together nicely. The musical pieces always complement the scenario.

gameplay

For those who haven’t seen the movie or read the book, Eragon follows the 15-year-old Eragon, a dragon rider on a quest to defeat the evil King Galbatorix and restore peace to the land. This game adheres closer to the book than the movie, including segments left out of the dense novel's big-screen brother. The story only follows the first book in a trilogy, so the conclusion to the game is incomplete.

Eragon takes the form of a turn-based RPG, taking some of the best ideas from previous entries in the genre. The battle system borrows heavily from the PS cult-classic Xenogears, allowing players to manually mash in button combinations to pull off special moves and do major damage to the opposition. Coupled with magic spells and the ability to dodge attacks, Eragon’s battle system is surprisingly tight.

Customization also comes into play. Characters are able to forge new weapons and armor, something that is used often in Enix RPG’s. The game also allows the characters themselves to be customized. Besides being able to alter statistics like strength and endurance, magical ability and skills can be modified, allowing characters to learn new spells and craft new items.

Despite its ambitions, Eragon has its flaws. Battles can be a little lengthy, as enemies are strangely resilient, and some animations are a little slow. Enemies are also all over the field, and kamikaze straight towards the character at full speed on sight. The battles that ensue can be easily escaped, thanks to a lenient retreat option; but it’s a hassle with so many enemies on the field at once. Expect to spend a lot of time in combat or fumbling through the menu in search of a quick exit.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

Since Eragon is not particularly original, it’s not likely to become a classic of the genre. It is, however, a step in the right direction for the usually more shallow experiences that movie tie-in games have to offer. Perhaps it is not the game that RPG lovers have been waiting for, but it could easily be the game that Eragon fans will embrace. With a good twenty to thirty hours of solid gameplay, and a lot to be done, Eragon is as much a surprise as it is a delight to play.

7.0/10