GENRE
	RPG
	DEVELOPER
	Matrix Software
	PUBLISHER
	Marvelous Entertainment / Xseed Games
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	No
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
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The RPG market for Nintendo DS is becoming increasingly competitive; remakes of classics like Chrono Trigger, new entries in well-established franchises such as Pokemon Diamond/Pearl, and wildly innovative titles like The World Ends With You have all raised players’ expectations. In order to justify a purchase, developers have to put out an outstanding product that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the aforementioned giants of the genre.

Avalon Code is a very strong attempt to meet this challenge; it offers a good mix of the time-tested RPG status quo but also takes a few risks for the sake of innovation. Thankfully, the new experiences offered in Avalon Code lift it above the run of the mill, even if it still falls short of the crème de la crème.

visuals

Developer Matrix Software definitely knows how to do 3D on the DS; after all, the developer was the first to really push the presentation envelope when it handled the Final Fantasy III remake for Square. Unsurprisingly, Avalon Code is technically impressive, boasting detailed character models, flashy animations, and well-directed cut scenes. On the flip side is the artistic approach, which is more of a mixed bag. The characters are typical anime-inspired fare: nothing particularly interesting but still solid. The environments are much more polarized -- most towns are intricately detailed, but the fields, forests, and dungeons between them are nondescript and entirely uninteresting.

audio

Most gamers will have trouble complaining about the audio design for Avalon Code; while nothing stands out as a monumental achievement, everything is definitely above average. The music is quite good, with varied compositions that are fitting and well done even if they aren’t necessarily the most memorable. The sound effects show a great deal of attention to detail, such as when players can give weapons a dog element, making the weapon bark whenever swung. If there were a flaw to identify, the voice acting is a prime target, as it is used rather sparingly and its quality averages out to mediocrity.

gameplay

Like in most RPGs, the world in Avalon Code is threatened with destruction. However, this game differs because its feisty young hero cannot do anything to stop it but still has an important role to play. The game begins with the hero -- whose name and gender is up to the player -- receiving the Book of Prophecy in a dream. The world is doomed, but the Book of Prophecy is the blueprint for the new world that will rise from the ashes of the old, so the player has to travel throughout the world and take note of the various people, plants, items, and monsters by literally smacking them with the book. Once the big moment arrives, the hero will be able to use this content to shape the new world.

Where the Book of Prophecy really enters into gameplay is with the code system. Chronicling a monster or a character in the book reveals their code, a grid covered in symbols representing various elements, (fire, shadow, water, etc.), character traits (such as fame, justice, wealth), materials (like silver, stone, iron), and even affection for particular animals. As the owner of the book, players have the power to rearrange these elements as desired; removing the stone element from an enemy will drastically lower its defense, but you can take it a step further and add an illness element to weaken it even further. Weapons are also subject to codes, and the world is filled with tablets containing elemental recipes for more powerful weapons, some of which require special elements for enhancement. The only real problem with this system is that the Book itself is rather cumbersome and slow to maneuver through, though overall it is a brilliant idea that makes great use of the touch screen.

With the Book of Prophecy out of the way, Avalon Code becomes much more average. Progression plays out as expected for most RPGs, with players wandering from town to town, chatting up the locals and then heading back out to the fields and dungeons to slaughter monsters in action based combat similar to Secret of Mana. One interesting twist to the battles is the system for dual-wielding, where players can equip one weapon to each hand and attack independently with the X and Y buttons. While the variety of weapons is nice, boasting everything from swords to guns, the overly simple action becomes quite repetitive and occasional hit detection problems can be frustrating.

Avalon Code's other unique idea is the Judgment Link attack, a special move that allows players to juggle an enemy until it soars into space, exploding and releasing magic- and health-restoring items. As cool as that sounds, actually doing it slows down the action and isn’t even that impressive to watch.

Avalon Code tries to pull out one more unique gameplay twist that also falls short of the Book of Prophecy. The dungeons in the game are split up into numerous rooms, with scored challenges that must be beaten to open the door to the next room. Unfortunately, these challenges are limited to killing enemies and solving simple switch based puzzles that require you to either hit element-specific switches or push around boxes, neither of which is all that interesting. Scoring these challenges was a decent idea on paper, but the rewards for getting a perfect score are not worth the extra hassle. This gameplay element really slows down the game's pace and makes every dungeon feel like a chore.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

For all the mediocrity that can be said about Avalon Code, the few truly outstanding things do a lot to help the game. The Book of Prophecy opens some exciting doors for the player; rearranging codes is fun and strategic and the interactive endgame reward makes the experience quite rewarding, even though the story never really achieves its potential. Furthermore, Avalon Code will take about 20 to 30 hours to complete and can become a decent enough time sink for players who really get a kick out of all the Book of Prophecy has to offer. So, while it might not be the best RPG on the DS, Avalon Code offers enough compelling ideas to standout and warrant at least a closer look.

7.8/10