N64: Xena Warrior Princess Review

[retro junkie]

This review is taken from a series of reviews I did a couple of years ago concerning the fighters available for the N64.

This fighter is based on a 1995 TV series of the same name. If you haven't guessed, this is a fan based game. I went into this game with a bit of reluctance and caution. Maybe a lot of skepticism too. After all, games based on movies, or TV shows, the majority of the time, crash and burn because they are quickly and sloppily programmed, cheaply thrown together, and stamped with a license. I guess the makers are hoping to get enough cash, before the word gets out, to maybe break even, or make a slim profit. There have been a lot of stinking bad games in video game history that bear this shame. Does this game deserve to be thrown into that ugly pot? That is the question I want to answer for myself.



At the opening there is a synopsis of a storyline which has the intent to give you a reason for fighting in this game. There is really no story mode, which would have been nice being that it was based on a TV series. From the moment you turn the game on, you are treated to nicely detailed graphics. The fighting arenas are big, roomy, and nicely laid out, but no interaction with the backgrounds. And this game is definitely 3D fighting. You are given a sort-of three quarter slightly overhead view and this enhances the 3D feel of the game. I know what you are thinking, fear not, the fighters are big, not tiny. And the fighters are very good likenesses of the characters they are portraying, though the details are somewhat fuzzy, or blurred. Considering the time period, they look nice and are very recognizable, so, I can live with that. Each fighter has their own unique signature weapon and moves. One of the achilles heel of the game is that the variety of moves are limited in number. You have two buttons each for kick and punch, weak and strong. There are several moves, that are determined by the directional button, when engaging kick or punch. Punch is usually the weapon move, whether it be a spear, sword, etc. And there is a special move for every character. There are no finishing moves, no points given for your fighting, only a, you won, or, you lost. Nothing over the top, just plain fighting, something like you would see in an adventure game or action RPG. It feels like it has been extracted from one of those type games. One big feather in this game"s cap is the option of, a three or four player brawl. You can team up or fight each other. This is where one button becomes useful, the targeting button. It is useless in single and verses mode. No need to target in those modes. And that is one thing I like about this game, your fighter is totally focused toward the opponent, so you don't get lost in the 3D. There's nothing worse in a 3D game than trying to get your character to face your opponent so you can hit them. And you're getting beaten in the process.



I find it easy to learn the moves and control the fighters. And I have developed a like for certain fighters because of their moves and control. Finding favorites in a game gives it a plus for me. There seem to be small combos that you can learn to perform. The game is easy to get into but it is not that deep of a fighter and that is due to being limited in your variety of moves and not much to do after that other than fighting. It doesn't take long to master the single player mode, that is if you are playing on easy, so I would think that the four player brawl is where this game would shine, a simple fighting party game. Starting in easy mode is a good place to learn to control and use your fighter. And the control seems tight, which is another plus.



FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is one of those games that might not be for everyone. So I find it hard to recommend. It is one of those games that falls into three categories. You either hate it, love it, or it is an acquired taste. My thoughts before I even turned this game on, was, this is going to be trash. I had prejudged this game based on other licensed games I had tried before. I never watched the TV series and yet I found myself liking this game. So I don't think you need to be a fan. This game became an acquired taste for me. Being a weapon based fighter, it is not "Mace The Dark Age," but I found it enjoyable. If you don't mind a mindless simple very playable fighter then you will find this good gaming. This one took me by surprise. My rating for this game is, "good game." Not great, not awesome, but good. I think fans would greatly enjoy.