Xak: The Art of Visual Stage is the first game in the fantasy role-playing video game series Xak. It was originally released for the NEC PC-8801 computer system, with subsequent versions being developed for the NEC PC-9801, Sharp X68000, MSX2, PC-Engine, Super Famicom, and mobile phones.
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Game Review - originally written by Spinner 8
Well seeing as how I couldn’t leave the first town, I’m not exactly sure what type of game this is. It’s an RPG-type adventurey thing, and if what (wraith) says is any indication, it’s an action RPG like Zelda or something. So there you go.
Well seeing as how I couldn’t leave the first town, I’m not exactly sure what type of game this is. It’s an RPG-type adventurey thing, and if what (wraith) says is any indication, it’s an action RPG like Zelda or something. So there you go.
Played the SNES version.
Competent but fairly average action RPG. Takes its structure from Ys (menu layout, slow grinds on the overworld) but drops its bump combat for a really fast-paced Zelda, but if the hitboxes were kind of peculiar. There's a weird trading-blows feel with enemies where your sword seems to only have 1 or 2 pixels of advantage, so there's some finesse to spamming attack and trying to faintly flick an enemy before quickly backing off to avoid being hurt. Fun, although it seems that's about as deep as the combat went in the first hour across maybe 7 or 8 enemy types.
I did like the one boss I fought though. Really simple pattern but still fun to learn. falling plum projectiles.
The PC-98 version looks like it might use Bump Combat instead? Hard to tell. But the enemies also look like they move slower on that version. So overall maybe the PC 98 version is actually more tightly designed...?
Competent but fairly average action RPG. Takes its structure from Ys (menu layout, slow grinds on the overworld) but drops its bump combat for a really fast-paced Zelda, but if the hitboxes were kind of peculiar. There's a weird trading-blows feel with enemies where your sword seems to only have 1 or 2 pixels of advantage, so there's some finesse to spamming attack and trying to faintly flick an enemy before quickly backing off to avoid being hurt. Fun, although it seems that's about as deep as the combat went in the first hour across maybe 7 or 8 enemy types.
I did like the one boss I fought though. Really simple pattern but still fun to learn. falling plum projectiles.
The PC-98 version looks like it might use Bump Combat instead? Hard to tell. But the enemies also look like they move slower on that version. So overall maybe the PC 98 version is actually more tightly designed...?
Is decent, though largely unimpressive game, mostly suitable for fans of 16-bit action RPGs. This game is very short, about 6 or 7 hours, and will provide some enjoyable moments for fans of the genre but can be ignored by more casual RPG fans.