A lot of RPG devs started to developing for the PlayStation 1 after the Nintendo 64 screwed over the RPG genre via being super limiting. So many in fact that there are only 3 true RPGs released worldwide on the Nintendo 64. Those being Quest 64, Paper Mario 64, and this game Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage. This game released so late in the consoles life that it was destined to be the final RPG even if that was more common in the platform. Could this game prove the console could have an above average RPG or was the console destined to be doomed in this regard?
The graphics work but the art style doesn't have any of the charm that Quest 64 or Paper Mario 64 had. It actively was uninteresting to look at.
Non-combat gameplay like moving around massive maps and getting lost easily is unpleasant. Combat also has weird quirks like only being able to load a certain amount of enemies t a time but sometimes more spawn after you kill a few. I don't really have much positive to stay here since it's got the most part subpar. I guess the one pro I can say this has is it actually has party members until Quest 64 and they're more fleshed out gameplay wise than Paper Mario 64.
The other RPGs on the console were more fun to look at and play for me so the ultimate redeeming quality could've been the story but unfortunately that too is weak until near the end when there's mild twists I guess. I genuinely didn't feel attached to any character, the setting, or narrative at all.
In the end this game to me represents the lost potential that Nintendo chose to accept when creating the 64. They were the bosses of RPGs back on NES and SNES with so much third party support but their decision to create the 64 the way it is ultimately lead to a lackluster line up for the genre. While the PS1 thrived with RPGs, the Nintendo 64 was left in the dust with a miniscule amount that are average at best if not outright underwhelming.
The graphics work but the art style doesn't have any of the charm that Quest 64 or Paper Mario 64 had. It actively was uninteresting to look at.
Non-combat gameplay like moving around massive maps and getting lost easily is unpleasant. Combat also has weird quirks like only being able to load a certain amount of enemies t a time but sometimes more spawn after you kill a few. I don't really have much positive to stay here since it's got the most part subpar. I guess the one pro I can say this has is it actually has party members until Quest 64 and they're more fleshed out gameplay wise than Paper Mario 64.
The other RPGs on the console were more fun to look at and play for me so the ultimate redeeming quality could've been the story but unfortunately that too is weak until near the end when there's mild twists I guess. I genuinely didn't feel attached to any character, the setting, or narrative at all.
In the end this game to me represents the lost potential that Nintendo chose to accept when creating the 64. They were the bosses of RPGs back on NES and SNES with so much third party support but their decision to create the 64 the way it is ultimately lead to a lackluster line up for the genre. While the PS1 thrived with RPGs, the Nintendo 64 was left in the dust with a miniscule amount that are average at best if not outright underwhelming.