Full Review: How do you lose an entire kingdom?
I think that everyone would agree that the lack of role-playing games on the Nintendo 64 contributed to the system's lackluster sales numbers. This time around, Nintendo's console is getting better third party support and coming with that is an improved RPG presence. Sega's titles, Phantasy Star Online and Skies of Arcadia, are spearheading the GameCube surge in this genre, but one developer alone cannot support a system. That is where From Software comes in with their innovative title, Lost Kingdoms.
As with all role-playing games, Lost Kingdoms is based upon a fanciful story set in a mythical world. The general idea is that of an unimaginable evil overtaking the land. It all started one morning when villagers awoke to find that there was a solid wall of black fog where the nearby forest should have been. The few that dared to venture into the forest were never heard from again. Before long, the mysterious fog swallowed up the lake and enveloped the village itself. Up to this point, an ancient covenant had kept the five kingdoms of the land separated, forbidding all alliances. This evil prompted the five kings to meet in a council of war, but even their combined resources were not able to offer a solution to their growing problem.
The game opens with you taking the role of Katia, heir to the crown of Alanjeh, as she flees her castle in search of her father, King Feobane. Disappointingly, the story progresses through text conversations that you hold with the various inhabitants of the realm. A few cinematic sequences would have been a nice touch. However, Lost Kingdom's real strength lies not in its story, but in its innovative card combat system. Katia uses the power of her family's runestone to call upon the strength of creatures that are trapped within a deck of cards. Learning to use each creature to its full potential is essential to solving the mystery of the fog and defeating to source of the evil.
It is imperative that you learn to master the card combat system in Lost Kingdoms and this begins by learning about the cards themselves. Each card and associated creature has a base attribute of either fire, water, earth, wood, or is a neutral entity. As you might imagine, each element is strongest against another element and is weaker than another. Only by stacking your 30 card deck in anticipation of the monsters you will face will you be able to make it through a level alive. That's right, you are limited to a minimal 30 cards per level and once you use a card in a level there are few ways to slip them back in your deck. This sets you up for one of the few actual drawbacks to the game in that once you run out of cards you are out of luck. Katia herself has no way to attack herself and cannot flee from a battle once it has been initiated. Learn to plan ahead and you will be set for even the most trying of battles.
Lost Kingdoms isn't quite all combat though. There are also a few different sub-quests to embark upon (though they are all one level long) and there is card management to keep in mind. Each card earns experience as it helps you defeat your foes and that experience can be used to transform the card into another, potentially more useful, card. With more than 100 different cards and creatures to discover and sort through, you must experiment with the system and find the combination that works best with your combat style. The three different types of creatures, independent, summons, and weapon, each require you to employ a different combat strategy and by balancing the three you will find the greatest success.
To help back up this card combat and management system, From Software has put together a well-balanced package. The character design, visual impact, and soundtrack are all adequate, but each element lacks any sort of technological advancement. However, the overall effect is delightful and helps to keep the focus on the gameplay. Lost Kingdoms has really covered all of its bases and there aren't even any glaring camera issues to complain about. All in all, the GameCube's first RPG is an enjoyable outing that breaks the mold.
Xbox 360 | XBLA
PS3 | PSN
Wii | VC
DS
PSP
iPhone
PS2
PC
Retro
