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THE SAGA IS COMPLETE
The ShadowFlare saga has been completed with the release of Episode Three on January 10, 2003 and Episode Four on February 13, 2003. ShadowFlare is a four part episodic action-rpg developed by Denyusha Co. and published by Emurasoft, Inc. Episode One is available for free should you decide to give this game a chance with each of the other three episodes available for download at $15 each. You can download the free episode as well as purchasing and downloading the other episodes at the game's official website listed below. You also need to have a previous episode installed and completed before you can play the next one.
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For example, if you want to play Episode Two you must have Episode One installed and completed as you will need to use your saved character from the completion of the first episode to begin the second one. In ShadowFlare, you take the role of a wizard, wizard/witch or hunter. You must rid the world of the demons that have entered and must do so through animal companions, mines, unique spells and other nice features. Since each episode is similar in many ways, instead of talking specifically about Episodes Three and Four I think this review would serve you better by telling you what makes this four part action-rpg something you might like to play.
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THE GAMEPLAY
ShadowFlare is a simplistic game with simple 2D graphics and gameplay. You must understand this above all else when deciding whether you should try any of these episodes. Each episode is similar in style and scope but some changes do occur in the types of quests, terrains, animal companions, special items and creatures that appear within each one. Although there are not vast differences across the four episodes that one could easily point to beyond the ones already mentioned. Episode One, for example, introduced a dog as an animal companion that aided you with animals such as hawks appearing in later episodes. Mines are fun to use in the game, especially with some of the large groups of enemies that you will encounter. Spells are also interesting to use and one in particular is very beneficial. It is the teleport spell that you will use often, as it allows you to teleport to a nearby town so that you can heal any damage you or your animal companion suffer in battle. I found myself using this excellent spell very often.
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You will come across an assortment of creatures in the game from some very weak ones to some that will pose a considerable challenge. You will find fire bats, golems, spiders, boars, goblins and others. Quests are given by villagers in the towns that you will visit. Some quests will have you destroying a specific leader, to ones in which you must clear an area of enemies, and ones in which you must find a specific item. In those same towns you will find merchants that will sell you weapons, armor, and health items to spirit witches that will recover your lost health and magic. I definitely enjoyed the design of dungeons and the puzzles that were presented to the players within them. Another feature that is impressive is finding unique and rare items that are scattered throughout the world of ShadowFlare, powerful items that grant players interesting abilities. These are just some of the many special features that await you.
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A FUN BUT FLAWED GAME
ShadowFlare is a fun but flawed action-rpg. It could have been more if the developers had not made the game so difficult. Episode One was fairly easy compared to the difficulty in the remaining three episodes. Playing Episode One may give those the impression that the rest of the series will play just the same. You may get very powerful weapons and armor in Episode One only to discover that they mean nothing in Episode Two. Mines and animal companions become virtually useless with the huge increase in difficulty experienced in later episodes. ShadowFlare would have been a much better game if the difficulty in Episodes Two through Four would have stayed like Episode One. Your character, your mines and animal companions do not level appropriately to meet the demands of the increased difficulty of later episodes.
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The first episode received high marks because it was enjoyable and the difficulty level was appropriate. Frustrating gamers with an unreasonable amount of difficulty does not make for an enjoyable gaming experience. If you are easily frustrated with high levels of difficulty in games, ShadowFlare is not for you. If however, you do appreciate high levels of difficulty in games, then you will find Episodes Two through Four to your liking. Emurasoft did well in releasing Episode One free to the public so that players can gain some sense of what the game is all about. If you can overlook these things, you will find an interesting action-rpg within the world of ShadowFlare!
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Pros
- Use of mines and animal companions
- Some interesting level design, puzzles and quests
- Finding unique and rare items in each episode
- Simplistic gameplay and 2D graphics that while not the best are still nice
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Cons
- High and unreasonable level of difficulty
- Mines and animal companions become almost useless in later episodes
- Not enough variation between the episodes
- Episodes are somewhat expensive
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Individual ShadowFlare Episode Grades:
Episode One- 90%
Episode Two- 80%
Episode Three- 75%
Episode Four- 70%
Final Grade: 79%
(Average grade for all 4 Episodes)
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System Requirements:
- Pentium 3 450 MHz
- Windows 95, 98, 2000, XP
- 128 MB RAM
- Keyboard and mouse
- Internet connection for downloading episodes and multiplayer gaming
- Multiplayer- A maximum of 4 players can play together online
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