PS2: Kings Field IV, Complete
The King's Field series of games, which first debuted in 1995 in Japan, has largely gone unnoticed outside of the gaming capital, but within its own territory, it has done very well, with two sequels following on PSone. But it's 2003, and the series has finally ventured not just onto PS2, but to European shores as well. An accursed idol responsible for the destruction of an ancient race has surfaced to wreak havoc once again among the kingdoms of man. You must return the idol to the Ancient City to break its curse, but monsters of unspeakable horror haunt the ruins. The smell of fear is in the air of the Ancient City - even the monsters themselves fear the evil that has returned. Yes fellow gamers, it's an RPG, and a mighty one at that. Assuming control of our mysterious protagonist, you'll have to face the tests and trials typical to the role-playing genre, before facing an unknown ultimate evil. King's Field IV is a distinctly non-linear game, playing host to some 40 expansive areas in which your quest is to explore, search for clues, defeat myriad henchman and native creatures, and seek out components for magic spells and weapons upgrades. There's the usual onslaught of elemental spells at your disposal, which you must use wisely to defeat the oncoming hordes of monsters and villains. But defence also plays its part. Be sure to equip yourself with good armour and weapons too or you may find yourself another victim of this unforgiving game world. Most RPGs struggle to innovate these days, but it's the style in which these games are delivered that is crucial, as Final Fantasy demonstrates so well. And in this respect, King's Field IV is similar. Expect to see a fifth in the series to follow, but in the meantime, get stuck into this.
