Future Games Network -- Blaze and Blade: Eternal Quest (PC)

Many old school PC gamers tend to automatically dislike any and all console ports. Their argument is that simplistic console–style gaming just doesn’t belong on a complex platform such as the PC, and that save points, lack of keyboard/mouse support, and joystick–only control schemes are all unforgivable design flaws. I, on the other hand, tend to enjoy console RPG’s and don’t really have a problem with the issues that turn other gamers off. However, after spending time with Southpeak’s latest console RPG port Blaze & Blade: Eternal Quest, I can now understand some of the complaints leveled at console to PC ports. Blaze & Blade is a veritable case in point of things NOT to do when converting a console game to the PC platform.

I first noticed that things might be remiss during my perusal of the manual that comes with the game. It would seem that Southpeak’s editing department didn’t bother to take out references to the PlayStation version, because the game’s controls were explained using the triangle, circle, "x", and square buttons that are incorporated into PSX controllers! As a matter of fact, the manual as a whole was quite cryptic and confusing and didn’t contain nearly enough information on how to perform various actions within the game. I spent quite a bit of time with Blaze & Blade, and I STILL don’t know how to perform menial RPG tasks such as trade items between party members.

During the character creation process, it seemed that the game took a turn for the better. There are a wide variety of classes to choose from, and you are also able to assign your party members certain "attitudes" such as "cold," "arbitrary," "childlike," etc. However, once game play started, it became clear that all of these choices have absolutely NO impact on your adventure whatsoever. All combat takes place in real–time and basically consists of you hacking and slashing at various types of constantly re–spawning monsters, over and over again. Add to that the fact that the other three members in your party (the ones you DON’T control) will basically just stand around and watch as your main character runs around slaying all the monsters. Sometimes an ally will pitch in with a periodic sword slash or two, but basically, your AI–controlled comrades are about as useful as an Amish electrician. To make matters even worse, your spellcasters won’t even cast any spells unless you take direct control of them! What’s the use of including computer–controlled characters in a game if your AI routines can be outwitted by a wristwatch?

It would seem that Blaze & Blade was attempting to be a modern "Secret of Mana" in that the focus is more on action than it is on role–playing and problem–solving. However, the game has nowhere near the fun and depth of Squaresoft’s old Super Nintendo classic. The poor quality of both the manual and the game’s practically non–existant AI reeks of a project that was rushed out the door to meet some marketing–driven deadline . Bottom line — unless you need to own every game that contains blue–haired characters with huge round eyes, stay far away from Blaze and Blade.

Overall Game Rating: D

Southpeak Interactive’s website

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