Faxanadu (Europe) ROM

A weary traveller returns home after a long journey - only to find the realm in turmoil. Soon he is despatched on a quest that will take him through the world tree on his way to the source of the disturbances. So begins the story of Faxanadu - one of the finest games that was made for the NES, and one of the last to be released in Europe.

At its core, Faxanadu is an action-RPG, with the player's character slaying monsters, acquiring gold and purchasing the armour, shields, spells, weapons and magical items that make him mightier. Experience points earned through combat enable the player to rise in rank. Saving is done through the system of mantras - a long list of letters that serve as passwords of a sort; of course, with emulators freeze states eliminate the need to record these. As with a typical RPG, cities contain shops, houses and various other buildings that the hero can enter, with much of the storyline being discovered through conversations with the inhabitants.

Graphically, Faxanadu is a well-made game, with all objects and foes being clearly distinct, and environments that are quite detailed; the portraits of various persons in the cities are also aptly drawn. Musically, it remains one of the best RPGs of its time, with a stirring opening theme, and a number of very memorable tunes in the course of the game. The sound effects are more than satisfactory, as are the animations.

All in all, Faxanadu is a classic - and it is a pity that Hudson-Soft has not yet made a sequel to this game.