Reply To: Final Thoughts

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I played through the PS1 port this weekend. It works surprisingly well on the PS1 once you get used to the myriad of controls. There are some definite improvements with a fullscreen view and keys unlocking doors automatically. The game also keeps track of what you know so you are forced to learn the mantras before you can use them. The 3D monsters it uses are a mixed bag. The bats are much better, the rats are now kind of cute and the reapers look comical as they lurch about. They did a good job modernising the music tracks. I love the MT-32 original but this is arguably better.

One of the biggest changes is that the level cap (if there is one) has been greatly increased. I finished the game at level 21. This makes the game so much fairer if you want to invest in some of the less useful skills or do so by mistake. You can max out your character far more now.

On the downside the framerate is lower than you’d get on the PC, there is no way to split a stack of items without dropping them on the floor first which is a stupid oversight and saving/loading is a lot slower than I’d like.

It’s a worthy port anyway, a lot better than I expected when I went in and deserved a Western release.