Version 1.5 is coming soon, so I've taken down the download. 1.5 will be the final version, complete with new cutscenes, flashbacks, and streamlined gameplay.

Several nasty glitches have been eliminated. Be on the lookout for the Final Version, 1.5, coming soon!

There are several ways to eliminate any possible issue with the text; you could download the various font patches on other sites, or even download the RPG Maker 2003 RTP_RT.exe file and splice it into the main folder. Just don't play the game using the 2003 RTP_RT, or you won't be able to fight enemies!

Video playthrough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GC-ooXBiHPg






Carlsev Saga's political/thriller storyline is the antithesis of "cliche". There are no "good" or "bad" characters, as everyone operates in shades of gray...King Carlsev and Empress Sola notwithstanding. Players will sympathize with most, if not every, character in this game -- if not in this installment, then certainly by the end of the saga. Plot twists are both unpredictable and airtight; any questions will most likely be answered later in the trilogy or through a plot synopsis. Characters feature diverse personalities, though the details are often subtle -- much like reality.

Carlsev Saga's story centers on the small, isolated monarchy of Carlsev. This nation boasts a formidable army and advanced middle-age technology; a power called the "Essence" fuels the magic-like abilities used by many of Carlsev's inhabitants. However, the paranoid king has been withholding progress in every aspect of human endeavor. Some of Carlsev's elite figures, such as General Saito of East Carlsev, have grown impatient with the monarchy and have taken bold action. With support from his closest aide, Youngwood, the charismatic Saito leads the East into a massive revolt. A bitter civil war ensues, partitioning Carlsev into East and West. The story unfolds during the first major battle of this civil war, though what will ensue is beyond everyone's imagination.



I have thrown the traditional level-up system out the window in favor of stat tonics. The four types of tonics -- stamina (HP+10), power (STR+10), mental (MGK+10), and skill (SP+2) -- must be created regularly to survive Carlsev's dangers. Alchemists create these tonics via items dropped by enemies; however, each alchemist uses a different recipe, so players must manage their inventory well.

Money is rarely dropped by enemies; instead, players must sell loot or find money in chests. However, money is typically needed only for healing items, as equipment plays a fairly minimal role.

In the second half of the game, one character can absorb and stock "Essence" spells (magic) from enemies, in a manner similar to the draw system from Final Fantasy VIII. Carlsev Saga also features a traditional four-element magic system, which must be exploited often. Players can identify an enemy's elemental weakness and HP through a "scan" ability.

There are several other twists to the gameplay. In one segment of the game, players must evade eighteen patrolling guards in an underground prison. The guards are extremely powerful and offer little reward; moreover, players receive a hefty bonus if they escape without being detected. Many bosses require the use of special commands, such as exploiting the surrounding environment or manually evading a powerful attack.



Carlsev Saga features 245 medium-to-large maps, ranging from shifting deserts to sprawling garrisons to foggy forests. Despite being my first major project, Carlsev Saga sets a reasonable standard of mapping that is being raised even higher in the second installment. Natural areas are designed as organically as possible, given the constraints. Buildings range from simplistic adobes to massive labyrinths, complete with intricate puzzles and hidden passages.

Chipsets are completely non-RTP, and include selections from Mac and Blue, gamerips, and Theo. Charsets and other graphics are a mix of RTP and non-RTP, though most are edited.



Carlsev Saga's music comes from sources such as Vagrant Story, Beyond the Beyond, Suikoden, Ogre Battle, Star Trek, and Fire Emblem. Most of the tracks are either symphonic or ambient. All tracks are MIDI, but many hours were spent hand-picking them. Some users have expressed problems and glitches with the music -- sadly, this is probably a technical issue in the maker itself.



For most players, the game will take approximately 7 to 10 hours. The Let's Play video took me about 8 and a half hours, and I did almost everything.

The first 2-3 hours are fairly straightforward, with little to do in the way of optional quests aside from extra rooms and a handful of optional bosses. The game will open up immediately thereafter, especially once you reach the Latus River Valley/Carlsev Riverside.

-=OTHER REVIEWS=-

http://www.rpgrevolution.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=34909
http://uirpg.com/articles/1974"]http://uirpg.com/articles/1974
http://uirpg.com/articles.php?act=view&artid=1971
http://uirpg.com/articles.php?act=view&artid=2048
http://uirpg.com/articles/2193
http://indiereview.tk/index.cgi/reviews/Carlsev-Saga-Episode-I-Review.html