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Listen to the Moonsong...

Moonsong: First Verse, is a game I had the joy to playtest: this is a Rm2k3 fantasy game with a great use of the resources and nice maps. So this is how it looked when I saw it, but how is the game I played? First expect a typical Jrpg system, but combined with a classical fantasy setting: no weird things like chocobos, heroes with strange hairstyles that fight with huge bizarre weapons or airships, just horses, warriors & wizards and boats! It's a believable world, at the same time familiar and new.


That's a lie Leonov! You're the best fighter available... hm ok, after Magnus maybe!

After the short introduction there is the first surprise: the protagonist selection! Yes, pur alter ego is can be chosen among six different characters: an old veteran, a female bard, a nomad, a warrior, a sorcerer and a nature healer.
(like the Romancing Saga charsets and the portraits). Not only each character has different abilities and a class specialition available later in the game (from level 7) that will let you customize your heroes (for example the nature healer can choose the path of the druid for more spells and energy points, or the path of the ranger for more offensive skills and hitpoints), but they also have a backstory that will change the first part of the adventure and some dialogues during the rest of the game! That's pretty cool and uncommon feature, and I find very interesting the opportunity to learn and improve only those skills you feel useful (for example almost everyone can learn a healing skill, if you desire!).


Stop napping, Leonov! This is not a vacation!

Even if the introductive part will see our chosen hero helped by a friendly soldier (that will recruit the protagonist during the prologue), after some adventures they will meet the other five protagonists, and here there's the second big choice: two of them will be chosen to assist out alter ego during his adventures. And then the real adventure will begin!

I won't spoil the story, but let's say that the mission will make out group travel a lot, visit cities, islands, deserts and snowy lands! It's a long voyage that includes intrigue, dangerous encounters and lots of exploration.

While exploring it's important to look around for loot (pouches and chests) and temple or altars of the moon: these places are especially useful to spend the AP (ability points obtained defeating opponents) to learn and improve the party members' skills. The last ability level also requires a token to be spent, and these are commonly found during the adventure.

Combat is classic but well done: side view with battlers on the same style of the charsets. Enemies are of the same size and style of the party members, and in most cases they are found in random encounters, but it's usually possible to flee from them. Boss fights are instead mandatory, but do not worry because our heroes have many skills, and even if using them requires the espenditure of Energy Points, these are easily recovered not just using some potions, but also just walking around! Nice! This makes the game not too difficult to complete, but it's pretty cool since I'm not a fan of grinding, anyway you can do that if you really really want!


Magnus just hit that officer with a dagger, but Elle needs healing soon!

Ok, anyway combat is not the only activity that our heroes will perform, there are also optional side questa, fetch quests and puzzles (like the classic "maze of crates").

Now let's speak about graphics: the Romance Saga charsets and the Fire Emblem facesets works well together, the resources are masterfully used to create a believable, colorful and detailed world. The enviroment feel immersive, realistic and alive, even if this is a one way trip, so you won't go back to the old locations. Likewise sound and music are carefully selcted and used, I especially liked the intro, very evocative.

Finally I liked pacing, dialogues and characters (especially Giovanni! He's my favourite character!). The story is of a good lenght (4/5 hours), easy to follow and quite interesting (there are some surprises, and some predictable events) especially during the final parts that will conclude the game leaving some questions. Well, this game is subtitled "First Verse" so expect a "Second Verse" someday to conclude the story.
Oh and if you played Villnoire please note that there's an easter egg linked to that game!


Who are these guys? What is happening here? Where is Leonov? Play the game and find out!

Verdict
This is a classic game, I could say that it offers little innovation for what regarding the gameplay, but I guess that the character selection, different intros and the ability skilltrees system are some features that are rare or even unique of this game. This game have only minor flaws that are already mentioned on the page, and while I may be picky, and whine because Khalid's faceset does not match perfectly the charset or because the Sunstroke affected my character even when moving on the skilltree, I prefer not to! This game looks good and is good, so it gets the good treatment: 4/5, no less!

The last, fifth star will be unlocked with Moonsong: Second Verse, for now play this game, then replay it with different characters. Trust me, you will have fun, because... I did!
See ya!

Posts

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Frogge
I wanna marry ALL the boys!! And Donna is a meanc
18536
Nice review as always man. You beat me to the punch, I think I'm around the midpoint right now, haha.
author=Frogge
Nice review as always man. You beat me to the punch, I think I'm around the midpoint right now, haha.

Thanks a lot Frogge.
I'm midpoint too.. with the second run! It's slightly more difficult and rebalanced now, but being the second time for me, it's a walk in a park lol. I admit I used to play cautious the first time.

Maps and enviroment are beautiful, the only part I didn't like was the desert, but uhm it is really short.

I hope you took Leonov with you! ^_^
Frogge
I wanna marry ALL the boys!! And Donna is a meanc
18536
author=TheRpgmakerAddict
I hope you took Leonov with you! ^_^


I mostly play for hard hitting classes, so I knew immediately that I had to take him with me! That's also the reason I picked Magnus at the start, of course :D
author=Frogge
author=TheRpgmakerAddict
I hope you took Leonov with you! ^_^
I mostly play for hard hitting classes, so I knew immediately that I had to take him with me! That's also the reason I picked Magnus at the start, of course :D


Good choice,they both hit hard and heal too! (Not as well as the two girls but still really useful.
Be sure to take the multiattack. Was pretty useful!
Thank you for the review! I really appreciate it. I can't find fault with anything you said. That fifth star might be pretty elusive, heh heh.

Don't underestimate the female characters, though! Bows (which only Amelia can use) have a high critical rate and both can get very powerful magic that's cheap to cast. They can smash things quite well, too!

Maps and enviroment are beautiful, the only part I didn't like was the desert, but uhm it is really short.

I hope you took Leonov with you! ^_^

The desert is a little more forgiving than it was before! Speaking of Leonov, mastering Suntouch makes him immune to sunstroke...
author=Kaempfer
Thank you for the review! I really appreciate it. I can't find fault with anything you said. That fifth star might be pretty elusive, heh heh.

Don't underestimate the female characters, though! Bows (which only Amelia can use) have a high critical rate and both can get very powerful magic that's cheap to cast. They can smash things quite well, too!

Maps and enviroment are beautiful, the only part I didn't like was the desert, but uhm it is really short.

I hope you took Leonov with you! ^_^

The desert is a little more forgiving than it was before! Speaking of Leonov, mastering Suntouch makes him immune to sunstroke...

I never gave 5 stars anyway this game was near to 4.5, really (but I spared them for the sequel ehe). The thing is that I'd like a satisfying ending to this story heh.

Both female characters are great! Elle is really useful with her songs and I liked her as a healer. Amelia... I like her as a magic attacker (and secondary healer) since the nature whip is a good starting attack and later she has some useful multi attack and multi heal skills!

Sunstroke ls not that bad anyway, just hard to remove (and mildly annoying). The problem is that in the desert you have to find that place and there is no indication of the direction...it's the only part in which I was not totally sure og what I had to do but hey, it is a small issue in a great game.

And I admit that in the end I wanted more...
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