Forever Kingdom

The successor to Evergrace changes names, leaps back in time, and mixes up the gameplay?but you still get to put on funny hats.

The successor to Evergrace changes names, leaps back in time, and mixes up the gameplay?but forgets to include a compelling story. At least you still get to put on funny hats.

Kingdom Come
Evergrace was one of the first action RPGs available for the PlayStation 2, putting a fanciful twist on item acquisition. Instead of using just traditional armor or weapons, you could also wear a pumpkin on your head or use an umbrella to fight evil and be judged for your fashion sense. The name of the series has changed, but luckily, Forever Kingdom continues the offbeat flare of its predecessor.

The most noticeable change (aside from the title) in Forever Kingdom is the new game attack system: You move around a party of three, selecting on the fly which character to directly control. The A.I. of computer-controlled characters is pretty awful, and you have to work hard to make them help you out. Luckily, switching to the most capable party member for the task is easy as long the character you?re switching to isn?t stuck against a wall or sandwiched between your other comrades. The combo magic attacks are useful, but once again depend greatly on making sure your party is positioned for maximum benefit, making casting in the heat of battle a chore. Graphically, Forever Kingdom is much improved from Evergrace, but still far behind in terms of other games on the PlayStation 2. Even the CG in the cinemas have an outdated look.

The Emperor?s Clothes
Since RPGs require a great deal of time, good music is crucial to breaking the monotony, and this is an area where the game delivers nicely. Sound effects are also enjoyable, but the voice-acting is just plain horrendous?and, unfortunately, the dialogue is not godawful enough to be enjoyable in a cheesy way, either. The story, which takes place before the events of Evergrace, has interesting twists, but the delivery of the lines reduces the impact to the point where it borders on bland.

Dressing up is fun, and patient action RPG fans will find a lot to discover and a tougher quest than in the original. However, cheap deaths, an average story, and questionable boss balance hold Forever Kingdom back from being a completely satisfying experience.

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