Final Fantasy | RVGFanatic

Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest (SNES)

***Pub & Dev: Square | October 1992 | 4 MEGS***

Before there was Final Fantasy III (AKA Final Fantasy VI)… following Final Fantasy II (AKA Final Fantasy IV)… was Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest. It was a sidestep in the beloved franchise, being an entry level based RPG aimed toward a younger crowd (and those new to the genre). It has been deemed by some as the black sheep of the Final Fantasy family; some go as far as to call it an albatross and a waste of cartridge space. But surely, being from Square during their hey day, it can’t be THAT bad, can it?

I wonder if they were fans of Mystic Quest? [Probably not -Ed.] — Were they fans of *Mystic Quest*? *[Probably not -Ed.]*

Of course, as it often is the case, with one extreme you have the flip side. There are many Mystic Quest defenders who not only proclaim that this game isn’t bad but rather it’s actually pretty good. As it is with many things in life, there’s only one way you can find out for certain: by experiencing it yourself. And way back 12 years ago, during the Christmas season of 2007, I set out to do just that.

RPG: REAL POOR GAMES?

Growing up I was a huge fan of any game that granted instant explicit gratification from the moment I pressed start. Fighting and action games were my main go-to genres when it came to video games back in the ’90s. My brother, on the other hand, was obsessed with RPGs. I never could understand why as a kid. Why would anyone want to spend all day conversing with boring townsfolk, or engage in slow, plodding turn-based combat? What the heck is SO appealing about that, my 10 year old brain at the time wondered. I couldn’t figure it out. As far as I was concerned 25 years ago, the acronym “RPG” might as well stand for “Real Poor Games.” But in late 2003, SEGA SATURN MAGAZINE’s constant championing of RPGs slowly but surely opened up my eyes. Suddenly, and for the first time in my life, I began to see RPGs in a new light. It didn’t take me long to procure all the Sega Saturn RPGs, from Albert Odyssey to Panzer Dragoon Saga. Sadly, I never got around to playing any of them thoroughly. Flash forward to January 2006. Upon rediscovering my childhood love, the Super Nintendo, I was determined to finally beat my first RPG. Super Mario RPG perhaps? EarthBound? Chrono Trigger? None of those, actually. I knew in my heart my first RPG could only be… FINAL FANTASY: MYSTIC QUEST.

Sure I had read some negative opinions on it and heard through the grapevine it wasn’t worth playing, but that didn’t sway me one bit. Ever since I first laid eyes on the Mystic Quest blurb in EGM issue #43 (February 1993), part of me was always a bit curious about it, despite my disdain of RPGs even back then. There was just something about Mystic Quest that appealed to me and stood out from other RPGs. I guess part of it was the whole training wheels approach. I’d decided that if I were to ever play RPGs, Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest would be the very first. Besides, it’s not a bad idea to start at the “bottom” and work your way up. This whole SNES resurgence of mine was another chance at gaming redemption and fulfilling the wavering fantasies of my youth. In December of 2007, I decided it was time to finally quell a near 15 year curiosity. Having experienced the likes of Brandish, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Soul Blazer (and enjoying those adventures immensely), the time had come to ‘level up’ and conquer my very first RPG. All things considered, I can’t think of a more “perfect” RPG to begin with.

THE STORY GOES…

For centuries the Focus Tower stood at the very heart of the World. It had been a center for trade and knowledge, and the people of the World met there to peacefully settle their differences. But on one warm summer day, the Tower was suddenly transformed into a symbol of the purest evil. For on that day, vile monsters battled their way into the Tower, stole the four Crystals of the Earth, and took off with the magical Coins that had kept the Tower’s doors unlocked.

With the Tower doors sealed behind them, the monsters relaxed their guard and turned their attention to the Crystals. As they basked in the radiant glow of the Crystals, the monsters grew stronger and even more wicked than they already were. The more light the monsters consumed, the more the World was drained of its warmth and color. Tremors soon shook the land. The sky grew cloudy and dark. The seasons went berserk. Monsters then appeared everywhere and terrorized the people. The World was thrown into total chaos. Something had to be done. A hero was much needed…

Enter Benjamin, the most normal youngster you could imagine. Like most responsible villagers his age, he arose at the crack of dawn to lead his family’s livestock to the upper meadow to graze. Other kids teased him because he read while tending his herd, and because a village Elder had taken him in as a promising student. Although he seemed mature beyond his years, he still dreamed of being more than he was: faster, stronger and more daring.

USE YOUR HEAD, SON

RPGs require a little extra thought than other genres — RPGs require a *little extra* thought than other genres

In battle mode you can attack with your weapon or by conjuring a variety of magic spells. Spells are usually stronger but eat up magic points. Also, some enemies are immune to certain spells, further adding to the strategy. Gotta use your noggin’ a little bit!

Resident Evil item management this ain't — *Resident Evil* item management this ain’t

Well you don't hafta, but I like knowing my stats — Well you don’t have to, but I like knowing my stats

Very nice. You're given every chance to succeed — Very nice. You’re given every chance to succeed

MAP QUEST

Starting out at the Focus Tower, before all is said and done you’ll travel to 29 regions, ranging from ice pyramids to volcano mines. Unoriginal but hey, all the classic themes are represented.

Having the novice RPG player in mind, your movement on the overworld map has been simplified. You’re quite restricted but at least you’ll never get lost.

THE CAST

Your party can only contain two members at any one time, and not by your choice. Along the journey various characters will join you for different reasons. Discover many items, weapons, magic spells and armor. It’s nowhere as extensive as other RPGs, but again, this was made with the novice in mind. Let the journey begin!

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS

In the words of Van Halen... — In the words of Van Halen… ***JUMP!***

Follow the old geezer and leap safely to the other mountain before the one you’re on crumbles. Unlike many other RPGs, you can jump in Mystic Quest. Jumping serves a very handy purpose.

“Look over there. That’s the Focus Tower, once the heart of the World. An old Prophecy says, “The vile four will steal the Power, and divide the World behind four doors. At that time the Knight will appear!” The Prophecy has now come true. Four monsters have locked the doors of the Focus Tower and escaped with the keys. They’re draining the light from the 4 Crystals of the Earth, and the World is in chaos. The people are in extreme desperate need of help. STEVE, only you can save the Crystals and the World, AND ONLY YOU.”

But before the Old Man and Steve can chat some more, BEHEMOTH shows up! The screen shakes and roars. It’s time for Steve to prove his worth…

You have the option to attack, use an item or spell, or defend yourself.

After your choice of command is selected, a big yellow square appears on-screen. Place it over any enemy, yourself or your traveling companion, in case of using the Cure spell, f’rinstance.

Behemoth strikes first with Atrocious Morning Breath! — Behemoth strikes first with *Atrocious Morning Breath*!

The Swift Sword takes off 25 health points

Occasionally, a critical hit occurs, accompanied by a flash. Triple damage!

BEHEMOTH vanishes after that final critical blow. — BEHEMOTH vanishes after that final critical blow

Well, actually it was more of a guess... -Old Man — *Well, actually it was more of a guess…* -Old Man

Ah, the infamous heroic shrug of our main chap! It adds an enjoyable and quirky touch to the festivities. Any time that Steve is confused [Oh boy -Ed.], he’ll look at you and give a stumped shrug of the shoulders.

“That depends. What do I get out of it, gramps?”

“… Something more valuable than your eyes will ever believe!”

“Soooo, nothing.”

“Precisely. No! I mean uhhh… something beyond your wildest dreams!”

“I’m just fuckin’ with ya. My pleasure! Step aside.”

"I'm a man of my word. Here ya go, TAKE THIS!" — *“I’m a man of my word. Here ya go, TAKE THIS!”*

“A withered piece of wood… gee… thanks…”

“Silly kid. Open your eyes, and open your heart. Then find the young girl in Foresta. The rest is up to you, son…”

*vanishes*

“Okaaaaay. That was not creepy at all.”

Treasure chests are littered across the land. Items actually regenerate, so you can abuse the system if you so desire. Cures are invaluable [You don’t say -Ed.]

Speaking of cures, there’s a certain bed in a certain town that won’t cost you a dime and will fully recuperate our hero. Judging by the look of ecstasy on his face, I think he did more than take a nap, if ya know what I mean.

Well, you heard the old fart — off to Foresta with the Tree Wither in hand.

"Right sure, now listen. Where can I find a cheesesteak?" — *“Right sure, now listen. Where can I find a pizza?”*

No cryptic clues in Mystic Quest — No cryptic clues in *Mystic Quest*

"Sure thing granny, that's what they all say..." — *“Sure thing granny, that’s what they all say…”*

Some folks give you a valuable clue to progress the story while others simply add to the atmosphere of the town, and ultimately, the game itself.

You'll meet up with Kaeli here — You’ll meet up with Kaeli here

“KAELI! Don’t you dare storm off with this stranger! You DO remember what happened last time, don’t you?”

“Awww, mom. Look, I have to do this. I hope you’ll understand some day.”

Your first traveling companion — Woot woot

"OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!" — *“OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!”*

“Yes yes, down a little more, Steve. You’re doing very well my son!”

“No, up some more now. Up up, THERE ya go.”

“On second thought, it’d look real nice to the right…”

"MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND! ARRRRRRGH!!!!" — *“MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND! ARRRRRRGH!!!!”*

One thing I hated about RPGs as a kid whenever I watched my brother play were the insane amount of random enemy encounters. Sometimes it seems like you can’t take 3 steps without the screen flashing into battle. In Mystic Quest however, there are no surprises since all enemies are shown on-screen. In the words of Borat, “IZZ NICE!!”

Speaking of cool touches, here’s another one. This is a typical enemy screen in any RPG, no? Sure but…

Wait, what’s that? Yep, enemies show wear and tear as the battle progresses. Some of the weakened states are rather amusing to behold, such as the band-aid this goof sports. What a git!

[Oh... where to even begin? -Ed.] — *[Oh… where to even begin? -Ed.]*

One of the most vital Man Laws to live by, folks

Unfortunately for our diplomatic hero and lovely heroine, their moment is shattered by the appearance of a most vile creature.

The gradual deterioration is a thing of beauty, folks — The gradual deterioration is a thing of beauty

After a brutal battle with the Minotaur, Kaeli faints

Much like jumping, it's another cool feature — Much like jumping, it’s another cool feature

Though optional, it's wise to clear all battlefields — Though optional, it’s wise to clear all battlefields

Adventurers never return from these hellholes... — Adventurers never return from these hellholes…

Scattered across the land are battlefields. These regions host monsters dwelling deep below the surface. Not only do you gain experience points from killing the monsters, but you may win key items as well. You don’t have to fight them all at once, so make sure you heal up when your health runs low before reengaging in battle.

Hey who's that new guy? Find out soon — Hey who’s that new guy…

See the importance of clearing out the battlefields? Here you’ve won the Charm Necklace, which protects you against *drum roll* charm attacks. Don’t be a sorry wimp, kill ‘em all — courage and bravado pays off!

Tell me about it. Where have I seen this before?

“I just wish I knew what was inside that temple…”

“YOU ARE INSIDE IT! IT IS THE PLACE OF LOST SOULS. ALL NEW SPIRITS MUST PASS THROUGH THERE…”

“But we’re not dead!”

“OOPS. WELL, NOBODY’S PERFECT YA KNOW. OH, AND BY THE WAY, NO ONE STILL ALIVE HAS EVER COME OUTTA THERE IN ONE PIECE!”

Ah, Ghostbusters. What a big fun part of my childhood you were.

Not looking so tough now ARE YA?! Hmph — Not looking so tough now ***ARE YA?!*** Hmph

TRISTAM TEAMS UP!

As Steve is confused and perplexed [what else is new -Ed.], a strange fella appears seemingly out of nowhere. Who is he, and what are his motives?

"I'll sell you some for, say, 90,000 GP. Well?" — *“I’ll sell you some for, say, 90,000 GP. Well?”*

"But my allowance is only 2 GP a month!" — *“But my allowance is only 2 GP a month!”*

[HA! I smell what that guy's cooking, and I like it! -Ed.] — *[HA! I smell what that guy’s cooking, and I like it! -Ed.]*

It would be loads of fun if you could hack the enemies there, but an action RPG this ain’t! If you’re in the mood for one of those, might I recommend any of the following: Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3 (AKA Secret of Mana 2) or the criminally underrated Gunman’s Proof.

Personally, I enjoy taking my time and not rushing to the exit or end of a game. Taking side trips to stock up on items and such makes the game easier not to mention more enjoyable for me. I like taking my time and exploring the game’s world!

Plus you could use the EXP points before the first boss — Plus ya could use the EXP points before the first boss

This ugly Sand Worm (Beetlejuice, anybody?) is basic yet effective at conveying the kind of nasties you’ll be up against. Just wait until you see some of the boss characters. The graphics won’t blow anyone away, but they get the job done.

Loading up on Tristam’s ninja stars is your reward for taking this little road trip. I find it most gratifying to take your time and really feel the ‘pulse’ of a game rather than rushing for the exit.

You’ll come to an entrance blocked by a ton of rocks. Never fear, for Tristam shows off his handy bomb attack. He will then offer to sell you 50 bombs for 30 GP. Buy it!

Let's check out the bomb in action — Let’s check out the bomb in action

Connects on all and is quite powerful to boot. Nice!

HE-MAAAN! [Don't EVEN start -Ed.] — ***HE-MAAAN!*** *[Don’t EVEN start -Ed.]*

"IMPOSTER! DOWN WITH YOU, YOU VILE SWINE!" — *“IMPOSTOR! DOWN WITH YOU, YOU VILE SWINE!”*

Use your bombs to blast that rib cage to pieces — Use your bombs to reveal the open path

"Sounds like a good pla -- HEY WAIT A SECOND!" — *“Sounds like a good pla — HEY WAIT A SECOND!”*

Aw bummer, I thought you meant the first person shooter.

At the far northern region of the Bone Dungeon lies the final skull cage. What horrible creatures lurk beyond these realms?

"I HAVE THE POWER OF THE CRYSTAL OF EARTH!" — *“I HAVE THE POWER OF THE CRYSTAL OF EARTH!”*

Easier said than done. Naw, it's easy :P — Easier said than done. Naw, it’s easy :P

The best thing about ol’ Rex is seeing his sorry sack of bones deteriorate bit by bit. Mystic Quest is no visual tour de force, but this is a great touch you don’t see in many other RPGs.

“I’LL NEVER DIE!”

“Well, I hate to break it to ya bud but you’re breaking up.”

“WE SHALL SEE ABOUT THAT!”

Rex battles to his grave. You gotta admire that about him.

Slaying my first RPG boss. I know it sounds corny but you never forget your first time.

“WHOA, take a look at this, kid!”

“!!”

“NOW THAT’S WHAT I’M TALKIN’ ABOUT!”

"Uh Tristam, I think you better look at this instead" — *“Uh Tristam, I think you better look at this instead!”*

"I've already seen the Kingdom of Crystal Skull, kid!" — *“I’ve already seen the Kingdom of Crystal Skull, kid!”*

“Now this Dragon Claw on the other hand… now THIS is something to gawk at! Check out the reach on this baby!”

“Yeah, that’s pretty good.”

“Oh yeah kid, don’t forget our deal now ya hear.”

“I know I know. I keep everything. Well thanks… for everything!”

“HA HA HA, nice try, kid!”

*SHRUG*

“Here ya go. Your very own bottle of Elixir. But the Dragon Claw, I KEEP.”

“Aw gee, THANKS. I’m overwhelmed by your generosity, really I am.”

Back to a party of one [Story of your life -Ed.]

Oooh, things are back to being alive and lush

"Hard to believe this but I've been called strange!" — *“Hard to believe but I too have been called strange!”*

Give her a sip of your magic juice -- the elixir that is! — Give her a sip of your magic juice — the elixir that is!

But you WANT to, right? ... Hello? Hello? — But you **WANT** to, right? … Hello? Hello?

"Sorry, I swung it by AXE-cident..." — *“Sorry, I swung it by AXE-cident…”*

The non-battle scenes are much appreciated

Before you go charging into battle, be sure to switch out the Cat Claw to your bombs — bombs are far more effective. Don’t take my word for it, just look at the difference in the ATTACK ratings above. Also, because you can see enemies on the map, you’ll know when to switch. You can also switch on the main screen without having to flip to this menu.

I get up in the evening, and I ain’t got nothing to say.
I come home in the morning.
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain’t nothing but tired.
Man I’m just tired and bored with myself.
Hey there baby, I could use just a little help.

You can’t start a fire.
You can’t start a fire without a spark.
This gun’s for hire.
Even if we’re just dancing in the dark. Even if we’re just dancing in the dark. DAAAAANCIN —

[Ahem. THIS boss says you’re fired, again -Ed.]

Actually, the Centaur is on fire, hahaha…. ahem, I’ll go pack my bags now.

Work your way through. At the end, Squidite awaits — Work your way through. Squidite awaits at the end

"THAT WORKS FOR ME!" — *“THAT WORKS FOR ME!”*

An eyeful of arrows is not a fun way to spend a Tuesday night, or any other night for that matter. Quite a strong mini boss this one is. Well, looks like squid soup for dinner!

You gotta use your head a little bit, knowing when to attack and when to heal.

“Well STEVE-O, let’s see what we win for slaying that stupid squid, shall we?”

“I wonder what’s inside that chest?”

“Only one way to find out…”

“Uhhh, you first, Phoebe. After all, ladies first!”

“Alright, just stay behind me….. !! STEVE!”

“Yes?”

“That better be a flashlight!”

Can you revive the frozen town of Aquaria?

But before traveling to the Ice Pyramid you must pass Falls Basin. Push ice pillars to solve puzzles and slay the evildoers that stand in your way.

The enemies get bigger, badder and a whole lot uglier!

Such a smooth cat, that Steve [In his dreams -Ed.] — Such a smooth cat, that Steve *[… in his dreams -Ed.]*

"I got the ugly one!" "Er, which one is that?" — *“I got the ugly one!”*
*“Er, which one is that?”*

Always equip yourself properly before a boss fight

Beat him and earn the River Coin for your troubles

[No worries, Steve knows a thing or two about weird -Ed.] — *[All good, Steve knows a thing or two about weird -Ed.]*

"Yeah, that's him. Said his names Barry or something..." — *“Yeah, that’s him. Said his name’s Barry or something…”*

"IVE GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!" — *“I’VE GOT ANOTHER CONFESSION TO MAKE!”*

“Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, THE BEST OF YOU?”

This is the mine [How much am I paying you again? -Ed.] — It’s the mine *[How much am I paying you again? -Ed.]*

BEWARE OF DOG JINN — BEWARE OF ~~DOG~~ JINN

"Great, look who let the Jinnie out of the bottle!" — Great, who let the Jinnie out of the bottle?

Jinn is actually nothing to make fun of. Jinn refers to a form of demon. Back during my college days, I met a pretty interesting friend who knew a lot about the supernatural. He emailed me about the Jinn once. Here’s what he wrote:

So who are the jinns?

The jinns have long accompanied the fantasy and magical world of the human imagination for centuries. They compromise the world of fairies, genies, wish masters, aliens, ghosts, demons, and other supernatural beings. Humanity has long been interested with the jinn and has placed them into films, stories, legends, and even beliefs. We have all seen Aladdin with his genie that would spring out of the lamp, we have all seen Alice and her dreamy “wonderland,” and other such tales. In Christianity, when they warn against doing salvation or having trust in SPIRITS besides THE HOLY SPIRIT, they are talking about these dudes.

Ultimately, the jinns are mortal, carnal, lower spirits that dwell in the lower heavens and on earth amongst mankind. Rather than regarding them solely as demons, Islam regards them as a race or life form that dwells in a world parallel or maybe even perpendicular to that of mankind. This world called “The World of the Jinn” is also referred to as the SUPERNATURAL WORLD.

The word jinn in Arabic means “the unseen.” Therefore, we cannot see the jinn. The light that illuminates off their forms have different wavelengths from visible light (they’re either infrared or ultraviolet).

When a jinn possesses the living, it can make them ill both physically and mentally. That’s why possessed people act crazy. They can also tempt or convince them to do things to other people or themselves that may be bad for them.

Because they are mortal, jinns like humans copulate, consume and drink. They need to survive just like human beings.

They have their own customs, languages, rules, and beliefs. Their ways are different, however they can learn and follow our customs, languages, rules, and beliefs. They can follow our ways because they can see, hear and sense our presences, but we can’t do the same to them. HOWEVER, they can make their presences known to us by taking on the forms, voices and smells of things familiar to us. Never do they ever show their true faces; nevertheless, so forever they remain the UNSEEN [I see, or not, rather -Ed.]

Because they can hear, they can learn and speak our languages and religions. Jinns that dwell in England can speak English, those that live in China can speak Chinese, etc. There are jinn families, boyfriend and girlfriend jinn, young and old fart jinn, nerd and jock jinn, etc.

These spirits are also associated with curses. They dwell in places that are filthy, old, dark and abandoned (public baths, public bathrooms, caverns, deserts, historic ruins, sewers, garbage disposals, shit tanks, etc.). People should avoid entering such places where they dwell for it can harm their well being. In fact, most jinns don’t like it when humans enter their dwellings and can hurt or even kill those folks who trespass into their lairs! People in the past especially archeologists have died soon after picking up cursed ancient artifacts.

[Who is this guy?! Your friend huh? ‘SPLAINS A LOT! -Ed.]

At any rate, when I fought Jinn in Mystic Quest I immediately thought back to that email my college buddy sent me so many years ago. Pretty cool to see folklore make its way into the enemy roster.

Speaking of folklore, up this hill awaits Medusa

This is a good time to stock up, refill, take a leak, do whatever you gotta do. Being able to see where enemies and bosses are on the map is extremely helpful to RPG virgins who detest random battles. So before tackling Medusa or any other (sub)boss, make sure you’re at maximum power.

Sure, she doesn’t look too hideous here, but wait ’til you see her second and third forms — ugh!

Aw see, that Tristam cat ain't all bad — Aw see, that Tristam cat ain’t all bad

Dare you find out what lies behind that door?

Not exactly a brand new Corvette is it?

Reminds me of King Ghidorah. Well, minus a head

“So Steve, you want my magic potion do ya?”

“Of course!”

“Well… you can’t have it.”

“What? Why not?”

“My tree friends, you’ve chopped them down!”

“Oh THAAAAT… haha… yeah my bad.”

Doesn't the head on the far left remind you a lot of... — Doesn’t the head on the far left remind you a lot of…

King Ghidorah? Yes, again) — King Ghidorah? (Yes, again)

Nice to see a game not take itself too seriously — Nice to see a game not take itself ***too*** seriously

Looks like the time has come... — Looks like the time has come…

Not a bad statue, if youre going for that Duplex look — Not a bad statue, if you’re going for that Duplex look

So cute and cuddly... — So cute and cuddly…

Play times over. Youre in the Dark Kings backyard — *Play time’s over*. Welcome to the Dark King’s backyard

The Dark King is easily the strongest foe in Mystic Quest and it’ll take much healing to get through this one. Oh and fair warning… if you hate spiders, you’ll love his later forms…

A guy can get used to this captain business, cant he? — A guy can get used to this captain business

M*AD*NESS

They don't make 'em like they used to — They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to

Who could forget these strange Mystic Quest ads back in late 1992? It caught my eye back then and has stuck with me ever since!

Fun looking back on vintage stuff like this

USA VS. JAPAN

Speaks for itself... — Speaks for itself…

FINAL FANTASY: LINK TO THE MYSTIC PAST?

The manual art for Mystic Quest is impressive

In fact, its highly reminiscent of Link to the Past — In fact, it’s highly reminiscent of *Link to the Past*

Link uncovers a treasure chest... — Link uncovers a treasure chest…

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

Mystic Quest fared well with the critics. EGM gave it scores of 8, 7, 7 and 7 while Super Play rated it 79%.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is one of those divisive games that has as many supporters as it does detractors. Myself, I quite enjoyed it. I’ll always remember it my first official RPG playthrough. And as an RPG starter kit sort of game, it does its job rather well. Enemies can be seen on screen. There aren’t a load of characters or items to tinker with. It’s about as bare bones as a 16-bit RPG can be, and for me at least there’s a certain amount of charm to that. Mystic Quest isn’t your typical epic RPG… if you want something along those lines then try Final Fantasy III, Chrono Trigger or EarthBound. But for those seeking a basic beginner’s RPG, look no further. Mystic Quest is a good “gateway” game for those new or unfamiliar to the genre.

Graphically, it won’t blow anyone away. Yet the visuals get the job done. Our protagonists are small but adequately detailed, and things such as the !! bubble and shrug add a nice touch. The monsters are well detailed, particularly the giant bosses. I was in awe the first time I laid eyes on the first boss, Flamerus Rex. Speaking of bad guys, you can see the physical deterioration on them as battles progress. Some bosses display as many as four different health status stances, and some of them are very cool. A perfect example being the Ice Golem, who almost melts but hangs on by a feeble grasp of what remains of his once giant hand. It’s a superb touch that adds to the fun of dismantling all the nasties found within. The game’s music is flat out terrific. Battle themes are appropriately intense while towns have a more subdued theme, adding to the adventurous atmosphere of the game.

In terms of difficulty, Mystic Quest is a cake walk. The plot is simple and moves along at a brisk pace. Sure, it doesn’t have the most elaborate plot in the world and granted, the character development isn’t as in-depth as what’s found in other RPGs, but I ask you this… what other 16-bit RPG allows you to see all your enemies on screen, jump, move pillars, or chop down trees as you’re walking about town? Don’t forget about the ability to hook on to platforms high above with the grappling hook either. There’s plenty to do in the short time the game lasts, which is roughly 8-12 hours depending on your play style. If you can ignore the lofty Final Fantasy label and take the game for what it intended to be, you just might enjoy it as well.

Graphics: 6.5
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 7
Longevity: 6.5

Overall: 7.0

FINAL STATS

Level 37
HP: 1480
Attack: 230
Defense: 128
Speed: 90
Magic: 51
Accuracy: 93
Evade: 46
GP: 22,288
EXP: 762,582
Time: 17 hours, 5 minutes*

*Most people finished it a lot faster, but I typically enjoy taking my sweet time

Bahamut Lagoon (SNES)

Pub & Dev: Squaresoft | February 1996 | 24 MEGS — ***Pub & Dev: Squaresoft | February 1996 | 25 MEGS***

Squaresoft, one of the best developers during the Super Nintendo’s hey day, was responsible for such beloved classics as Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu III (AKA Secret of Mana 2), Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG just to name a small handful. That right there is a who’s who of SNES lore. When it came to third party developers, you could always count on the big 3: Capcom, Konami and Squaresoft. They produced some of the best games in the SNES catalog. In February of 1996, Squaresoft released a strategy RPG by the name of Bahamut Lagoon. Unfortunately, because it came out so late in the SNES lifespan and wasn’t a proven IP (unlike Super Mario RPG which came out in May of ’96), Bahamut Lagoon was destined to never leave the Land of the Rising Sun. But thanks to the dedicated efforts of Neill Corlett, Dragon Force and Clyde Mandelin (AKA Tomato), a fan translation was released and those unfamiliar with Japanese were then able to experience Bahamut Lagoon in all its glory. Earlier this year I finally carved out some time (57 hours to be precise) and got to experience one of Squaresoft’s “lost classics.” Bahamut Lagoon FREAKING ROCKS.

It looks so badass on that white cartridge! — It looks so sleek on that white cartridge!

WHAT IS BAHAMUT LAGOON?

Bahamut Lagoon is a strategy RPG that’s unlike your typical SNES RPG. It’s extremely linear, the game is broken up into 27 chapters and getting lost is virtually impossible. Naturally, there are pros and cons to this. If you’re looking for an RPG where you can really explore and branch off on your own path, this probably isn’t the game for you. But if you’re in the mood for a streamlined tactical RPG with some badass dragons thrown into the mix, this is the perfect game for you. In Bahamut Lagoon, you control up to six parties with each party containing four members and one dragon. Of course, members are interchangeable and different formations can be selected. You can adjust strategies as you wish. That’s mainly where the game’s freedom kicks in. You won’t get to explore a vast open world, but you have a bevy of options when it comes to offense and defense. Dragons add another key element to the puzzle. But more on that later…

MEET AND GREET

These are just 15 of the characters you’ll meet in your journey. Many others are waiting to be found. As you can imagine, each of them has their own personality, strengths and weaknesses. It can be fun to mix and match. Experiment!

ENTER THE DRAGONS

You can change their default names if they’re not to your liking. Dragons must be fed frequently if you want them to grow and increase in power. After a certain point, they can even transform…

Some forms can get pretty crazy... — Some forms can get pretty crazy…

CHARACTER CLASSES

THE STORY GOES…

There's definitely a Star Wars vibe going on — There’s definitely a *Star Wars* vibe going on

Resistance, Empire? Hmmm….

Squaresoft sets a serious and epic tone right away by casting ominous thunderclouds from the moment you power the game on. King Kahna tries to awaken Bahamut from its slumber to no avail. Might his daughter, Princess Yoyo, hold the key to saving Orelus and the once peaceful kingdom of Kahna?

Obsessed with ruling the skies and all of Orelus, Emperor Sauzer goes on a war torn path of destruction. Sauzer and his right hand man, Palpaleos, admire their handy work from a tower while contemplating a future where all cower before them.

Kahna: What are you scheming, Sauzer?! The Holy Dragons shall not awaken. I will not hand over their power to you!

Sauzer: They won’t wake up because their time of awakening has not come yet! The moment I conquer this world, their time shall begin! And that time begins now!

Kahna’s brutally murdered as one era ends and a new one begins…

Several winters later, Sendak (an old surviving member of Kahna) calls out to Byuu, a fierce young warrior who has since gone off grid. Sendak knows the Resistance will fall short without Byuu leading the charge. Sendak notes that everyone is saddened by Byuu’s absence and makes a harrowing proclamation: winter looks to be cold again this year. He wishes Byuu, wherever the young lad might be, the very best…

Naturally, Byuu makes a triumphant return and we get a flashback to provide a little backstory. Byuu was the one responsible for reviving Kahna’s Dragon Squad and during his hiatus he was out searching for all the dragons that went missing. Now that all the titans have been found, Byuu rejoins the Resistance force ready to reclaim the kingdom of Kahna! Pretty epic stuff, right? Squaresoft was simply the best once upon a moon…

Although the dragons have been found, it’s the Holy Dragons that must awaken. Specifically, Bahamut. Bahamut holds the key to everything…

ON THE BATTLEFIELD

Bahamut Lagoon has a unique battle system. The very first fight introduces us to the basic mechanics of the game. You can interact with your environment, something you couldn’t do in many other RPGs from that era. For example, if a bridge is broken you can’t cross the river unless you first freeze the water. It’s little things like this that makes the game so nice to play. Sorry.

Decide which party to go first. Then, you have a variety of options available. This includes moving your party around the battlefield, selecting the aggression level of your dragon and even using magic attacks from a safe distance. I like to select move and at the very least analyze how far I can advance. The screen will darken when you do this, with the lighted path illuminating your options.

Typically, you won’t be able to move far enough on your first try to get close enough to attack an enemy group. You may, however, be able to hit them with one of your magic attacks from far away. It’s OK too if the square isn’t directly on them. Press the button and it’ll show you the coverage. As you can see here, that enemy group is caught in the line of fire. Although damage is weakened when the enemy is not in the center of your initial square, it’s still nice being able to pelt them!

Damage is dealt to each bad guy in the group. Keep in mind as the game progresses you’ll have more mixed groups of enemies. For example, if an enemy uses fire magic then all fire-based attacks will not hurt them but it will actually heal them. So be sure to check the groups before you start hurling magic attacks!

Dragons come into play after your party launches a magic strike. Depending on the command you select (you can choose from go, come or stay), your party’s dragon will look for a nearby enemy group to attack. If it’s close enough, it will enter a new screen where combat will be conducted. This is a little dangerous as it gives the opposition a chance to hurt your dragon. However, if the dragon is not close enough to attack, it will then launch a magic attack from a safe distance with no chance for enemy retaliation (provided your dragon has enough magic points remaining). Naturally, you receive more points and bonus items for defeating enemies up close and personal. So there’s an incentive for those types of battles. Also note your dragon will only launch a magic attack if it’s within range. Stay keeps the dragon where it is. Come makes the dragon come close to you, and go is a complete wild card. It sends your dragon anywhere on the map. This can either work out in your favor or against, and it’s up to user discretion…

Whew… and that was just one party’s turn! Now you choose what the rest of your groups will do. All of your parties must end their turn before it switches to the enemy’s turn. Here we see Sendak just barely being able to attack the ice mages.

Salmando finds himself in a close quarters encounter, which shifts the scene to the classic side view as seen in many of Squaresoft’s previous RPGs. You can still perform magic attacks here of course, which is lovely for spraying damage to all enemies. Unfortunately, you cannot control the dragons. They move and attack randomly. The only command you’re in charge of is whether they will come, stay or go. I would have preferred being able to control them but being powerful beasts, I actually like their autonomy. Besides, it brings a certain wild card element to the battles which make it extra fun and sometimes slightly unpredictable. Thankfully, the dragons tend (emphasis on the word TEND) to make the right choice more times than not…

Nothing’s as satisfying as when the dragons attack exactly as you would have done, if you could control them. The best is when they launch a magic strike that hits multiple groups of enemies. Even better is when said strike takes out a group. You’ll get Flame Grass (a fire-based magic attack) whenever an enemy is killed with fire magic. You can use Flame Grass in battle or feed it to your dragons to increase their fire potency. But more on that later…

However, nothing’s more annoying than a magic strike that BARELY leaves them alive. If only that dragon’s Thunder Gale was a level 3 and not merely a level 2. Hmmm, what if I feed it some Thunder Grass…

Defeating an enemy group in this fashion grants you more money and items. Items can aid you in battle or be used as dragon food. It’s fun to experiment! Don’t just kill enemy groups from afar. You need money and items and beating them up close and personal gets you plenty of both. You’ll also level up a lot more!

Having exhausted all your parties’ turns, it’s now time for the enemy phase. I like how Squaresoft made sure we knew! Once you kill the boss of this chapter, bonus items and points are rewarded. And just in case you didn’t know that you won, Squaresoft spells it out for ya, literally.

HOW TO ~~TRAIN~~ FEED YOUR DRAGON

Following fights (and before), you have the option of feeding your dragons. I highly encourage that you do, and make sure you balance it out or else you’ll show favoritism and those neglected will lash out in various ways. Use items you’ve bought or gained during battle to feed your dragons. Some are obvious, like fire items increase a dragon’s fire magic. But some others aren’t so clear. Like what would happen if you feed your dragon a porno magazine? I’m not kidding. Find out for yourself…

IMPLORE TO EXPLORE

Explore your surroundings… you’ll never know what you might find. See, I wasn’t lying about that porno mag. It’s a real thing

CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books from the ’80s and ’90s? One of my favorite things about RPGs is the option to select your response to a character’s question. There’s plenty of that sort happening here. It doesn’t change the game but it’s still nice having choices. Some humor arises like when you select “It’s kind of awkward, so don’t…” but then Princess Yoyo responds, “But… oops! Too late…”

Princess Yoyo is quite the sentimental lass. After arriving at the Church of Memories, she tells you the legend of how when two people who love each other come here, they’ll be destined to be together forever. She’ll then ask you if you want to go in. You can answer by saying “Yeah, let’s try going in” or “No way!” If you pick the former, she’ll respond “Tee hee… I’m just kidding… it’s still too early for us… we should have brought Matelite too.” Princess Yoyo is a tease after all, I guess.

Princess Yoyo changes the beat and things get a little more serious. I love this scene. It felt like something pulled right out of a Hollywood film. It reminds me of some girls I’ve known… sometimes they want you to promise them in the moment even if it’s a lie… it’s moments like this that make you forget for a split second that you’re playing a video game. At least, it was for me here.

Switching back to some lighthearted tomfoolery on a dime, Bahamut Lagoon does a good job of balancing things with the right amount of humor at the right time.

CHAPTER 1: THE BEGINNING

Before each chapter fight begins, you can adjust a variety of options and also scout the competition. This includes enemy health and even how many squares they can move. Once you’re ready, I like to take the fight right to them!

Usually before you can even attack, your dragon will launch its own strike automatically. This is nice for softening them up. Then it’s your turn. A direct hit is always satisfying, a MISS is always demoralizing.

Keeping your parties fresh by healing them when appropriate is the key to success. As with any other RPG, it’s winning 101. The cool thing about Bahamut Lagoon is that your characters can also be healed just by standing on the right square (i.e. squares containing a building). However, keep in mind that the same applies to the enemy.

Dragons are honestly overpowered, making this game even easier than it already is. But damn if it isn’t still fun watching the destruction unfold!

Sometimes your dragon will be flanked in all directions. This has the potential to be disastrous. On the bright side, it also leaves the enemies extremely vulnerable when clustered as such. A magic blast can potentially strike all groups at once for optimal damage.

Depending on the character, some are better off using magic attacks due to their physical attacks being shit. But the mini devils are the most infuriating to me. Too many times their offense will fail and you literally get a Fail! caption. You can almost hear Squaresoft’s evil crackle as it happens. There’s a reason why I sub out the mini devils as soon as I can…

Lanzenritter (no relation to John), the boss of Chapter 1, is quick to abandon ship once you prove your superiority. Bahamut Lagoon has some gorgeous visuals as you can see here.

Emperor Sauzer has kidnapped the princess and taken her to the green continent of Campbell. Palpaleos can’t sleep and decides to “check up” on Princess Yoyo in the middle of the night. It isn’t long before Sauzer has the same restless affliction and finds that his general has beaten him to the punch. They watch Princess Yoyo in the darkness as they talk — not creepy at all — and later find themselves contemplating the legend of the Holy Dragons…

CHAPTER 2: LEGEND WE DREAMED OF…

Farnheit sets sail for Campbell… but first, some basic training and words of encouragement are in order.

Matelite, captain of the guards of Kahna, gives a pep talk the likes of which George Lucas would approve of. Matelite even states that they won’t be known as the Freedom Force but rather the Resistance. Hmmm, where have I heard that before?

CAMPBELL HERE WE COME!

LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE!

Environmental hazards come into play. Using fire magic in such areas will cause a fire to break out, which will harm anyone caught in its path. Good stuff. There’s plenty more cool tricks to discover in the game’s 27 chapters, which I’ll let you discover on your own.

MISCELLANEOUS

Upgraded magic spells get bigger and crazier in classic RPG fashion.

Speaking of bigger and crazier, that’s what will happen to your dragons if you feed them accordingly. Don’t be shy to experiment — you never know which new forms you may unlock!

Speaking of the dragons, take good care of them. They can catch colds. Hell, they can even get married! Yeah… I’ll let you figure that one out on your own…

Beginning around Chapter 6 or so, a side quest option is available to select. From here you can pick either Granbelos Fortress or Easy Dungeon. It’s basically a place to level up your characters, earn more items and money. The background sadly stays the same for both side quests throughout the rest of the game. The only thing that changes are the enemies. A third bonus side quest, Hard Dungeon, opens up later on and is insanely difficult. Enter at your own risk!

Landscapes vary. Some are standard but a few get pretty creative and crazy. Take, for example, the cave where the walls are organic and will close and open on every turn. If caught while it’s closed, those party members will be rendered useless for the duration of that round. I do think there could have been a little bit more variety and imagination but what Squaresoft did give us is satisfactory.

Donfan is probably the one character I remember most when all was said and done, simply because he had the most outlandish lines and he was such a creepy pervert. His interactions with the female characters never failed to entertain. A perfect comic relief character. I don’t think I used him in battle once

Bahamut Lagoon translator “Dark Force” was not too pleased with Squaresoft…

And here I thought Donfan was the pervert of the group!

[Always knew Steve was a perv -Ed.]

From a certain perspective, sure it can be. In the game’s context, most definitely. You’ll just have to play it to fully understand…

After you beat Bahamut Lagoon, an “Ex-Play” option is made available at the title select screen. This allows you to play through the game again but with your current levels, items, weapons, spells and money. Basically you’re overpowered from the start and the amount of destruction you can unleash is quite satisfying!

WHAT THE CRITICS SAID

It’s a shame Bahamut Lagoon never received a proper North American release. But it’s understandable. Released in Japan on February 9, 1996, it would have been mid ’96 at least until a translated copy would have hit North American stores. The SNES was on life support by then and Square didn’t want to chance it with an unproven new IP. As such, Bahamut Lagoon faded into “obscurity.” Only the most diehard of RPG and SNES fans kept clamoring for it and keeping its memory alive. Then when our boys translated the game, it reached a whole new audience. Nowadays, it’s often held in high regards. Sure, there are some critics who claim the whole thing is far too easy (they’re not wrong) and that it’s not as great as they had hoped, but the majority seems to love it more than not.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

For years I had heard the hype surrounding Bahamut Lagoon. I’m glad I finally made time to play through it. Being a strategy RPG, it’s a little different from your typical SNES RPG which I found infinitely refreshing. Battles are long and I like how the game is broken up into 27 chapters. It’s almost like reading a great book. Playing one chapter at a time is enough to scratch your itch for the night. Rinse and repeat. Carefully positioning each group in your party while managing your individual and collective resources is satisfying even though the game is so easy that you could “brute force” your way through without much of an issue. Still, I like to be efficient and make sound tactical decisions wherever possible.

The addition of the dragons is a clever and intriguing gimmick. They’re a wild card, making each fight slightly unpredictable since control of them is rather limited. Feeding them is simple and handled well. It’s quick and easy, and doesn’t really detract from the game’s flow and pace. If anything, it’s a nice momentary break from the lengthy battles. The ability to alter your dragons depending on what you feed them helps with the game’s longevity, not to mention the nifty Ex-Play mode which is unlocked after you beat the 27th chapter. Graphically, the game looks gorgeous. Massive and detailed dragon designs that look like they were plucked straight out of a top selling manga, awesome spell attacks and amazing usage of parallax are just some of the key highlights. The music is classic Squaresoft — it’s epic and memorable! You can’t help but feel like there’s a spectacular struggle for power and world domination happening right in front of you thanks to the game’s stellar soundtrack.

If you consider yourself a fan of 16-bit RPGs and miss the golden age of role playing games but have yet to play Bahamut Lagoon, you should probably rectify that at your earliest convenience. It’s a grand adventure that’s just begging to be experienced at least once. It’s not Final Fantasy III or Chrono Trigger, but hey, what is? It’s brilliant in its own way and easily makes the cut as one of my top 10 favorite RPGs on the SNES. If you’ve ever wanted to summon a big ass dragon and have said beast blast a bunch of bastards to Kingdom Come, then Bahamut Lagoon is definitely right up your alley.

Graphics: 9
Sound: 9
Gameplay: 9
Longevity: 9

Overall: 9.0
Gold Award

"Ill be back!" No he wont... — *“I’ll be back…”* No, you won’t