We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
GC

North America

Lost Kingdoms

by Rick Powers - April 3, 2002, 3:05 pm EST

From Software showed Lost Kingdoms at Nintendo's Gamers' Summit. Is the RPG playing with a full deck?

For those of you unfamiliar with From Software's Lost Kingdoms (or it's Japanese counterpart "Rune"), it's an RPG with a card-based battle system. While travelling, you collect cards, thirty of which form your "deck". Four cards are dealt from the deck and become your hand, each of which is assigned to a controller button.

The game had an interesting but subdued art style, with an overhead (somewhat isometric) perspective and in full 3D. As you roam areas, you fall into random battles, where the screen shimmers and that area is sectioned off for the battle. Your cards are drawn, and you throw out cards to attack, or summon monsters.

Disappointingly, that appears to be all there really is. Supposedly, there is some strategy to it, as you can discard useless cards (but are unable to use them later if you do), but frankly, I didn't see it in my limited play time. It was fairly simple, and straight forward.

The puzzles were fairly standard fare as well. Turn this valve a certain way, light the four torches ... that sort of thing. These seemed to be mostly to either open new areas so you can proceed, or revealing a hidden card or treasure chest (most of which contain cards).

Overall, it looks like an interesting take on the genre, but I'm not sure if RPG purists will like a game that takes away some control in favor of a Magic: The Gathering sort of play style. Only time will tell. It wasn't really my cup of tea, but I'll leave judgement to the RPG community on this one.

Share + Bookmark





Genre RPG
Developer From Software
Players1 - 2

Worldwide Releases

na: Lost Kingdoms
Release May 27, 2002
PublisherActivision
RatingTeen
jpn: Rune
Release Apr 25, 2002
PublisherActivision

Related Content

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement