Game Review

Graphics (n.) The use of animation and visual effects to stimulate the senses	vv (Average)	Instead of using graphic files, Ring of Everdown manages to draw graphics from scratch. While the sprites within the game appear to be drawn by a sprite editor, much of the backgrounds in the game were put together using lines, circles, and other geometric shapes that are put together by QB commands. The fact though that there are many shapes allows The Ring of Everdown to maintain an impressive look.
Sound/Music (n.) The smooth blend of atmospheric sounds and original harmonies	v (Poor)	There are few original tunes in Everdown, but the bulk of thick music comes from the Game Boy classic Link's Awakening. I did notice that the music's tempo is pretty slow. Perhaps this is to coincide with the speed of the hero himself... well, I'll get to that a little later.
Gameplay (n.) The precision of control and involvement of character within its universe	v (Poor)	The gameplay for Ring of Everdown is like a mixture of Battle of Olympus for the NES, some Zelda II, and a sprinkle of Mortal Kombat... let me explain. Unlike the other QBRPGs on the list, Ring of Everdown takes a departure from the overhead-type of QBRPG and instead mimicked the platform elements first introduced with Zelda II and further refined with Battle of Olympus. This means that the hero Boldt travels from screen to screen like a sidescroller, jumping over spike pits and dodging obstacles like a platformer. But Boldt also enters Inns, tool shops, and other places that are usually part of RPGs. When encountering enemies in Ring of Everdown, the action reverts to the center of the screen. You see Boldt to the left and the creature to the right. To fight, you have to either stand or crouch while swinging your sword. You also have to use your shield to block enemy attacks. This is where standing and crouching is evident, an original concept to Everdown that is close to Karateka or Mortal Kombat. Despite these impressive efforts, Ring of Everdown hurts for speed reasons. Regardless of your computer's power, Boldt's speed is pre-programmed, and the resulting speed is just too slow. It takes about ten seconds for Boldt to walk from one of the screen to the other, and it's even slower if he chooses to jump his way through!
Story (n.) The creativity and presentation of the game's critical plot	vv (Average)	The story itself is very well-written in the spirit of Tolkien's novel, but the intro was quite wordy. A more visual approach could really make the experience immersive.
Replay Value (n.) The timelessness of the gamer's delight, such that the experience can be repeated again and again	v (Poor)	This game is just too slow! While QBRPGs don't rely on speed, The Ring of Everdown is a mixture of platform and RPG elements. That means the game needs some speed to handle it's action. This is a downright shame because the game, currently in BAS form, can easily be made faster so that the game can be more enjoyable. However, taken as it is Everdown's slowdown makes it more of a one-time experience.
Challenge (v.) To strike the mental nerve in such a way as to stimulate human thought and reflexes	vv (Average)	The hardest part of this platform RPG is the timing needed to leap over pitfalls and spike pits. Enemies use random attacks and basically you have enough time to dodge the incoming damage as long as your reflexes are keen. Once you get the hang of Everdown's unique battle elements, you'll be storming through the game, save a trap or so.
Fun Factor (n.) The overall entertainment value as maintained throughout the adventure	v (Poor)	Again, the slowdown really hurts this game. If you're patient and willing, then Everdown can still be quite a game to play because there really is so much to see. I did like the speed of the real-time combat, which is nice because it keeps you on your toes as you're walking through the caves. But for what that part of the game is worth, battles occur rarely.
Players	1 player	Genre: RPG/Platform Game
Rating		To solve: 2 hours Final Rating: 10/35

Download

To download Ring of Everdown Demo (72.1KB), click here. wTo run this game, you must have any version of Microsoft QuickBasic. wTo play Ring of Everdown, unzip the file and run "EVERDOWN.BAS" from QuickBasic.

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The Highs: A clever mix of side-scrolling platform action and RPG-style play.
The Lows: Slow jump physics take away from the intricate platform action.

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