Game Review

Graphics (n.) The use of animation and visual effects to stimulate the senses	vv (Average)	Though JawsVSoft's art comes from a smaller box of crayons (16 colors in Screen 7), the graphics are sweet. Whereas other games care more about the detail put into the art, MiniRPG 2 is more concerned about how the drawings are animated... this game just has a smooth, "fluid" look to it that just superior to any other QBRPG out there. Except maybe MiniRPG 3. This is most obvious during the demo and battle sequences. The demos are set up like comic book panels with dialogue bubbles (a nice touch.) The battle sequence is especially nice, as all the attacks are animated. All this being said though, the graphics in MiniRPG 2 fill a little less than half the screen. So, an average score.
Sound/Music (n.) The smooth blend of atmospheric sounds and original harmonies	N/A	MiniRPG2 is a glorious cavalcade of visual animation, making it an instant classic among the QB community. Unfortunately, MiniRPG2 would "sound" more like a classic if it had some sound effects or music.
Gameplay (n.) The precision of control and involvement of character within its universe	v (Poor)	If your favorite part about RPGs is battle strategy, then MiniRPG2 will be your medicine hands-down. The main part of MiniRPG2 is gathering experience and battling. The number of battles you've played not only builds your character, it also causes the story to progress. Battle takes place using a rock-paper-scissors match. You have three attack options, including "Drink", "Attack", and "Run". Choosing which command to use at the right time is key to beating MiniRPG2. However, patience will also be a deciding factor for battles because they can take very long. A single battle may last as much as three minutes. This is because the enemy HP is so high despite the fact that the enemy's attack power is very low. The result is a series of extended battles that are time-consuming (Rom deals 1 damage!, etc...)
Story (n.) The creativity and presentation of the game's critical plot	vvv (Good)	JawsVSoft is the best in the business when it comes to presenting the story in the form of comic-style demos.
Replay Value (n.) The timelessness of the gamer's delight, such that the experience can be repeated again and again	vv (Average)	Average. Rom's battles may seem long at times, but then again so was the amount of time it takes to put your favorite Pokemon to Level 100. Also, the guarantee that your patience in battle will almost always pay off is an incentive as Rom searches for Princess Z.
Challenge (v.) To strike the mental nerve in such a way as to stimulate human thought and reflexes	v (Poor)	Perhaps this RPG is a meticulous test of your patience. Though some parts of MiniRPG2 take a long time to conquer, the means to get there isn't so fraught with danger. MiniRPG2's challenge relies almost entirely on experience gathering, waiting until you're strong enough to move on to the next chapter of the game.
Fun Factor (n.) The overall entertainment value as maintained throughout the adventure	v (Poor)	MiniRPG2 is definitely original. There isn't a console game I can think of that resembles MiniRPG2's presentation, except maybe the Sega Genesis classic Comix Zone. But that was a platform and JawsVSoft released an RPG with a whole new battle sequence. Perhaps this battle sequence is the epitome and the undoing of MiniRPG2. Admittingly, the battle system is intriguing at first. But if you start playing the game for a pretty long time, the fascanation disappears. I started to wish that Rom had some variation in his attacks amidst the animations.
Players	1 player	Genre: Role Playing Game
Rating		To solve: 2 1/2 hours Final Rating: 10/35

Download

To download MiniRPG 2 (88.1KB), click here. wTo run this game, you must have any version of Microsoft QuickBasic. wTo play MiniRPG2, unzip the file and run "MINIRPG2.BAS" from QuickBasic.

Back to RPG Page

The Highs: Original battle system and excellent character animation for a QB game.
The Lows: Experience gaining can get monotonous.

V Planet! Archive
This is an archive of V Planet, circa November 2004, when the site was last active. This is read-only, and preserved here as part of the QB Zines Archive at Pete's QB Site.

Site Highlights
2004 QB Gaming Gold Awards Almost Set To Begin!
Get ready for this year's Gaming Golds! After a long hiatus, this year promises to be one of the biggest galas in the history of the QB world. Who will take home the gold this year?

Site Watch
Pete's QBasic Site
The original king of QB reviews is back with a vengeance! Check out the new and improved version of his website and don't forget to upload your latest QB projects to Pete's new download section!

Affiliates
Antz Entertainment
GBGames QBasic
HyperRealistic Games
InnerMark
NeoBasic
Jocke the Beast
Pete's QBasic Site
Pickers Games Website
Piptol Productions
Programmer's Heaven
QB Colony
QB Chronicles
QB: Cult Magazine
QB45
QBasic/QuickBasic News
QBasic Contest
Central
RPG-Dev.Net
Statto Software

Links

---