MediEvil is an adventure platform game developed by Sony Entertainment that came out on PlayStation 1 back in October 1998. It was a huge success when it was on PlayStation 1, and it’s an original game in several ways. However, has the game survived the test of time and is it worth the cost of $6?
Graphics, Sound, and Setting:
MediEvil takes place in 13th century England in the 13th century when the kingdom of Gallowmere is attacked by a wicked sorcerer called Zarok, who robs the souls of the villager and transforms the villagers into zombies. Zarok’s energy also revives the deceased knight, Sir Dan Fortesque. Fortesque was considered to be the hero in the first combat against Zarok However, and he later finds that he was not the first to die, and his reputation is built on the lie. Fortesque is aware that the only way he can be able to enter the Hall of Heroes, Fortesque goes to defeat Zarok to win one last time.
The game’s settings are set in the realm of Gallowmere. MediEvil is a game on platforms, and each level is filled with personal problems and places to explore. The levels are pretty high, and the majority of them do an excellent task of creating a creepy atmosphere. The surroundings are dark and stuffed with coffins and other items related to that. There are plenty of textures that are pixelated. However, this is not surprising since MediEvil was released in 1998. But it’s clear that the graphics are an issue for MediEvil. Dan’s movement isn’t fluid at any point, and his moves are all blurry and don’t provide a natural ebb nor flow like other games such as Spyro as well as Tomb Raider. The enemies are also blurry and could have been enhanced to make them more terrifying as I mentioned before, the graphics aren’t a significant part of this game. However, as this game was released in 1998, it’s unfair to slam the graphics too much. The sound quality is excellent in the majority of cases, but there are some generic sounds. However, the music is actually quite excellent.
Graphics: 3/10
Sound/Music: 3/10
Story/Setting: 6/10
Controls and Gameplay:
The game’s gameplay MediEvil is one of the strengths of the game, as well as a drawback. The game’s gameplay is simple, but it does not do anything groundbreaking. The game is a third-person where you play as the character of Sir Dan Fortesque and navigate through areas searching for keys that unlock doors and other objects. You’ll be able to take on zombies and other foes with various weapons like throwing knives, swords clubs, and many more. The levels are all quite large. However, they can get monotonous. Each level has the “chalice” that is awarded when you complete 100 percent of the levels. The process of beating a level is accomplished by defeating all enemies and exploring the entire area. This can be enjoyable as well as difficult. It’s great for those who enjoy the idea of searching for and finding items within a game. If you’re looking for an easy playthrough, it can be frustrating when you think you’ve conquered the entire game and the progression bar doesn’t show 100 percent.
The enemies you fight are primarily zombies. However, there are some other creatures too. The battles are straightforward; however, they get more complex. It’s not like the game that is difficult, however. It’s a lot like any other game on a platform. The controls are pretty typical, with movement being performed using the direction pad. The square button is utilized for power attacks; the circle allows you to jump, X is utilized to perform quick, short attacks, while the triangle allows Sir Daniel Fortesque to block attacks. One of the most significant issues in the game is the running in the game. Running is achieved by pressing the directional pad three times before pressing it down. It can be annoying to get into fighting and then need to double-tap to run. Another issue is that when you select an item from the inventory. You must press select continuously to open the inventory. It would have been much better having Sony would have let you get access to weapons without having press select. Additionally, the camera angles within the game are awful naturally, as the game is third-person.
Controls: 5/10
Gameplay: 5/10
Rent or Buy? Final Thoughts:
MediEvil is among the games that was great when it first came out and hasn’t seen much improvement since then. Suppose you were a fan of the game before it was released, and you’re interested in buying it for the sole purpose of a nostalgic journey. I played this game back in 1999 and did not regret purchasing it since I was when I was a kid back then. However, from an objective perspective, the graphics are pixelated, and the textures aren’t well, and the movement of the characters and angles of the camera are not smooth, and, overall, it’s highly repetitive gameplay. I wouldn’t recommend you purchase this game if this is your first time playing it.
Breakdown
Graphics: 3/10
Sound/Music: 3/10
Story/Setting: 6/10
Controls: 5/10
Gameplay: 5/10
Overall: 6/10.
