An excellent Sega Sword of Vermilion, a hybrid action-RPG with varied combat. Original, generous, one of the console's best Western-style RPGs.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
Hero Landen explores several planets of the Algo galaxy in this third Sega Phantasy Star for Mega Drive. Published by Sega, released in Japan in October 1989. Turn-based RPG with three-planet exploration, hybrid combat and heir generation system.
Vermilion review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
3/5
Story
★★★★★
"Solid"
The game multiplies its viewpoints: first-person movement in the corridors, overhead exploration of towns, close-view battles with large sprites. Each mode has its own graphic treatment, and that division gives the kingdom a visual variety unusual for a role-playing game of the period.
An ambitious action RPG from Sega, Sword of Vermilion follows the hero Erik on a quest for vengeance and crown across a vast world, alternating top-down exploration, first-person movement in dungeons and close-up battles. This hybrid structure and the length of the adventure were impressive, even if the whole lacks balance and polish. The ambition stays its great asset. An estimable curiosity for fans of sprawling retro RPGs and game-design experiments.
