Magician Lord is a side-scrolling platform game developed by Alpha Denshi in 1990. It was a launch title for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and AES (home) systems, and was one of the pack-in games for the Neo Geo AES. It also was included in SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1, released for the Playstation 2 and Playstation Portable in North America on May 1, 2008.
Storyline[]
Once upon a time, of an age of fantasy and illusion, existed the peaceful land of Gadasius. A lush and verdant land of prosperity and happiness, Gadasius soon was invaded by Gal Agiese. A man of extreme evil, he unleashed a horde of monsters upon the land, seeking to revive the God of Destruction Az Atorse. When all hope was seemingly lost, a young magician appeared. He defeated the monsters and, using eight mystical tomes, sealed away both Gal Agiese and Az Atorse. This youth who saved the land would become known as the Magician Lord.
Centuries later, the seal upon the mystical tomes weakens, allowing Gal Agiese to escape. He steals the eight tomes and once again terrorizes the land. Little does he know, one man stands in the way of their evil plans yet again. The young magician Elta, raised by the forest sage Lung, is the last descendant of the Magician Lord. To fulfill his duty, and with justice burning within him, Elta embarks on a quest to retrieve the tomes and once again defeat Gal Agiese.
Gameplay[]
Elta must make his way through each level and beat a guardian (sub-boss) and a boss before reaching the final confrontation with Az Atorse. Gameplay is similar to that of a standard side-scrolling action platformer, with the added twist of transformations that offer the wizard different attacks and abilities. When he has not been transformed, Elta's primary form of attack is a weak but fast-moving energy arc that he can shoot in four directions; left, right, up and (while jumping) down.
Forms[]
On Elta's journey, he will come across powerful magical crystal orbs containing the powers of the elements. Red/Brown crystals contain the power of Fire. Blue crystals contain the power of Water. Green crystals contain the power of Wind. Power crystals, marked with a golden P, will boost Elta's magical power and vitality regardless of form, enhancing his attacks and giving him more health.
When he has two crystal orbs in his possession, their magical powers will be unleashed, allowing him to transform into legendary powerful beings and use their powers. Their combinations and transformations are as follows:
- Fire + Fire - The Dragon Warrior: The Dragon Warrior attacks by breathing a stream of fire; a continuous but short-range attack that can also be aimed diagonally unlike Elta's normal shots. When upgraded, the Dragon Warrior's breath reaches farther and is increased in power, allowing it to blaze through and attack hordes of foes at a time.
- Water + Water - The Waterman: The Waterman tosses magical water balls that erupts into a geyser on touching the ground and can freeze enemies. The attack can hit many times for big damage but covers a small area. When upgraded, the Waterman will be able to toss out water balls even further and with a more linear arc, making it easier to strike from afar.
- Water + Fire - Poseidon: A more powerful version of the Waterman, Poseidon's water balls creates enormous waves of water that travels along the ground for several hits and big damage, and is able to instantly summon water waves when crouch attacking. This form, however, moves very slowly. When upgraded, Poseidon's water waves increase in range and power.
- Wind + Fire - Shinobi: The Shinobi attacks with its ninjutsu magic, being a slow moving but wide circular fireball, and grants the highest agility and movement. When upgraded, the Shinobi will be able to toss out more powerful fireballs like a fiery tornado, each acting as their own projectile and being able to hit for more damage and more enemies along their path.
- Water + Wind - Samurai: The Samurai wields a magical katana, its attack a medium-range energy sword slash that acts like a boomerang and cuts through anything, including walls and enemy shields. It has the most damaging attack of all the forms and can hit several enemies with one attack if they are lined up properly. When upgraded, the Samurai's sword attack will become even stronger and reach even further, making him nearly untouchable with the right skill.
- Wind + Wind - Raijin: Raijin can attack from any position, generating a thunderous electric field with short reach and limited damage but surrounds his body continuously and ignores mercy invincibility, even while jumping. This form also jumps higher and faster than normal. When upgraded, Raijin's thunder field becomes more powerful and reaches further, keeping even the most dangerous of foes at bay.
If Elta is hurt in any form, he will lose a power level. If he takes enough damage, Elta will transform back to his normal self, and will lose the first crystal in his possession. Red health indicates the health the form has until it reaches blue, when Elta will transform back to normal.
Characters[]
- Elta: The hero of the game, Elta is an orphan and last descendant of the legendary Magician Lord. He is well versed in the ways of magic, being able to use elemental powers and assume different forms.
- Lung: A fortune-teller who lives a secluded life in the forest, he is Elta's adoptive father and mentor, who sends the hero on a mission to save the land from darkness.
- Gal Agiese: The main villain of the games, Gal Agiese is a powerful sorcerer and acolyte of Az Atorse, who seeks to resurrect his master and plunge the land into chaos.
- Az Atorse: The evil God of Destruction and final boss of the game.
Stages[]
- Hersey Valley - Dale of Evil Gods: A once sacred valley, enshrining hallowed places of worship to the gods. Defiled by Gal Agiese's minions, it is now a place where they now worship their evil deities.
- Evil Mine - To the Evil Mine: A once prosperous mining town, it was destroyed by the monsters. All that is left is a chaotic mound of the town's remains, being uprooted by an enormous tree.
- Road to a Strange Place - Highway Leading to a Foreign Space: A interdimensional road which serves as the only way to reach the Demonic Castle. A perverse and gruesome place, the road is an enormous corpse of flesh and entrails.
- Castle of Devils: The outer wall and entrance to the Demonic Castle, which is the monster's main base.
- Frightful Underpass - Anderground Passage of Terror (sic): A underground waterway which goes beneath the Demonic Castle. A treacherous place that reeks of death, many of Gal Agiese's minions lie in wait for Elta to ambush him.
- Hell Corridor - Corridor Leading to Hell: The Demonic Castle's main hall. Though beautiful and of magnificent grandeur, its white marbled halls mask the true evils that lie within.
- Gal Agiese: The Demonic Castle's main keep. A large tower where Gal Agiese dwells. The most powerful and unseen minions of Gal Agiese awaits our hero here.
- God of Destruction Reincarnates: Az Atorse's shrine where the ritual for his resurrection takes place.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- The game makes a few apparent references to H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. One of the enemies is clearly a Byakhee, the form Gal Agiese uses in the next to last level greatly resembles Nyarlathotep, and there are some other parallels, as well.
External Links[]
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