PixlBit

A straight-forward fantasy action game which adheres to a perfect formula

Faxanadu (pronounced "fuh-zon-a-doo") is an action RPG for the NES similar to Zelda II. Released in 1989, it was developed by Hudson Soft and published by Nintendo. With a solid fantasy setting, strong gameplay, plenty of weapons and items, and a straight-forward quest, Faxanadu is a great game. In fact, it's better than Zelda II, which is often criticized for its sheer difficulty. Faxanadu is not a difficult game; I would say it's a moderate challenge.

The simple story goes like this: a nameless man returns home after being on a long journey only to find that his town has been destroyed and many people are missing. So he decides to investigate. You're told to visit the king and he gives you some money so you can buy some armor and a weapon to start your adventure. For some reason, despite the fact that there are other people in the town, you are constantly told that you are the "only hope." With a simple dagger in hand, you go out into the wilderness only to be stopped by a locked door. You must return to town and buy a key from the key shop (which only sells one key--how suspicious). Throughout the game you will have to buy certain keys to open certain locked doors.

Unlike Zelda II, there is no overworld in Faxanadu; instead towns are connected by stretches of terrain with enemies. Money is never hard to obtain; simply kill enemies (almost all of them will drop money) and leave the screen. Then come back to that screen and kill them again (as enemies always respawn, typical for NES standards). In towns, you can buy weapons, armor, and items at the weapon shop, keys at the key shop, and heal up completely by paying a fee to the doctor for treatment. You can also visit the church, in which you receive a "mantra." This is your password that you can use if you want to shut off the system and continue your game later, which I thought was a neat way to do it.

If you die, you will start at the last church you visited with no money or very little. Any keys you used you will have to re-purchase and try again. This is why it's important to visit every church and speak to the priest. The game won't let you go back to previous towns, which is frustrating if you want to go back to buy a specific item. Inside towns, there's usually one person walking around outside the town and you can visit a home or two; these people will give you hints about what to do next. This is one of the strongest apsects of the game. It's never confusing what to do next as the game will always inform you about what you need to do. Progressing in the game always depends on an itme, such as Mattock (which breaks tough stones) or Wing Boots (which allow you to hover in the air).

Concerning the actual gameplay itself, you have two meters at the top left screen: a health meter (red) and a magic meter (green). You will find out in the first dungeon that you need magic to progress, so you have to go back to town and buy some. Magic is used by pressing B and up at the same time. You can also use a specific item by  pressing B and down simultaneously. If either meter gets too low, you can go to the doctor and have both fully restored with a treatment.

Dungeon design is not very interesting; just platforms and ladders set up in typical patterns. There's usually two or three enemies on each screen. Your character falls very fast, and when he is hit, instead of jumping back (such as in Zelda II), he twitches back very quickly. He can also not jump very far, and often the platforms are set at just the right length where you must be at the very edge of the platform if you're going to make the jump. This is the most frustrating part of the game, but thankfully, after time, you get used to it, meaning it is not a constant problem.

The story is fine for NES standards, although unspectacular. There isn't a clear goal in mind, just short objectives given to you by townspeople and old wise sages. You find out that there's a fountain in the sky which you must get to, but first you have to heal three fountains below. You must make the trek to these three fountains and heal them using special potions. Once again, it's not confusing where to go or what to do as the game makes it very clear.

It's also really neat to see your character change in appearance as the game progresses. At the start of your game, he is wearing rags, but as you get armor, his sprite changes to show it. Eventually he is in a full suit of armor, and he looks awesome! You'll need the armor if you intend to finish the game; powerful dragons and monsters await you.

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

Overall Faxanadu is a great game. The strongest aspects of the game are the straight-forward nature, strong gameplay, and moderate challenge. The game sticks to a perfect formula that doesn't become old or repetitive. The dungeon design may be boring and samey, but that's not why you should play this game. Play it for the adventure that's waiting in store. Play it to uncover the mystery of what that fountain in the sky will do. On the surface, it seems typical, yet it is very untypical in its approach; there's no princess to rescue or demon to defeat. What awaits you along your adventure is ultimately a surprise. That's more than we can say for a certain Zelda game which was released around the same time, and that is quite impressive indeed.

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