Bastard is a popular animation series in Japan that has a very loyal fan base. Bastard has made appearances on the PC-Engine and the Super Famicom. The Super Famicom game was an innovative 3-D view fighting game where you faced off against your opponent head-on with large distances between the two of you. The fighting consisted mainly of projectile attacks and the occasional close range attack. The concept and visual was very cool but the awkward fighting style made it a difficult game to play. The license migrates to the Playstation in the form of a strategy/animation game that features the characters from Bastard where they engage in heavy strategic battles and animated interaction sequences. The format is similar to what we have seen before in Ogre Battle and in Persona with a line of your party on one side against a party of enemy soldiers and miscreants on the opposing side. The command structure allows you to perform physical attacks, magical attacks and put up defense against oncoming blows. The magical attacks are shown in their full glory with some effects taking up whole portions of the screen.

The many dialogue screens and animation sequences will delight the avid Bastard fan. Each encounter is usually preceded by a sequence that explains why you are fighting against a particular group which helps to increase the drama of a particular battle and to move the storyline forth. Arch enemies will also make the occasional appearance and engage your party in mega-battles.

\

Return to the NCS 12/30 page