You can add another buddy title to ICO and Enslaved. Only, this one’s missing the labyrinthine-level design that should keep you hooked
Format: PS3 (version played), Xbox 360 Dev: Game Republic Pub: Namco Bandai
Out: 26/11/10 Players: 1
It’s rare to find a completely new, standalone title on the shelves these days. The film industry has also succumb to the plague making it rare to find a film that isn’t a sequel, prequel, remake or the new fad, a ‘gritty’ reboot. As a result, it’s refreshing to find a title that’s a completely original idea. Video games really need a completely new flagship franchise and although it tries its hardest, I can’t see a Majin series making that sort of impact.
The game is a universally friendly, action adventure title, relying heavily on level design and puzzles. The unique selling point of the game is the rarely used buddy system, implementing a CPU character, Majin. The character is controls by a very intuitive command system but often acts on his will. The great thing about the system, and reason it is able to work throughout the entirety of the game, is that Majin isn’t the frustrating burden we’ve come to expect from co-op characters (Ashley from RE4 was particularly infuriating), he’s a valuable asset and is far more effective in combat than the player character, Tepeu. The system makes for a unique experience, leaving him to fend off enemies whilst you go open the next door, or perhaps team up to tackle all the enemies quickly. There’s a real variety of options with these two characters.
When you first start you’ll be struck by how lush the game looks. The fantastic scenery and quirky character designs will seem highly reminiscent to any fans of the groundbreaking, great-looking Jak and Daxter series. It’s a real visual treat.
Though the game looks attractive and brings a fresh new buddy system, Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is let down by tiresome levels. Real puzzles are few and far between in this game, and when you do reach them, you’ll be disappointed with the ease they can be completed. This is a shame because without engaging levels and puzzles, the game gets really dull around the middle.
Combat is often overlooked in adventure puzzle games, and Majin is a great example why. Fighting alongside the powerful Majin is fun at first, but after waves of anymore you’ll be left begging for a fun platform or head-scratching puzzle section. The beautifully told, minimalist story of the game will help spur you along, but would have greatly been improved with more well thought-out levels.
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom is definitely ambitious, and certainly isn’t the bargain bin game a lot of people would have expected from a relatively unknown game. Playing alongside the god-like Majin is a blast, but a slew of seemingly rushed, unoriginal levels leave an ultimately stale taste.
Dan Key
Tags: adventure, fantasy, majin, namco bandai, puzzle
