Playing Alundra (PS1) again...

[CleanWater]

After years with this game CD stored in a forgotten drawer, I decided to play it again.

Man!!! How that game didn't outmatched Zelda series and created their own successful series? It was much better than classic 2D Zelda games at that time in many senses (graphics, soundtrack, puzzles, plot, etc) and the game play was far better even than 3D Zeldas!

Anyone here also knows and played this game? What are your thoughts about it?

 

[The Stranger]

Don't think I played Alundra 1, but I did play a very small amount of Alundra 2 on the PS1. I remember the game being really difficult for me back then. I also remember only a single character: some green bloke, a wizard. That's about it.

 

[umbralshadows]

i liked it but i like some a tha zeldas more [link between worlds <3]

 

[CleanWater]

@The Stranger I didn't played Alundra 2, but Alundra 1 had really hard puzzles. When you find the solution, it really gives a full accomplishment feeling to you. The boss battles were more based in puzzles than battle itself too.

 

[Dalph]

It was one of my first Rpg games back then and my favourite as a kid (I played it when I was 10!).
I remember the puzzles and the dungeons being so difficult that I had to play it together with my friend to finish it, yet despite our combined efforts we missed a few things here and there (like the Gilded Falcons and the Spirit Wand).
I also remember bombing everything, Melzas being a real pain to defeat and being stuck in Lars Crypt for months and months, the puzzles in that places were unbelievably hard for a 10y old, haha!

Great game though, brings back good memories.
Absolutely nothing to do with that complete mess that is the sequel.

 

[Hudell]

Alundra 1 was great, but Alundra 2... They tried to move to 3d too soon.

 

[CleanWater]

Great game though, brings back good memories.
Absolutely nothing to do with that complete mess that is the sequel.

Alundra 1 was great, but Alundra 2... They tried to move to 3d too soon.

@Dalph @Hudell, I suspect that the same team that worked on Alundra, also worked on Landstalker (Genesis) and Legend of Legaia (PSX), but the team of Alundra 2 is another one completely different. This would explain the differences...

Just to show what I mean...

This is Alundra character in the cover...

Spoiler: Alundra Cover

This is Landstalker character (Nigel/Ryle)...

Spoiler: Nygel Character Design

These both games have exactly the SAME gameplay elements!

Now the most intriguing thing for me related to Alundra and Legend of Legaia...

Pay attention to this music in the gameplay footage of Alundra...

Now, pay attention to this music from the OST of Legend of Legaia!

So... Is this all just mere coincidence or what?

 

[Sharm]

Alundra is an unofficial sequel done by people who had worked on Landstalker, so yeah, the similarities are intentional.

I'm of two minds about Alundra as a game. It's gorgeous and really fun to play (hard though!) but the story is extremely depressing and doesn't exactly fuel any desire to keep going since you know pretty quickly that the more you play the worse things get. I'm personally not surprised that Zelda is more popular.

 

[CleanWater]

Alundra is an unofficial sequel done by people who had worked on Landstalker, so yeah, the similarities are intentional.

This explain everything! I loved both games!

I'm of two minds about Alundra as a game. It's gorgeous and really fun to play (hard though!) but the story is extremely depressing and doesn't exactly fuel any desire to keep going since you know pretty quickly that the more you play the worse things get. I'm personally not surprised that Zelda is more popular.

This is very relative IMO. FF7 was very depressing and still was a major hit. Alundra, in the other hand, was somewhat depressing, but every time you can save someone is a big celebration (at least for me). The Alundra plot IMO, was more mature. It explored themes such as self limitations, the pain of loss and such.

The only enigma left now was that shared OST of Alundra and Legend of Legaia...

 

[M.I.A.]

@Sharm the depressing story is exactly why I loved it!! The game play was fun, but all that tragedy in one town? Not typical in gaming.

-MIA

 

[robhr]

That's the game I was trying to think of awhile ago! Thank you.

I remember loving Alundra 2, but I haven't played 1 yet.

I love a good dark, depressing story line.

 

[kirbwarrior]

I had no idea there was a sequel. I loved this game so much I had to buy it after renting it (does that date me? XD). It's weird, I know I got to the final boss in that small rental period, yet the third time I played it (years later) I swear the game was much longer. I loved the game, but it was basically a more heart-wrenching (I wouldn't quite say depressing) and much more difficult zelda. What makes me laugh is the two "game-breaking" rewards in the game are equally absurd to get, but for different reasons (Has anyone gotten the sword?).

To compare, I think the game is closest to Link's Awakening (probably my favorite Zelda) in comparison. Stories have some things in common, and jumping is a key mechanic in both, setting them apart from other Zelda's. Once I'm done with my current game, I think I'll pull this gem out and actually 100% it this time.

 

[Lornsteyn]

Never played Alundra 1, but as a child I played Alundra 2, I remeber pirates and some depressing plot. xD