Systems > Super Nintendo > B > Brandish > Staff Review
Sign up for a free user account and you can leave feedback for this review or even submit a game review of your own!
Review by Marc Golding
September 02, 2003
Brandish is a dark, moody action RPG. You play the role of Varik, a character who we are not certain is a good guy or a bad guy, and the story is exciting in that you are plunged into world beneath the earth--literally falling through the collapsing ground under your feet--with a bounty hunter named Alexis hot on your tail. She pops up at various intervals to keep things exciting. But your main concern will be trying to escape your subterranean prison (one area or 'layer' at a time, and there are more than a half dozen layers, each comprised of up to ten floors) to regain the light and the surface of the earth once more.
The Basics
The game is viewed from an overhead perspective, like The Legend of Zelda and other, similar action-RPGs. What's most interesting about it is that as you try to turn your character for the first time, you'll see that the entire world changes around him, instead of the other way around. This function, while a welcome attempt at innovation, is disconcerting in the end, and I was happy to note that you could toggle it off, and switch to the more standard way of seeing things.
As Varik, you'll need to battle your way through different layers of the earth, most of them dark and foreboding, collecting keys to open doors, sledgehammers to make your own doors, and, of course, weaponry and magic. Healing springs trickle eternally from striations in dusty alcoves. Melancholy merchants holed away in the dust-shadowed realms that they, like you, had the misfortune to fall into, tell sad tales of their resignation to their fate deprived of light. They also sell things, like the aforementioned weapons and sledgehammers, in addition to potions to keep you alive, and your magic flowing.
The Experience
The sullen face of Brandish may keep fans of the genre away, as many such players look forward to bright tales of shining knights and nobility and romance, and none of the above are on display in Brandish. However, if you can look past the darkness, play Brandish. I gave it a chance, and in the end, I felt that the sorrowful beginnings were not only endurable, but necessary. The scenario wouldn't be true if things were upbeat and cutesy.
I rather enjoyed unearthing the persistent Varik, floor by floor (with Alexis checking in at times), pounding crumbling walls with my iron, slashing at headless ghouls with my steel. There is one maze of despair, where a mist of confusion seems to settle down and confound you as you trace the walls to where you think the exit should lie… One floor features fall away tiles and tiles lined with spikes. Falling through the floor will land you on the floor beneath, often to your exasperation, but sometimes to your elation at what secrets you've accidentally uncovered. There's even a level played in almost absolute darkness, and an inhumanly fleet-footed ninja boss.
It's not always fun, but the hard parts and dark parts contribute to an atmospheric completeness that few games can hope to match. What's more, the music is a perfect match for the scenery in every case. The second area's tune is inspiring, the opening tune, beautifully sad.
Endgame
Give Brandish a try if you're a fan of the genre. Don't expect to be smiling all throughout the moody proceedings, like you might be while playing a Zelda game, but the intense ups that show for brief moments during the lengthy downs of desperate imprisonment allow for a sense of fulfillment and joy that you've got to experience.
|
|
|
Most recent video game reviews written by Marc Golding
AMY (Xbox 360) [January 18, 2012]
Alone in the Dark 3 (PC) [November 24, 2011]
The War of the Worlds (Xbox 360) [November 23, 2011]
Bejeweled 3 (Xbox 360) [November 15, 2011]
Daytona USA (Xbox 360) [November 04, 2011]
|
You can click the tabs on the above bar to choose whether you wish to read comments from visitors who have posted on Facebook, or from registered site users who have left feedback on the forums. Please leave a comment of your own if you have anything to say!
|
|
|
Follow Us |
Advertise exclusively for 1 month... only $1000!
Recent Forum Discussions
+ [News] Schafer has pitched Psychonauts 2, Minecraft dev says 'let's make it happen'
+ RotW January 29 - February 04 2012
+ The Final Fantasy XIII-2 thread
+ [News] Final Fantasy X HD will be a remaster, not a remake
+ [News] Naughty Dog explored making a new Jak and Daxter, made Last of Us instead
+ Magical Mystery Tournament!
+ disco's SoulCalibur V review
+ nickyv917's Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door review
+ HonestGamers review bounties topic (February, 2012)
+ nickyv917's F-Zero GX review
+ EmP's Medal of Honor: Airborne review
+ overdrive's Star Ocean: The Last Hope review
Staff Game Reviews
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| SoulCalibur V |
| The Simpsons Arcade Game |
| Quarrel |
| Star Ocean: The Last Hope |
| Pushmo |
| Medal of Honor: Airborne |
Site Staff
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |  | ||
 |
Featured Reviews [+]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Rayman Origins |
| Othello |
| Scarface: The World is Yours |
| The Last Express |
| Golden Axe II |
| Assassin's Creed: Revelations |
Exclusive User Reviews [+]
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Dragon Wars |
| F-Zero GX |
| Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door |
| Pokemon Snap |
| Final Fantasy X-2 |
| Eternal Eyes |
Info |
Help |
Privacy Policy |
Contact |
Advertise
© 1998-2012 HonestGamers
None of the material contained within this site--from reviews, guides, cheats and editorials to message board posts--may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Brandish is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Brandish, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors.
