Game Info

Developer: Alpha Denshi
Publisher: Alpha Denshi
Year of Release: 1990
Longplay Requested By: Charlie Cat

Game Review & Impressions

Magician Lord is an interesting run and gun platformer, one I'd tried longplaying before, but got bitten by just how tough it can be.

Unlike similar games where you enhance your offensive abilities by collecting weapons, Magician Lord completely changes your character. Each form has its own strengths and weaknesses, run speed and jump height, and these are a constant for as long as you remain in that form.

Starting out in your default "Magician" form, you can transform by collecting coloured orbs, which are generally found inside treasure chests secreted throughout each level. Two orbs can be held at any one time and the combination of colours determines which form and abilities you currently possess. Collecting a pair of red orbs will turn you into a firebreathing dragon, while two yellow orbs will bestow upon you the power of Raijin, a hero infused with the power of lightning.

Which form and abilities you use throughout the game are entirely at your own discretion, although they are most certainly not all equal. The Samurai and Water Man forms are really too weak or too niche to clear much of the game's content, particularly in later levels where the number and strength of enemies increase dramatically. Being honest, with Dragon and Raijin forms being so strong, there really is little point choosing anything else.

It's this last point where I feel Magician Lord falls down somewhat. Some of the forms are pretty useless and place the player at a distinct disadvantage for using them. Maybe this was intentional, but it would have been a better experience if the different forms had been balanced better.

Magician Lord is a pretty cool experience, albeit one with flaws that may sour something that is, generally, a solid game.

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