Threads of Fate Review

For PlayStation

By Contributing Writer Jimmy Payne

Rating: Awesome
   It's hard to not be excited about Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy 9, but
it would be an injustice for RPG fans to overlook Threads of Fate.  With 
its attractive graphics, fun gameplay, and unforgettable story, Threads of 
Fate is one of the most refreshingly creative games released in a very long 
time.
   Threads of Fate isn't a turn-based RPG, but that doesn't make it any 
less entertaining than it should be.  A lot of people have compared it to 
Zelda, but these comparisons are only partially valid.  Threads of Fate 
takes the action of the Zelda series and places it into much more focused 
areas, much like the levels in the Crash Bandicoot series.  Some people 
don't like this because it makes for a fairly linear game, but I love it 
because the game never makes you feel lost and overwhelmed by lots of 
space.  The boss battles are also similar to those in Crash Bandicoot, 
which is a good thing.
   The rest of the gameplay is a mixture of new ideas and old ones from 
previous action/RPGs.  Your magic meter grows as you fight with enemies, 
and each of the two playable characters uses the meter in different ways.  
Mint's use of magic is mostly what you'd expect, while Rue has the ability 
to transform into the monsters he kills.
    There are very few music tracks in Threads of Fate, but all of them are 
high-quality and catchy.  Every track is played at just the right time in 
order to make the player feel different emotions.  The music is also 
appropriately different for each character, with Mint having mischievous 
tunes and Rue having more hero-like tunes.
   The graphics are a far cry from the standard set by Zelda 64, but 
they're still very impressive for a PlayStation game.  The models for the 
characters and environments are very well done throughout the game.  The 
way the developers modeled the characters' faces is more than appealing 
enough to make you forget about the low polygon counts.  The spells are 
also fun to watch because unlike those in Final Fantasy 7 and 8, they only 
last five seconds at the most.
   As great as the rest of the game is, it's the story lines of the two 
characters that makes Threads of Fate one of the best games of the year.  
Each character has a different past that is unraveled in a different way, 
and at different points throughout each journey you will cross paths with 
the other character.  Rue's story line could be one of the best I've ever 
seen in any RPG, and while Mint's adventure isn't quite as entertaining, 
it's still well worth playing through.  
   The only things that prevent Threads of Fate from being a flawless game 
are two control issues.  The game makes a habit out of temporarily 
disabling the analog controller when you attack enemies, but this problem 
can be rectified by simply switching to digital control.  Also, the jump 
button can be unresponsive sometimes, which is very noticeable in the 
platform-intensive levels that require you to do a lot of quick jumping.
   You should be able to get past these control issues in a short amount of 
time, and if you do, you'll be rewarded with an awesome gaming experience.  
If you're in the mood for an extremely well-designed alternative to 
traditional turn-based RPGs, Threads of Fate will not disappoint.

Send your thoughts on this review to jimmy@mastergamer.com

    

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