Legend of the River King User Reviews (GBC)

Truthless Hero

Jun 24, 2004

This was the first game I got for my Game Boy Color several years ago back when the GBC first came out....and as of right now, the last one I've beaten. Not that the game was all that hard, but it isn't easy either. Some of what you have to do in the game isn't very well explained and after several years of trying I broke down and had to follow an FAQ for the last little bit of it. That having been said....

Story (8/10)
Certainly not one I would have thought up. Leave it to Natsume to create a weird story. I love Natsume....anyway, your sister is sick. You are sent out to find the Guardian, a legendary fish with spectacular healing powers. You start out with just a simple rod and float, and you are expected to many miles away to catch a big fish. But your way is littered with fights from with wild animals after your fish and your well being. An original story, if nothing else.

Music (8/10)
There are plenty of catchy tunes in this game and once you play it enough, you'll find yourself humming along with the game. In other words, the tunes are quite catchy. There is no music while you fish, which is a drawback, but otherwise good music.

Sound (5/10)
There aren't a whole lot of sounds in this game. You cast your rod, the fish swimming or beeping (yes I said beeping), and you paddling your raft are the only ones I can think of, though I do like the sound of the fish swimming, I guess.

Controls (3/10)
Pretty basic controls. Up is up, down is down, etc. When you hook a fish, you press A or B to reel it in. Sometimes your character goes a little too far off land and you end up wasting energy by getting on your raft. That's a thing that makes me mad, but that's about it.

Graphics (5/10)
They really could have done better in this department. Your guy has a big humongous head and hands and extremely small legs and feet, making him look more like a caricature than a real person. Everyone else just stands around opening and shutting their mouth, and they don't move. Really the only thing Natsume spent any money on in the graphics department was on the fish. Some even look somewhat realistic, which is good for a Game Boy game, or at least I think so.

Challenge (9/10)
This game was very challenging to me, seeing as how I didn't use an FAQ until the very end and then only because I couldn't catch the guardian. I would recommend not using one if at all possible, but use it if you absolutely have to. If you don't know what you are doing, it can take a long time to find out what you have to do and where you have to go. It took me awhile, but it was worth it.

Replay value (7/10)
If you wish to take the time to do this game again, be my guest. It wont take you as long as the first time, to be sure, and there are two file spots, so you could do another one without erasing the first, which is better than Pokemon, eh what?

Overall (8/10) (Not an average)
This game is really quite fun or at least I think so. There are also some secret things you can do in this game, but I can't list those since its a review, you'll just have to find out for yourself.

Rent or Buy?
Buy, if you can even find it anywhere. I doubt you'd be able to do either anymore, but if you can find it now, consider yourself lucky and buy it.