All students and adults know (OK, most people of all ages know) the legend of Pandora. After years of guarding the Box, she just couldn’t resist herself. She finally opened it, releasing unspeakable evils on the world. But at the bottom of the box was a teeny, tiny speck of hope. Over the years, Pandora changed from a vain woman to a reluctant hero. But the one thing that has remained is the promise of hope, no matter how great the task it is obtain and nourish it. But, how different it would be if she released the hope but not the evils? Knights in the Nightmare for the Nintendo DS gives us an idea.
Knights in the Nightmare follows a wisp trying to get back to the royal castle. Some time ago, a malevolent force invaded the castle and practically annihilated all life. All who have gone to investigate or report have disappeared. The various knights of the 12 orders met a grizzly end. The king is dead, the prince has vanished and the people are freaking out. Butl a young valkyrie releases a wisp from its coffin in a chapel on the outskirts of the kingdom. So, who is this wisp? Why was the kingdom destroyed? Who is to blame? And who is this young valkyrie? Somehow, the plot is related to Riveria: The Promised Land and Yddrasil Union. How, as of this writing, I do not know; I have not played those games. There is some secret content, but only DS and DS Lite owners can access it by placing Yggdra Union in the GameBoy Advance slot. (Sorry, DSi owners!)
Gameplay is intriguing, blending role-playing leveling systems (improvement of weapons and characters), elements of the strategy genre and good old-fashioned arcade goodness. Characters of different classes are placed on the board and are static. They will NOT do anything unless you charge them (remember, the knights are dead) by placing the wisp over them. Each class has its own range, and monsters must be near, preferably in one of the squares, to receive [full] damage. You then collect the crystals and other orbs and mediums. It is thanks to those crystals that the wisp can gain magic. With a full bar of magic, you can then use a spectral weapon to inflict maximum damage. But while you are moving the wisp around, you’ve got to be on your toes.
You see, the monsters won’t just be sitting there idly waiting for you to destroy them. Instead, each monster has its own range of attacks and movement. Spectral bullets fly across the screen, sometimes covering large portions at a time. If the wisp gets hit, it detracts time. The wisp only has 60 seconds of power for use, so dodging each bullet is in your best interest, or you won’t be able to destroy them. The event ends when all the turns run out, when you kill the boss or when you fill in a row (or column) of dead monsters. Oh, and did I mention that there are also knights to recruit and weapons to improve? There is a fair amount to do beyond solving the mystery behind the monsters’ power.
If this sounds complex, it is. At first. Knights in the Nightmare is packed with an in-depth tutorial. Each file covers a section of the game, and you must watch each tutorial in order. But don’t think it is just a “watch what I do” affair. First, it tells you what you need to do. Second, it shows you how to perform the action. And finally, it asks you to do it. Guess what, folks: It works. If you are willing to work with it, it will actually teach you how to play the game. And if you’re not sure of your skills, there is an easy mode. If you only have 15 minutes to spare, tackling a few tutorial files is viable. But if you’re playing through the main mode or leveling mode, which allows you to replay completed missions to gain more weapons, mediums and orbs (used for weapon improvement), and experience, expect to be there for at least 30 minutes.
Graphically, the game is dark. And it should be. This is not a walk in the park that would allow you to stop to smell the various flowers. Actually, there’s no time, because bullets of all types and sizes zoom across the screen in their unique way. Monsters and allies are well-animated, especially when attacks are initiated. For example, one of the earliest bosses is a werewolf; all the stereotypes of a the creature are present — and then some. It’s a dizzyingly awesome experience visually, along with the gameplay. The different weapons also available for use. Some are downright cool to watch over and over again. For example, wizards can use staves. One staff creates ice when charged during the chaos mode and covers a large section of the map.
Knights in the Nightmare continues the “gothic” theme in its sounds. The game opens with a symphonic voice that only hints of events to come. Moody pianos and intense drumbeats keep the tension tight. Vibraphones hint at a lingering sadness. String instruments force you down a dizzying event. It’s downright awesome! And thankfully, Atlus has packed the official soundtrack with the game. So, if the spirit (pun somewhat intended) moves you, you could load this onto your preferred MP3 player. The only downside of sound design is that the voice acting is limited to the occasional battle cries. Suffice to say, there is a lot of content packed onto the cartridge.
Knights in the Nightmare is one of the most unique games to be released this year. Heck, it’s one of the most unique games to be released in a long time on any platform. No other game has combined elements of all those different genres before. Nor has anyone done them as well. It’s dark, moody, intelligent, complex and accessible, intense, surreal, and most importantly, full of hope. The game shows that the mythoi are not fabricated to allow Knights in the Nightmare a place in which to “exist.”
This is one of my favorite types of games — and the ones everyone should check out. It’s a perfect example of why the DS is an excellent system in its own right. It gives off a niche flavor, but at the same time, it is MEANT to be absorbed by anyone willing to take the time to play. It could be considered a gateway game. Those willing to take the time to crack its hard core will find a wonderfully unique world at their fingertips.
If you are on the fence, go rent Knights in the Nightmare. But it’s one of those games that will probably end up in your library. Some people may complain that the game is tough, but they have missed the well -done tutorials and the easy mode available right at the start. Furthermore, this game shows a major struggle for life — a struggle we all have to go through to survive. This is dark night of the soul (literally and figuratively). In the end, demons have been exorcised, and all is right with the world. Is that not what we all strive for?
