Developer: Tecmo
Publisher: Tecmo
Released: 1987
Completed: February 23, 2020
The NES is full of hidden gems. I don't like to use that phrase often, because if you say it five times Metal Jesus will appear, but it's hard to describe games like Rygar otherwise. Following the trend of revamping arcade games to be completely different experiences on the NES, Rygar took what was a fairly straightforward and moderately enjoyable side-scroller and turned it into an early example of non-linear genre-blending adventure.
Going back and playing this in 2020 really makes you realize how ahead of its time it was. Other than Nintendo's own Metroid, very few action games offered a large world to explore in a relatively open fashion. Like Metroid, parts of the world are inaccessible until you obtain certain items, but you can technically explore the bulk of it, backtrack through areas, and uncover its secrets at your own pace. Not only that, Rygar even offers some overhead areas to break up the left-to-right scrolling.
There are some very light RPG elements thrown into the mix. As you discover more of the world and are bestowed items from NPCs, you'll grow in power. One could argue the Metroidvania genre could just as easily be called Metrygar, but I guess that doesn't roll off the tongue quite as easily. Don't get me wrong; in no way is Rygar a better game than Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - the other half of the Metroidvania equation - but it's clearly cut from the same cloth. You level up your health and defense by killing enemies, and there are a handful of magic spells to use, in addition to items like the grappling hook that allow you to reach new areas.
The game has a pleasant visual presentation. When you first start off, it's hard not to be impressed by the beautiful red sky and mountainous region you'll find yourself in. As you advance and enemies spawn, sprite flicker and slowdown become increasingly prevalent, however. Rygar's enemies will respawn infinitely, which is good in that you'll need to slay lots of them to level up, but it definitely takes its toll on the NES hardware.
Throughout your adventure, you'll visit a fairly standard selection of levels, including the obligatory ice level, grassy plains, and the sky temple. The areas are nice enough to look at, and I always liked the design of the enemies, but as a second generation NES game it's not going to blow you away.
The music, on the other hand, ranks among some of my favorite soundtracks the NES had to offer. Right from the get-go, you're treated to some fantastic chiptune music. The punchy sound of enemies exploding is also incredibly satisfying.
Rygar's controls are the last piece of the puzzle, and there's little to complain about. You're given a fair amount of control during your jumps, and Rygar himself moves at a decent clip, about on par with Castlevania's Simon Belmont. There's not much here other than jump and attack, but I'm always amazed by how badly some developers managed to screw that up, so Tecmo still deserves credit for getting it right.
If there's any negatives it's that the game becomes laughably easy once you're fully powered up. Admittedly, that can take a while if you're playing the game straight and not simply farming enemies early on to breeze through the rest of it.
The bigger complaint is that there's no password or battery backup, so you must complete this one in a single sitting. It's not a long game if you know what you're doing or using a walkthrough, but if you don't you could be wandering aimlessly for ages. The game offers "clues," but like many vintage N#ES games they're often mistranslated gibberish that are more detrimental than helpful. It's not Simon's Quest bad, but you're more likely to stumble upon the right path than to discern it from the game's clues.
At the end of the day, Rygar is still a fun adventure with excellent music, and solid gameplay. Like so many NES ports, I enjoy it significantly more than the arcade original, and much credit should be given to Tecmo for giving the game legs for the home market. In a market crowded with side-scrollers, Rygar stands out once you actually sit down to play it. It can still be obtained cheaply, so if you're just starting your NES collection, this is an easy recommendation.
Rygar was completed on a real NES with no cheats.
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