Silicon Fusion >> Reviews >> Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac: The Sanctuary

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Review:

16th August 2005:
Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac: The Sanctuary
Anime based fighting games are often too generic, but here we have someting special - a game that is good because of its simplicity. Read our review to find out why it's so good.
Posted by Chris Barnett - PlayStation 2 - UK and Europe

The Saint Seiya franchise is not very well known outside of Japan, despite being a pretty good Anime. Where Dragon Ball Z has been a huge success in both animated and game forms, many other Anime franchises have been passed by. In fact, Saint Seiya has been released in game form quite a few times, and as far back as 1987 (on the NES no less). The unfortunate thing is that none of the games have ever really gained recognition, which is quite a shame as they have never been bad.

This trend could change with Saint Seiya, Knights of the Zodiac: The Sanctuary as it is quite an enjoyable game in these days of one million button press combos. The key to the game initially is in its simplicity. Many first time players will be able to pick up the game and give it a good try upon their first go, through simple and careful timing of 'X' button attacks. Whilst this may be seen as a button mashing strategy, it will only take you so far, a few completions on an easy setting at a push. After this, the true nature of the game will come through.

As the game is based on established locations and characters, it has a great deal of personality. This extends to the fighting style of each character, with unique combos and special moves allowing easy stringing. In fact, the nature of this flowing combo system can make a player feel professional where they may have been alienated in a game such as Tekken 5. To give an idea of how simple the moves are to pull off, each character typically has 3 punch moves, 3 kick moves, 3 special moves and 2 or 3 super moves. In other fighting games, many moves means greater choice, but here it is the familiarity with the moves that is the key to your success. Realising which moves can 'latch on' to others is quite a neat feeling and is very satisfying when combined with the idea that counter attacks are also possible by simply using standard moves (there are no specific counter moves or buttons).

To give the game a smooth feel to compliment the controls, the graphics are quite special too. From the opening cut scene to the final in-game battle, the effects are never short of impressive, especially as we are relatively unfamiliar with the Anime on which the game is based. All the characters are well animated and have distinct motions; but it is the temple environments that impressed us most. The floors shine satisfyingly, waterfalls flow and grass can be seen growing in between crevices, all without being blatant. The sight of a randomly placed plant is so much more realistic than another fight going on in the background as is often the case in many modern fighting games. Although the environments are not too exciting, they do their job well and allow the fighting to take place without clutter.

As well as the visual quality of the Anime, the soundtrack has also been utilised to good effect, be it in a remixed form. Many of the tunes are here from the show and when they are used well, it is very notable that you are playing as part of something more than a textbook fighting game. Particularly special is the music during the final battle, which actually gives the feeling of something epic, almost as if you are closing a multi-million-dollar movie with each move. The strange thing that the soundtrack does do though is that it gives the game a 'Greek Mythology' feeling, which is a little displaced from certain characters and moves. But maybe that is just our obsession with Greek stuff following many hours on God of War.

The only weak points of the game are in its difficulty; it can easily be completed on most difficulties, even with the weakest of characters. This does allow the unlocking of various music, characters and items (from all the various iterations of the Anime) quite easily, to allow the player to get the most out of the game. In fact, it would be an ideal fighting game to introduce youngsters or first-time gamers into the fighting game genre, before dashing their hopes by demanding a million-button-combo on a Tekken game a few months later. The inclusion of a harder mode known as 'Pope's Genmaken' is quite a departure as it is so much harder than the standard modes, but this should enable the life of the game to be extended beyond that of a standard fighting game.

With a versus mode for two players, as in every fighting game, the lifespan of the game is actually rhetorical and we would happily admit to playing it in a few months time. This game must be the most surprising mini-hit that we have played this year, so if you can find it in a shop we would suggest checking it out. You will not regret it and you will be guaranteed to hum that theme tune for years to come.

Chris Barnett

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Review Summary:

A fighting game that anyone can play and enjoy, whilst still maintaining a stylistic presentation that looks better than most games. This could really be a sleeper hit if it reaches the right audience, just take our word for it and give the game the success it deserves.

Related Games:

Saint Seiya, Knights Of The Zodiac: The Sanctuary
for PlayStation 2

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