Summary

With its innovative approach to combat and storytelling, Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals is a compelling addition to the Nintendo DS library, appealing to fans of action RPGs and those seeking an adventure with depth and dynamism.

• Release Year: 2010
• Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: Nintendo DS
• Developers: Neverland, Square Enix
• Publishers: Natsume Inc., Square Enix

Introduction

Set in a vibrant and expansive world, Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals reimagines the beloved Lufia II story with updated graphics, a new combat system, and a slightly altered storyline. Players embark on a grand adventure filled with puzzles, exploration, and action.

Synopsis

“Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals” opens with a world flung unwillingly into war. Society is progressing, technology is advancing, and people are leading their lives when, out of nowhere, a voice in the sky rings out across the entire planet. It’s Gades, the Sinistral of Destruction, who declares to the globe that he’s about to wipe out all existence unless someone dares step up to oppose him.

That someone is you, the player, taking on the role of the red-haired monster hunter Maxim. You take up your sword and your arsenal of fire magic and face off against the self-declared god in the game’s opening moments. Despite a valiant effort, you get defeated. However, you survive the conflict, and the real quest begins.

The quest involves embarking on an adventure around the world to find and recruit the toughest warriors on the planet to join you in an epic rematch against Gades for the fate of humanity. This storyline is essentially the same as the one we saw back on the SNES. The characters, the settings, and the overall quest are largely paralleled with that past product.

Unlike previous Lufia games, this is an action-RPG game. Gameplay is no longer turn-based; players can roam around freely and attack monsters without waiting for the battle scene to occur. Only one character can be playable on-screen. The player can choose a map to go to without fully navigating the map.

Players can equip armor and weapons that can give players unique abilities in combat. The game takes advantage of the dual screen. In certain battles or puzzle-solving, certain actions may be disabled or the top-screen is used to navigate actions committed by bosses.

After you advance far enough along in the story, you end up finding and recruiting five more allies that you can switch to at almost any time. Each character’s portrait appears on the touch screen, and tapping on him or her sends them immediately into the fight under your control. Each character has a special ability that is required to solve puzzles.

The GRID system is a unique feature of the game. Each time a character levels up, that character’s HP and IP are restored, and any negative effects are removed. All special abilities use IP, which is rechargeable. The player can choose to perform various types of abilities, including spells and powerful attacks.

Characters

The game features a cast of memorable characters, including the protagonist Maxim and his companions, each with their unique abilities and backgrounds, contributing to the depth of the game’s narrative and combat.

Gameplay

Transitioning to real-time action, the gameplay focuses on strategic combat, character skill customization, and puzzle-solving. The dynamic battle system allows for fluid movement and attacks, setting it apart from traditional turn-based RPGs.

Conclusion

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals stands as a noteworthy remake, offering both newcomers and longtime fans of the series a fresh perspective on a classic tale. Its blend of action, strategy, and storytelling captures the essence of the Lufia series while bringing new elements to the forefront.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern