Summary

Release Year: 1990
Genres: Adventure, Arcade, Platform
Platforms: Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo MVS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Developers: Alpha Denshi
Publishers: SNK

Magician Lord (1990): A Neo Geo Classic

Magician Lord is a side-scrolling platform game that was a launch title for both the Neo-Geo MVS (arcade) and AES (home) systems, and was one of the pack-in games for the Neo-Geo AES. Developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK, Magician Lord is known for its beautiful pixel art, challenging gameplay, and memorable soundtrack.

The game is set in a fantasy world where the evil sorcerer, Dran, has kidnapped the princess and is using her to power his dark magic. The player takes control of Elta, a young magician who must travel through six different worlds to rescue the princess and defeat Dran.

Magician Lord is a challenging game, but it is also fair. The player has a variety of weapons and abilities at their disposal, and they must use them strategically to defeat the game’s many enemies and bosses. The game also features a number of secret areas and items, which adds to its replay value.

The graphics in Magician Lord are some of the best on the Neo-Geo. The game’s backgrounds are lush and detailed, and the character sprites are large and expressive. The game also features a number of impressive special effects, such as parallax scrolling and screen rotation.

The soundtrack in Magician Lord is also top-notch. The game’s music is catchy and atmospheric, and it helps to create a sense of excitement and adventure.

Magician Lord was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and soundtrack. It has since been ported to a number of different platforms, including the Virtual Console, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable.

Gameplay

Magician Lord is a side-scrolling platform game in which the player controls Elta, a young magician who must travel through six different worlds to rescue the princess and defeat the evil sorcerer, Dran.

Elta has a variety of weapons and abilities at her disposal, including a sword, a staff, and a number of different spells. She can also use her magic to transform into different animals, such as a bird or a wolf.

The player must use Elta’s abilities strategically to defeat the game’s many enemies and bosses. The game also features a number of secret areas and items, which can be found by exploring the game’s levels carefully.

Graphics

The game’s art style is a mix of fantasy and science fiction. The backgrounds are often filled with lush forests, towering mountains, and sparkling waterfalls. The character sprites are also very detailed, and they feature a variety of different animations.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack in Magician Lord is also top-notch. The game’s music is catchy and atmospheric, and it helps to create a sense of excitement and adventure.

The soundtrack was composed by Takafumi Nishimura, who is also known for his work on the soundtracks for other Neo-Geo games, such as Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters.

The soundtrack features a variety of different musical styles, including rock, pop, and classical. The music is always appropriate for the game’s setting and action, and it helps to create a truly immersive experience.

Legacy

Magician Lord is considered to be one of the best side-scrolling platform games on the Neo-Geo. The game is known for its beautiful graphics, challenging gameplay, and memorable soundtrack. It has been ported to a number of different platforms, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today.

The game’s success has led to a number of sequels and spin-offs. The first sequel, Magician Lord: The Second Story, was released in 1992. The game is a direct sequel to the original, and it features many of the same characters and gameplay elements.

A second sequel, Magician Lord: The Third Story, was released in 1994. The game is a departure from the previous two games, and it features a more action-oriented gameplay style.

In addition to the sequels, there have also been a number of spin-offs released. These spin-offs include a puzzle game, a role-playing game, and a fighting game.

The Magician Lord series is still popular today, and it is considered to be one of the best side-scrolling platformer series of all time. The games are known for their beautiful graphics, challenging gameplay, and memorable soundtracks.