Tread lightly and carry a big sword… Review

Tread lightly and carry a big sword…

Between the fall of Atlantis and the rise of the Playstation 2, there existed

an Age shrouded in mystery. And unto this, the great warrior Rau, destined to

discover the secret of the Mark of Kri, would do battle against a timeless

evil that sought to destroy the earth.

It is I, his chronicler, who alone can recount his saga. Let me tell you of

the days of action and high adventure!

Long

ago, an evil spell was created that would envelop the Earth in darkness and

bring demons into the world of men. But before the spell could take effect,

it was broken into six pieces and hidden throughout the land. Time passed and

soon mankind forgot all about the demons that threatened to invade their world.

Even more unfortunate was the fact that the demons had gathered their power

and were preparing to return.

And thus began the legend of Rau.

Well versed in the art of combat, Rau would unknowingly become the sole hope

of the people. His unique methods of fighting had never been seen before and

his skill with the sword, spear, bow and battleaxe were unmatched. Rather than

just attacking enemies one by one like the heroes of old, Rau had the ability

to lock-on to several targets at once with a beam of light from his right thumb

stick. Each locked target would carry one of the ancient symbols of Square,

X, and Circle; by pressing the corresponding buttons on his fearsome controller,

Rau could handle several adversaries at once with ease.

Combination hits seemed limitless and allowed Rau to handle different enemies

in different ways with different weapons. This style of fighting was most impressive,

and all who had a chance to behold it were struck with awe.

Some, though, felt that it was sometimes hard to follow. Rumors of a mysterious

floating eye called a ‘camera’ surfaced, and most were not very pleased by its

struggle to keep Rau’s exploits chronicled smoothly. Was it witchcraft? We may

never know.

Rau was indeed a fearsome warrior, but it was not just his fighting skill

that made him great. He knew that the song of steel was not always the sweetest.

Unlike most men his size, Rau was able to use stealth to his advantage. My lord

would often sneak around walls or on rooftops to take his enemies by surprise

and slay them with no mercy. One enemy. Two enemies. It mattered not.

Aided with the ability to see through the eyes of Kuzo, his hawk spirit guide, Rau was able to scout out the road ahead and plan his attack accordingly. In addition to this sight, Kuzo also helped Rau by locating special items and tripping switches for doors. Who would guess that a mere bird could be such a threat?

As

Rau began to help the people in need, he started to realize his sense of worth.

He mattered. In time, his victories could not easily be counted and the blood

of his enemies ran the ground red. Rau may have been a benevolent protector,

but to those who would call him enemy, my lord was like a demon possessed.

When facing his opponents, he showed no mercy. One minute he would have his

sword buried to the hilt in a bandit and the next he would be cleaving a man

clean in half with his battleaxe. It has been surmised that perhaps my lord

was like a wild animal that had been kept too long. Perhaps. The time to unleash

his bloodlust had come, and though the world in which he roamed was colorful

and childlike, his actions were decidedly contrary.

The contrast between Rau’s violent behavior and his cartoon world was a sight

to see.

But my liege was not always so…unapproachable. Far from it. In between every

adventure, Rau would stop at the inn of his hometown and chat with anyone who

happened by. It was here that he met the ancient Sage, who would show him the

prizes and secrets in his future. By completing certain challenges during his

quests, Rau would gain access to several fighting arenas to further test his

skill. Completing challenges in the area would yield access to new outfits as

well as the works of art created by local artisans.

By now you must realize how good a warrior Rau was. Too good, in fact, for he could slaughter a countless number of enemies in just nine hours or so. A stout fighter needs a much longer challenge, or at least one that bears repeating. My lord’s trials and tribulations were very, very short. There is no doubt that Rau could have used a few more adventures, for his blades still called for blood.

So did Rau defend the Mark of Kri. And having no further concern, he

and his companion sought adventure in other lands. Many wars and battles did

Rau fight. Honor and fear were heaped upon his name. In time, he became a legend

by his own hand…but that is yet another story.