Efera and Jiliora

~ EFERA & JILIORA ~

Brain Grey

CD-ROM

1991

This one has been a favorite of mine for ages; I've played through it a good five or six times now. I also love the Gude Crest anime, which features the two heroines. And if you're thinking about playing the game, I highly recommend that you spend the three bucks it'll take to acquire said anime. It'll fill you in on the basics of the plot, though the game changes a lot of things and actually tells a much longer and more intricate story.

This is an overhead-view action-RPG that's reminiscent of Ys (more in perspective, pacing, and feel than in quality of presentation). You get to swing your sword here, but honestly, given the Ys-style pacing, I would've preferred the bump attack. The hack-and-slash approach is okay for the most part, but flocks of small aerial foes can be a real hassle to deal with. You earn techniques that grant you alternative methods of slaughtering (or simply evading) your enemies, but they've got magical tricks up their sleeves as well, and there are many environmental hazards to be aware of all the while. So the gameplay can feel rough and tough at times.

E&J is a very dark game, both visually and atmospherically. There are so many grays and browns that it makes it feel like you're on a trip through a bleak, dying world. It's not only bizarre but even merciless thematically: two children lose their sibling and another is crucified, while a battlefield is littered with the bodies of dead knights, and evil cults perform odd rituals and murder/abduct your allies.

You can partake in the madness by butchering townspeople (occasionally for good experience), but their friends will chase you and attempt to murder you in turn. If you're like me, you'll enjoy the game's dark side; but others may just think it's strange and ugly.

There's definitely a chance that the visuals will turn some players off immediately. Frankly, there's nothing at all pretty about the game. And the cinemas aren't typical PCE anime-style presentations; rather, they look sort of like a side-scrolling action game, or more precisely, a Loom/Beyond Shadowgate-esque adventure. Again, I like the distinct approach, but it certainly won't appeal to everyone.

The soundtrack should have mass appeal, however. This is excellent red book material. One particularly sweet dungeon tune begins with a flutish melody which is quickly joined by a reverb-heavy bass line (reminding me of Castlevania); the combination eventually leads up to a wonderful sax solo. Great stuff. I wish there were a few more tunes, but there are enough. The bosses are also impressive, quite cool and challenging. In terms of attack techniques, they beat the Ys bunch hands down.

I've played through this one many times and I'll play through it again. I love the story, the characters, the atmosphere, the music, and the bosses. But it should be clear that it's not a game for everyone, and I don't expect many other people to get as much enjoyment out of it as I have. There are sure to be players who decide to let Efera's world remain brown and dead. But for folks who aren't deterred by its visuals, E&J should prove to be an interesting experience and rate at least a "pretty good."