Review JAM 2/5 · Feb 25, 2017
Aztec Adventure (Sega Master System)
Pros:
+ Cute, catchy music available in both PSG (chiptune) and FM formats
+ Colorful sprites and stages
+ Has a variety of special items
Cons:
- Frustrating range/hitbox from standard attack
- Slow character movement
- Bosses have cheap attacks that are sometimes impossible to avoid
- Dying requires you to redo the entire stage from the …
Pros:
+ Cute, catchy music available in both PSG (chiptune) and FM formats
+ Colorful sprites and stages
+ Has a variety of special items
Cons:
- Frustrating range/hitbox from standard attack
- Slow character movement
- Bosses have cheap attacks that are sometimes impossible to avoid
- Dying requires you to redo the entire stage from the start
- Useless partner system
-
Final Thoughts:
Having grown up a Sega Master System child, Aztec Adventure was one of the games my dad and I were never able to finish, even in the 90's by the time I was a teenager. Usually when I'd reach the third stage, frustration would set in after taking a death or two and I'd just give up. Fast forward nearly 30 years later from when I originally played it and thanks to emulation/countless save states (not ashamed to admit it!), I finally finished it and I'm not sure I feel any differently about the game as I initially did as a kid.
The game has a lot of unfair moments, with many parts requiring memorization and/or trial and error. Attacking with the sword (or is it a knife?) is clunky and awkward, which makes fighting bosses a chore and harder than it really needs to be. The game has a variety of special items but almost all of them are worthless, as a lot of monsters are actually invulnerable to some and nearly all bosses are unaffected by them. The partner system also barely serves a purpose, as all they do is get bumped around by enemies until they die.
On the bright side, I always found the music to be catchy and the character designs were cute and colorful. It felt good to finish the game but I doubt I'll ever see myself playing the game again, unless it was to show someone what one of the most frustrating Master System games I owned was.
ENDING SPOILERS: