The role-playing genre is represented at last on the Sega Saturn with Mystaria: The Realms of Lore. Strongly reminiscent of the Shining Force series yet with the advantage of a completely 3-D world, Mystaria presents a tactics-style form of combat. You will play on sprawling battlefields made up on square tiles for chess-like navigation and strategy. Each of your characters is identified by their class as well as up to 9 techniques in their action menu. This disc utilizes the typical array of up-close, ranged, and special attacks, as well as magic-based moves. Characters move a set number of tiles on the board each round, then it's time for a fight!

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Battles can be a mixed bag in Mystaria, often succumbing to a degree of unbalance. Early matches can be difficult, with hardened foes who can easily wipe your whole squad, but before too long your adept team is capable of annihilating fleets of enemies and most bosses in two or three turns. We did enjoy how the method of attack chosen will also affect your characters' level-up stats, so sword-slashers will learn more sword techniques as they gain experience. As for the plot, it is a bit cliche for our liking, but fortunately is mainly confined to the background. Careful not to read descriptions of your party members too in-depth once each character is introduced as they regretfully contain dastardly spoilers which can ruin the story.

Printed in Issue #32, December 1995