The Magic of Scheherazade

So after being high on my "need to play" list for quite some time I finally set aside time to play this. 



Honestly I'm having to tough time judging this game. Of course I haven't played it long,but the game is so....inconsistent.



Like some of the game's graphics are just downright terrible,like the overworld backgrounds,while other graphics,like the portraits of the people you talk to,are awesome.



Most of the music is good so far,although the overworld theme isn't very good. The action is bizarre as well. The overworld action reminds me of Crystalis's as you walk around defeating enemies but....you also have enemy encounters like in the Dragon Warrior  

games,which is kind of cool yet really weird. The turn based RPG action of this one is a bit clunky,but a really cool twist on this is you can actually make peace with the enemies by bribing them so they won't fight you.



The towns are pretty basic and having to unequip your sword to talk to the townsfolk is pretty annoying. 



Also in the shops you can haggle with the shop keeper to get things cheaper. 

You can also get a loan too,which I haven't tried yet.



Like I said,I'm having a hard time gauging this game so far. There are a few things that I'm just like....ehhh....yet there are some other things I'm like....whoa,that's really cool,I think there may be a lot more depth to this game than I thought.



To anyone who's played this,whether briefly or beaten it,what are your thoughts on this enigmatic game? (At least for me anyway.)
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Comments

  • Interesting to hear. Don't have anything to add yet, but I've been wanting to give this one a go for a while. It's often mentioned alongside other "hidden gems" or whatever, but I feel like a lot of people don't actually play it.
  • Originally posted by: laddersandcakes



    Interesting to hear. Don't have anything to add yet, but I've been wanting to give this one a go for a while. It's often mentioned alongside other "hidden gems" or whatever, but I feel like a lot of people don't actually play it.



    I'm definitely going to give it a fair shake. I'm starting to make some progress in this game. (I'm not using any kind of walkthrough or guide.)



    The ironic thing about MoS is I've owned it three times in the past but never played it any of those times. (One of those copies was sealed though.)

     
  • Oh no. Did I over sell it? XD



    I know the game's weird as hell, but it was something I grew up with and absolutely love. There's no real character development, but the portraits really captured my imagination. And I found the blend of Zelda combat with traditional menu battles a lot of fun. Music's pretty catchy too. But I really enjoyed the portions of the game when you have to travel back and forth between time periods. Seeing the small differences between a town 50 years apart was really cool. Also that magic carpet cutscene is really something unique for the nes.
  • This is another NES title I've never played, but heard great things about. I'd see it all the time in the pile at the local retro shop (2009-2012ish) but just never snagged it. I may have to make that happen so I can give a legit review.
  • I finished this game last year(without walkthrough) and the game really worth playing it. I think it is a good game and I enjoy it. But the map and the manual are very useful to complete the game. I like the originality, and the arabian theme is pretty cool too.
  • Originally posted by: Daria



    Oh no. Did I over sell it? XD



    I know the game's weird as hell, but it was something I grew up with and absolutely love. There's no real character development, but the portraits really captured my imagination. And I found the blend of Zelda combat with traditional menu battles a lot of fun. Music's pretty catchy too. But I really enjoyed the portions of the game when you have to travel back and forth between time periods. Seeing the small differences between a town 50 years apart was really cool. Also that magic carpet cutscene is really something unique for the nes.





    Hah! I don't think you oversold it,I just wasn't expecting some of the game. Crystalis AND Dragon Warrior style action at the same time? Wasn't prepared for that. 



    I haven't ridden the carpet yet. I went back in time for the first time and got Faruk. I didn't realize you could add Coronya to the fight party. Not that she is super powerful right now anyway.
  • I should be getting it in the mail today or tomorrow and will test it out.
  • I've been waiting to play this one for a while as well, yet I never seem to get around to it.
  • So I just cleared chapter 1. I am liking this game more now that I sort know what the hell I'm doing. Just be sure to not use a ring (no clue where I got it) during a boss battle,it will transport you back to the beginning of the castle. T_T



    Also just noticed if the shop keeper gets pissed at you for haggling too much he'll kick you out of the store and steal 10 rupias. Umm....okay.
  • I actually discovered this game recently just by purchasing it randomly at a shop. I had never heard of it, and when I started playing it I really loved it and felt like I had discovered something special. It's a little weird for sure, but I had a great time with it.  
  • Originally posted by: gutsman004



    So I just cleared chapter 1. I am liking this game more now that I sort know what the hell I'm doing. Just be sure to not use a ring (no clue where I got it) during a boss battle,it will transport you back to the beginning of the castle. T_T



    Also just noticed if the shop keeper gets pissed at you for haggling too much he'll kick you out of the store and steal 10 rupias. Umm....okay.



    Man that happened to me the other day at EB Games......I told them their prices were too high and shit so they threw me out, kicked my ass and took $10 out of my wallet!??!

     
  • I have this in my library...I picked it up because I'm actually a fan of One Thousand and One Nights and Persian culture. I haven't actually played it though...lol.
  • I gave this one a shot a few years back and thought it was pretty neat. Never got too far in it, and ended up shelving it for something else. May need to dust it off and try again.
  • Now that I sort of know what's going on and what to do I am enjoying this game more. On chapter 2 and I am looking for some monkey named Supica.
  • I've never heard of this game. Seems like a zelda clone, is it pretty good?
  • Originally posted by: dahlmahl



    I've never heard of this game. Seems like a zelda clone, is it pretty good?





    No lie. It's my favorite NES game. 
  • hOriginally posted by: Daria

     
    Originally posted by: dahlmahl



    I've never heard of this game. Seems like a zelda clone, is it pretty good?





    No lie. It's my favorite NES game. 





    It honestly plays more like Crystalis to me,which is another fun quality game.
  • And so it begins............



     
  • Originally posted by: Daria

     
    Originally posted by: dahlmahl



    I've never heard of this game. Seems like a zelda clone, is it pretty good?





    No lie. It's my favorite NES game. 

    Nice I love me some zelda clones.



     
  • Got to a sticking point last night. I can't seem to find Supica the monkey. It would be if the backgrounds were more varied. It seems a lot of them just blend together.
  • Originally posted by: Daria



    Oh no. Did I over sell it? XD



    I know the game's weird as hell, but it was something I grew up with and absolutely love. There's no real character development, but the portraits really captured my imagination. And I found the blend of Zelda combat with traditional menu battles a lot of fun. Music's pretty catchy too. But I really enjoyed the portions of the game when you have to travel back and forth between time periods. Seeing the small differences between a town 50 years apart was really cool. Also that magic carpet cutscene is really something unique for the nes.



    Also, nice youtube channel, subscribed.  

     
  • I played through it for the first time earlier this year for the Beat Every NES Game thread. It's a pretty solid game. I understand that the NES version got a major boost over the earlier Famicom version; I've never tried the latter, but that may explain the inconsistently-impressive graphics that gutsman was talking about in the first post. It was minimally-cryptic for an RPG/Action-RPG; there are many invisible staircases, but your fairy is always telling you "Hey, use Oprin (the spell to reveal hidden stuff) here!"
  • I had the exact same first impressions as the OP -- The game feels uneven. High quality in some places, low quality in others.

    However after returning to it a second and third time and pushing farther into the game each time, it grows on you and you embrace its weirdness.
  • Horrible title. Even if you could read/say it, the font on the box is illegible.
  • Originally posted by: cirellio



    I had the exact same first impressions as the OP -- The game feels uneven. High quality in some places, low quality in others.

    However after returning to it a second and third time and pushing farther into the game each time, it grows on you and you embrace its weirdness.



    This game has had a "push/pull" effect on me. Some things push me away from the game,while others pull me in. It's very strange. 



    The cast of characters is definitely varied. So far I have a genie,an anthropomorphic fox/cat,a bird type creature,a robot,and when I find him....a monkey.



    My main beef with the game is that there is not a lot of variation with the backgrounds and with the enemies. (So far anyway.) It just seems like the forest screens,especially in the past,just kind of run together. Also it seems like you are fighting the smiling bandits all the time. Like.... All. The. Time.





     
  • I like the game a lot, but I do have an issue with the RPG combat. It's pointless. The EXP you gain from it is pretty small, and you never get anything of value. It's generally best to just skip\run from them.

    And honestly, leveling up in general is kind of pointless to a degree. If you can beat the end boss of a level at a lower level, may as well. When you start the next world, your EXP is set to the max you could have gained in the world before, so if you didn't level up, you gain 1-3 levels.



    Note: 30 mins after I wrote this, I see it here and never hit enter. I get distracted too easooo squirrel! I want ice cream.
  • Originally posted by: Ozzy_98



    I like the game a lot, but I do have an issue with the RPG combat. It's pointless. The EXP you gain from it is pretty small, and you never get anything of value. It's generally best to just skip\run from them.

    And honestly, leveling up in general is kind of pointless to a degree. If you can beat the end boss of a level at a lower level, may as well. When you start the next world, your EXP is set to the max you could have gained in the world before, so if you didn't level up, you gain 1-3 levels.



    Note: 30 mins after I wrote this, I see it here and never hit enter. I get distracted too easooo squirrel! I want ice cream.



    It does feel tacked on. I find it ironic that one of the townsfolk says the bird that joins your party will allow you to successfully run away all the time,but I've found that I get blocked from doing so even more.

     
  • This game has been really intriguing to me. I was very fortunate to purchase an under $10 perfect CIB on Amazon a couple years ago, not really knowing what it was. It is really very polished for what it is. The Dragon Quest style RPG elements are weird but fascinating to say the least. I also really appreciate the soundtrack. I am amazed that it wasn't Sugiyama who composed the Overworld theme, because it sounds straight out of Dragon Quest to me. I would like to put more time into the game soon.
  • Great game, excellent soundtrack. I like the different elements of gameplay, personally. Love the traditional RPG portion. The problem I have is with the class selection, because it can stop you dead in your tracks later on in the game. What class did you choose, Guts?



    I don't have a problem with the game's graphics. The US hero looks a bit better than the Japanese one, at least:



  • uOriginally posted by: ookii_risu



    Great game, excellent soundtrack. I like the different elements of gameplay, personally. Love the traditional RPG portion. The problem I have is with the class selection, because it can stop you dead in your tracks later on in the game. What class did you choose, Guts?



    I don't have a problem with the game's graphics. The US hero looks a bit better than the Japanese one, at least:






    I chose the fighter class. You can change classes at the mosques,so I guess if I need to I can at any time. I did find Supica yesterday,he looks like a flying squirrel not a monkey. This game is also strange for the fact that it will literally tell you where hidden staircases are yet other things are cryptic. Like for example the dungeons often have a section where you will fall through the floor (usually the section that impedes you from getting a key item) and there is absolutely no indication that trap is there before or after you discover it. It's literally trial and error to find out where they are and aren't. It's definitely frustrating for sure. I'm on chapter 3 right now so it's still early but MoS seems like a cool game that could have been one of the best on the system had they tweaked a few things.

     
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