Previous days' entries can be read HERE
This is a game from one of those studios who used to churn out licensed fodder for an easy pay cheque. There were loads of these developers on the GBA, I guess the modern equivalent would be the companies that flood Nintendo's eShop with lazy mobile ports and games with names that, at a glance, might be confused for something actually worth buying.
However, RFX Interactive, the people behind Lady Sia, actually had quite a decent little portfolio of licenced games on the GBC and GBA.
I mentioned in the 'Scorpion King' edition of Gaming the Pandemic that handheld versions of tie-in games often broke the mould and were all the better for it - and from looking at the reception their games received back in the day, RFX were responsible for some of these; they have well reviewed games in their catalogue from licenses as diverse as 'Inspector Gadget' and 'Turok'.
Lady Sia was a rare original effort by RFX, although you wouldn't think so while watching the (recognisably French) intro cartoon. It's a lovely piece of animation but, sadly, I haven't seen any further examples in what I've played of the game so far - hopefully there'll be more in store for the ending movie.
This is an action-adventure platformer in which you play the titular noblewoman as she takes on a quest to gather support for a war against the T'soas - the game's chief antagonists.
Lady Sia is ostensibly a left-to-right platform game, but it doesn't take long to reveal its true, less linear, design. The levels extend in every direction and exploration is very much the name of the game - especially if you want to find all of the 2 types of collectables hidden around the levels. These are not compulsory or required to progress, but there are bonus levels available if you do.
The adventure takes place across 4 realms, with each realm broken up into smaller areas that serve as the levels of the game.
There are villages, cities, ports, castles, and several elementally themed areas that all serve to keep the environment of each level feeling different to the next.
The levels themselves are beautifully presented in a hand-drawn style; a water level has white tipped waves that swirl under coracles and lash at pillars. A sky port has a fantastic parallax effect in the clouds that, as the level progresses, is revealed to have links to a simple switch puzzle that bars your progress.
Lady Sia herself is also given the hand-drawn treatment and has some stunning animation. Should you slip from, or jump to grasp, the edge of a platform she will drive her sword into it and haul herself up. Her sword combos have a nice flow too, even if their forward motion can be a hindrance to battling foes on some of the game's smaller platforms. While we're talking negatives; her jump is also a little floaty for my tastes, but these are tiny flaws in an otherwise excellent experience because, alongside the varied gameplay and significant challenge, Lady Sia is drawn and animated to such a high standard that I would go as far as to say this is one of the very best looking games on the GBA.
Lady Sia - Another GBA hidden gem that should not be further slept on
This is a game from one of those studios who used to churn out licensed fodder for an easy pay cheque. There were loads of these developers on the GBA, I guess the modern equivalent would be the companies that flood Nintendo's eShop with lazy mobile ports and games with names that, at a glance, might be confused for something actually worth buying.
However, RFX Interactive, the people behind Lady Sia, actually had quite a decent little portfolio of licenced games on the GBC and GBA.
I mentioned in the 'Scorpion King' edition of Gaming the Pandemic that handheld versions of tie-in games often broke the mould and were all the better for it - and from looking at the reception their games received back in the day, RFX were responsible for some of these; they have well reviewed games in their catalogue from licenses as diverse as 'Inspector Gadget' and 'Turok'.
Lady Sia was a rare original effort by RFX, although you wouldn't think so while watching the (recognisably French) intro cartoon. It's a lovely piece of animation but, sadly, I haven't seen any further examples in what I've played of the game so far - hopefully there'll be more in store for the ending movie.
This is an action-adventure platformer in which you play the titular noblewoman as she takes on a quest to gather support for a war against the T'soas - the game's chief antagonists.
Lady Sia is ostensibly a left-to-right platform game, but it doesn't take long to reveal its true, less linear, design. The levels extend in every direction and exploration is very much the name of the game - especially if you want to find all of the 2 types of collectables hidden around the levels. These are not compulsory or required to progress, but there are bonus levels available if you do.
The adventure takes place across 4 realms, with each realm broken up into smaller areas that serve as the levels of the game.
There are villages, cities, ports, castles, and several elementally themed areas that all serve to keep the environment of each level feeling different to the next.
The levels themselves are beautifully presented in a hand-drawn style; a water level has white tipped waves that swirl under coracles and lash at pillars. A sky port has a fantastic parallax effect in the clouds that, as the level progresses, is revealed to have links to a simple switch puzzle that bars your progress.
Lady Sia herself is also given the hand-drawn treatment and has some stunning animation. Should you slip from, or jump to grasp, the edge of a platform she will drive her sword into it and haul herself up. Her sword combos have a nice flow too, even if their forward motion can be a hindrance to battling foes on some of the game's smaller platforms. While we're talking negatives; her jump is also a little floaty for my tastes, but these are tiny flaws in an otherwise excellent experience because, alongside the varied gameplay and significant challenge, Lady Sia is drawn and animated to such a high standard that I would go as far as to say this is one of the very best looking games on the GBA.
Lady Sia - Another GBA hidden gem that should not be further slept on
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