GOTD 5/19/2016: Crossed Swords (Neo Geo)
Crossed Swords for the Neo Geo AES, MVS, and CD is often incorrectly described as a first-person RPG. It does have a fantasy setting filled with knights, demons, wizards, etc., and there is a very basic level-up system, given that you gain experience by killing monsters and collecting treasures. More accurately, though, Crossed Swords is a Punch Out!-like beat 'em up much like The Super Spy, where you fight one enemy at a time... but this time, unlike The Super Spy's first-person view, we get an even more Punch Out! experience, using a wire frame for your intrepid knight as you aim to fight back the evil in the kingdom and take down the dark wizard in his stronghold... and this time, you can do it co-op!
Being even more like Punch Out!, there is more emphasis on high and low attacks in Crossed Swords, and a greater emphasis on blocking with your shield as opposed to ducking. Up on the joystick blocks high, and Down blocks low. Pressing A with either direction swipes your sword high or low, and B casts a magic attack. You have a limited number of magic attacks to use with each life, and they can be refilled by gaining items or by purchasing a new weapon with gold earned from dead enemies. Movement between areas is automatic in this one, and there is not much of any exploration to do aside from a couple of optional routes in the tower, ship, and fortress.
Every few areas, you get the option to shop from a traveling merchant. Here, you can buy health and weapons, which are more important than your experience level. Each weapon has unique magic attacks tied to it, so upgrading your weapon is the way to upgrade your magic. There are also a few key special attacks by pressing A+B together along with the joystick up, down, or neutral. At the cost of a moderate amount of health, you can unleash powerful barrages of attacks that won't use up your magic, but can be just as if not more devastating. Balancing your attacks to conserve for tough enemies and bosses is the key to victory.
Crossed Swords looks absolutely fantastic, and the sounds and music are sweeping and powerful, really adding to the air of danger in the game. It is very difficult, and on AES, is incredibly hard without a memory card to allow progress after using your sparse continues. On MVS, you can quarter feed as long as you'd like, but by limiting yourself, you'll find a tense, exciting adventure, and one that's actually pretty long for an arcade game. Just bear in mind that this, especially as it goes on, is a block and counter affair, as enemies are briefly stunned when you block an attack. Use your magic wisely and save up your gold, and you can take it down.
Played this one? Anyone played its CD exclusive sequel?
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Originally Posted by ccovell
