RELIC OF ETERNITY
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                                            REVIEW
                                              by
                                        Dan Laurikietis


Mediocrity plagues the RPG 95 community.  Probably every RPG 95 user has made games that at
the time were a labour of love and seemed like the game that was going to put you on the map
but in the light of day seem shoddy and unaccomplished.  I know I have (see Excursion To
The Land Of Murr).  It's not that ROE is a bad game by any means but it is plagued by the 
feeling that it could have been so much more.  The plot is an elaborate knife in the back 
set up.  Our guy Merca is a member of the Gladiers an infantry unit who years ago lost
in combat to the Commodras.  The commodras have since put the Gladiers to work destroying
nasty monsters which is where Merca and his mentor Winnek come in.  What could have been
a classic opening act is nothing short of tedious.  To stand a chance against the Berda,
 a Gladier informs you, you have to level up to LV6.  So the first act of the game is spent
roaming around a cave looking for fights.  This would be acceptable if the player had a
reason to want to advance in the game but at this point we know nothing about our 
protagonist, nor do we care as all we've been treated to is a nonsensical fragmented
intro.  
Thankfully the game does get better and we get to know more about the Merca and his
supporting cast as the story goes which is a nice touch.  A few custom gfx are used but
the environments are mostly dull and uninspired.  Furthermore the learning curve in
battle sequence leaves a lot to be desired as enemies fluctuate between being insultingly
easy and monstrously difficult without warning. 
ROE has good intentions and its valiant attempt at an engaging plot is mired by poor
planning and shoddy design.
 
DAN SEZ- **
         (2/5)