Lost Classics: Secret of Evermore (SNES)

Note: Despite the similarities in gameplay (the charging attacks and command ring menu system among others), this game is not in any way related to Square’s Seiken Densetsu series (speaking of which, I featured the third game on last week’s column), nor is it meant to be any kind of sequel or spin-off to Secret of Mana. However, those who played the game will discover that there are plenty of differences which will make this game stand out on it’s on, even if it isn’t mentioned in the same breath as Final Fantasy or Secret of Mana.

Besides doing translations of Square’s Japanese RPGS, this game was pretty much the only reason that Square put together an American branch. Although I just got through stating that this isn’t related to SOM, this game is pretty much an American Seiken Densetsu. However, the spell system is different, as instead of simply learning spells, you have to gather alchemical ingredients and create them yourself. You learn the recipies from the game’s alchemical masters. The more rarer the ingredient, the more powerful the spell. Although it tends to get tedious, it serves as something different.

You play as a young classic movie fanatic and his pet dog as they get lost in the secret world of Evermore. You travel across four worlds (a prehistoric world, a Roman/Egyptian world, a world based on the dark ages, and a futuristic world), discover the secret behind them and their creators, and of course find a way back home. The dog, who changes forms in each world, is key to finding items and solving puzzles. Even though it’s sadly one player, rumors exist of a rom patch that enables a second player to take control of the dog.

This game had three issues against it; players who were angry thinking that this game was meant to be a substitute for a US version of Seiken Densetsu 3, the fact that it was overshadowed by Chrono Trigger (which had been released a few months earlier), and the fact that this game was released so close to the end of the SNES’s life cycle. However, like all SNES RPGs, there is always hope for a second change on the Wii’s Virtual Console. Until then, search out this cart, but when you load it into your SNES, expect to play Secret of Evermore, and not Secret of Mana 2. You’ll enjoy it much more that way.