RPGamers Network > Reviews > Game Reviews > Silver
Visuals:
Silver is a stunning game; even with my old PC that sucked the visuals looked amazing. The backgrounds and locations are beautifully rendered; sometimes I found myself looking at the scenery instead of killing my enemies. The graphics of the characters however, aren't as good as the graphics of the scenery. Each character is well done and unique; you'll never mistake them for your enemies that's for sure. The enemies look good, some are great(bosses) while some are ordinary. Silver looks the part of a baddie, while his minions are many. All in all, the graphics are great.
However, WHY IS DAVID SO UGLY? He is the ugliest looking hero I have ever seen. And! He looks different in the ending, much handsomer. Why couldn't they have kept that image of him instead of the one in he game anyway?
Gameplay:
Silver is an easy game, there are no steep learning curves. At the start of the game, when you can first control David, you are given a short n' sweet tutorial that tells you almost everything you need to know about how to play the game.
Controls are simple; left-click is your main action button while right-click brings up a menu in a form of a ring of icons around you. Through this small menu, you can access special skills, magic, use items or check your status. However, unless you check your status, the game remains un-paused thus if you are too slow in battle, you may find your character has died while you were busy with the menu.
Equipping and de-equipping items is easy: Each item is in a specific place in the menu; so a click will equip the item. There are 4 types of weapons in the game: swords, blunt objects, ranged weapons like bow and arrow/throwing dagger and wands. Swords are best used for thrusts, blunt objects are best when swung, ranged weapons explain themselves and wands have certain abilities that can be used anytime. When the ability is used, the wand is drained after a while and must recharge. Recharging is quite fast.
During the game, you will be able to find/learn special skills. Each skill is activated by holding down the left-click button on the target and releasing it. Each skill is selected via the "special skill" ring. Each character can use these skills. Strangely, the best skill in the game isn't the last.
When you have gotten the ability to use magic, you simply have to select the magic you want and you can use it. Each use of magic results in the drainage of power (signified by the ring around the magic). As with the wands, magic recharges. The more you use the particular magick the higher level it becomes. Up to level 3 anyway... When you have gained a level in magic, the spell effect changes(slight or major)and the cost becomes more. The power also increases. Each level can be selected once it is learned, via the F* keys (F3, etc) For example, you cast a level 3 spell 3 times and don't have enough to cast it again but need to cast it. You can simply switch to the level 2 spell or level 1 spell which costs less. Some magics have other abilities, like creating a ring around you that hurts enemies.
Silver has a different way of making characters gain in strength; instead of the usual experience points and levels, your PCs advance in levels after you defeat a boss. This way, you don't have to worry about building up your characters. However, there are only about 8 or 9 bosses in the whole game. This would have been a better thing if there were more bosses, yet there are so few.
Saving is a problem; especially if you are the kind that likes to have a save at every location. You can only save ONCE per Chronicler (save point, talk to him and he'll let you save). If you cancel or save, he disappears after that.
Battle System:
The battle system is innovative; holding control sends you into battle readiness. Once you are in battle mode, holding down left-click and dragging the mouse up, down, left or right gets you a thrust, a turn-behind-and-slash, a slash and a backslash. Holding down right click brings up your shield(if equipped) and a tap gets you a dodge backwards. Personally I used the dodge more, because shields always break so easily.
Battling with more than one party member is a hassle and annoying at times. There is a very limited AI for your PCs that you aren't controlling. They will stand there and do nothing unless they are attacked or they are ordered to attack. If told to cast a spell, they will continue to cast the spell until they run out and have to recharge or until the target is gone.
Music:
The music is Silver is lovely. The music fits each scene perfectly. The music is just so good. The music is calming at times and rousing during boss battles. Once, I spent a long time in a location just to hear the music again and again. For example: Somewhere near David's house there is a place overlooking the sea. The music where David's house is until you leave the area is peaceful and lovely. Add them together and you get a perfect place that you can leave you party for a long long time. At least that's what I did. Allright, I'm dumb, so what?
Sounds:
Nothing much in the sounds deparment, just the usual groans and grunts of the PCs and the death cries of bosses + spell sound effects. Rather annoying at times.
Story, Originality and Replay Value:
The story is well...*cough*...very cliche. It's been done to death. Evil guys takes good guys' girl, good guy wants her back and goes on a quest to reclaim his lost love. Add in a corny story about eight magic orbs that are needed to defeat said baddie but have been lost(location: unknown)and you get a laughable story.
There is some originality; in the battle system at least. There isn't much replay ability. Once you win, you won't really want to play through it again.
Overall:
Silver is an entertaining game, but not one that you'll replay much. The graphics run smooth even off a P133 with 16RAM, the music is awesome and the battle system rules.
| Game Stats | |
|---|---|
| Genre | RPG |
| Platform | PC |
| Format | CD-ROM |
| # of Players | 1 |
| Released Jap | N/A |
| Released US | 08.31.1999 |
| Released EU | N/A |
| Aprox. Length | 10-15 hrs. |
| Reviewer Rankings | |
| Battle System | 8.0 |
| Gameplay | 8.0 |
| Music | 9.0 |
| Originality | 1.0 |
| Plot | 1.0 |
| Replay Value | 2.0 |
| Sound | 7.0 |
| Visuals | 7.0 |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Overall | |
| 5.4 | |
Silver
By: InfoGramesReviewed By: DarkFant
Silver is an action RPG from Infogrames United Kingdom, quite unknown where I live. In this game, you get to control David, who is on a quest to defeat the evil Silver and rescue the women of his hometown(and his wife).Visuals:
Silver is a stunning game; even with my old PC that sucked the visuals looked amazing. The backgrounds and locations are beautifully rendered; sometimes I found myself looking at the scenery instead of killing my enemies. The graphics of the characters however, aren't as good as the graphics of the scenery. Each character is well done and unique; you'll never mistake them for your enemies that's for sure. The enemies look good, some are great(bosses) while some are ordinary. Silver looks the part of a baddie, while his minions are many. All in all, the graphics are great.
However, WHY IS DAVID SO UGLY? He is the ugliest looking hero I have ever seen. And! He looks different in the ending, much handsomer. Why couldn't they have kept that image of him instead of the one in he game anyway?
Gameplay:
Silver is an easy game, there are no steep learning curves. At the start of the game, when you can first control David, you are given a short n' sweet tutorial that tells you almost everything you need to know about how to play the game.
Controls are simple; left-click is your main action button while right-click brings up a menu in a form of a ring of icons around you. Through this small menu, you can access special skills, magic, use items or check your status. However, unless you check your status, the game remains un-paused thus if you are too slow in battle, you may find your character has died while you were busy with the menu.
Equipping and de-equipping items is easy: Each item is in a specific place in the menu; so a click will equip the item. There are 4 types of weapons in the game: swords, blunt objects, ranged weapons like bow and arrow/throwing dagger and wands. Swords are best used for thrusts, blunt objects are best when swung, ranged weapons explain themselves and wands have certain abilities that can be used anytime. When the ability is used, the wand is drained after a while and must recharge. Recharging is quite fast.
During the game, you will be able to find/learn special skills. Each skill is activated by holding down the left-click button on the target and releasing it. Each skill is selected via the "special skill" ring. Each character can use these skills. Strangely, the best skill in the game isn't the last.
When you have gotten the ability to use magic, you simply have to select the magic you want and you can use it. Each use of magic results in the drainage of power (signified by the ring around the magic). As with the wands, magic recharges. The more you use the particular magick the higher level it becomes. Up to level 3 anyway... When you have gained a level in magic, the spell effect changes(slight or major)and the cost becomes more. The power also increases. Each level can be selected once it is learned, via the F* keys (F3, etc) For example, you cast a level 3 spell 3 times and don't have enough to cast it again but need to cast it. You can simply switch to the level 2 spell or level 1 spell which costs less. Some magics have other abilities, like creating a ring around you that hurts enemies.
Silver has a different way of making characters gain in strength; instead of the usual experience points and levels, your PCs advance in levels after you defeat a boss. This way, you don't have to worry about building up your characters. However, there are only about 8 or 9 bosses in the whole game. This would have been a better thing if there were more bosses, yet there are so few.
Saving is a problem; especially if you are the kind that likes to have a save at every location. You can only save ONCE per Chronicler (save point, talk to him and he'll let you save). If you cancel or save, he disappears after that.
Battle System:
The battle system is innovative; holding control sends you into battle readiness. Once you are in battle mode, holding down left-click and dragging the mouse up, down, left or right gets you a thrust, a turn-behind-and-slash, a slash and a backslash. Holding down right click brings up your shield(if equipped) and a tap gets you a dodge backwards. Personally I used the dodge more, because shields always break so easily.
Battling with more than one party member is a hassle and annoying at times. There is a very limited AI for your PCs that you aren't controlling. They will stand there and do nothing unless they are attacked or they are ordered to attack. If told to cast a spell, they will continue to cast the spell until they run out and have to recharge or until the target is gone.
Music:
The music is Silver is lovely. The music fits each scene perfectly. The music is just so good. The music is calming at times and rousing during boss battles. Once, I spent a long time in a location just to hear the music again and again. For example: Somewhere near David's house there is a place overlooking the sea. The music where David's house is until you leave the area is peaceful and lovely. Add them together and you get a perfect place that you can leave you party for a long long time. At least that's what I did. Allright, I'm dumb, so what?
Sounds:
Nothing much in the sounds deparment, just the usual groans and grunts of the PCs and the death cries of bosses + spell sound effects. Rather annoying at times.
Story, Originality and Replay Value:
The story is well...*cough*...very cliche. It's been done to death. Evil guys takes good guys' girl, good guy wants her back and goes on a quest to reclaim his lost love. Add in a corny story about eight magic orbs that are needed to defeat said baddie but have been lost(location: unknown)and you get a laughable story.
There is some originality; in the battle system at least. There isn't much replay ability. Once you win, you won't really want to play through it again.
Overall:
Silver is an entertaining game, but not one that you'll replay much. The graphics run smooth even off a P133 with 16RAM, the music is awesome and the battle system rules.
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