An action-adventure with a good dose of Metroidvania sensibilities and a touch of RPG trappings, the Story of Thor 2/The Legend of Oasis landed as a 1996 sleeper hit. Join Leon in his quest to find the six Spirits of Oasis, become the next Spirit King, and defeat the evil Agito, whose return has once again cast a pall over the peaceful land of Oasis.
The game is a mix of action, platforming, and using your spirits’ abilities to overcome puzzles and obstacles. Leon can collect four distinct weapons and level them up as he progresses; he can perform various combo moves with each weapon. Likewise, gems and scrolls can be collected to power-up the spirits and imbue his weapons with elemental power. Controls can take a bit to get used to, but are ultimately responsive and satisfying.
The visuals are excellent 2D pixel art, and the use of color gradients helps the player judge heights, as the game is viewed from a top-down perspective. Augmenting the experience significantly is a minimalist Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack that adds to the feeling of playing through a legend or fable.
The game was criticized for dropping some of the RPG elements of its excellent Mega Drive/Genesis prequel, but with solid visuals, clever puzzles, well-paced progress, and a memorable soundtrack, The Legend of Oasis manages to carve itself a space amongst the Saturn’s best games.
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