Jewel Master

The Good
What I really like about this game is that which I know others have expressed dislike towards. It's the core mechanism of having two attacks, one for each hand and each depending on which rings you have on the hand. Some thought this was making a pretty boring game needlessly complex - in a boring way. I, however, think this is the very reason to play the game. The idea as such is really cool and the implementation is, in my opinion really good. It could be said that the imagination as to the effects of the various rings is limited - an objection I wouldn't at all agree with. Furthermore, even though the story isn't present in that high a degree, what's there certainly appeals to me.

The Bad
The AI is perhaps best described as non-existent if you by AI mean Artificial Intelligence. However if you mean not so intelligent but sort of challenging it's there but not always very interesting. The graphics are perhaps not always that exciting either.

The Bottom Line
A pretty classic arcade-like platform adventure. There's nothing really special about it, other than the system of "choosing" weapon and that ::thing:: which I really can't put into words.

The Good
In 1991 the Sega Genesis was just making a name for its self on the console market with many big releases like Sonic The Hedgehog, Streets Of Rage, Spiderman Vs. The Kingpin, Phantasy Star III and even the cult hit Toejam and Earl that it is no wonder that such a fun, innovative game like Jewel Master would be left behind and left in the dust, although with a little digging you are sure to appreciate this gem of a game’s very well done Gameplay and interesting setting, I mean what other action has you playing as a spell master in a fantasy world?

The game begins with a small tall of the peaceful land of Mythgard, peaceful until the evil demon king Jardine sent his dark legion on the world to destroy it when the 12 Masters of the Elements, after a fierce battle only 4 remain and rejoin to use the magic blade to end the Jardine’s horrible reign. So you set out on your quest to destroy the the warlord and his minions forever.

As the Jewel Master you must traverse through the 5 Stages from grasslands, deserts, and spooking castles you control in common side scrolling fashion from left to right shooting spells at ogres, goblins, and even sandworms you use different element rings like earth, fire, water, and others certain ring combinations make different spells for fireballs you equip the red and black rings and certain spells work best for certain tasks making you strategize what spell works in what level, and what works on what boss, like obviously fire will damage a ice monster much more than anything else Almost like an RPG.

Although there are only 5 missions the game will take some practice to get through to the end adding longevity to an otherwise short game

The Graphics are typical for a genesis game from 1991 it still holds up pretty decent to today you will not be put off by the graphics so they still hold up decent in my book.

The Sound overall is great mainly because the music is some of the best music in a genesis game… nay its some of the best video game music EVER! It rivals games like Streets of Rage and we all know about that godly soundtrack, this game is seriously pretty damn close its the same composer of some of the Shining games and Landstalker! The music perfectly matches the mode playing upbeat music throughout the level, epic boss music and gloomy music in the games final castle level.

The Bad
With all these good things there are some frustrations for one this game although like mentioned before has a learning curve once you get down the strategy for every level and boss battle It is a cake walk.

Sometimes managing your equipped rings can be a pain particularly in the final act where you must switch between Sword magic and other spells constantly.

The Bottom Line
Despite having been passed off in its heyday this is an excellent action game for the Sega Genesis definitely worth looking into specially if you played Genesis back in the day and you yourself missed out on this great title.