One of the better freeware “indie” console-style RPGs ever made, Mysterious Song features hand-drawn 2D tile graphics, rendered battle backgrounds, a nice original score, and solid gameplay. Embark on a quest to discover your true identity. True to its console influences, Mysterious Song is very easy to learn and play. You can equip your party members and check their stats via a console-style menu. The writing is generally good, although there are a few obvious typos and awkward sentences. Monsters are well-coded, and battles are generally well-balanced – magic users and fighters are both essential to success. One of the game’s high points is the plot development: it's full of surprising twists and turns throughout the very linear mission-based arc (i.e. do X for Y to get to Z). In short, Mysterious Song is a competently coded amateur RPG that should keep console fans happy for a while. The game is a bit on the short side – 10 hours or less of play time, but it’s quite enjoyable throughout. Here’s hoping that DarkDread and his team would continue with bigger and better sequels. Recommended! Reviewed by: Underdogs |