Retro Gaming Review: Paladin’s Quest

If you are a fan of retro RPGs, you might have heard of Paladin’s Quest, a hidden gem for the Super Nintendo that was released in 1992. Developed by Copya System and published by Enix (now Square Enix), this game is one of the most original and challenging JRPGs ever made. It features a unique magic system that uses HP as a resource, a colorful and psychedelic visual style that contrasts with the dark and serious tone of the story, and a high difficulty level that will test your skills and patience.

But is Paladin’s Quest worth playing today? How does it compare to other classic RPGs from the same era? And what makes it so special and different from other games in the genre? In this article, we will answer these questions and more as we review Paladin’s Quest in detail.

Paladin’s Quest is set in a fantasy world called Lennus, which consists of two continents: Lennus (the northern continent) and Saskuot (the southern continent). The world of Lennus is rich in history and lore, as it was once home to an ancient civilization that built the Parj Temple, a massive structure that contains a powerful energy source called the Eye of God. The Parj Temple was sealed off by the ancients after they realized that the Eye of God was too dangerous to be used, as it could awaken an evil god named Dal Gren, who was imprisoned in the temple’s core. However, some people still seek to unlock the secrets of the Parj Temple and harness its power for their own purposes.

The game’s protagonist is Chezni, a young boy who lives in the town of Ratsurk on the continent of Lennus. He is a student at the magic school of Reiyold, where he learns to use magic by raising his affinity with the eight elemental spirits: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, Dark, Time, and Life. One day, he and his friend Duke sneak into the Parj Temple, which is located near the school, out of curiosity. There, they encounter a mysterious woman named Sara, who claims to be a researcher from Saskuot. She asks Chezni to help her activate a device that will allow her to communicate with the Eye of God. Chezni agrees, but soon realizes that he has made a terrible mistake. The device unleashes a blast of energy that destroys the temple and awakens Dal Gren, who escapes from his prison and flies away. Chezni survives the explosion, but finds out that he has been branded with a mark on his forehead that links him to Dal Gren. He also learns that Dal Gren is planning to destroy the world by using his power to create a giant tower called Dora Doru that will connect the two continents and cause a cataclysmic event.

Chezni decides to embark on a quest to stop Dal Gren and save the world. Along the way, he meets Midia, a mysterious girl who has a similar mark on her forehead and shares a connection with Chezni. She joins him on his quest, as she believes that she can help him defeat Dal Gren. Together, they travel across Lennus and Saskuot, facing many dangers and enemies, as well as making new friends and allies.

One of the most interesting aspects of Paladin’s Quest is its character system. The game allows the player to recruit up to two additional party members from a pool of 16 mercenaries who can be hired at taverns throughout the game. Each mercenary has their own name, personality, backstory, stats, skills, equipment, and affinity with the spirits. Some of them are more useful than others, depending on the situation and the player’s preference. The mercenaries add a lot of variety and replay value to the game, as they can change the dynamics of the party and the battles.

However, not everyone is friendly to Chezni and his companions. They also have to face many enemies who are either loyal to Dal Gren or have their own agendas. The main antagonist of the game is Zaygos, a ruthless general who leads Dal Gren’s army and seeks to conquer both continents. He is aided by his four subordinates: Gisa (a cunning strategist), Zalud (a brutal warrior), Zora (a seductive sorceress), and Zaygos Jr. (his son and heir). They are formidable foes who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals.