Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage
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| Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage | |
|---|---|
 The game cover, featuring Alaron and Keelin. |
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| Developer(s) | H2O Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | THQ |
| Release date(s) | NA March 14, 2001 EUR August 3, 2001 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Media | Cartridge |
| System requirements | Controller Pak |
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage is a video game developed by H2O Interactive and published by THQ. It is one of the few console role-playing games released for Nintendo's Nintendo 64 system.
[edit] Story
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage follows a young squire named Alaron who, while searching for a missing farmer named Kendall, encounters a strange spirit and is poisoned by Goblins. He awakes from a terrifying vision of monsters in the clouds to find himself inside the forest healer's, Oriana, hut. She tells Alaron that the poison is beyond the powers of normal medicine to cure. Upon returning to Castle Gwernia in which he lives, the king, Phelan, instructs him to ask the Mirari people of Erromon to help heal his poison. After gathering a party that consists of three of Abrecan, Rheda, Godric, or Brenna, Alaron sets out for the dangerous road to Erromon. On the path, Alaron drops by Oriana's hut, only to find it in shambles and Oriana cowering in the corner. She explains in between panic attacks that a man bearing a monstrous staff was demanding information. She teaches Alaron the Strength spell and sends him on his way.
Whenever Alaron finally reaches Erromon, the Mirari King, Txomin, apologizes and says there have been too many goblin attacks to spare a healer. He says, however, he'll be willing to direct him to a namer/healer named Cradgwagh who might be able to help if he'll destroy the Goblin king, Kitarak, who lives atop the nearby mountain. Alaron fights his way to the mountain's peak, kills Kitarak, and claims the Warfang sword. But whenever he returns to Txomin, he learns that the king has lied and does not know the current whereabouts of Cradawgh. Alaron scares the king into divulging another source of healing by threatening to remain in Erromon (for reasons currently unknown to Alaron himself) He says that the head witch at Talewok, Ardra, will be able to do a Crystal Vision and remove the poison.
As he leaves the palace, he is stopped by two familiar Mirari traders who advise him to converse with the Mirari queen, Yeraza, before getting back on the road. Alaron and his party attend a great feast in the tunnels under Erromon and Yeraza chants old spells upon him. She says that Alaron has the scent of Chaos about him and gives him a Stormbreaker, a blessed tree branch able to calm any storm.
And so Alaron treks to Talewok and along the way encounters the spirit once more. He calls Alaron "rehtorb", speaks in riddles and constantly talks of "joining" with him. Just as he proceeds to creep through the town doors, his party is assaulted by unnatural creatures that fill him with a strange feeling. At the Wizard School, the doorman asks everyone's True Name, but when he comes to Alaron, he has no answer. The doorman is puzzled, but allows Alaron to enter for being honest.
Ardra sends Alaron into the forest behind Talewok to gain an herb called Amaranth to aid in the Crystal Vision. The forest is home to the Dryads (fairies)who are the only ones who know where to find the flower.
As it turns out, the Dryad's sense of direction is inverted to Ardra's and her directions are wrong. After addtional search and turmoil, Alaron is not successful in finding the flower and instead encounters the Dryad Queen, Pandara. Only after speaking to her does she reveal the only thing that grows in the forest is Amaranth and that it merely takes many forms.
[edit] Playable Characters
During Alaron's lengthy quest to acquire a true name, he may recruit several members to aid his party and fight for his side-three of which he must choose before he sets out.
Alaron - a headstrong young squire, Alaron was orphaned when he was still an infant. Taken in by the King, he's in training to become a knight - if he can stay out of trouble, that is. Unbeknownst to him, events are soon going to sweep him into an adventure that will change his life forever.
Brenna - also orphaned when she was very young, Brenna had to learn to make her own way in the world before being taken in by the King. An accomplished thief - though she dislikes being called by that - Brenna is Alaron's closest companion and truest friend, even if they do fight constantly.
Abrecan - the very essence of a knight, Abrecan is the captain of the guard, sworn to the defense of the King. Devotion to honor and duty is his life. His gruff exterior belies his concern that Alaron's promise as a knight will go unfulfilled. Abrecan's strength and skill with weapons is unsurpassed.
Rheda - one of the youngest wizards in the kingdom, Rheda's passion sometimes gets the better of her. She's obsessed with curing her friend Niesen, who was cursed by a necromancer. As Alaron's instructor in the arts of magic, Rheda has great knowledge of spells and rituals - useful abilities when danger strikes.
Godric - the castle alchemist, Godric is a few beakers short of a flask. He's brilliant, but more than a little erratic, as anyone who's been unfortunate enough to be near one of his more incendiary experiments has discovered. Still, no one in the castle knows more about herbs and potions, making him useful, if eccentric.
Becan - once a heroic knight, Becan saved the life of the king in battle. But now he rejects the horror of war and lives a life of peace and solitude. An expert tracker and skilled woodsman, Becan wants to help Alaron on his quest, but struggles with his principles and returning to the field of battle.
Arturo - built like a siege engine, this armored mass of muscle is none too bright. But if there's one thing you can say about Arturo, it's that he'll do anything to become a knight. His single-minded pursuit of his goal makes him an ideal companion for Alaron, although his idea of battle tactics leaves a bit to be desired.
Donovan - this swashbuckling duelist doesn't understand the meaning of the word surrender - or the meaning of the word "caution", for that matter. Supremely confident, his prowess in combat just might equal his boasting....but there are greater dangers ahead than cannot be dealt with sword alone.
Baird - part poet, part barbarian warrior, Baird sees himself as the lead character in a great heroic epic. While he's often a little too concerned with how history will see his actions (and has an unfortunate habit of reciting dramatic verse at inopportune moments), he's a good person to have at your side when trouble starts.
[edit] Reception
Like several other RPGs released for the Nintendo 64, it received either panned or mixed critical reviews. Many of the more positive reviews, such as Nintendo Power, cited its creative storyline and strategic combat system. Negative reviews generally complained about its outdated graphics, repetitive musical score, and lack of environment details (IGN/4.2).
