Vay
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For the town in France, see Vay, Loire-Atlantique.
| Vay | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | SIMS |
| Publisher(s) | Working Designs |
| Release date(s) |  April 14, 1994 |
| Genre(s) | RPG |
| Mode(s) | Single Player |
| Rating(s) | VRC: MA-13 |
| Platform(s) | Sega CD |
| Media | 1x CD-ROM |
Vay is a 2D Anime Fantasy/Sci-Fi RPG published and developed by SIMS in Japan for the Sega CD Console. Working Designs localized and published the American release.
Contents |
[edit] Story
[edit] Background
Over a millennium ago, in a far away part of the galaxy, a huge interstellar war had taken place. During the conflict, a large machine (mecha) escapes the battlefield. Its guidance system is broken and the pilot is dead, but it continues hurtling outward into space.
After a time, it crashes into the planet of Vay. This planet is inhabited by people, but they have little technology. The machine, programmed only for death, rampages across the planet killing and destroying anything it sees.
It took the combined forces of the five strongest wizards on the planet to stop the machine. Its power was sealed away in five magical orbs, which were taken to far away hidden places. The machine itself was also locked away. In time, however, the legend of the machine was nearly forgotten by all.
[edit] Setting
In the kingdom of Lorath, Prince Sandor is about to wed his love, Lady Elin. The most important dignitaries of the four kingdoms have attended, ensuring that the kingdom of Lorath is secure for another generation.
While in the middle of their vows, the castle is attacked by a large fleet of robots! The castle is bombarded with projectiles. During the siege, Elin is kidnapped by one of the machines. Sandor, unable to save his love, can only cry out in vain.
The siege ends and the robots leave, taking Elin with them. Lorath Castle has been fairly damaged, but still standing. Sandor is left with little choice but to pursue the mysterious machines and rescue Elin. He has little to go on, but is advised to seek the knowledge of a Wise Man named Otto. The plot continues to unfold from there.
[edit] Gameplay
Vay is a mostly straight-forward RPG. You have levels, equipment, and magic spells. You fight most enemies randomly while traveling. Each fight is dictated in turns, where you give orders (such as attack, magic or item) every turn or let the game automatically make decisions for you. There are few real puzzles outside wandering through places like a maze.
Monster level/power becomes increasingly erratic. Some bosses are much, much tougher than their surrounding normal enemies. Over two-thirds through, monsters tend to give less gold and erratic experience, despite increased power.
[edit] Graphics & Sound
The game is colorful with somewhat simple landscapes. Most NPCs and human characters are minimal in size but have good detail, while most monsters are quite big and have better detail. Battle graphics are good, with different looks for different weapon strikes and clear differences in same-spell types, but has simple two to three frame idle/attack/defend/etc. animations. Battles are also seen at a third-person point of view behind the characters, rather than a traditional left-to-right style.
The full motion video is in Anime and shows up at several important plot points (as well as the intro screen), but feels less animated than it should be. Voice acting (FMVs only) could also be considered decent.
The soundtrack in Vay is memorable yet limited. Most dungeons and towns consist have the same songs even though a desert theme and a 'goofy' battle theme are added. While much of the tracks have a campy feel, the most memorable tracks (battle songs, boss songs, and the final dungeon) have a techno-style.
[edit] Characters
Protagonists
- Sandor is the main character. He is the Prince of Lorath who was to be wed to Lady Elin before the robots attacked. He takes it upon himself to rescue her and eventually becomes the pilot of the legendary machine.
- Pottle is Sandor's first party member. He meets him in the cave where Otto lives. Pottle had spent most of his time learning under Otto, but now is ordered to help Sandor. Pottle introduces the player to magic spells more so than Sandor.
- Rachel is a mercenary. Sandor joins her in a tough fight while on the way to the Windspur Tower. She thanks them for the help and joins his party. She's a tall, and powerful fighter who atypically relies on brunt force. (This somewhat unintentionally rejects the stereotype of weak and magic-based female characters in RPGs).
- P.J., or Prudence Jurissa, is young woman who wields powerful magic. Sandor meets her at Kerzalt Castle, where the king offers her service to Sandor. She has a crush on Sandor (saying he is "well-equipped") and has petty dislike for Pottle. (Despite being most affected by his death.)
- Lynx is a free-spirited, hard-drinking bard. He gets caught up with Sandor's party when the party's failed encounter with a monster named Maytake leads them looking for a capable singer. He's a well-rounded combatant but has a rude and questionable demeanor.
- Kinsey is the Captain of the Pirates of Exeter Village. She joins the party when the party is in need of a ship to reach the Danek Empire. Armed with a whip or sword, she replaces Rachel's brunt force somewhat but she arrives to your party far too late to be effective. Despite Sandor's love for Elin, there is apparent sexual tension between Kinsey and him.
- Otto is an elderly but wise wizard. He doesn't join the party, but follows Sandor to help him find the legendary machine and expose the truth behind the robots' attack.
Antagonists
- Jeal is the ruler of the Danek Empire. Unknown to Sandor until later in the game, he was supposedly the one behind the robot attack. Jeal's only motive is to unlock the secret of the legendary machine and rule the world!
- Sadoul is Jeal's advisor. While it seems Jeal is the one calling the shots, it is actually Sadoul who is pulling the strings. It isn't until nearer the end of the game that they discover he wants the power of the legendary machine for himself. With the machine, he can "play God" and obtain immortality through science.
[edit] Trivia
- Despite being a mostly unknown game, Vay is referenced and mocked in the disliked internet RPG Super Jarrod RPG. This game uses music and plot elements from Vay, and the creator remarks openly about Vay in the instruction manual.
- Sandor's name in the Japanese version of the game was 'Heibelger'. Working Designs gives the original script a slight nod by having Kerzalt's High Minister have the name 'Heibelger'.
- In the Japanese version the harpy enemies are bare chested. Working Designs fixed this by having them wear bikini tops to cover up the nudity.
