Faxanadu (NES) Playthrough
604A playthrough of Nintendo's 1989 action-RPG for the NES, Faxanadu.
This playthrough is of the original release version. An updated version (Rev. A) that introduced a few bug fixes and a cleaner typeface was used in later print runs.
Faxanadu is an action-platforming RPG created by Hudson as a spin-off of Xanadu, the second game in Falcom's Dragon Slayer series. Faxanadu isn't a mainline entry in the Dragon Slayer series, but it is related to Sorcerian, Legacy of the Wizard ( • Legacy of the Wizard (NES) Playthrough ), and Dragon Slayer: Legend of Heroes ( • Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes (... ). It's a highly regarded classic, and rightfully so. I wouldn't say that I'm as enamored with it as many seem to be, but it is a blast to play.
In the world of Faxanadu (a portmanteau of Famicom and Xanadu), the world tree (Yggdrasil) is withering, the dwarves are becoming increasingly aggressive, and monsters are everywhere. You play as an Elven warrior from the town of Eolis, and the king has sent you on a mission to find the source of the troubles.
It's an impressive looking title, especially for one produced in 1987. The backgrounds are some of the most detailed you'll see on the NES, with some areas even faking foreground transparency effects to obscure the playfield for effect. Just check out the smoky haze in the first area once you've entered the tree! The color palettes are super dreary, but they set the tone perfectly.
The game is an action-RPG, mechanically similar to games like Zelda 2 ( • Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)... ) and Simon's Quest ( • Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest (NES) P... ), and the RPG-elements generally take a back seat to the action. You can upgrade your equipment and buy spells and healing items, but most of your time will be spent fighting monsters and hunting for items that you'll need to overcome progress-gating obstacles. It plays well, though the stiff controls and the pixel-perfect precision required in the tougher platforming sections take some getting used to.
But the game's substance and personality help to offset the minor quibbles I have with it, and while I don't think it quite lives up to the likes of Castlevania 2 or The Battle of Olympus ( • The Battle of Olympus (NES) Playthrough ), Faxanadu is a very likable, very difficult ARPG that'll appeal to anyone who loves 80s quest games.
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