Review: The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Posted on October 24, 2009 by geelw

Platform: Nintendo DS/DSi

Developer: Media Vision

Publisher: Xseed Games

# of Players: 1

Rating: E (Everyone)

Score: A

Thanks to the very wise folks at Xseed, Media Vision’s RIZ-ZOAWD has finally come to the US retitled The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road and it’s one truly gorgeous JRPG both genre and Oz fans will love. The game balances classic turn-based combat with a great, innovative stylus centered control scheme that’s sure to be copied in the future by other developers. Nearly everything about the game is grand and feels just right. What’s here is basic enough for entry level players, yet the level of challenge in some spots can make the game tricky enough for RPG veterans to appreciate. This revision of the classic Oz tale doesn’t overstay its welcome either, as the adventure clocks in at a decent enough length and has a nicely done ending that resonates long after you’ve watched the end credits.

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Hands-on: The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road

Posted on July 22, 2009 by geelw

With tons of excellent RPGs on the Nintendo DS to choose from and more always on the way, it’s getting tough to keep track of them all without counting yourself into a coma. On the other hand, it takes something as innovative, lovely and just plain fun to play as Xseed’s upcoming The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road to snap someone like me out of that snoozy state and wish for a working time machine. While the game isn’t set to hit stores until the fall, I was fortunate enough to get some hands-on time with an English build at a recent Xseed Games press event here in NYC. Continue reading →