Secret of Evermore Retroview
Evermore Forevermore
Secret of Mana was revolutionary for me as a kid. The RPGs I had played up to that point were all turn-based experiences, which were great, and something I was totally fine enjoying, but then this game came along and implemented the Action RPG battle system, and was simply a breath of fresh air. That and the fact that this game introduced multiplayer for people to play with one or two other individuals made it quite a memorable staple for the SNES RPG catalog. Needless to say, I was excited to play what I presumed was its sequel, Secret of Evermore. Initially, I was turned off by the lack of multiplayer functionality, but when I sat down and gave it an honest shot, this game ended up being as good, if not a more enjoyable experience for me.
Secret of Evermore holds the distinction of being the first and only game Squaresoft developed outside of Japan. Square USA wanted to jump on the success of Secret of Mana with a new game that had a more American feel. The setting starts out in modern America, but almost immediately, the main characters quickly find themselves trapped in a magical world filled with unique sights, unruly savages, and unbelievable secrets.
The story begins with a brief flashback that shows a group of individuals talking in secret while gathered in a hidden laboratory, when something malfunctions and they all get transported to Evermore, a fantasy world that is created based on the individuals’ wildest desires. This establishes the game’s setting, as each world players explore is vastly different depending on the creator’s favorite time period. While there are only four different worlds to traverse, they are all filled with plenty of areas to delve into. Another thing fans familiar with Square games will notice is tons of cameos found throughout the world of Evermore. It is always a nice surprise finding items, weapons, and characters from older Square RPGs while browsing the many nooks and crannies of this magical, mysterious world.
The dog is great at sniffing out free things.
The game stars a boy and his dog as its central characters. The boy looks ripped straight from a time-travel flick and is a huge fan of B-Movies. Most of the zany situations he finds himself in remind him of a movie he has seen in the past, and he makes a point to call out the similarities often. The dog supports the boy everywhere he travels, and its appearance constantly changes. The dog transforms into different breeds based on the current world that the two are navigating. Initially, the dog reveals himself to the boy as a giant, fearsome-looking wolf. The boy, still trying to process the situation he is in, throws a stick to see if his faithful pup will retrieve it like usual, but the wolf returns instead with a bone, which ultimately acts as the boy’s initial weapon to start the game. The dog acts as the tank and damage dealer for the duo, and players can swap between the two characters throughout the game. There are a few situations where players will need to swap between the two to solve various puzzles that block their paths.
While the dog is a strong option for beating up baddies at the start of the game, the boy will grow stronger as the game progresses. Beyond turning into a robot toaster-mech that shoots lasers, the dog has basic attacks for most of the game. The boy will earn new weapons in each world, and the boy has access to Alchemy, which is this game’s version of magic. Scattered around Evermore are hidden ingredients that the dog can sniff out for the boy to scoop up and collect. The boy can then find random practitioners of the alchemic arts to teach him incantations where he can mix two ingredients together to cast spells. There are tons of spells to find that offer all sorts of abilities. The boy can sling spells that can heal him and his dog, damage enemies, perform stat boosting effects, or even alter the terrain around him. There is a limit to how many spells the boy can have equipped at one time, so players will have to mix and match to find the best spells that fit their needs. It is a lot of fun finding new spells, as they all have unique casting animations with some causing massive damage if they hit an enemy’s weakness. As the boy uses these spells, they will level up and cause more damage, heal for larger amounts, or have their effects last longer. Obviously, this system can be easily abused, if not for the ingredient component. Some ingredients are rarer and not sold by vendors, so the player will need to stock up on supplies so they do not run out when adventuring.
I am here for the cheesy one-liners!
Secret of Evermore emulates many of the traits Secret of Mana used for its gameplay structure. The magic system follows the same framework, while deviating enough from the previous game to feel unique and original. The action RPG battle system and ring-based menus are directly ripped from Secret of Mana. The boy can swap between his weapons and also use alchemy from the menus. Players can also adjust how passive or aggressive the other character acts during battles. Each of the two characters can level up and store charged-up versions of their basic attacks. While the dog only has its standard attack all game, the boy can level up all his weapons, except for a late-game unique one, and players can set up the character not being controlled to store charges and unleash powerful attacks when available. This battle system is fast, fluid, and fun, with the hit detection feeling improved over how sporadic it felt in Secret of Mana.
The music in Secret of Evermore is a mixed bag. While the songs that play throughout the game are fantastic, when available, the game opts to fill most dungeons with creepy, ambient sounds rather than an actual soundtrack. While this fits the moods of each area, and makes them unique, when the actual music starts to play, players can wonder why these fantastic melodies are not highlighted in more areas. The sounds of the Bug Muck in Prehistoria are filled with buzzing critters and popping, oozing pools of dark liquids, but when the heroes make their way to a more civilized area, like Ebon Keep, there is an actual track that plays in the background that feels appropriate for a town setting. For this game, mixing both types of atmospheres works, but one might still wish for more music in the quieter settings.
As a child, I was more fond of Secret of Mana, but after constant replays of both games, I tend to enjoy Secret of Evermore a lot more. The writing blends a fantasy setting with a main character who has a positive attitude and fills the adventure with his entertaining quips. The game boils down to a story about a boy and his dog exploring a fun world with all sorts of interesting places, while mixing in characters from the real world stuck in settings that they have created. Combat is quick-paced with both characters having a role during brawls. The people, places, and particulars that fill this game’s worlds are varied, making every location vibrant and ensuring they fit the settings they are placed in. While I do wish this game offered multiplayer capabilities, this is one of my favorite RPGs on the SNES. It will remain a staple of my replayed games when nostalgia takes control and galvanizes me to jump back into the world of Evermore.
Disclosure: This review is purely comparing this game to other SNES RPGs. Nintendo Power issue 78 has an article for this game.
Charming, light-hearted story
The dog is a great support character
Alchemy is fun
The cameos are great
The music could stand out more
No multiplayer
I used to have this one back in the day. The B-movie references started with the Hero’s very first line of dialogue and never let up. I do wish S-E would port this and the rest of its back catalogue.