MediEvil PlayStation 4 Game Review

This generation has seen numerous remasters and remakes of classic games. From the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy to Spyro Reignited, fans of old school PlayStation 1 era games have been treated well. The latest reimagining comes with MediEvil, a game from all the way back in 1998 with all-new graphics and a lot of the same problems. If you can get over the dated feel at times though, MediEvil offers an undeniably charming game perfect for Halloween. Check out Kidzworld's review!

MediEvil - Launch Trailer | PS4

A Twist on a Classical Tale

MediEvil has a more significant story than most games like it, at least at first. You play as the revered Sir Daniel Fortesque, a legendary hero who single-handedly saved the kingdom from the clutches of the evil sorcerer Zarok. Or so the story goes. Actually, though, Sir Daniel was very, very quickly defeated in the battle and instead of letting him live in shame, the King made up the story to make Daniel go down as a hero. The story proper begins 100 years later when Zarok shows up again to cause all sorts of trouble when he raises an undead army and casts the kingdom into an endless night. When he revived the dead, he also revived Sir Dan. Daniel gets a second chance to set things right and sit right beside the most legendary heroes of Gallowmere in the fabled Hall of Heroes.

Sir Dan is trying to get a second chance to defeat the evil Zarok.

Not so Fast-Paced Action

MediEvil is at the core an action game, but not a very fast-paced one. It has a slower but relaxing flow to it that lets you take in the spooky mood. That isn’t to say it isn’t challenging though, it can get pretty hard at times. There aren’t save points everywhere, so when you lose all of your health you are brought back to the start of the area. Luckily, there are health pickups and spots of light on the ground that you can heal with if things get too dicey. Try not to pick them up the moment you see them and instead wait until you are hurt and need it. The combat is really easy to pick up and learn, with a handful of weapons at Dan’s disposal. Tons of weapons including shields, swords, hammers, a chicken wing, yes a chicken wing and even Dan’s own arm (among others) can be discovered and used throughout the game.

The Dan Cam can sometimes help when the camera doesn't want to cooperate.

It is easy to learn but doesn’t have too much room for mastery. Once you have gotten used to all the weapons, most combat encounters end up being about running around in a circle and mashing the attack button. That isn’t to say it isn’t fun, the wacky monsters and big boss battles make you want to keep going so you can see what lies around the next bend. There are puzzles and some platforming along with the combat as well. The puzzles are never really frustrating and don’t take too long to complete, but the platforming and obstacles can start to feel annoying sometimes especially since you have to replay large chunks of levels when you die. There are collectibles to find in the levels in the form of Chalice’s that grant you permission to enter the Hall of Heroes. Without saying too much, you’ll want to collect all of these. Luckily you can re-enter levels if you miss one.

The platforming can be a good way to keep things fresh outside of combat.

Final Thoughts

The main problems with the game are very common with games from the time. When 3D games were first becoming popular, game developers were making up the rules as they went along, and often this means the camera is often a little wonky. The remake tries to fix this a little bit by adding an optional over the shoulder style camera, but ultimately neither method is ideal all of the time. Overall, MediEvil is a quaint and charming adventure that is still an unapologetic PS1 era experience. The story setup makes you want to see Sir Daniel succeed in his quest, even if the combat doesn’t have a lot of depth to it. Sir Daniel and MediEvil are not quite as famous as his peers like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, but I am glad that he gets another shot to shine. This is a great game for the Halloween time with zombies, ghouls and skeletons abound, so between this and Luigi’s Mansion 3 (or Ghostbusters) there is a gaming experience for everyone to finish off October with. 

The graphics are a huge leap over the PS1 original, but not much else is improved.

Pros

• Charming World
• Great Cast of Characters
• Large Variety of Weapons
• Levels Packed with Spooky Atmosphere

Cons

• Difficulty Spikes
• Controls in Combat Can be Frustrating
• Poor Camera

MediEvil Game Rating:

MediEvil Box Art

Now Available for PlayStation 4 

Share Your Thoughts

What do you think? Do you wanna help Sir Dan get a second chance at defeating Zarok? What are your favorite spooky games? Let us know below!

By: Noah Friscopp