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A.P.I Review:	CARDINAL SYN
Developer:	Kronos Digital Entertainment	OPTIONS:	SCREENSHOTS: No.1   No.2   No.3
Distributor:	Sony	1-2 Player
Game Type:	Beat-em-up	Memory Card
Review Date:	August 1998	Analog Compatible

Setting the Scene

Many years ago when chaos reigned the world a mysterious cloaked man 
appeared and began walking the ravaged earth.  This man was named the 
Wanderer and he carried with him a book of great and boundless secrets.  
Shortly after his arrival weapons were cast aside and gradually peace 
began to fall upon the land.

After several years of harmony the Wanderer, believing his peaceful 
teachings were complete, gathered together his clan, transformed 
his book and disappeared.

After a short time the remaining clan members returned to their practices 
of greed and brutality.  Unity and alliance was lost and it was amidst 
a bloody battle where total annihilation was almost certain that a 
blinding flash suspended all fighting.  As the clans gathered around 
the light, a figure of a cloaked woman appeared holding the symbol of 
unity.

The clan leaders offered her their sacred scrolls which she magically 
transformed into the inscribed swords of the Trinity.  
This woman was Syn.

Preparation began for a grand tournament.  
Each of the contestants fought to the death until only one remained.  
The triumphant warrior went to the temple of Syn to gain his reward 
and was never to be seen again.

No one has cast eyes over Syn for decades but now, a generation later, 
the weapons of Trinity await a new champion.

Genre

Cardinal Syn is a weapons based 3D beat-em-up set in a medieval world 
featuring knights, thieves, barbarians, jesters and temptresses.

Graphics

The game opens up with yet another stunning CG scene which explains 
the story behind the game.  I tell you, these intro's just keep on 
improving and this more than matches those previously witnessed in 
blockbuster titles such as Tomb Raider 2.  The fighting scenes are 
bloody, vicious and gory, that is until Dianna Ross look-a-like, Syn, 
turns up to calm things down by frying a few thugs with her finger 
of fire.  Before the characters enters the battle arena they each have 
their own brief CG sequence explaining their side of the tale.

Enough about the wrapping paper, what about the present?
In-game the visuals are excellent, which surprised me considering how 
little interest Cardinal Syn had generated before it's launch.
The characters can run anywhere within the 3D battle arena.  
That doesn't mean a simple sidestep or a sideways roll, but charging 
into and away from the camera is as easy as moving left and right. 
Furthermore, each of the fighting venues have their own distinct style 
and setting.  These range from narrow rectangular castle courtyards 
to large spacious dungeons and caves.

Each of the characters not only have an individual appearance but are 
armed to react in their very own fighting style.  
Finkster is a medieval thief who moves at a lightening speed before 
stabbing the enemy with his two trusty daggers.  We also have Plague, 
a personal favorite of mine, the wooden legged zombie whose special 
move involves vomiting over his enemies.  There is also McKrieg the 
beer bellied barbarian, Orion the sexy warrioress, Hecklar the tumbling 
jester, Mongoro the mutant who farts on his foe, Vanguard the dark knight 
and Nephra the Egyptian temptress.

With the special effects switched on the effects can be quite awesome.  
With each strike blood spurts across the arena and the stains remain 
there until the match is over.  Arms can be severed while special moves, 
if discovered, see your fighter completely decapitate your opponents 
head from his/her shoulders.  
Gruesome.      

Sounds and Effects

Each bout is backed by a selection of extremely atmospheric medieval 
tunes that work perfectly.  The sound effects are also satisfactory 
with every grunt, groan and scream of pain adding to the overall 
atmosphere of the game.                        

Playability

Before deciding on a mode of play a quick visit to the options menu 
allows you to finely tune the game.  There are three difficulty levels, 
adjustable timer and the number of rounds may be set from 1-5.  
Controller configuration allows the use of the left Analog control 
stick to move your character around the set while face buttons activate 
various weapon blows and blocks.  Shoulder buttons are used to jump, 
stun block, freely roam around the arena and a rather nice shove move.  
This allows you to unsteady your opponent before launching an attack by 
giving them a quick push.  Similar to Bloody Roar blood effects may be 
switched off (which I very much doubt), while the all important hazards 
and pick-ups may be activated.

Pick-ups appear in the form of small chests which are littered around 
the 3D arena.  A slice of your trusty blade opens up the cask and then 
all you must do is walk over it before your opponent does to collect.  
You see, even against the CPU both characters have a chance to upgrade 
their weapons by revealing the mighty Sword of Trinity or replenish 
their health by sipping a revitalizing potion.

Hazards are interactive elements that can seriously damage either of 
the fighters.  The choice of hazard depends on whose arena you are 
fighting in.  For instance, in the centre of the Jesters arena is a 
large spikey statue which, upon contact, knocks your character from 
their feet and stuns them for a few seconds.  This brief period of 
unconsciousness allows the humorous one to leap on top of your character 
and slap you around a little more. Other hazards include electrified walls, 
spiked fences, moving mine trams, rolling boulders, volcanic flowing 
lava flames and (one straight out of the Tomb Raider book of Jeopardy) 
touch sensitive crossbow spears.  When hazards are switched on they 
become a vital part of the gameplay and must be treated as both a 
danger and a weapon.  On one level my opponent kept shoving me against 
an electrified wall until I died without a blow being struck.  
Next time around a neat sidestep put my enemy in the same position 
with a similar result.

Game options include a Training mode that allows you to face any of the 
revealed opponents over eight levels of difficulty.  Survival follows 
the usual format recording the number of consecutive wins.  Team Battle 
offers a five against five contest with round winner staying on.  There 
is also a two player Versus mode for those of you with mates.

Tournament mode is basically the one player contest that appears in most 
games of this genre and shouldn't be confused with the excellent Tournament 
mode in Soul Blade.  Select your fighter from the eight initial characters 
and prepare to face all seven rivals.  Defeat them all and you will face 
the evil Cyn and her trusty dragon.  Cyn is not the bitch she is made up 
to be but Kron the dragon can be a bit of a swine to defeat.  His speed and 
size are remarkable and visually is far more stunning to look at than the 
final boss in Tekken 3.

Playing on easy mode you will easily reveal all eighteen characters but 
medium setting offers a sterner challenge.  

Value for Money

Visually, Cardinal Syn is a stunner but unfortunately this is one 
of those beat-em-ups that has a slight flaw in the one player gameplay.  
Trap your opponent in a tight corner and a single repeated move will 
eventually lead to victory.
Of course if you stay out in the open then this will prove a fitting 
challenge to even the best players.