Warriors!  Wizards!  Adventurers all!  Join me now for a journey into the past to a time when gallant knights rode forth to battle evil and uphold honor...when magical incantations were more than mere mutterings...and when hordes of monsters spread across the land to claim it as their own!

Aidyn Chronicles:  The First Mage tells of such a time!  Tis the story of young Alaron who was orphaned at a very young age and taken under the tutelage of King Lloyd.  Our tale begins when Alaron is 17.  Bent on helping a farmer who has been reported missing, Alaron sneaks away from the castle and into the woods.  There he is set upon by a group of goblins and is poisoned and left for dead.

Alaron is found by Oriana, a wise old woman who makes her home in the forest.  Oriana nurses Alaron back to consciousness but is unable to cure the poison still working in Alaron's body.  She sends him back to the castle to seek healing from the Mirari, an ancient race whose healings are legendary.  The king urges Alaron to visit the city of Erromon, home of the Mirari, and allows Alaron to choose two companions to accompany him.  Thus begins our tale...but I shall leave the remainder for you to discover on your own!

Alaron's story is a fine example of role-playing at its best!  It is vital that you stop and speak with everyone you meet and sometimes you must talk with an individual more than once to hear all he has to tell.  Patience is a virtue that you would be encouraged to put into play for there is much to learn and it cannot be rushed if you are to discover and understand the full scope of this tale.

There are weapons and items galore in Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage.  You will find Sword, Hafted, Pole, Thrown and Missile weapons in shops or on the bodies of the enemies you have slain.  Making sure you have the best weapon equipped that is available to each of your party members can mean the difference between victory or death!

Multiple types of armor can also be found in shops or after combat.  Knowing which equipment is best for each character is just as important as knowing the proper weapon to use.

You will also find rings, potions, and scrolls that you can put to use.  Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for hidden treasure chests that are usually just off the beaten path!

Alaron (You can change this name to one of your choice if you like) will meet a total of 13 characters who he can invite to join him on his journey but there can only be four members in his party at any one time.  Be careful who you choose to take with you.  Not all of these characters is trustworthy!

The combat system for this game is turn based, meaning that each character is allowed to move and attack in turn.  Player Stats are very important in combat as you soon will see.  A heavily armored knight advances very slowly on the battlefield and moves in close to the enemy to fight.  A spellcaster always uses his arsenal of magic to attack the enemy from a distance, but a player armed with a ranged weapon such as a bow can fight from a distance as well.

Throughout this RPG, your characters will gain experience and can use their points to train in new skills or to advance skills they already know.  Many shops and individual merchants offer various types of training but not all.

Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage takes place in a rich 3-D environment!  The world is huge...with towering mountains...deep, dark forests...gloomy swamps...and hot, arid deserts!  The graphics are rich, vibrant and realistic.  The music draws you into the story and the sound effects keep you there!

I am sure that you will find Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage as wonderful and satisfying as I have...so drain your cups, my friends, and let us be on our way!

Aidyn Chronicles:  The First Mage was made exclusively for Nintendo 64 and has been rated T for Teens, ages 13 and up.  This software contains animated violence.

Install:  N/A

Gameplay:  8.5. 
The game alternates between Trek Mode and Combat Mode with very little glitching.

Graphics:  9.5.
Aidyn Chronicles is a fine example of a rich 3-D environment.  The graphics are quite amazing!

Sound:  9.5. 
This is another area in which this game shines!  The music and sound effects combine to draw you into the magical storyline!

Difficulty:  3.0. 
It is easy to master the controls but it is very hard to stop playing!

Concept:  9.5. 
RPG games are my very favorite and I was enthralled with the rich, full storyline of this game.  I think it is by far the best RPG I have seen for the Nintendo 64.

Multiplayer:  N/A

Overall:  9.0. 
If you enjoy RPGs as much as I do then this game is a must-have!  The graphics, sound and storyline combine to offer an outstanding adventure!  This is one of those games that I enjoyed so much that I will play it again...and again...and I'm sure that I will find many things that I did not see the first time I played it!  Add it to your collection and enjoy!