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Preview  Magi-Nation: Keeper's Quest
- By Francis Bonnet


Earlier this year, Interactive Imagination released the original Magi Nation for the Gameboy Color. I’m sure those of you who were looking for an alternative to the sickening cuteness of Pikachu and his friends found Magi-Nation to be a more-than-welcome RPG. This winter, Interactive Imagination plans to release a follow-up to the original with Magi-Nation: Keeper’s Quest.

Although the story sounds similar to that of Pokemon (and what Gameboy RPG doesn’t sound similar to Pokemon these days?), there’s sure to be slight twists and some surprises along the way. You take control of Salafy, a Magi-Trainer who must travel throughout five regions of the Moonlands on a quest to find the Keeper’s Trails, which are heavily guarded by Keepers. Your goal is to become a Keeper, and to do that you must face existing Keepers as the low-life Magi Trainer that you are. You must travel through mountaintops, marshes, deserts, and other dangerous areas in order to become the super-supreme-ultimate Magi-Trainer. But don’t expect your adventure to be easy. There will be many complex puzzles and mazes that you’ll have to work your way through before you can face the Keepers. Expect to see old and new characters such as Yaki and Eidon on your quest for the best.

Control will be similar to that of the first Magi-Nation and other RPGs. The control pad moves Salafy around in the overhead view and is used to scroll between options in the menu screen. The A button takes care of all the actions you’ll be doing (flipping switches, talking to people), and holding the B button makes Salafy run. As usual the Start button accesses the menu screen.

Since Keeper’s Quest is due out this winter, by then you should all be finished with Pokemon Crystal, leaving you no excuse to not try out a new RPG. Those of you who liked the first Magi Nation will surely be back for a second dose of some good stuff. Gameboy Advance and Gameboy Color owners rejoice!

- 7.26.2001