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Avalon Code

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9.1 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 21 critic reviews
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Based on 6 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: XSEED Games / Marvelous Entertainment

Developer: Matrix Software

Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing Game

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)

Release Date: March 10, 2009

Summary

From the creative minds behind Rune Factory and Harvest Moon with the development studio responsible for the Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV DS remakes comes Avalon Code, an action RPG boasting a deep and engrossing story and innovative game play mechanics. Using the main character’s "Book of Prophecy", players can modify the rules of engagement during battle as well as weapon and monster attributes. The player even has control over the story as it changes depending on which gender the player chooses to play as, enhancing the ability to immerse themselves into the story. [XSEED]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Nintendo Power

Avalon Code is sort of a mess, but it's an inspired one. [Apr 2009, p.90]

GamesNation

Avalon Code is an atypical J-RPG thanks to its innovative gameplay. The adventure on which the game is constructed is enjoyable and interesting, while the fighting sessions nicely fit into the storyline and break the monotony – and are fun too!

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IGN

Avalon Code offers a unique experience among action RPGs. Capturing people and objects in the Book of Prophecy and playing with their attributes is a compelling mechanic you won't find anywhere else. The interface isn't perfect, but it's definitely engaging.

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RPG Fan

Although Avalon Code would be without a niche had it not included the Book of Prophecy, the package as a whole is one full of variety and enjoyment.

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Modojo

If you're looking for the next step in the role-playing genre and don't mind doing a little work, open up the book and crack the Code. You won't regret it.

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Cheat Code Central

Simultaneously walking the beaten path and wildly straying from it, Matrix Software has created a diverse action-RPG that’s very satisfying. The blend of both familiar and completely new gameplay elements in Avalon Code improves the experience rather than detracting from it.

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GameZone

Sure, dealing with the interface can be irritating. That doesn’t change the fact that Avalon Code is as unique and satisfying a game as your likely to find on the DS, or any system for that matter. If you’re willing to put up with a little frustration to experience one of the most original RPGs in recent memory, then Avalon Code is for you.

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Nintendojo

For all the mediocrity that can be said about Avalon Code, the few truly outstanding things do a lot to help the game.

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Worth Playing

Although it's a solid new IP on the DS, the control issue keeps Avalon Code from being something great. It's still decent and definitely worth checking out for RPG fans, but anyone who's not a big fan of the genre is going to get frustrated with the controls and code system.

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RPGamer

Avalon Code is a quirky, highly original action adventure that will probably appeal most to fans of the Legend of Zelda series or Harvest Moon's relationship systems. The glaring interface issues detract from the experience somewhat, but for the most part aren't much more than a minor irritation and can be alleviated with a bit of storage management on the part of the player. There are also a handful of localization errors that make a small number of the recipes unusable, though.

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GamePro

Avalon code is a pretty linear game with lots of hidden things to find, and some fun little side tasks. [Apr 2009, p.83]

Game Informer

Collecting codes and manipulating them is engaging, but the rest of the experience is merely functional.

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Nintendo Life

Avalon Code is by no means a bad game, but due to some niggling issues, the game can’t be deemed as a must-have title.

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Thunderbolt

The Book of Prophecy is poorly designed; it turns an innovative concept into an annoying, tedious, headache-inducing chore.

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GamingTrend

In the end, Avalon Code is a unique game that is hamstrung by from some incredibly clunky interface and navigation issues.

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NGamer UK

Once the novelty of bashing stuff with your book and fiddling around in its pages wears off, there's not much told hold your interest in this average RPG adventure. [June 2009, p.71]

Games Radar (in-house)

Avalon Code's story props up the experience even if the game's combat feels punishing, bordering on unfair, and if you're an old school RPG scholar this one deserves some study.

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NintendoWorldReport

Avalon Code has high production values and heart, but element-swapping really saps the fun out of the experience. There are better RPGs out there.

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1UP

As with so many boldly innovative games, Avalon proves that the main downside to new and untested ideas is that they've yet to be refined into something that works smoothly. There's a lot of quality content here for anyone with the patience to suffer through the clumsy implementation in which it's presented. Yet despite these incentives, Avalon ultimately feels like a promising prototype for a brilliant game that has yet to be created.

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GameSpot

Avalon Code offers unique mechanics but ultimately fails to come together well.

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Game Revolution

Since the combat is so shallow, and the story is rather bland in spite of how different it is, Avalon Code never really sucked me in.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Wallid K gave it an8:
Wow, this really is an experimental game. It's almost like the developers threw whatever they thought on the wall and hoped it would stick. However, these were the developers of the DS Final Fantasy remakes, so most of the stuff they threw were good ideas. However, there are some really obvious flaws in the system, like a 1,490 page book of prophecy that is a pain in the butt to navigate and the fact that you have to juggle enemies into space to get a decent recovery item. Either way, this game is so much that these flaws really don't mean much to me. If you like Action RPG's and like experimental games like The World Ends With You, this is a msut-buy for you guys.

Jose C gave it a10:
It is one of the RPG's we've been waiting for to come out on the DS. Its cool and long, most like Runefactory and Harvest Moon with Zelda Graphics, or so the critics say. Its nice to have this game for the DS. I mean, its the most fun I had after The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.

Dan G. gave it a9:
It has a unique take on the concept of a world-making game. You can re-define the meaning of anything in the game.

Matthew W. gave it an8:
It's not a perfect game, but definitely something to try if you are an RPG fan of any kind. The new system with changing the attributes of your friends and enemies, as well as having to customize your own weapon lays out HOURS of game time in itself, just trying to find the right combination. I can't wait to see if they refine this new style.

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Avalon Code

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