I'll start off pretty simply. If you're looking for a pretty competent adventure RPG game like those you'd find on SNES, then this game is it. If this game had been released for the now-antique system, it would no doubt be a classic today. It's in the style of many of that era's RPGs, drawing unavoidable comparisons with games like Chrono Trigger, which is most definitely a good thing.
I don't want to give the impression that this game is just a cheap copy of Chrono Trigger, but it is definitely inspired by games that have come before it.
The story is not entirely original but it's still vastly interesting and makes you want to keep playing to find out about the characters and how they'll develop. The main characters definitely fall into some archetypical roles (the book smart sister, the adventurous brother, etc.), but their personalities are deep enough that this doesn't impede the story in any way.
The world of Bel Lenora is a fun place to explore, and you've got all sorts of different environments and locales to investigate. Exploring, though, is damaged by what is easily the biggest sticking point in the game: the massively overactive enemy encounter rate. It is really out of control. Sometimes you can't get more than four steps without meeting another enemy.
I probably don't have to tell you that this is pretty infuriating. I have to point out that (thank God) there is an option to run away from battle, but it's really not very effective. You can escape an encounter by holding the B button, which causes the players to animate running away. But as you're waiting for the characters to get their butts actually moving, the enemy has up to three attack chances on you. That's pretty devastating if you're hanging on to your dear life by the fingernails. Sometimes, your ugly foes won't be able to lay a hand on you, but that seldom happens. Still, having that option is far better than none at all, so I can't really complain all that much. But even on the overworld maps, you encounter enemies all over the place. This completely changes the dynamics of the game. For instance, if you're thinking about heading over to a neighboring village to stock up on supplies, you have to consider whether it would really be worth it with running the risk of being severely damaged.
That being said, the battles aren't boring. They're still fun enough that you'll be excited when you defeat an enemy or learn a new skill. It would be further improved, though, if there was a little more variety in the battles. Within a specific type of area, there's a high probability you'll come across the same battle area more than once. There's not too much variety in the environments or in the types of enemies you encounter.
Black Sigil is not an ugly game. Its environments are relatively lush and colorful, and the different types of areas are pretty well differentiated. Within a specific area, some scenery can get fairly repetitive but not so much that you really start noticing unless you are actively looking for it. Animations are okay, but are pretty dang choppy and not too detailed. This game was originally designed for the GameBoy Advance, and you can really tell if you take a closer look.
Another dead giveaway that the game was designed first for the GBA is that this is really a one-screen game. The top screen is hardly used for anything, and what little information is up there isn't really laid out in the most logical way. But this is nitpicking, and a game like this one doesn't need to have an effective use of the top screen. That's not the point. The point is to play, advance, and level up.
And leveling up isn't all that hard thanks to some pretty standard but well-tested controls. Of course, controlling the game via the stylus on the bottom screen is atrocious, but no one plays their DS that way anyway. The control pad setup for battles (one attack for each direction on the pad) makes battles easy to navigate and relatively quick. Not all the buttons are used, but that's really because they aren't needed.
In-game menus are not quite as slick as the controls. Actually, they're pretty awful. Some pretty basic things (switching around what items are equipped for different characters, for example) are buried a few menus down and aren't logically laid out. That's fine once you get to know the menus but it still takes too long to do many things.
The game's sound is pretty standard. The music is pleasing but can get pretty repetitive. It's well-composed and its mood often fits the type of area you're currently in. The battle music is always the same, which, because you're often in battle, does get a little irritating. Sound effects are also recycled pretty often for different actions, but not to a ridiculous point.
Black Sigil is a good game. If you've played Chrono Trigger or some of the Final Fantasy games, and you're itching for a new experience in the same vein, give Black Sigil a try. If you can get past the fact that you'll be spending most of the time battling enemies, you'll love it.
Gameplay: 7.5/10.0 Visuals: 8.5/10.0 Controls: 8.25/10.0 Audio: 9.0/10.0 Lasting Appeal: 9.0/10.0 Overall: 8.5/10.0
