>>It isn't as bad as it was said to be. Read this!
The game play is fun, and while some might find it repetitive, it requires multiple strategies depending on the situation.
There are 8 standard classes (Archer, Jester, Warrior, Valkyrie, Warrior, Sorceress, Dwarf, and Knight) but each has a counterpart unlocked by bonus coin-collect time attack games, which will unlock several more characters. When playing multi-player, you must make sure you have the most beneficial combo, such as a warrior tanking while an archer is shooting long range.
The items in this game are each unique and very fun. There are such items as 3-Way Shot (Which allows you to shoot three attacks at once), Super Shot (A giant crossbow that shoots a huge arrow), X-Ray glasses (Allows you to look inside chests, barrels, etc. before opening them up, saving keys you collect), and even a Pojo egg (Pojo is a chicken; when you get this item, you are turned into a fire breathing chicken!). It’s also useful to combine weapons, such as the 3-Way shot with the Super Shot to get maximum damage dealt. The game also includes Legendary Items, such as the Ice Axe or Holy Book of Protection, which can be found amongst the many levels to aid in boss fights. For example, the Ice Axe will pierce the heart of the Dragon, and the Holy Book will cause serious damage to the Lich.
There are 99 total levels in the game. Every 10 levels, your character receives a different appearance. For example, instead of wearing a light cloak, you will receive a gold armor plate. You will also receive special powers as you level, such as a flying pet that follows you around that shoots when you shoot, or a special class power when you hit 25 and 50.
The music in the game isn't bad at all. The music is very heroic and adds to your surroundings. The graphics aren't terrible either. The GameCube's graphics are by far superior to the arcade version of this.
Overall, this is an amazingly fun and easy to learn game. It's the kind of game you can pick up the controller and play when you want. It's very fun the more people you have, so try and find people to help you adventure. It's one of my favorite games of all times, and I have every console. If you can pick this one up at a local game retailer used, then go for it. You probably won't find it new.