From the makers of the highly addictive Final Fantasy saga, SoE will make a wonderful addition to your games shelf.
Secret of Evermore is the tale of a boy and his dog that let curiosity get the better of them. While exploring an abandoned mansion, the duo are zapped to another world: Evermore, where the original creators have been stuck for centuries. What follows is a somewhat linear but enjoyable adventure as the pair try to find a way home.
Gameplay is easy to get used to. Unlike other titles by Square / SquareEnix / Squaresoft (whatever they call themselves now), there is no turn-based battles - manoeuvre and hit the enemies. It's that simple. Sometimes it may seem too simple, but I believe the dialogue more than makes up for this.
Magic takes the form of alchemy - where new formulae are given to the boy by NPCs. Alchemy spells generally grow more powerful the more you use them, but there are exceptions.
The graphics are typical of the SNES era - good enough to appear okay compared to others on the same system, but perhaps could have been better, considering the game was released near the tail end of said era. The music accompanying each clime is so good it's hard to imagine it as anything else: Antiqua's desert, the dungeons of Gothica, and the battle music are all personal favourites. The dog can become annoying at times, but it's easy enough just to kill him off and play without having to worry about him interrupting.
Little easter eggs include the Chocobo Egg (anyone that's ever played any Final Fantasy game will know what a chocobo is), and Cecil from Final Fantasy IV can be found in Gothica running an armour shop. But for the most part SoE stands on its own two feet - i.e. doesn't rely or reuse ideas from previous games. The spells are original, the mosters are original, and the boy (although prone to quoting B-films) is likeable.
Throughout the game, symbols and themes recur, such as the battle of light versus dark. Most notably, the Podunkers vs their evil twins, even the chessboard in Gothica, portraying the light castle in opposition to the dark castle, with the board smack in the middle. This battle for balance culminates in a unique ending, where neither side truly conquers the other.
So get a copy, if you haven't already. This is one classic no gamer should be without.