MFGG - Mario Fan Games Galaxy

Review Information

Game Reviewed	Legend of the Hammer Warrior, by FanGuy
Review Author	Vitiman
Created	Feb 4 2016, 4:40 PM

General Commentary and Game Overview

When I was much younger (and when I had first started browsing MFGG and other related sites), I always enjoyed playing through FanGuy's various games and trinkets. Unfortunately, like the vast majority of fangamers, he had a nasty habit of never really finishing his games (in fact, I believe he only has two completed games to his name: the first two Mario Mansions!) and as such, his potential as a game maker will never be fully realized. What he left us with, however, was a small taste of what he could do. With the likes of Mario's Mansion Perfect Collection and this little one stage example of then-incredible polish and refinement. But alas, FanGuy stopped FanGaming, and the world may never truly see just how good a fangame could truly be.

Pros	Smooth static engine Functioning Koopa Shells Adorable custom graphics Music choices are catchy and interesting! Game's setting really keeps you going and wanting to see more (...unfortunately...)
Cons	...but the game was never finished Just one, single level Admittedly repetitive first level

Impressions

Gameplay 8 / 10	The gameplay is very straightforward - it's your typical Mario fare with him going around and galumphing goombas, kicking koopas and provoking piranhas. It's all there and it works pretty well! I'm honestly surprised the shell behaviour works as intended, and this was in 2003! Not many fangames back then had properly functioning shells. But here's the real let-down, it's only a level long. It has a lengthy story prelude intro thing, but that really only sets you up for further disappointment as this is just a demo of things that could have been. "Coming in 2004" my arse.
Graphics 7 / 10	While they're relatively simple, you can't ignore the amount of charm these sprites give off. They're all custom, so it's entirely cohesive and it all meshes perfectly with each other. What else can be said? It's all great, it's just such a shame you can't see more than what's there.
Sound 7 / 10	Not a whole lot you can say about the sounds, they're a bit low quality and typical for the time, but what about the MIDIs? I have to say, the choices are very nice, ranging from the title music to the only-level's uppity theme. Can't go wrong with any of these, it all works as good as it should and the way it would. Or something to that extent.
Replay 3 / 10	The true let down of the entire game: it's just a one level demo. You won't be playing this one much at all, if only to replay it for, saaaay... a review like I did. While it's a very interesting and polished demo (especially for its time), it now echoes with broken promises and a fate not many were aware would happen to it. FanGuy, if you're out there somewhere, I hope you realize just how much of a weird, possibly entirely meaningless legacy you left on here! We still want this game! Or rather, -I- still want this game and would gladly force it upon the masses to appease you! HELP ME HELP YOU!

Final Words

In conclusion, Legend of the Hammer Warrior is a story of what could have been, what should have been, and what wasn't. Don't let the 6/10 scare you: this is a very well made demo, but unfortunately it has been nothing but a demo for the last 13+ years. Sometimes life is cruel to you like that.

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