Here's another in my growing list of 'Strider' games: dodgy balancing, doesn't feel all that good to play, but looked pretty damn cool for its time.
MagneticBurn's excellent review hit on the game's main issue: it's a hybrid game that doesn't integrate its inspirations very well. One the one hand, its fast pace and linearity means it lacks the depth and sense of exploration (either of maps or of mechanics) that a good RPG should have. On the other hand, the presence of level-up mechanics seems to have given Cadash an excuse to be a poorly balanced action game since you can grind your way past unfair challenges. I'm well aware that there are paragons of composure and skill who can 1cc Cadash, but even after plenty of practice against the final boss ,trying to discern its attack patterns and come up with a strategy to avoid its seemingly-random and poorly-telegraphed moves, I still do better against it by grinding potions and DPS-racing than by actually playing properly.
The other versions of this game have a wider roster of characters with different playstyles which might add some much-needed depth, but the Genesis port is something I highly doubt I'll return to. It isn't awful, but even as of its release date there were better action games, better RPGs, and even better action-RPG hybrids.
MagneticBurn's excellent review hit on the game's main issue: it's a hybrid game that doesn't integrate its inspirations very well. One the one hand, its fast pace and linearity means it lacks the depth and sense of exploration (either of maps or of mechanics) that a good RPG should have. On the other hand, the presence of level-up mechanics seems to have given Cadash an excuse to be a poorly balanced action game since you can grind your way past unfair challenges. I'm well aware that there are paragons of composure and skill who can 1cc Cadash, but even after plenty of practice against the final boss ,trying to discern its attack patterns and come up with a strategy to avoid its seemingly-random and poorly-telegraphed moves, I still do better against it by grinding potions and DPS-racing than by actually playing properly.
The other versions of this game have a wider roster of characters with different playstyles which might add some much-needed depth, but the Genesis port is something I highly doubt I'll return to. It isn't awful, but even as of its release date there were better action games, better RPGs, and even better action-RPG hybrids.