Fray CD is the most recent updated version of "Fray in Magical Adventure" which was a spinoff game of the Xak series released for the MSX/PC-9801 systems. While the Xak series are Action-Adventure-RPG's, Fray is more of a top-head action/shooter than an adventure or rpg. So combat basically works in that you pick various shooting styles of magical rods that you find helpful in disposing of enemies and travel upward through an entire stage shooting and dodging enemies and avoiding traps and jumping from platform to platform. The closest game I could compare it to "play-style wise" would be a cross between "Gremlins 2 for NES and Legend of Valkyrie for the PC-Engine/PSX" except that the only real exploration is during the town intermissions between the stages that Fray must fight through to reach the next area. In the towns Fray can buy upgrades for her weapon arsenal, life, a game save and various levels of shields, spells and life regen items.
It's a really fun game though and even though Fray CD kind of changes a few elements of the original game here and there, it is easily the best version and cutest looking/funniest version of them all. Although all of the dialogue is in Japanese, it isn't necessary to know it to get the general gist of what is going on. Though if a story synopsis is what you are looking for, then you can check this out sometime:
http://www.gameflaws.com/xyz/xstory.htm I haven't written up the story summary of Fray yet, but it is on the list of things to do sometime.
Good luck if you decide to buy it, it's a pretty rare game to get a hold of due to it's popularity being higher than the entirety of the Xak series itself. lol
-SkyeWelse
