4847 replies to this topic

[Avaro]

I've been playing an overlooked GBA gem called Summon Night: Swordcraft story and I recently finished it. Looking forward to play the sequels!

 

I gotta say this game is a really refreshing experience from other RPG games. Instead of those boring turn-based fights, what we have here are beat em up kind of battle system, with weapons you make yourself.

Edited by Avataro, 15 May 2014 - 09:21 AM.

[Dawnlight]

started Jeanne d'ark last night and I find it has high similaritys of Fire Emblem (In a good way) anyways got to the point where you can move on the world map. And I fought a few battles at the church (free battle zone) and gained some levels. I'll go back to it in awhile ;P 

I guess there are no perma-deaths in Jeanne D'Arc. So far, it's Fire Emblem meets Final Fantasy Tactics.

[Ventus]

I guess there are no perma-deaths in Jeanne D'Arc. So far, it's Fire Emblem meets Final Fantasy Tactics.

Yeah, I let Liane die in the first battle. I made her rush in and she got beat to death. Liane has died like 6 times on my game so far mainly becuase I made her rush in for the kill and she fails xD

Its exactly like FE and FFT got together and this game happened. So far the game is enjoyable and with it being on a hand held I can pick it up anywhere I want.

[DragonDePlatino]

Just the other day I gained a rekindled interest in Yume Nikki for some odd reason. I made great progress collecting effects but got a bit stuck because, you know, the whole game's a freakin' maze. So to cool my nerves a bit I went ahead and gave Off a try. So far, it's possibly the most unique RPG I've ever played. And it was made in RPG Maker, at that! But for me, it's very Earthbound-y. Fantastic atmosphere, funny dialogue and a thoughtful storyline, but a god-awful battle system that gets old quick. Oh well, at least it's free!

[Maleboocado]

Kirby's Adventure. I have replayed Kirby's Dream Land too.

The only time I played this game before was on the GBA (the Nightmare in Dreamland remake with angry american Kirby in its boxart), many years ago. Decent, fun game, that's all I can say. Visually it looks great for a late NES game, it has a lot of pink, the light-hearted comedy is great, and seeing the game explaining how to draw Kirby has a charm. But the gameplay is poor. Sure, it's a big improvement over Kirby's Dream Land, where Kirby is mostly just a passive character who could barely interact with its world except by absorbing enemies, so now that I have powerups and different ways to handle obstacles I *can* care about the gamespace. The problem is that Adventure's gamespace is uninteresting to explore and watch. It lacks coherency: some levels are completely linear, some others are labyrinthic, some others feel too short, some others are too large. And Kirby's powers are cute, but nothing more. They're used in gimmicky, one dimensional ways ("now there's some long paths, let's use the wheel power!").

When I see Super Mario Bros. 3 I feel some of these problems are handled better. SMB3 also has very short stages, many of them clearly designed with one power-up in mind. The big difference is that they can still be played as regular stages. It's true that some water levels are more challenging without the frog suit, but playing them with normal Mario is still fun, as you need to avoid enemies, grab coins, hit ? blocks and use pipes. Whereas in the previous example of Kirby's Adventure, if you don't use the wheel power, the only thing you can do is... walk. And that's all. SMB3's worlds are also rich in secrets, Adventure's only have minigames and little else.

For a single game or as a sequel of the first Dream Land, it's understandable. But it can hardly be expanded upon an entire series without heavy changes, whereas the core Mario gameplay (jumping and power-ups) is highly malleable (does Galaxy 1&2 plays like Sunshine or SMW? I don't think so). I'm still at the end of world 4, so maybe the game improves in later worlds, but seeing 4 entire worlds with the exact same concept is too much: all SMB3 worlds play and feel different.

Other than Dream Land and Adventure/Nightmare, I have played Amazing Mirror (not a big fan), 64 (boring and insipid), Super Star (actually good) and Epic Yarn (also good but it's not a Kirby and I should replay it anyway). Maybe I should give another opportunity to Kirby, but I'm worried the experience will be mostly the same. What other Kirby games could I play? Probably the expected answer is Return to Dream Land, and from all the game's footage I have seen, it gives me a "New Mario" feel I greatly dislike (a shame, NSMBWii has a few great levels)...

EDIT: Finished it. I must admit it: the ending is quite memorable. But the final levels gave me mixed feelings. They're harder, a little more polished, but still suffers from the issues I have commented. The final level before the battle against Dedede is... interesting to play. It crearly shows the inherent flaws and limitations both the original AND this game have. But at the same time it show us how this game was in the good direction: the power-up system radically changed the way the player approached Kirby and its world.

Edited by Maleboocado, 16 May 2014 - 01:34 AM.

[Ventus]

Well I beat Majora's Mask yesterday. I didn't 100% it I didn't feel like doing it. I also started Suikoden II up I've been enjoying that. 

[Dawnlight]

I'm ready to play Drakengard 3. It looks to be an awesome action RPG. I hope it's better than the disappointing NIER. If Ventus only had a PS3.

[Ventus]

If Ventus only had a PS3.

I'll have one later this year I'm sure. I'm only getting it for Persona 5. ;-P

 

I've started up TLoZ: Wind Waker last night I got the master sword a little while ago, making good progress... for some reason I'm in a Zelda mood.

[Ventus]

And I beat Wind Waker, I can say I like the game, but compared to majora's mask in the combat system area is no way superior. I find the the Combat system of Wind Waker is horrible. Its hard to pull off spin attacks on the fly and the Lock on ability is just pure Crap. Its like you are fighting the camera while fighting monsters.

 

I found it hard to enjoy wind waker this time around since I had such a hard time with the combat system and camera. Well I'm going to start up Twilight Princess in awhile, so maybe its combat system will wash the bad taste out of my mouth.  

[Dawnlight]

Thanks a lot Mario Kart 8 for making me wait another 3-4 weeks for a PS4. 

 

I'm about 20 hours into Conception 2. I'm really trying my best to like this game, but it's just so boring and super super super repetitive. Also, the fanservice in this game just keeps getting worse. ugggh the pool scene. Can you say "Teach me about bazongas"? 

Edited by Dawnlight, 24 May 2014 - 09:50 PM.

[Espilan]

I've been playing an overlooked GBA gem called Summon Night: Swordcraft story and I recently finished it. Looking forward to play the sequels!

There were two sequels made for that particular game, though I use the term "sequel " loosely as each of the games are different stories in different places on the same world, using the same basic mechanics with some updates to the overall system.

 

Swordcraft Story 2 was translated and released outside of Japan, while the third game to my knowledge was unfortunately not.

 

 

My own recent gaming ventures have largely been the following:

 

• Mario Golf: World Tour (3DS)

This is pretty much my casual fix right now. On the occasion that I enter into tournaments online, my character is a black-haired female Mii named Vira. You might or might not see her around. If anybody wants to go a few rounds outside of tournament play, shoot me a PM or something; my 3DS FC is in my profile.

 

• Kirby Triple Deluxe (3DS)

kirby kirby kirby that's a name you should know

 

• GB/GBC Mega Man games (via 3DS Virtual Console)

No real explanation needed. I will say however that this is—believe it or not—my first time playing the GB Mega Man 3, 4, or 5.

 

• Elsword (PC, online)

My brother, an offline friend, and I have been playing this since late 2011. It's a side-scrolling beat-em-up of sorts that I'd say is comparable to Viewtiful Joe, except you get hard-hitting special attacks instead of VFX powers. You're also allowed to take your character and fight other players, either for ranking or just for fun.

 

My primary character is currently rank SS, which is the second-highest possible rank. This is particularly notable as I've foregone any and all class changes on the character, instead choosing to remain as the character's base class and play at a constant disadvantage.

 

• Dungeon Fighter Online (PC, online, currently in testing)

So Neople got tired of Nexon's crap and decided they want to take a whack at publishing their game by themselves. This one's another beat-em-up game, but it's more along the lines of a fantasy RPG version of Streets of Rage with several different character classes to choose from. Neople is currently running an open alpha test, likely for performing stress tests and looking to confirm just how much interest there is in the game being brought back.

[Eddy]

Went back to Pokemon X and I'm now training my Delphox up to Level 100. Because I got it through trading in-game, it gets boosted EXP, and plus I gave it a Lucky Egg, which boosts EXP even more I assume.

 

Anyways, yesterday I got my Delphox from Lvl6 straight up to Lvl42. The Battle Chateu is a lovely place to level grind

[Ventus]

I've gotten the master sword in twilight princess and got some HCP's and I'm working on the SnowHead Mansion dungeon (Did not look to see name of dungeon just naming it the spot ). 

[Eddy]

I've gotten the master sword in twilight princess and got some HCP's and I'm working on the SnowHead Mansion dungeon (Did not look to see name of dungeon just naming it the spot ). 

Ah you mean Snowpeak Ruins? Nice dungeon that is... although ice puzzles can go straight to hell lol.

[Ventus]

Ah you mean Snowpeak Ruins? Nice dungeon that is... although ice puzzles can go straight to hell lol.

Ah yeah thats the name of the dungeon, I say that dungeon was a little alright, but I kinda dislike snow dungeons for one thing. Damn ice puzzles. (I agree they can go to hell).