I played brutal legend, you know what I wanted to know? How many hit points I had, how many shots would it take to kill that bear, how fast in MPH does my car go if I put that new engine on. Well, I also wanted to know how I could skip the stage battles, but that was just a matter of preference, I know a lot of people loved them.
So I just opened up the Crystogen thinger, and on Snow, I've already like maxed out all his skills in two of the trees. There is a branch descending to another tier, but there doesn't seem to be anything down there. Do I just have to wait to open more stuff up and stock points or am I missing something?
More of the Crystalrim or however you spell it opens up as you progress through the story. It's not fully open until you beat the game.
I played brutal legend, you know what I wanted to know? How many hit points I had, how many shots would it take to kill that bear, how fast in MPH does my car go if I put that new engine on. Well, I also wanted to know how I could skip the stage battles, but that was just a matter of preference, I know a lot of people loved them.
Oh, and you already got your wish. Go play Darksiders. It's effectively Zelda, but with added hack off heads awesomeness. Not everything needs to 'move with the times' though. Some of us like to see the numbers, and to take our time with our decisions. True, maybe a 'turn numbers off' button would be appreciated by some, but I would NEVER use it in any game, as I never have in any game where it was an option. If the numbers are gone, I DO miss them, and I have lots of experience doing so across all genres.
That is fair. And to be fair, I barely play videogames anymore, and my tastes (my favorite game of the past ten years was Shadow of the Colossus) aren't exactly widespread.
I would agree that the essence of Final Fantasy is not an action game—that there should be some strategic remove from your inputs and the actions that take place on screen. So maybe the BL or the Zelda model would not work. However, the main reason I play games is to get "lost" in an imaginary world. Gameplay, at its best, heightens the sense of urgency and the interaction with this world and the things in it. I think this is ultimately why games like Zelda and Devil May Cry are so effective—your input as a player feels "real" and meaningful to the world of the game. Even in DMC, where the "world" is basically scenery for awesome battles—the scenery defines boundaries, you get to smash shit and enemies into shit, etc; it has a "weight" to it that carries over into the gameplay.
But in Final Fantasy, the entire gameplay apparatus is removed from the world—it exists in its own separate dimension. It might as well be playing cards. It's almost purely abstraction. What I'd like to see—even if it's not "action gameplay"—is some attempt to bring the gameplay in resonance with the game's world. Like, have the environment play an active role in the strategy, in the types of moves your characters can do; have gaining "high ground" actually matter in combat. Have defensive actions work better in narrow spaces as opposed to broad areas where you can be flanked. I mean, there's all sorts of strategic layers and complexity you could add simply by having Final Fantasy combat interact meaningfully with the world it takes place in. FF12 was a step in this direction—but FF13 feels like a step backwards. And it's a shame because I think this quality of the series is the main obstacle towards a heightened sense of vicariousness, of "being there," that I get when I play my other favorite games.
Edit: Also Darksiders looks kinda lame. When I said I want an FF game tha tplays like Zelda ... that was a bad way of putting it. Because I already played OoT, and loved it, and have since loved every iteration of the Zelda series less because they don't really do anything new. I don't want a Zelda clone. What I meant was, I want a game that tries to be as immersive as Zelda—where you actually feel like you're in a world, instead of the world being a proxy full of portals into this entirely disconnected battle system.
Then you should play Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2, both should fulfill your need for an RPG where you are taking all your actions within the world.
So far all this game has done for me is instill me with a sense of dread about how many cosplayers I'll have to shove through on the subway next time the fan expo hits the city.
Then you should play Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2, both should fulfill your need for an RPG where you are taking all your actions within the world.
I cannot play shooters; I just can't. I liked what I played of ME2 but alas.
And Dragon Age, from what I can tell, takes place in a boring-ass European fantasy world straight out of Tolkien tropes. The reason I have an emotional investment in the Final Fantasy series is because, for all the stupid anime trope shit in these games, and their unfathomable costume and monster design, and uncanny valley, and my pickiness with their general gameplay directions, etc.—they are incredibly creative. They're amazing spectacles. Even FF13, which to my eyes is among the least originally designed (so far it's basically been a mishmash of FF10 and FF7) is pretty damn cool; there is a floating planetoid with a society apparently based on highly advanced technomagic. Every FF game has presented an interesting new universe to explore; what I'm after here is fleshing out that universe by tying it into the gameplay.
Qingu on
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DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
So...this is definitely not the game for me, I am coming to realize.
Kind of sucks I dropped sixty dollars to realize it, but maybe it'll pick up and I'll end up enjoying it more.
I'm planning on playing it through high as a kite. Probably have to kick battle speed down to "slow"...
Slow was still to fast for me in that sense. It's also why I played for about 2 hours and barely made any progress. Hmm, dudes to fight... nah, I think I'll just keep looking around at all the pretty shit for a bit!
so I picked up 13. I'm definitely enjoying it. I'm one of the only people on this earth it seems that isn't dissapointed with it. It took me by surprise though, because I really do not feel like I'm playing a JRPG. Constantly going forward with 0 backtracking, 0 town interaction and all that. It just feels weird. It doesn't feel the same as when I first started up ANY other Final Fantasy, but I'm having a lot of fun and the combat is excellent.
Just started playing this last night and am enjoying the hell out of it. Unfortunately I only got a couple hours into it (had work today) but tonight I'll be able to put more time into it.
Loving all the characters so far and the banter/interactions between them seem pretty solid.
One interesting thing I noted was that I kept hearing that the game was designed with a Western Audience in mind. I don't think that is the case though. It definitely feels very similar to alot of JRPGs out there in terms of character concepts and personalities.
I actually enjoy being eased into the character building portion of the game, and I believe the beginning segment is supposed to come across as confusing (in terms of what the heck is going on),
I mean after all they start you in a train and suddenly shit goes down and from then on you're fighting for your life even though you're not really sure why. And as you are trying to not get pasted by some faceless soldiers you start getting bits and pieces of information and you slowly start piecing it together. Then in the climax of the first section everything comes together and starts to make sense and they lay out a basic goal for you.
But overall very pleased and now that I've gotten the combat basics down I'm preparing to start working on actually building my characters up.
Also, shame on all you Vanille haters. She's adorable.
Delphinidaes on
NNID: delphinidaes Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!
She's just so happy all the time, it makes me sick. In a good way.
hatedinamerica on
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DragkoniasThat Guy Who Does StuffYou Know, There. Registered Userregular
edited March 2010
Yeah. I'm actually enjoying the game quite a bit myself.
Only thing I will say is basically the game is pretty tight as far as the plot goes. I'm only 12 hours in, but there has been little break(if any) in one sequence to the next.
That isn't really a complaint, though, and it makes sense as far as the game goes.
You know...he is getting a little less annoying as time passes. Also, Snow continuing to be "Duhhh, I'm da hero." makes it easier to sympathize with him.
I think I hate him the least, so far. I may be hoping he snaps and kills everyone else in their sleep.
Blackjack on
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
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firewaterwordSatchitanandaPais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered Userregular
edited March 2010
The journal thing in the menu does a pretty good job of letting you know what the hell is going on, so points for that I guess. But they loose double points for not letting me spin and zoom around on the little models they've got in the baddy database.
*at the beginning of chapter four. When it's just Lightning and Hope. He is so useful in battle and all teenage boys are annoying. They grow out of it.
This has probably been covered previously, but am I correct in assuming that Cocoon is shaped a lot like Sigil (from Planescape) except instead of being a ring...its an entire sphere?
So from what I hear, there's minimal ability to switch who's active in your party, correct?
I think that's going to lead to endless grief for me, because I have one special skill, and that is hating people. From what I've heard in the thread, I already want to strangle Hope and Snow, and I haven't even been forced to drag their stupid asses along with me yet.
Ah well, at least I'll probably just be borrowing this game, rather than buying it, so I suppose I have minimal, if any, right to bitch about it.
Interesting to see some of your reactions, by the way. Interesting read.
Interesting in that you didn't think we'd react this way?
I'm honestly quite surprised that I'm enjoying the story and characters thus far, because I was really expecting to despise a good portion of the characters.
OK, I'll be honest: I've no interest in playing XIII at this time, I haven't even beaten XII, BUT something about the commercials here in North America's been bugging the heck out of me:
Is that Yoshi sound (that sorta' mid-ranged growl/murmer one that sorta sounds like a cat growl) you hear in the commercial actually in the game? Or is it just a sound that's sortaq like one Yoshi makes in the various games he's in that when my brain hears tries to rationalize it to something I know and comes up with the that one Yoshi sound.
Sorenson on
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firewaterwordSatchitanandaPais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered Userregular
But they loose double points for not letting me spin and zoom around on the little models they've got in the baddy database.
That made me so sad.
I know right? They aced that shit with that Brave Fencer game from like a hundred years ago, seems a shame to not include it.
There is so much detail on the models, but shit moves so damn fast in the fights it's hard to get a good look at 'em.
firewaterword on
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
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GnomeTankWhat the what?Portland, OregonRegistered Userregular
edited March 2010
I understand everyone has an opinion about games, but it always blows my mind when someone plunks down 60 bucks for a game, then proceeds to lambaste it for basically everything that the genre is known for. It's like, "I hate everything about JRPG's, and now I am so mad I paid 60 bucks for FF13"...really...you never thought about the fact that you aren't really in to JRPG's before you handed the guy your debit card?
Psychotic OneThe Lord of No PantsParts UnknownRegistered Userregular
edited March 2010
I played about 5 hours and Finally hit chapter 4 I think. Liking the game so far but man. Took a long time before I started earning CP for skills and still have no clue how I'm supposed to be leveling equipment. I figure I got to be getting closer to that skill soon. Also...chocobo might be the greatest cast member in the game
I played about 5 hours and Finally hit chapter 4 I think. Liking the game so far but man. Took a long time before I started earning CP for skills and still have no clue how I'm supposed to be leveling equipment. I figure I got to be getting closer to that skill soon. Also...chocobo might be the greatest cast member in the game
It will unlock in chapter four(upgrade system).
joshgotro on
does it?
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firewaterwordSatchitanandaPais Vasco to San FranciscoRegistered Userregular
edited March 2010
I am going to bug out and go play this silly game!
Probably while drinking bourbon.
Also, every time someone mentions Cocoon I think of these guys:
Posts
Should've asked.
More of the Crystalrim or however you spell it opens up as you progress through the story. It's not fully open until you beat the game.
Then you should play Dragon Age or Mass Effect 2, both should fulfill your need for an RPG where you are taking all your actions within the world.
And Dragon Age, from what I can tell, takes place in a boring-ass European fantasy world straight out of Tolkien tropes. The reason I have an emotional investment in the Final Fantasy series is because, for all the stupid anime trope shit in these games, and their unfathomable costume and monster design, and uncanny valley, and my pickiness with their general gameplay directions, etc.—they are incredibly creative. They're amazing spectacles. Even FF13, which to my eyes is among the least originally designed (so far it's basically been a mishmash of FF10 and FF7) is pretty damn cool; there is a floating planetoid with a society apparently based on highly advanced technomagic. Every FF game has presented an interesting new universe to explore; what I'm after here is fleshing out that universe by tying it into the gameplay.
Heroes.
Also, corny as he may be out of combat, he is great in combat.
Not to mention he has well over 1K in HP while everyone else is still hovering around 800.
Kind of sucks I dropped sixty dollars to realize it, but maybe it'll pick up and I'll end up enjoying it more.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
"OK, you guys sit back and shoot the fuck out of these guys who're trying to shoot the fuck out of us. Meanwhile, I'm going to go punch things!"
Could you expand on that? What made you hate it?
It could be something that I would hate too, sadly.
I'd rather roll with those four dudes on Snow's team. The chick, Wakka, the blonde guy and the dude with blue hair. They seemed fun.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Guns vs. fists isn't anything new. In these games.
Slow was still to fast for me in that sense. It's also why I played for about 2 hours and barely made any progress. Hmm, dudes to fight... nah, I think I'll just keep looking around at all the pretty shit for a bit!
Seriously. Those guys seemed awesome.
Loving all the characters so far and the banter/interactions between them seem pretty solid.
One interesting thing I noted was that I kept hearing that the game was designed with a Western Audience in mind. I don't think that is the case though. It definitely feels very similar to alot of JRPGs out there in terms of character concepts and personalities.
I actually enjoy being eased into the character building portion of the game, and I believe the beginning segment is supposed to come across as confusing (in terms of what the heck is going on),
But overall very pleased and now that I've gotten the combat basics down I'm preparing to start working on actually building my characters up.
Also, shame on all you Vanille haters. She's adorable.
Official PA Forums FFXIV:ARR Free Company <GHOST> gitl.enjin.com Join us on Sargatanas!
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
She's just so happy all the time, it makes me sick. In a good way.
Only thing I will say is basically the game is pretty tight as far as the plot goes. I'm only 12 hours in, but there has been little break(if any) in one sequence to the next.
That isn't really a complaint, though, and it makes sense as far as the game goes.
Overall, I'm pretty much liking everything else.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
You know...he is getting a little less annoying as time passes. Also, Snow continuing to be "Duhhh, I'm da hero." makes it easier to sympathize with him.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
*at the beginning of chapter four. When it's just Lightning and Hope. He is so useful in battle and all teenage boys are annoying. They grow out of it.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Here's a link to a pic: http://www.nwn2planescape.com/images/goldfish/sigil.jpg
White: 1721-3651-2720
I think that's going to lead to endless grief for me, because I have one special skill, and that is hating people. From what I've heard in the thread, I already want to strangle Hope and Snow, and I haven't even been forced to drag their stupid asses along with me yet.
Ah well, at least I'll probably just be borrowing this game, rather than buying it, so I suppose I have minimal, if any, right to bitch about it.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
Interesting in that you didn't think we'd react this way?
I'm honestly quite surprised that I'm enjoying the story and characters thus far, because I was really expecting to despise a good portion of the characters.
Gamer Tag: LeeWay0
PSN: Leeway0
I would rather have goddamn Cait Sith in my party at this point.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
Is that Yoshi sound (that sorta' mid-ranged growl/murmer one that sorta sounds like a cat growl) you hear in the commercial actually in the game? Or is it just a sound that's sortaq like one Yoshi makes in the various games he's in that when my brain hears tries to rationalize it to something I know and comes up with the that one Yoshi sound.
I know right? They aced that shit with that Brave Fencer game from like a hundred years ago, seems a shame to not include it.
There is so much detail on the models, but shit moves so damn fast in the fights it's hard to get a good look at 'em.
It will unlock in chapter four(upgrade system).
Probably while drinking bourbon.
Also, every time someone mentions Cocoon I think of these guys: