Lost Odyssey is indeed a fantastic game. The gameplay is a little old-schoolish but it didn't take away from the game.
Pros:
- Jansen
- Good characters, good plot.
- Utterly fantastic stories in the Thousand Years of Dreams (seriously, some of them made me tear up)
- Great graphics.
Cons:
Typical Japanese young kid plot in a couple of parts. (that brother and sister...)
Sometimes battling would get a bit long.
Yeah, the kids in the plot were my least favourite parts usually, but I'm glad they were there. The game treated them as actual characters, not just typical JRPG children tropes. And it added to one of my favourite parts of the game, which is the sense of family. You have people from all different ages banding together like a family (which they, you know, sometimes literally are). That dynamic is one I hadn't seen explored so well in a JRPG before, or in basically any game ever up until that point.
Edit: I think I like looking back on those kids in the story than when I was actually playing it.
Sara LynnI can handle myself.Registered Userregular
I'll probably bug @Stale and borrow his copy of Ni No Kuni when he's done with it. I'm done buying games until this horrendous backlog is a LITTLE finished.
Oh, nevermind then. I don't know why I thought you bought it. I'm slow with RPGs so it wouldn't be worth not sending it back just to let me borrow it. I'll play it eventually.
Hrm Amazon has Ni No Kuni for a little bit off right now. I guess I'll go ahead and buy it.
I'm making a goal to forge through Xenoblade now, (sorry Crusader Kings 2, you're off the wagon for now.) And over the past few days, almost every plot point I've been hitting has been a "whoa...that was some serious...happenings." Just got through Valek Mountains last night.
Also, another last gen RPG I love, and will always love: Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
I still have both Suikoden 1 and 2, brand new condition.
Pretty sure I recycled both of the jewel cases for them though, and the disks by themselves probably aren't worth as much
not that I'd ever sell em. Legitimately two of my favorite RPGs of all time.
I enjoyed Suikoden 3 more than I thought I would, the three branching stories were pretty neat and I thought it introduced the right amount of new mechanics without completely re-writing the overall feel of the game.
However, Suikoden 2 will remain at the top of my list in the series.
All-time favorite RPG is still Vagrant Story. The plot was just so damned engrossing to me.
It took me a few battles to get the timing down, but I am able to get a good rating almost every time I do a melee attack. I kinda half paid attention during the tutorial so there is something I'm looking over which is probably why I don't get perfects very often.
0
Options
CorporateLogoThe toilet knowshow I feelRegistered Userregular
It's a shame Vagrant Story had a learning curve that looked like a cliff
It's a shame Vagrant Story had a learning curve that looked like a cliff
Great game with a great soundtrack
It was most certainly not for the faint of heart; there were boss battles where the right setup of weapons and armor were absolutely critical or you would get your face torn off in seconds.
But the game actually rewarded you for going off the beaten path and digging in dead ends; it wasn't just treasure chests with equipable gear, there were upgradeable spellbooks (grimoires IIRC) that could turn absolutely grueling boss battles into something more manageable.
Oh and another thing: remember that boss you killed two screens ago? Yeah, he's now a common enemy with upgrades of his own.
Challenge was always a factor in that game; you had to work your ass off to out-level a zone or an enemy. Loved that shit.
First time I played vagrant story I was wondering when the hell I was getting out of the dungeon and into the first town so I could get more people in my party and go shopping.
Game was amazing though and I am glad I still have my copy.
Towards the end of the ps2s life span I picked up a ton of used copies of jRPGs. Just to have them in case they were ever hard to find.
I have all the xenosagas (beat only the first one) smt: nocturne and digital devil saga 1 and 2. Shadow Covenant and a couple more I am not remembering.
A couple games, like FF12 and Dragons Quest 8 I picked up and put in a good amount of time into them, but then dead rising came out on the 360 and thus started a great back log that has never been touched.
0
Options
CorporateLogoThe toilet knowshow I feelRegistered Userregular
I remember fighting the first wyvern boss with weapons that did single digit damage to it
I chipped away at it for a half-hour until it fell
Do not have a cow, mortal.
0
Options
CorporateLogoThe toilet knowshow I feelRegistered Userregular
Also it had some annoying mechanics
Using an item mid-fight really messes up the flow of combat
Having to cast the Scan spell on each individual enemy instead of just scanning an enemy type once and storing it like in FF is dumb
Also the randomized stat gains from the wines were dumb when you'd just savescum to get the +5 bonus every time
Ya know, I look at the transition of time investment for RPG's over the years and I think there's clear line for me.
I'll put a good 60-70 hours into a game with balanced mechanics and upgradeable widgets and a decent story.
But if a game has shit mechanic from the start, I do not give a single fuck about the story, I will pop that sucker out and take it to Gamestop.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if a game has great mechanics but a shit story? Yeah, I'll just mute the voice-acting and start popping open this here case of cheap beer.
0
Options
Vargas PrimeKing of NothingJust a ShowRegistered Userregular
Shit, we talking about Vagrant Story and Suikoden in here?
Cuz man... those games probably BY THEMSELVES make the PS1 my favorite console of all time.
Shadow Hearts had some great atmosphere, but the gameplay was clunky.
Shadow Hearts: Covenant was a little less serious, but still had great characters, a good plot, good visuals, the the gameplay was top-notch.
I've yet to play more than two hours into Shadow Hearts: FtNW. I really really need to though.
0
Options
CorporateLogoThe toilet knowshow I feelRegistered Userregular
FtNW is even goofier than Covenant and the story is kinda eh, but has a much more refined combat system
1 is really rough to play these days, and I would suggest that if you want to get into the series you either start with 1 or skip it entirely
Do not have a cow, mortal.
0
Options
CorporateLogoThe toilet knowshow I feelRegistered Userregular
One of the party members in FtNW is an anthropomorphic drunken boxing cat
Who trained an American professor to be a ninja (this guy is also a party member)
Posts
It'd be Thousand Year Door.
I LOVE THIS GAME
Pros:
- Jansen
- Good characters, good plot.
- Utterly fantastic stories in the Thousand Years of Dreams (seriously, some of them made me tear up)
- Great graphics.
Cons:
Typical Japanese young kid plot in a couple of parts. (that brother and sister...)
Sometimes battling would get a bit long.
Edit: I think I like looking back on those kids in the story than when I was actually playing it.
Allow me to join you in your love.
Oh, nevermind then. I don't know why I thought you bought it. I'm slow with RPGs so it wouldn't be worth not sending it back just to let me borrow it. I'll play it eventually.
I'm making a goal to forge through Xenoblade now, (sorry Crusader Kings 2, you're off the wagon for now.) And over the past few days, almost every plot point I've been hitting has been a "whoa...that was some serious...happenings." Just got through Valek Mountains last night.
Also, another last gen RPG I love, and will always love: Shadow Hearts: Covenant.
I enjoyed Suikoden 3 more than I thought I would, the three branching stories were pretty neat and I thought it introduced the right amount of new mechanics without completely re-writing the overall feel of the game.
However, Suikoden 2 will remain at the top of my list in the series.
All-time favorite RPG is still Vagrant Story. The plot was just so damned engrossing to me.
It took me a few battles to get the timing down, but I am able to get a good rating almost every time I do a melee attack. I kinda half paid attention during the tutorial so there is something I'm looking over which is probably why I don't get perfects very often.
Great game with a great soundtrack
It was most certainly not for the faint of heart; there were boss battles where the right setup of weapons and armor were absolutely critical or you would get your face torn off in seconds.
But the game actually rewarded you for going off the beaten path and digging in dead ends; it wasn't just treasure chests with equipable gear, there were upgradeable spellbooks (grimoires IIRC) that could turn absolutely grueling boss battles into something more manageable.
Oh and another thing: remember that boss you killed two screens ago? Yeah, he's now a common enemy with upgrades of his own.
Challenge was always a factor in that game; you had to work your ass off to out-level a zone or an enemy. Loved that shit.
Game was amazing though and I am glad I still have my copy.
Towards the end of the ps2s life span I picked up a ton of used copies of jRPGs. Just to have them in case they were ever hard to find.
I have all the xenosagas (beat only the first one) smt: nocturne and digital devil saga 1 and 2. Shadow Covenant and a couple more I am not remembering.
A couple games, like FF12 and Dragons Quest 8 I picked up and put in a good amount of time into them, but then dead rising came out on the 360 and thus started a great back log that has never been touched.
I chipped away at it for a half-hour until it fell
Using an item mid-fight really messes up the flow of combat
Having to cast the Scan spell on each individual enemy instead of just scanning an enemy type once and storing it like in FF is dumb
Also the randomized stat gains from the wines were dumb when you'd just savescum to get the +5 bonus every time
Still wish it had gotten a sequel
I'll put a good 60-70 hours into a game with balanced mechanics and upgradeable widgets and a decent story.
But if a game has shit mechanic from the start, I do not give a single fuck about the story, I will pop that sucker out and take it to Gamestop.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, if a game has great mechanics but a shit story? Yeah, I'll just mute the voice-acting and start popping open this here case of cheap beer.
Cuz man... those games probably BY THEMSELVES make the PS1 my favorite console of all time.
sketchyblargh / Steam! / Tumblr Prime
Shadow Hearts: Covenant was a little less serious, but still had great characters, a good plot, good visuals, the the gameplay was top-notch.
I've yet to play more than two hours into Shadow Hearts: FtNW. I really really need to though.
1 is really rough to play these days, and I would suggest that if you want to get into the series you either start with 1 or skip it entirely
Who trained an American professor to be a ninja (this guy is also a party member)
Twitch (I stream most days of the week)
Twitter (mean leftist discourse)
how much is it cause uh that shit sells for like 250 on the reg
frank is a french guy who lived in brazil
also said cat trained al capone, who was friends with eliot ness
a teenage detective that lives in new york in the 20's
he uses a dagger that turns into a lightsaber made out of anger
there is also a native american chick that strips to transform into various spirits
and her bodyguard, a large native american that knows gun fu
I think it's at fifty bucks? I'll double check next time I'm in town.
Twitch (I stream most days of the week)
Twitter (mean leftist discourse)
buy that shit immediately unless it's bootlegged
Seriously.
Suikoden 2 is pretty great.
SOme years ago I got my oldest niece, Hannah, into the game.
I always enjoy watching her play. I'd make silly commentary and give her tips when she was having trouble.
When it got to the Glitz Pit, I started providing voices for some of the characters, including R. Lee Ermey as Grubba.
My Rawk Hawk was basically Ultimate Warrior in a rock band.
I love TWEWY so much, I've played it twice and put over 500 hours into it.
I only have Suikoden IV.
Persona 4 is one of my favourite games and I will be buying a Vita just to play Persona 4 Golden. I've played Persona 3 Portable like 5 times.
I'm thinking of buying Planescape: Torment.
Most of my gaming backlog is rpgs.
I need to borrow my parent's Wii again and get back into Xenoblade.
It holds up if you're familiar with the game and its extremely specific version of the AD&D ruleset.
If you're going into it brand new, you'd get a lot of benefit consulting DSimpson's PS:T guides.
For those who don't know, DSimpson is the golden god of infinity engine FAQs.
I'd still wager it's worth the investment. There might be a learning curve, but the rewards are great.
like, it is a fantastic narrative locked inside a nearly unplayable mess of a game
it is a bad use of the infinity engine, which was already an obtuse as hell piece of shit that would fight you at every turn when it was used well