The thing that bothers me about the Pixel Remasters is basically just that we have had so many versions of the games over the years with their own exclusive things and this was explicitly the time to make a "Definitive" version of all of them (especially since the PRs replaced most of the versions already on Steam), yet they just made yet another version that was just measurably different so that it's not just a repackaging/strictly retouching of the original game. It's the worst of both worlds, you're not getting the classic game, warts and all, you're not getting the most current version with all the various things they've done to it over the years, it's just another version.
They could have simply just ported the "best" versions of the games and stuck them in a collection. Run them in emulators. It is kind of annoying.
It would have got them off their respective consoles.
To be fair I will be buying stranger of Paradise at some point, because I trust Castle super beasts taste in games. It's okay for things to be cringe and edgy sometimes.
The thing that bothers me about the Pixel Remasters is basically just that we have had so many versions of the games over the years with their own exclusive things and this was explicitly the time to make a "Definitive" version of all of them (especially since the PRs replaced most of the versions already on Steam), yet they just made yet another version that was just measurably different so that it's not just a repackaging/strictly retouching of the original game. It's the worst of both worlds, you're not getting the classic game, warts and all, you're not getting the most current version with all the various things they've done to it over the years, it's just another version.
They could have simply just ported the "best" versions of the games and stuck them in a collection. Run them in emulators. It is kind of annoying.
It would have got them off their respective consoles.
That "best" is the whole issue. Is the game better to include a random add-on dungeon from some port team later on? Or would it be better to present the best possible version of the original game? Many people HATE the extra dungeon in Chrono Trigger DS to the point where they consider it a flawed version for including it, just as an example.
To be fair I will be buying stranger of Paradise at some point, because I trust Castle super beasts taste in games. It's okay for things to be cringe and edgy sometimes.
I got it for $20 at Walmart. Totally surprised me. I saw it on the bargain shelf. I was like, "Well. Why not?".
I think the bigger point with the current pixel remasters is they're good, polished, accessible versions of the games with no real major flaws. Like, if someone were to ask me what version of any of those 6 games to play, I'd just point them at the pixel remasters, because I don't think futzing around with an emulator or retro hardware is worth the hassle for the relatively minor things you get with other versions. Only notable thing I'd maybe want to see them port over is FFIV: The After Years in the current style, but that's also not particularly necessary. That game felt extremely extraneous when playing it and I doubt I'd want to go through it again given the opportunity. More just for the completionist aspect of having it available if someone does want to check it out.
I think the bigger point with the current pixel remasters is they're good, polished, accessible versions of the games with no real major flaws. Like, if someone were to ask me what version of any of those 6 games to play, I'd just point them at the pixel remasters, because I don't think futzing around with an emulator or retro hardware is worth the hassle for the relatively minor things you get with other versions. Only notable thing I'd maybe want to see them port over is FFIV: The After Years in the current style, but that's also not particularly necessary. That game felt extremely extraneous when playing it and I doubt I'd want to go through it again given the opportunity. More just for the completionist aspect of having it available if someone does want to check it out.
After Years has two major knocks going against it.
1: It just feels like a super fancy rom hack. It's the same maps and areas as the old games. It's virtually the same exact enemies and bosses. The story is semi interesting, and when they bust out the sole new sprite and music, it's actually kind of refreshing. And all the characters, both old and new, are cool to see. Still it's only until the final chapter where it's like "wow... something brand new for once". ...And they do the FF1 trick of pulling in series bosses, so... hello again Ultros! Or Orthus, depends on who's fumbling the translation.
2: The games were originally episodic releases. On phones no less. So it's all separate chapters you can play in whatever order. This isn't a problem in itself. But each chapter also has a bit of a post game dungeon, and you can run them a bunch of times for overpowered gear that you can then import into the final chapter. These dungeons though can be pretty tricky, and stupidly grindy. You could play one 10-20 times before getting all the rewards. You can argue this wasn't really a big problem at the time, it was an excuse to keep playing while you wait for the next chapter to release. But now... do you really want to grind for hours or get to the next story bit... which already feels like a grind anyways. I also don't really remember if it's a case where this gear will just get replaced anyways in the final dungeon... or if it's really useful gear regardless and you still kinda wanna grind for it.
I don't hate After Years. If they included it here, I'd probably go through it again. But it is... yeah. It is.
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
6: A post game multi party dungeon. If I remember right, there's no story to it at all, it's just... there. You fight super powered versions of the 8 dragons, and the super boss is the Kaiser Dragon that was rumored cut from the original game.
I recall it can actually be found in the dummied out data of the original ROM.
Yes, the Kaiser Dragon (CzarDragon) sprite is in the original game.
The Kaiser Dragon fight in the remakes basically takes that original sprite and gives him some wings to look more imposing.
funnily enough, the remakes still have those dummied-out fights, including the original sprite for Kaiser Dragon.
The thing that bothers me about the Pixel Remasters is basically just that we have had so many versions of the games over the years with their own exclusive things and this was explicitly the time to make a "Definitive" version of all of them (especially since the PRs replaced most of the versions already on Steam), yet they just made yet another version that was just measurably different so that it's not just a repackaging/strictly retouching of the original game. It's the worst of both worlds, you're not getting the classic game, warts and all, you're not getting the most current version with all the various things they've done to it over the years, it's just another version.
They could have simply just ported the "best" versions of the games and stuck them in a collection. Run them in emulators. It is kind of annoying.
It would have got them off their respective consoles.
That "best" is the whole issue. Is the game better to include a random add-on dungeon from some port team later on? Or would it be better to present the best possible version of the original game? Many people HATE the extra dungeon in Chrono Trigger DS to the point where they consider it a flawed version for including it, just as an example.
OK, that bit about Chrono Trigger has always bugged me.
There is zero need to go through the bonus content. None of it is on the critical path; it's all self-contained. If you've played the original game, you can play through all the same content you did on the SNES game, with the updated translation and whatnot, and never touch Fetch Quest Mountain. There's no reason why it should make your replay worse other than if you feel you need to do it just because it's there.
The only argument I could agree with is that the cutscene where the rifts appear could confuse a newcomer to the series into thinking they were part of the critical path. That would require them to go there instead of checking out the Black Omen, but it is possible.
As for the FF games, my argument is similar; all the content is bonus stuff; whether you want to check it out or not, the original game's critical path is there and can be followed without touching the new stuff. The one exception being that one of FFVI's bonus fights makes it harder to grind magic in Cactuar Desert. OTOH, another one of the bonus fights gives you one last chance to get Mog's water dance, so it's a bit of a wash.
I would argue that the best version would be one that includes the post-game stuff as an option for the people who want to engage with it, while being a polished version of that original game. More things for more people, within reason (I wouldn't expect the pixel remasters to create new things; just improve on the prior remake versions).
Also, like, FFII's bonus content is more story that has been referenced elsewhere in the franchise. It's more than a contextless bonus dungeon. For what that's worth.
And all of which comes back to that point I keep harping on on occasion; we had easily-available digital versions of the games with the GBA content for those who want it. And Square took them all off the shelves in favor of the Pixel Remasters (instead of like, slapping an altered title on them to mark them as the old versions or something). If Square is going to take that option away from the customer, I want them to make that content available in some form elsewhere. But if you want that content, the Pixel Remasters just take that option away instead of replacing it.
I am not quite certain with what the hell they were thinking with Strangers in Paradise. I will have to play further.
I platinumed the damn game, and that is exactly the feeling I had until the moment I uninstalled it.
I recently reinstalled to finally get around to the DLC, but the next couple months are so packed that it's unlikely I'll actually get to it.
But yeah, the whole game is just "I'm enjoying this, right? Aren't I? No that's shit. But wait, that's great. What is even happening?".
And it never settles. Nothing in the game is just "meh". It's either great or terrible, often simultaneously, and is both engaging and off putting.
I want to try to get into the DLC. But the DLC seems to be "let's hike the difficulty way the fuck up". Meanwhile my skills and game knowledge have atrophied. I almost feel I'm better off starting the game over from scratch again.
But yeah, I unabashedly love this game and its tone.
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
I am not quite certain with what the hell they were thinking with Strangers in Paradise. I will have to play further.
I platinumed the damn game, and that is exactly the feeling I had until the moment I uninstalled it.
I recently reinstalled to finally get around to the DLC, but the next couple months are so packed that it's unlikely I'll actually get to it.
But yeah, the whole game is just "I'm enjoying this, right? Aren't I? No that's shit. But wait, that's great. What is even happening?".
And it never settles. Nothing in the game is just "meh". It's either great or terrible, often simultaneously, and is both engaging and off putting.
All they had to do was make a typical "Warriors of Light" game, but they had to get weird with it.
No, this perspective is weird. "Why did they make a creative game that reflected their tastes and interests as a team instead of just shitting out another Heroes of Light cash in?" Obviously they were constrained by budget, but shooting for the stars anyway should be commended.
It's also weird and funny how you can kind of tell the big twist of the game was obviously going to be that Jack and co. are actually Garland and the Fiends. But like everybody figured it out from the trailer because it's so screamingly obvious. So then it's fuck it you figured out the what, let's pivot more to the how and why. As far as actual potential story spoilers go:
I don't really know what to think about making Lufenia just so screamingly advanced that they're outside normal dimensionality. And honestly I think the bit of "Good can't exist without Evil, so we'll be Evil so Good can eventually prevail, thus making us super secret Good all along" is a little played out? I think I'd rather they just play it straight and simple and have you be evil, period. But eh, it works well enough and I like it.
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
Here is a good overview of the game. It is kind of a shame you can't walk around on a map. That was part of the fun on FF1. https://youtu.be/sxiuePfOHA4
Regarding bad add-on/side content, I’ll never say it makes a given version worse for a new player (unless it interferes with something the original did and makes it worse). I don’t love all the Chrono Trigger DS script changes, but I like split screens. It’s all trade offs.
But in a purely ‘discussing the relative merits of different versions of a game in the most nerd-tastic way possible’ conversation, I’m going to judge those components as a part of the game they’re a part of, not just something that can be set aside because I know it’s ‘bonus.’ And in that framework, the Chrono Trigger add-on areas are in one case mediocre, and in another case amongst the worst RPG experiences I’ve ever encountered, actively removing everything that CT did well to absolutely no benefit. It genuinely feels like the developers were rebelling against being told to make new content. In the Mountain add-on area you have forced encounters, mindless backtracking, no meaningful character development, and I believe no new music or scenery. The battles are specifically designed to prevent you from finishing them quickly, but they are also incredibly repetitive and in no way interesting - they just take a long time.
It is a kind of masterpiece of bad game design plopped right into a game that was the peak of or ahead of its time in almost every way. It takes the worst elements of the genre and stacks them next to some of the best.
Like, there is a way in which ‘more’ can actively reduce the overall quality of an experience. I do not want a bucket of horse hooves to go with my hamburger. I do not want an excellent presentation of Citizen Kane that ends with a static 20 minute shot of a dog shitting on Orson Welles’s grave. There are things that are genuinely bad enough to make good things worse despite being optional merely by existing in their vicinity. That Chrono Trigger DS mountain area is one of them.
The funny thing is, they kept the extra DS content in the Steam Version. Someone felt it was important enough to keep. I guess you can say it is epilogue content. Epilogues are kind of like that, you can do without them.
For some weird reason, they did away with two cutscenes. One of them tied the game to Chrono Cross, but it did not make sense. I think that is why they dropped it.
I looked it up, and it’s the Lost Sanctum that I’m talking about - just a grinding, boring slog, absolutely bottom of the barrel.
Dimensional Vortex was fine if completely unnecessary. It at least tries to justify its existence via the Chrono Cross link, though the content is noticeably weaker and incongruous with the original stuff.
I argue that the bonus content can only harm the game if you engage with it, or if the game is structured in such a way that you must engage with it. You're talking about things in terms of getting something on your plate with the rest of the meal you like, or something added to the end of a film in a linear fashion. I don't think those metaphors really work, because this is stuff that doesn't even need to be seen unless you go out and do it. I'd say it's closer to having a bad minigame on the DVD features of a movie you like, or a boring appendix at the back of a novel you enjoyed. It's additional stuff that doesn't jut into the "main event" of the thing. If you like it, you can engage with it. Otherwise, the game is built such that you can ignore its existence and move on.
Like, as another example, I think the Colosseum is the worst-designed thing in Final Fantasy VI by a long way; it's a minigame that punishes you for building your characters in a way that's rewarded in the rest of the game, and is far enough into the game that you're likely to only be able to run it with Gogo or Umaro when you get there. I don't like it much at all. But it doesn't hurt the game for me by being there; it's optional in every way and I can just brush past it unless I really want a prize from it for whatever reason.
Also like, we're talking about the Chrono Trigger DS in terms of it being bad, though I'm sure there are poeple who unironically enjoy all it has to offer. There's no accounting for taste.
And in the case of the FF games, I think the bonus content is at least enjoyable in each one, with the possible exception of some of FF1's dungeons? I didn't care for those as much as the later games' content.
Just to be clear, I’m being somewhat hyperbolic here - editing is an area I have as a weird hobby horse, particularly in games, but I know there are other views on this, and I don’t mean to judge anybody who feels differently. Folks like what they like, and if it’s not harming anybody go for it. I just can’t overstate how unpleasant I found that particular stretch of gameplay, and it happens to fall in a game I think is otherwise a textbook example of how keeping things short can make for a much more meaningful experience. Kind of perfect for getting on my soapbox.
I do think that little cut scene you noted revealing the new dungeons opens the door to criticizing it as part of the main experience, but it is exceptionally minor. I think the animated cut scenes are much worse in that regard, since they just repeat existing plot beats that are still present in the game.
Oddly, I’m kind of on the opposite side with FFI’s bonus content - that game is so light on story that I genuinely enjoyed the bonus content - the new boss fights mostly presented unique challenges not present elsewhere, and it gave me an appreciation for the combat system I didn’t get from the main path. Just all about the context, I guess.
Oh yeah, just to be clear: the boss fights are something I have no issues with in FFI's bonus content. If I have an issue with its bonus dungeons, it's with some of the dungeon floors leading up to those fights. Some of them just have gimmicks that didn't really land. The ones that come to mind are the cave where a bunch of NPCs are blocking your path and you have to wait for them to move out of the way, or the one where you have to walk down a line of dancers one person at a time to get to the exit. It's not a huge part of those dungeons, but it does give me pause when considering trying those dungeons.
Back on Chrono Trigger, the funny thing with those animated scenes is that, IIRC, the DS version gives you an option to turn them off so they don't play during the story.
In any case, there's plenty of room to discuss which content is good or bad for the original game. What I'm frustrated with is that Square took that option away from the customer by de-listing the other mobile/steam versions of the games included in the pixel remaster. Since the pixel remaster of FFV doesn't have that post-game dungeon, and they de-listed the version that does have it, someone who wants to do that dungeon for whatever reason has to track down a GBA cart for FFV, or emulate one of the versions that had that content. Whereas a few years ago, they could've picked up that other version on Steam. Even if they didn't add the content to the pixel remasters, they could've kept those other version on Steam's store, if not the mobile stores.
Another thing that comes to mind; FFVI's remake, the biggest problem was the character sprites. I don't know if any mods to change the sprites got completed, but with the game de-listed, the incentive to do any projects like that has to be almost nil. And I have to imagine going the other way around (re-creating bonus dungeons for the pixel remasters) has to be way harder for modders, lol.
Oh yeah, just to be clear: the boss fights are something I have no issues with in FFI's bonus content. If I have an issue with its bonus dungeons, it's with some of the dungeon floors leading up to those fights. Some of them just have gimmicks that didn't really land. The ones that come to mind are the cave where a bunch of NPCs are blocking your path and you have to wait for them to move out of the way, or the one where you have to walk down a line of dancers one person at a time to get to the exit. It's not a huge part of those dungeons, but it does give me pause when considering trying those dungeons.
Back on Chrono Trigger, the funny thing with those animated scenes is that, IIRC, the DS version gives you an option to turn them off so they don't play during the story.
In any case, there's plenty of room to discuss which content is good or bad for the original game. What I'm frustrated with is that Square took that option away from the customer by de-listing the other mobile/steam versions of the games included in the pixel remaster. Since the pixel remaster of FFV doesn't have that post-game dungeon, and they de-listed the version that does have it, someone who wants to do that dungeon for whatever reason has to track down a GBA cart for FFV, or emulate one of the versions that had that content. Whereas a few years ago, they could've picked up that other version on Steam. Even if they didn't add the content to the pixel remasters, they could've kept those other version on Steam's store, if not the mobile stores.
Another thing that comes to mind; FFVI's remake, the biggest problem was the character sprites. I don't know if any mods to change the sprites got completed, but with the game de-listed, the incentive to do any projects like that has to be almost nil. And I have to imagine going the other way around (re-creating bonus dungeons for the pixel remasters) has to be way harder for modders, lol.
The pixel remasters are incredibly disappointing as a waste of potential. I had some hope that at the very worst SE might include the bonus stuff as DLC to squeeze out more cash, or use the tools to work on new games in the old style, but it seems to have been just another cash grab leading to another mixed-up set of ports with some good stuff and some bad stuff.
Edit: Does the DS CT also have an option for choosing which script to use, or am I making that up? For all that I hate the bonus stuff, it’s still my preferred way to play. The movement is a little too finicky for the mobile version (touch to move is a huge benefit of the PRs, whatever their flaws).
How does Strangers in Paradise play? Anything worthwile, or just same old same old?
(Yes, I'm prepared for the story to be mind-bogglingly stupid; I'm actually kinda intrigued by that)
Very similar to the Nioh games (it basically is one).
So, brutally difficult? Not for me, then.
"Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin offers four difficulty modes: Story, Action, Hard, and Chaos. As the name suggests, the Story difficulty allows players to progress through Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's story with easier enemies to battle."
How does Strangers in Paradise play? Anything worthwile, or just same old same old?
(Yes, I'm prepared for the story to be mind-bogglingly stupid; I'm actually kinda intrigued by that)
Very similar to the Nioh games (it basically is one).
So, brutally difficult? Not for me, then.
No, there're difficulty modes. I know I said the DLC is all about insane difficulty, but then they went and added an overpowered option that's basically god mode. Kills your loot drops but it lets you keep playing the story.
"The sausage of Green Earth explodes with flavor like the cannon of culinary delight."
Stranger of Paradise isn't that hard, and the combat system is super fun. But I just super hate the Team Ninja mission-based structure. I keep playing their games like Nioh and SoP and Wo Long and loving them and then I just bump up against the way they design their game structures and end up stopping.
How does Strangers in Paradise play? Anything worthwile, or just same old same old?
(Yes, I'm prepared for the story to be mind-bogglingly stupid; I'm actually kinda intrigued by that)
Very similar to the Nioh games (it basically is one).
So, brutally difficult? Not for me, then.
No, there're difficulty modes. I know I said the DLC is all about insane difficulty, but then they went and added an overpowered option that's basically god mode. Kills your loot drops but it lets you keep playing the story.
Posts
They could have simply just ported the "best" versions of the games and stuck them in a collection. Run them in emulators. It is kind of annoying.
It would have got them off their respective consoles.
"What if, CHAOS?"
That "best" is the whole issue. Is the game better to include a random add-on dungeon from some port team later on? Or would it be better to present the best possible version of the original game? Many people HATE the extra dungeon in Chrono Trigger DS to the point where they consider it a flawed version for including it, just as an example.
I got it for $20 at Walmart. Totally surprised me. I saw it on the bargain shelf. I was like, "Well. Why not?".
After Years has two major knocks going against it.
1: It just feels like a super fancy rom hack. It's the same maps and areas as the old games. It's virtually the same exact enemies and bosses. The story is semi interesting, and when they bust out the sole new sprite and music, it's actually kind of refreshing. And all the characters, both old and new, are cool to see. Still it's only until the final chapter where it's like "wow... something brand new for once". ...And they do the FF1 trick of pulling in series bosses, so... hello again Ultros! Or Orthus, depends on who's fumbling the translation.
2: The games were originally episodic releases. On phones no less. So it's all separate chapters you can play in whatever order. This isn't a problem in itself. But each chapter also has a bit of a post game dungeon, and you can run them a bunch of times for overpowered gear that you can then import into the final chapter. These dungeons though can be pretty tricky, and stupidly grindy. You could play one 10-20 times before getting all the rewards. You can argue this wasn't really a big problem at the time, it was an excuse to keep playing while you wait for the next chapter to release. But now... do you really want to grind for hours or get to the next story bit... which already feels like a grind anyways. I also don't really remember if it's a case where this gear will just get replaced anyways in the final dungeon... or if it's really useful gear regardless and you still kinda wanna grind for it.
I don't hate After Years. If they included it here, I'd probably go through it again. But it is... yeah. It is.
Yes, the Kaiser Dragon (CzarDragon) sprite is in the original game.
The Kaiser Dragon fight in the remakes basically takes that original sprite and gives him some wings to look more imposing.
funnily enough, the remakes still have those dummied-out fights, including the original sprite for Kaiser Dragon.
OK, that bit about Chrono Trigger has always bugged me.
There is zero need to go through the bonus content. None of it is on the critical path; it's all self-contained. If you've played the original game, you can play through all the same content you did on the SNES game, with the updated translation and whatnot, and never touch Fetch Quest Mountain. There's no reason why it should make your replay worse other than if you feel you need to do it just because it's there.
The only argument I could agree with is that the cutscene where the rifts appear could confuse a newcomer to the series into thinking they were part of the critical path. That would require them to go there instead of checking out the Black Omen, but it is possible.
As for the FF games, my argument is similar; all the content is bonus stuff; whether you want to check it out or not, the original game's critical path is there and can be followed without touching the new stuff. The one exception being that one of FFVI's bonus fights makes it harder to grind magic in Cactuar Desert. OTOH, another one of the bonus fights gives you one last chance to get Mog's water dance, so it's a bit of a wash.
I would argue that the best version would be one that includes the post-game stuff as an option for the people who want to engage with it, while being a polished version of that original game. More things for more people, within reason (I wouldn't expect the pixel remasters to create new things; just improve on the prior remake versions).
Also, like, FFII's bonus content is more story that has been referenced elsewhere in the franchise. It's more than a contextless bonus dungeon. For what that's worth.
And all of which comes back to that point I keep harping on on occasion; we had easily-available digital versions of the games with the GBA content for those who want it. And Square took them all off the shelves in favor of the Pixel Remasters (instead of like, slapping an altered title on them to mark them as the old versions or something). If Square is going to take that option away from the customer, I want them to make that content available in some form elsewhere. But if you want that content, the Pixel Remasters just take that option away instead of replacing it.
I platinumed the damn game, and that is exactly the feeling I had until the moment I uninstalled it.
I recently reinstalled to finally get around to the DLC, but the next couple months are so packed that it's unlikely I'll actually get to it.
But yeah, the whole game is just "I'm enjoying this, right? Aren't I? No that's shit. But wait, that's great. What is even happening?".
And it never settles. Nothing in the game is just "meh". It's either great or terrible, often simultaneously, and is both engaging and off putting.
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
I want to try to get into the DLC. But the DLC seems to be "let's hike the difficulty way the fuck up". Meanwhile my skills and game knowledge have atrophied. I almost feel I'm better off starting the game over from scratch again.
But yeah, I unabashedly love this game and its tone.
All they had to do was make a typical "Warriors of Light" game, but they had to get weird with it.
https://youtu.be/2dg2RfS-tKA
No, this perspective is weird. "Why did they make a creative game that reflected their tastes and interests as a team instead of just shitting out another Heroes of Light cash in?" Obviously they were constrained by budget, but shooting for the stars anyway should be commended.
I have only just started the game.
No, not really. It's entirely mission based, beginning to end.
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
https://youtu.be/sxiuePfOHA4
I also like the new effects. They are kind of like PS1 style effects. They kept them slightly pixelated to blend in.
Here is the font mod to restore the FF6 font to the Steam games.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2762986006
But in a purely ‘discussing the relative merits of different versions of a game in the most nerd-tastic way possible’ conversation, I’m going to judge those components as a part of the game they’re a part of, not just something that can be set aside because I know it’s ‘bonus.’ And in that framework, the Chrono Trigger add-on areas are in one case mediocre, and in another case amongst the worst RPG experiences I’ve ever encountered, actively removing everything that CT did well to absolutely no benefit. It genuinely feels like the developers were rebelling against being told to make new content. In the Mountain add-on area you have forced encounters, mindless backtracking, no meaningful character development, and I believe no new music or scenery. The battles are specifically designed to prevent you from finishing them quickly, but they are also incredibly repetitive and in no way interesting - they just take a long time.
It is a kind of masterpiece of bad game design plopped right into a game that was the peak of or ahead of its time in almost every way. It takes the worst elements of the genre and stacks them next to some of the best.
Like, there is a way in which ‘more’ can actively reduce the overall quality of an experience. I do not want a bucket of horse hooves to go with my hamburger. I do not want an excellent presentation of Citizen Kane that ends with a static 20 minute shot of a dog shitting on Orson Welles’s grave. There are things that are genuinely bad enough to make good things worse despite being optional merely by existing in their vicinity. That Chrono Trigger DS mountain area is one of them.
For some weird reason, they did away with two cutscenes. One of them tied the game to Chrono Cross, but it did not make sense. I think that is why they dropped it.
Dimensional Vortex was fine if completely unnecessary. It at least tries to justify its existence via the Chrono Cross link, though the content is noticeably weaker and incongruous with the original stuff.
https://youtu.be/nM92fTEjhX8
Ending Spoiler:
https://youtu.be/1g3USYsvG-M
Like, as another example, I think the Colosseum is the worst-designed thing in Final Fantasy VI by a long way; it's a minigame that punishes you for building your characters in a way that's rewarded in the rest of the game, and is far enough into the game that you're likely to only be able to run it with Gogo or Umaro when you get there. I don't like it much at all. But it doesn't hurt the game for me by being there; it's optional in every way and I can just brush past it unless I really want a prize from it for whatever reason.
Also like, we're talking about the Chrono Trigger DS in terms of it being bad, though I'm sure there are poeple who unironically enjoy all it has to offer. There's no accounting for taste.
And in the case of the FF games, I think the bonus content is at least enjoyable in each one, with the possible exception of some of FF1's dungeons? I didn't care for those as much as the later games' content.
(Yes, I'm prepared for the story to be mind-bogglingly stupid; I'm actually kinda intrigued by that)
I do think that little cut scene you noted revealing the new dungeons opens the door to criticizing it as part of the main experience, but it is exceptionally minor. I think the animated cut scenes are much worse in that regard, since they just repeat existing plot beats that are still present in the game.
Oddly, I’m kind of on the opposite side with FFI’s bonus content - that game is so light on story that I genuinely enjoyed the bonus content - the new boss fights mostly presented unique challenges not present elsewhere, and it gave me an appreciation for the combat system I didn’t get from the main path. Just all about the context, I guess.
Back on Chrono Trigger, the funny thing with those animated scenes is that, IIRC, the DS version gives you an option to turn them off so they don't play during the story.
In any case, there's plenty of room to discuss which content is good or bad for the original game. What I'm frustrated with is that Square took that option away from the customer by de-listing the other mobile/steam versions of the games included in the pixel remaster. Since the pixel remaster of FFV doesn't have that post-game dungeon, and they de-listed the version that does have it, someone who wants to do that dungeon for whatever reason has to track down a GBA cart for FFV, or emulate one of the versions that had that content. Whereas a few years ago, they could've picked up that other version on Steam. Even if they didn't add the content to the pixel remasters, they could've kept those other version on Steam's store, if not the mobile stores.
Another thing that comes to mind; FFVI's remake, the biggest problem was the character sprites. I don't know if any mods to change the sprites got completed, but with the game de-listed, the incentive to do any projects like that has to be almost nil. And I have to imagine going the other way around (re-creating bonus dungeons for the pixel remasters) has to be way harder for modders, lol.
It's made by Team Ninja, aka the Koei Techmo team that makes the Nioh games. If you like those games you'll like the gameplay in SoP.
The pixel remasters are incredibly disappointing as a waste of potential. I had some hope that at the very worst SE might include the bonus stuff as DLC to squeeze out more cash, or use the tools to work on new games in the old style, but it seems to have been just another cash grab leading to another mixed-up set of ports with some good stuff and some bad stuff.
Edit: Does the DS CT also have an option for choosing which script to use, or am I making that up? For all that I hate the bonus stuff, it’s still my preferred way to play. The movement is a little too finicky for the mobile version (touch to move is a huge benefit of the PRs, whatever their flaws).
Very similar to the Nioh games (it basically is one).
So, brutally difficult? Not for me, then.
"Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin offers four difficulty modes: Story, Action, Hard, and Chaos. As the name suggests, the Story difficulty allows players to progress through Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin's story with easier enemies to battle."
No, there're difficulty modes. I know I said the DLC is all about insane difficulty, but then they went and added an overpowered option that's basically god mode. Kills your loot drops but it lets you keep playing the story.
PSN/Steam/NNID: SyphonBlue | BNet: SyphonBlue#1126
Well, good on them for being accessible.
The Steam version of Chrono Trigger fixed a problem with the earlier versions. They did not include the SNES intro.
The Steam version has both the SNES and FMV intro.
Hrrrm. I am gonna get this. https://store.na.square-enix-games.com/en_US/product/769102/final-fantasy-hanging-pouch-cactuar
On second thought, I will not. The shipping is $20. Screw you, Square Enix.