I've been a Final Fantasy fan since I was first given a PSOne, Frogger, Chrono Cross, and Final Fantasy IX one year for my birthday. Since that time, I have played all the main non-MMO Final Fantasy games. When this game came out, I had just completed the last one I needed to in the list. I have to say, even if this is mainly a fan game. It is still a fairly competent fighting game as well.
To say this is strictly a fighting game is a little limiting. This game is more about how to use various effects to your benefit. Sometimes spamming HP attacks just isn't enough. The player will have to plan which attack to use when. The player have to know the ranges and the patterns of each attack. In this state, the game is a fighting game. But then they throw things like stats and equipment. It reaches the level of an almost Final Fantasy level RPG element.
The combat is fluid and often times it is very easy to setup an unbeatable combo. Other times, the player will be utterly destroyed by the computer players. The camera also is terrible at times, getting stuck in corners and not showing an ultimate attack coming at you from above. Still, it is incredibly fun to play and each battle is different.
The story in this game has no bearing on the series as a whole but is kind of a prequel and sequel to the first Dissidia game. It tries to pull of a complete storyline but kind of just falls flat. The new additional characters are kind of nice but they should have tried a little harder to select better characters. Tifa was a good selection as we hadn't had a character like her before. Vaan was not and was often the best training dummy I had.
If you are a Final Fantasy fan, I would suggest getting this game even today. It is fun to settle stupid fights like who is better Zidane or Cloud or even listening to Kefka spam the same attack at you a million times. I will never grow tired of hearing TO THE VOID! from Exdeath and Cloud of Darkness is still annoying no matter how good I get at the game. I eagerly await the next game in the series as I have seen news about an arcade sequel to this. I loved this series as a fan of Final Fantasy and of fighting games.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
God Eater Burst (PSP)
Throughout my many years in gaming, I have never been too keen on games that fall into this genre. I didn't really find it till I bought Monster Hunter Freedom United on the PSP and it was okay. I picked this game up because I was told it was much faster than Monster Hunter and not as difficult to learn.
I'm glad I picked this game up. Though it took me a very long time to finish this game, it grew on me. I did have to wait till I could improve the controls of the game using the Vita. See, on the PSP, moving the camera involves using the D-pad. This means you had to take your thumb off the control nub to play it. With the Vita though, I could remap the controls and make the game incredibly fun.
Let me talk a little bit about the story. It wasn't the greatest story but it had moments that were pretty good. Pretty much humanity is doomed due to lifeforms called Aragami. The last hope for the human race is the God Eaters, people that can use God Arcs to defeat the Aragami. The game really takes a turn at the end and honestly, I wish they had stuck with the theme of survival.
The combat is fluid and fast. Switching between gun mode and blade mode brings in a whole aspect that you just don't get in other raid type RPGs. If the enemy is too dangerous to get close to, retreat and use bullets to bring it down. Enemy too fast to shoot? Switch to blade mode and whack at it as you dodge.
The missions are varied but always usually boil down to killing your prey. Some of the Aragami are unique and fun. Others are just annoying to fight no matter what gear you have. They each have weakpoints that if you focus on, will net bonuses. The best aspect though is being able to devour your enemies to gain boosts and special Aragami bullets. Some of these bullets are powerful and feel great to fire back at the enemy that you are fighting. The game does drag on sometimes with some of the later Aragami having way too much health or no viable weakpoints for your weapon to exploit.
I really with this game would have been more popular. From what I have seen of the sequel in Japan, it looks like even more fun. Although, I'm not big on these types of games. I had fun with this one. It is fast enough and there is not a super ton of grinding for rare materials like other games in this genre. If you want to play this game, I suggest putting it on your Vita. The PSP is passable but the Vita makes the game so much easier to play.
I'm glad I picked this game up. Though it took me a very long time to finish this game, it grew on me. I did have to wait till I could improve the controls of the game using the Vita. See, on the PSP, moving the camera involves using the D-pad. This means you had to take your thumb off the control nub to play it. With the Vita though, I could remap the controls and make the game incredibly fun.
Let me talk a little bit about the story. It wasn't the greatest story but it had moments that were pretty good. Pretty much humanity is doomed due to lifeforms called Aragami. The last hope for the human race is the God Eaters, people that can use God Arcs to defeat the Aragami. The game really takes a turn at the end and honestly, I wish they had stuck with the theme of survival.
The combat is fluid and fast. Switching between gun mode and blade mode brings in a whole aspect that you just don't get in other raid type RPGs. If the enemy is too dangerous to get close to, retreat and use bullets to bring it down. Enemy too fast to shoot? Switch to blade mode and whack at it as you dodge.
The missions are varied but always usually boil down to killing your prey. Some of the Aragami are unique and fun. Others are just annoying to fight no matter what gear you have. They each have weakpoints that if you focus on, will net bonuses. The best aspect though is being able to devour your enemies to gain boosts and special Aragami bullets. Some of these bullets are powerful and feel great to fire back at the enemy that you are fighting. The game does drag on sometimes with some of the later Aragami having way too much health or no viable weakpoints for your weapon to exploit.
I really with this game would have been more popular. From what I have seen of the sequel in Japan, it looks like even more fun. Although, I'm not big on these types of games. I had fun with this one. It is fast enough and there is not a super ton of grinding for rare materials like other games in this genre. If you want to play this game, I suggest putting it on your Vita. The PSP is passable but the Vita makes the game so much easier to play.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Super Contra (PC)
To be honest, I don't really remember too much about this game. I do remember being incredibly terrible at this game though. That is the thing about Contra games, the player is either very good at them or very bad at them. So far I have yet to see anybody be mediocre. These games are unforgiving and difficult. This of course is no surprise though because the game has its roots in arcades.
The music is the most standout part of this title. The energy the player gets from the soundtrack carries them through each level and gets them pumped. As they blast their way through each level, finding power ups and making difficult jumps, the music is there with a certain sense of urgency. The story though is pretty much the same as the previous title, it is about killing everything that moves and not caring about what is actually going. It is mindless fun.
If you are looking for a fun afternoon of punishing gameplay and rocking tunes, go ahead and pick this one up. I don't think I ever beat this game and the Konami code was not really a help this time. It doesn't grant the usual 30 lives and it was not near enough for me to complete the game. I still have fun with the game from time to time but it has blurred from my current memory. Definitely a must for any retro-gamer though.
The music is the most standout part of this title. The energy the player gets from the soundtrack carries them through each level and gets them pumped. As they blast their way through each level, finding power ups and making difficult jumps, the music is there with a certain sense of urgency. The story though is pretty much the same as the previous title, it is about killing everything that moves and not caring about what is actually going. It is mindless fun.
If you are looking for a fun afternoon of punishing gameplay and rocking tunes, go ahead and pick this one up. I don't think I ever beat this game and the Konami code was not really a help this time. It doesn't grant the usual 30 lives and it was not near enough for me to complete the game. I still have fun with the game from time to time but it has blurred from my current memory. Definitely a must for any retro-gamer though.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Metroid (NES)
The original adventure of Samus Aran. A classic example of how to do an action adventure game that has been copied, built upon, and loved by many. This is one of the most iconic games on the NES and I feel that it should be played by every gamer at least once in their life.
The premise is simple, the player is tasked with getting to the big baddy at the end of the game. They are dropped into a world with very little direction to go and no map. I think that the limitations of the time are what made this game so great. The games that have tried to imitate this all have improved upon the formula but they don't hold the same sense of isolation and adventure as this game.
Simply put, you are alone in this game. There is no guide, no arrows telling you where to go, and no clues as to what you should be doing. This is the essence of the NES game era. Lots of times players would be stuck for weeks just trying to figure out where to go or what to do. There weren't online maps or message boards to visit. You had to have a friend that had done it and ask them for the knowledge or you had to figure it out yourself. Sure this can be frustrating but back in the day, this is how a game was played. A player would play till they figure it out, I miss that feeling.
In truth, this game hasn't aged well. The lack of a map does hurt the game but I feel that a dedicated player should challenge themselves to playing this game with minimal help. Sure, I understand that today it is frustrating to wander around and not know what to do. I've been there in lots of games. I don't like the feeling either. This game is a classic for a reason though. I feel everybody should play this game without help at least once. Even if they don't finish it, just play it.
The premise is simple, the player is tasked with getting to the big baddy at the end of the game. They are dropped into a world with very little direction to go and no map. I think that the limitations of the time are what made this game so great. The games that have tried to imitate this all have improved upon the formula but they don't hold the same sense of isolation and adventure as this game.
Simply put, you are alone in this game. There is no guide, no arrows telling you where to go, and no clues as to what you should be doing. This is the essence of the NES game era. Lots of times players would be stuck for weeks just trying to figure out where to go or what to do. There weren't online maps or message boards to visit. You had to have a friend that had done it and ask them for the knowledge or you had to figure it out yourself. Sure this can be frustrating but back in the day, this is how a game was played. A player would play till they figure it out, I miss that feeling.
In truth, this game hasn't aged well. The lack of a map does hurt the game but I feel that a dedicated player should challenge themselves to playing this game with minimal help. Sure, I understand that today it is frustrating to wander around and not know what to do. I've been there in lots of games. I don't like the feeling either. This game is a classic for a reason though. I feel everybody should play this game without help at least once. Even if they don't finish it, just play it.
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Blazblue Chronophantasma (PS3)
The wheel of fate is turning. This is one of the few fighting game series that I have actually gotten into. I'm nowhere near good enough at it to be playing anything other than the CPU fighters but I have attempted to play against friends in previous installments.
Just like the other Blazblue titles, this game is about Ragna the Bloodedge and what is happening to the world around him. If you haven't played a previous title in the series, I suggest you at least pick up the EXTEND version of the previous title to catch up. Most fighting games don't put a lot into their story modes but this is the exception to this rule.
That is one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much. Each character has decent enough depth that I can actually figure out who is going to be doing what and why. Sure, they are often twisted at times but each character has a quality that is humanlike. That said, the main plot is kind of confusing because it deals with time travel that isn't really time travel. There are different arcs for each of the different characters and it kind of ends well.
One of the shortfalls with this title is the fact that two of the newer characters are kind of just there in the story and not much is made known about them. Bullet is searching for answers about what happened to her in the past and Amane...I have no idea what Amane is doing. He is just chasing Carl Clover and not much else. I think both of these characters will get more integrated into the story in the next game but for now, they are kind of just there.
As always, the soundtrack for this game is superb. Just like Guilty Gear, there are lots of metal riffs and a few more playful songs. A lot is recycled from the previous title but each character's theme fits them and after a while you really look forward to fighting certain characters just to hear their theme.
The fighting is decently balanced and there hasn't been much change other than the new characters. I did notice the story mode was a little bit easier this time than Continuum Shift but it still had enough challenge to be a good introduction to the battle mechanics. The meat of this game is tied to the online fighting which is fun. Even though I only played once, I still had no issues with connecting and the lag was not bad.
If you are a fan of Blazblue, this is a title you should definitely not ignore. The new characters add a lot and fan favorite Kokonoe is finally playable...as DLC but still playable. The story does add to the series and will leave you wanting to finish the saga. I honestly cannot wait till the next game. I really want to know how this story is going to progress. Definitely a good game to jump into and have hours of fun with.
Just like the other Blazblue titles, this game is about Ragna the Bloodedge and what is happening to the world around him. If you haven't played a previous title in the series, I suggest you at least pick up the EXTEND version of the previous title to catch up. Most fighting games don't put a lot into their story modes but this is the exception to this rule.
That is one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much. Each character has decent enough depth that I can actually figure out who is going to be doing what and why. Sure, they are often twisted at times but each character has a quality that is humanlike. That said, the main plot is kind of confusing because it deals with time travel that isn't really time travel. There are different arcs for each of the different characters and it kind of ends well.
One of the shortfalls with this title is the fact that two of the newer characters are kind of just there in the story and not much is made known about them. Bullet is searching for answers about what happened to her in the past and Amane...I have no idea what Amane is doing. He is just chasing Carl Clover and not much else. I think both of these characters will get more integrated into the story in the next game but for now, they are kind of just there.
As always, the soundtrack for this game is superb. Just like Guilty Gear, there are lots of metal riffs and a few more playful songs. A lot is recycled from the previous title but each character's theme fits them and after a while you really look forward to fighting certain characters just to hear their theme.
The fighting is decently balanced and there hasn't been much change other than the new characters. I did notice the story mode was a little bit easier this time than Continuum Shift but it still had enough challenge to be a good introduction to the battle mechanics. The meat of this game is tied to the online fighting which is fun. Even though I only played once, I still had no issues with connecting and the lag was not bad.
If you are a fan of Blazblue, this is a title you should definitely not ignore. The new characters add a lot and fan favorite Kokonoe is finally playable...as DLC but still playable. The story does add to the series and will leave you wanting to finish the saga. I honestly cannot wait till the next game. I really want to know how this story is going to progress. Definitely a good game to jump into and have hours of fun with.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Code of Princess (3DS)
Early in the 3DS's life, there was a very good but unknown game by the name of Code of Princess. It was a fun beat'em up with multiple dimensions to move across. I didn't know it at the time but this was actually the spiritual successor to another title that I had never played. This game was fun but frustrating.
The story is pretty straightforward. The princess is ousted from her kingdom by an evil force. As she travels around the land trying to figure out what to do, she meets various characters and they join for various reasons. As the story progresses, the loose ends basically get tied up and there are a few plot twists. Although most of them are pretty predictable. This game wouldn't get the highest marks for it's story but it does drive the game along and gives the player something to think about while beating up enemies.
Fighting is the heart and soul of this game. Each character plays differently and has their own weaknesses and strengths. I mostly stuck with the princess, Solange because it was easier to level up one character than it was to redo every level. See, characters level up and as they do, the stats get better. Levels are important till a certain point. See there is a certain point in the game where the enemies just get so ridiculous that it is a rush to win each battle. My major gripe with the fighting engine is the fact that I was often stunlocked to death with no means to escape. Getting punished like this was often frustrating and really left a bad taste in my mouth.
The music is fun and fits the theme of the game. Each character has a track and the main enemies all have themes as well. My personal favorite is Tsukikage's theme. It has an interesting mix of flute and strange jazzy sounds. It was great to get the soundtrack with this game. I still listen to it to this day.
For the longest time, I couldn't see the appeal of beat'em ups. I had tried series like Double Dragon and Final Fight but they lacked something. I didn't find it in this game either but I had a better time with this game. There is a lot to do in this game and if you are looking for a fun romp through an interesting tale of a princess setting out to save the kingdom, I would suggest this title. Although the combat gets rough later in the game, it is certainly possible to beat this game. Yes, I had to abuse several of the game mechanics to do it but I had no other choice. I hate losing a battle because I didn't dodge an attack that came from off screen. Then being unable to move after the attack and being swarmed by more attacks. I still had some fun with this game.
The story is pretty straightforward. The princess is ousted from her kingdom by an evil force. As she travels around the land trying to figure out what to do, she meets various characters and they join for various reasons. As the story progresses, the loose ends basically get tied up and there are a few plot twists. Although most of them are pretty predictable. This game wouldn't get the highest marks for it's story but it does drive the game along and gives the player something to think about while beating up enemies.
Fighting is the heart and soul of this game. Each character plays differently and has their own weaknesses and strengths. I mostly stuck with the princess, Solange because it was easier to level up one character than it was to redo every level. See, characters level up and as they do, the stats get better. Levels are important till a certain point. See there is a certain point in the game where the enemies just get so ridiculous that it is a rush to win each battle. My major gripe with the fighting engine is the fact that I was often stunlocked to death with no means to escape. Getting punished like this was often frustrating and really left a bad taste in my mouth.
The music is fun and fits the theme of the game. Each character has a track and the main enemies all have themes as well. My personal favorite is Tsukikage's theme. It has an interesting mix of flute and strange jazzy sounds. It was great to get the soundtrack with this game. I still listen to it to this day.
For the longest time, I couldn't see the appeal of beat'em ups. I had tried series like Double Dragon and Final Fight but they lacked something. I didn't find it in this game either but I had a better time with this game. There is a lot to do in this game and if you are looking for a fun romp through an interesting tale of a princess setting out to save the kingdom, I would suggest this title. Although the combat gets rough later in the game, it is certainly possible to beat this game. Yes, I had to abuse several of the game mechanics to do it but I had no other choice. I hate losing a battle because I didn't dodge an attack that came from off screen. Then being unable to move after the attack and being swarmed by more attacks. I still had some fun with this game.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk (PS3)
I've always had a thing for games with item creation systems. Be it simply boosting current equipment to creating things from scratch, it interests me to create things from the junk you usually get through a game. Loot is always fun to get but doing nothing with the loot is lazy. Luckily, this series exists for this reason.
Atelier Ayesha is a game about two things, time and resource management. See the premise is that the player is an apothecary that dabbles in alchemy, Ayesha. Ayesha has lost her sister to some mysterious force and now she is living a simple life. While picking herbs in her normal spot for picking herbs, her adventure of self-discovery, becoming an alchemist, and saving her sister begins.
The story for the most part is pretty straight forward. There are not really any huge twists and it is pretty easy to follow. The part that shines is all the character interactions. Be it from the tomboyish mercenary with a pickaxe to the fledgling witch, each character grows through the story and you start to appreciate them for their quirks.
The gameplay is broken down between making things in the workshop to help you in battle or move the story forward and going out in the field to gather materials or fight monsters. This is where managing what you are doing comes into play. See, there is a time limit to how long the player has before the story ends. It is never rushed like previous games in the series but it does drive the flow of the game.
Alchemy is the central way by which items are created. These items are used for combat, story progression, or for cash. It is easy to spend months in the workshop trying to make the best item possible or just spamming bread. The only downside is that some of the recipes open too soon for the items that are available and it gets confusing as to what to make. The menus work well and I never got confused as to how the item I was about to make would turn out.
Combat is simple but there is more strategy involved in this entry. Positioning the party is an important part of each battle and some monsters will destroy the player if they did not plan accordingly. The game does progressively get harder at times and there are lots of times where a boss will be too hard to defeat. Luckily, these are few and often easy to pass with newer equipment or better items.
The shining piece from this game that still sticks with me is the music. It is full of memorable tracks and each area has a theme. Wandering around the land and listening to these tracks makes for a great experience.
For the start of a new saga, Atelier Ayesha is a great start. The developers have learned from the Arland games and realized that the time management in those games was far to frustrating at the pace that was set. The pace in this game is much easier and makes for a much better experience. Having said all this, I would recommend this for anybody that is looking for a simple RPG to play. It is relaxing and hardly ever frustrating. Sure some of the super bosses are difficult but the main story is a fun journey through a young woman's coming of age story. If you want to relax for 40+ hours, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Special props go out to Linca and Marion as the two best characters in the game but you only find out more about them the more you play. So go play it.
Atelier Ayesha is a game about two things, time and resource management. See the premise is that the player is an apothecary that dabbles in alchemy, Ayesha. Ayesha has lost her sister to some mysterious force and now she is living a simple life. While picking herbs in her normal spot for picking herbs, her adventure of self-discovery, becoming an alchemist, and saving her sister begins.
The story for the most part is pretty straight forward. There are not really any huge twists and it is pretty easy to follow. The part that shines is all the character interactions. Be it from the tomboyish mercenary with a pickaxe to the fledgling witch, each character grows through the story and you start to appreciate them for their quirks.
The gameplay is broken down between making things in the workshop to help you in battle or move the story forward and going out in the field to gather materials or fight monsters. This is where managing what you are doing comes into play. See, there is a time limit to how long the player has before the story ends. It is never rushed like previous games in the series but it does drive the flow of the game.
Alchemy is the central way by which items are created. These items are used for combat, story progression, or for cash. It is easy to spend months in the workshop trying to make the best item possible or just spamming bread. The only downside is that some of the recipes open too soon for the items that are available and it gets confusing as to what to make. The menus work well and I never got confused as to how the item I was about to make would turn out.
Combat is simple but there is more strategy involved in this entry. Positioning the party is an important part of each battle and some monsters will destroy the player if they did not plan accordingly. The game does progressively get harder at times and there are lots of times where a boss will be too hard to defeat. Luckily, these are few and often easy to pass with newer equipment or better items.
The shining piece from this game that still sticks with me is the music. It is full of memorable tracks and each area has a theme. Wandering around the land and listening to these tracks makes for a great experience.
For the start of a new saga, Atelier Ayesha is a great start. The developers have learned from the Arland games and realized that the time management in those games was far to frustrating at the pace that was set. The pace in this game is much easier and makes for a much better experience. Having said all this, I would recommend this for anybody that is looking for a simple RPG to play. It is relaxing and hardly ever frustrating. Sure some of the super bosses are difficult but the main story is a fun journey through a young woman's coming of age story. If you want to relax for 40+ hours, just sit back and enjoy the ride. Special props go out to Linca and Marion as the two best characters in the game but you only find out more about them the more you play. So go play it.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Legend of Mana (PS)
I'm not going to lie, I have always been a fan of the Mana series. Secret of Mana is my favorite game and this game is a very close second. Everything about this game is superb. The music is great, the combat is simple and fun, and the story while a little light fits with the series.
Let me get started with the music. This game has a very simple soundtrack but each track fits with what is going on. It is often that you will find yourself in very intense moment in the game and the music will match it. It can be light when it needs to be or make your blood rush when wanted.
The key thing I like about this game is the gameplay and especially the combat. Being able to use so many different weapons helps keep the game fresh. Find a weapon type you like, keep with that type and just upgrade your equipment as you need. The game allows you to strengthen your weapons using a smithing system. Although I never understood what a lot of the effects that you would get from the system, I would play around with it for hours.
The combat also rewards you by giving you all sorts of abilities ranging from a quick backstep to a high flying moonsault. These are not only important because they help you get around on the battle field and avoid damage but they also can be combined at times. For instance, if you equipped certain abilities, you could learn new special attacks for the weapon you were using or even a new ability.
While fighting, you can make your own combos and unleash some very awesome looking moves. The special attacks are awesome and each one feels unique. Each of the weapons plays a little bit differently and if you want to play around with them, you can. But one of my favorite features is having a pet or golem come with you into battle.
Pets are monsters that you grow in the monster ranch. They can come on your adventure and many of them have some great abilities. If you stay close to your allies, they will give you a link ability. My favorite being the spring ball monster, which when you are touching him you are invincible. Comes in handy in some difficult fights.
Golems are creatures that you essentially create an AI for using leftover equipment and you equip the golem with these things like a Tetris puzzle. You only have a certain amount of space to put in attacks and abilities for the golem to use. They can be very powerful allies if you give them the correct equipment.
Monsters and Golems aren't the only things that can join you in battle. Throughout the story, you will get access to certain characters that are important to the story. They range from a magical child with a frying pan to a legendary gem knight. The story branches off at times and a lot of the side stories are great. It can sometimes be a little hard to figure out what to do in a particular story quest but I made it through the whole game without looking at a guide.
There are a few flaws that I feel I can't overlook though. First, monsters only get experience if they touch the EXP crystals when an enemy dies. This can lead to some very underleveled monsters and make them useless at times. I have fond memories of me fighting a boss over and over just to get my Rabite some experience, trying to push him into the crystals.
The other major flaw is the fact that you can lock yourself out of several areas and quests because finding or completing them is incredibly esoteric. If took me 5 playthroughs just to find out how to get to the legendary jewel city that I forget the name of now. Some side-stories can be completely missed and may be hard to trigger at times.
Looking back at this game, this was the first game I played through more than twice. I loved every minute of this game. I trained every monster I could get. I mastered every weapon I could. Sure there are times where I was completely lost but the game is just so beautiful and fun that I overlooked it. If you have a chance, play this game. Yes, it is not as good as Secret of Mana and many claim it is not as good as the Japan only Seiken Densetsu 3 but it is a great game. Sadly, this is the climax of the series. The games that followed this game sullied the series to the point of it being reduced to a mobile game at this point in time. Would I love to see a game like this again? Of course. Will I ever see another game like this? A game with so much lore and beautiful artwork? I hope so but not likely with Square Enix in the state it is in. Which is just a heartbreaking thought.
Let me get started with the music. This game has a very simple soundtrack but each track fits with what is going on. It is often that you will find yourself in very intense moment in the game and the music will match it. It can be light when it needs to be or make your blood rush when wanted.
The key thing I like about this game is the gameplay and especially the combat. Being able to use so many different weapons helps keep the game fresh. Find a weapon type you like, keep with that type and just upgrade your equipment as you need. The game allows you to strengthen your weapons using a smithing system. Although I never understood what a lot of the effects that you would get from the system, I would play around with it for hours.
The combat also rewards you by giving you all sorts of abilities ranging from a quick backstep to a high flying moonsault. These are not only important because they help you get around on the battle field and avoid damage but they also can be combined at times. For instance, if you equipped certain abilities, you could learn new special attacks for the weapon you were using or even a new ability.
While fighting, you can make your own combos and unleash some very awesome looking moves. The special attacks are awesome and each one feels unique. Each of the weapons plays a little bit differently and if you want to play around with them, you can. But one of my favorite features is having a pet or golem come with you into battle.
Pets are monsters that you grow in the monster ranch. They can come on your adventure and many of them have some great abilities. If you stay close to your allies, they will give you a link ability. My favorite being the spring ball monster, which when you are touching him you are invincible. Comes in handy in some difficult fights.
Golems are creatures that you essentially create an AI for using leftover equipment and you equip the golem with these things like a Tetris puzzle. You only have a certain amount of space to put in attacks and abilities for the golem to use. They can be very powerful allies if you give them the correct equipment.
Monsters and Golems aren't the only things that can join you in battle. Throughout the story, you will get access to certain characters that are important to the story. They range from a magical child with a frying pan to a legendary gem knight. The story branches off at times and a lot of the side stories are great. It can sometimes be a little hard to figure out what to do in a particular story quest but I made it through the whole game without looking at a guide.
There are a few flaws that I feel I can't overlook though. First, monsters only get experience if they touch the EXP crystals when an enemy dies. This can lead to some very underleveled monsters and make them useless at times. I have fond memories of me fighting a boss over and over just to get my Rabite some experience, trying to push him into the crystals.
The other major flaw is the fact that you can lock yourself out of several areas and quests because finding or completing them is incredibly esoteric. If took me 5 playthroughs just to find out how to get to the legendary jewel city that I forget the name of now. Some side-stories can be completely missed and may be hard to trigger at times.
Looking back at this game, this was the first game I played through more than twice. I loved every minute of this game. I trained every monster I could get. I mastered every weapon I could. Sure there are times where I was completely lost but the game is just so beautiful and fun that I overlooked it. If you have a chance, play this game. Yes, it is not as good as Secret of Mana and many claim it is not as good as the Japan only Seiken Densetsu 3 but it is a great game. Sadly, this is the climax of the series. The games that followed this game sullied the series to the point of it being reduced to a mobile game at this point in time. Would I love to see a game like this again? Of course. Will I ever see another game like this? A game with so much lore and beautiful artwork? I hope so but not likely with Square Enix in the state it is in. Which is just a heartbreaking thought.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Doom II (GBA)
First review of 2015 and I get to do Doom II for the GBA. Yes, Doom II for the GBA. This doesn't make sense to me at all either but it is there. I'll keep this short at least. The game is simple, works well, and is fully featured. You don't lose much when you move from a PC to a GBA. The game just works. Not the best version of Doom II I have played but it gets the job done.
If you don't know what Doom II is, you obviously haven't been playing games long. It is an FPS that is basically the grandfather of FPSes. Go play Doom and then Doom II. Seriously, these games still hold up today. They are fast paced, simple, and fun. Sure there are some dark themes but honestly, if there was a gate to Hell on Mars. Well, it is an interesting premise to say the least. Go play this game if you haven't already. If you have, pick this up if you can find it. Portable Doom action is always fun.
If you don't know what Doom II is, you obviously haven't been playing games long. It is an FPS that is basically the grandfather of FPSes. Go play Doom and then Doom II. Seriously, these games still hold up today. They are fast paced, simple, and fun. Sure there are some dark themes but honestly, if there was a gate to Hell on Mars. Well, it is an interesting premise to say the least. Go play this game if you haven't already. If you have, pick this up if you can find it. Portable Doom action is always fun.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Devil May Cry 2 HD (PS3)
I played all the Devil May Cry games in order because I had nothing better to do one month. I am not usually one for games like this, I don't have the muscles for twitch movements and the like. This was a very difficult series for me to get into but I made it through this game.
Devil May Cry is a series of games about a half-human/half-demon character by the name of Dante. The story is honestly well written in all the other games but in this one, it is easily forgotten. In fact, I don't remember much about this game at all. I know it has all the over-the-top action that the series is known for and Dante is supposed to be a badass above all other badasses.
The gameplay of this was less than stellar, namely the difficulty. I'm not huge on difficult games but this one compared to 1 and 3 is just a huge step backwards. The game is really easy no matter what you do. Now I don't see that as a terribly bad thing but many people will. The combat works and the platforming and puzzles are bland, again this game was so forgettable I don't even remember anything about it at all.
I think to sum things up, if I can't remember much about this game. It must not be a very good game in the first place. My friends told me not to play this game because it tarnishes the series as a whole and I really feel it does. I have only completed the first three games and did not want to move on in the series. I'm sure there will be somebody that sticks up for this game but I honestly can't think of anything that redeems this game.
Devil May Cry is a series of games about a half-human/half-demon character by the name of Dante. The story is honestly well written in all the other games but in this one, it is easily forgotten. In fact, I don't remember much about this game at all. I know it has all the over-the-top action that the series is known for and Dante is supposed to be a badass above all other badasses.
The gameplay of this was less than stellar, namely the difficulty. I'm not huge on difficult games but this one compared to 1 and 3 is just a huge step backwards. The game is really easy no matter what you do. Now I don't see that as a terribly bad thing but many people will. The combat works and the platforming and puzzles are bland, again this game was so forgettable I don't even remember anything about it at all.
I think to sum things up, if I can't remember much about this game. It must not be a very good game in the first place. My friends told me not to play this game because it tarnishes the series as a whole and I really feel it does. I have only completed the first three games and did not want to move on in the series. I'm sure there will be somebody that sticks up for this game but I honestly can't think of anything that redeems this game.
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