I'm playing Sakura Wars 5 for ps2 right now and while it's finally great to be able to play one of these games (and understand it) I really wish the girls were more relatable. I guess that's a little bit much to be asking from a cast of anime girls but I think the setting (America) makes it especially noticeable. Still, it's a well made, enjoyable experience that I'd recommend to anyone who's used to this kind of writing.
Dash wrote:I
So I picked up God Hand the other day. I can see why it didn't sell, but man it's pretty brilliant in it's own way. A great new age beat 'em up. I've been playing on Easy so far, and it's still a nice challenge. I was trying to explain it to a friend the other day, but holy crap, the first thing they ask me is "what's the story?". I had to go for like 5-10 minutes explaining how much that didn't matter, because the fun lies in the brawling. Then again, I forgot this friend's action game experience is Dynasty Warriors(ugh) so I don't think he'd like it.
I have a lot of friends who have fond memories of dynasty warriors which is hard to understand as It really is a terrible franchise. But hey, we're none to talk right?
Radrappy wrote:I'm playing Sakura Wars 5 for ps2 right now and while it's finally great to be able to play one of these games (and understand it) I really wish the girls were more relatable. I guess that's a little bit much to be asking from a cast of anime girls but I think the setting (America) makes it especially noticeable. Still, it's a well made, enjoyable experience that I'd recommend to anyone who's used to this kind of writing.
I was interested in Sakura Wars back when it first appeared on Saturn, but my tastes have changed so much since then I know I couldn't stomach it now. I don't think I could stand one more cast of stereotypical anime girls.
Radrappy wrote:
Dash wrote:Then again, I forgot this friend's action game experience is Dynasty Warriors(ugh) so I don't think he'd like it.
I have a lot of friends who have fond memories of dynasty warriors which is hard to understand as It really is a terrible franchise. But hey, we're none to talk right?
Do they also have a love of Armored Core? I have a lot of friends who love both. It's hard to understand and it's incredibly frustrating when they get a hold of a new one (either Dynasty Warriors or Armored Core) and it's all they want to talk about. I've learned to try to avoid them as much as possible when that happens every few months.
I think they've learned to do the same with me and Sonic games, even though I see myself as being more aware that those games having flaws. They act like each update of Dynasty Warriors and Armored Core brings them a step closer to nirvana.
gr4yJ4Y wrote:Do they also have a love of Armored Core?
YES. YES THEY DO. Another franchise that has somehow maintained a loyal fanbase without ever actually having released one good entry. I suspect it has something to do with both being ps2 launch games.
Green Gibbon! wrote:You can rent games from libraries, now?
They are a weird addition to the libraries around here (especially since 4 public elementary schools are shutting down this week due to budget issues), but they are small video game sections. I have to drive about 5 miles out of my way to get to the library with a decent selection of games and movies, but at least it's free. The first floor of this library is divided in half between traditional books and other media. The have DVDs, games, music, graphic novels, and foreign language books (including manga).
I always thought it was weird when the Sholastic book fairs started including (non-educational) PC games. My parents never gave me money for those things for whatever reason, though; they couldn't have possibly known I'd've blown the money on Croc.
Green Gibbon! wrote:They released a Sakura Taisen game in the states? Way too late for it to matter, but when'd that happen?!
Sakura Wars 5 was localized and released in the States late march for ps2 and wii. I'm extremely curious to see how many copies it manages to move, if any.
So... Sonic Chronicles apparently isn't as bad as it looks. I'm a bit hooked. The controls suck a bit though. I'm not that fond of not being able to use the D-pad for menus or even character movement.
In other news, Demon's Souls is awesome. I couldn't stop playing it until I had to return my friend's PS3.
Since I'm too lazy to load up GameFAQs, who brought over Sakura 5?
I never actually played one, but I wanted to play the first 2 hard back when they were big news. Didn't Working Designs almost bring them over, or am I getting my ancient rumors crossed?
Can you believe I played up to the first Devil Hand boss fight before I actually realized what the tension meter did? lol Fun times. Lots of extra money from picking up porno mags though!
Title already spoken for. Osman was born of a sword that turned into a flaming stallion and back into a sword (I guess). He can rend steel and kick tigers apart with his beastly muscular man-thighs, his baggy Turkish pants change color whenever his power increases, his mother is a goddess that tells him to kill things and the game culminates with him declaring himself to be the king of the world. There is no greater hero, but who would speak of his legend? Only I.
Been playing Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 via Virtual Console. I never got around to buying it before, but now I finally have. It's also probably the one Mario sports spin-off I've actually played for a decent amount of time.
Finished Final Fantasy IX the other day. First time I've been able to play it, thanks to PSN. Good, but didn't properly explain or tie up half the plot threads I expected. One party member's character development pretty much stops halfway through the story. Still, it's better than FFVIII! (except for its shit-ass card game)
Got the NTSC version rather than PAL, so a future Excalibur II run is not impossible. Which I probably won't attempt anyway, but it's nice to have the option!
Speaking of 9th chapters of long-running JRPGs, I've been playing Dragon Quest IX a lot over the last weeks. It's my first time playing a game from the series, so I have no idea how it stands compared to the other ones - that said, my experience with it pretty much rivalizes with the one I had with Final Fantasy IV, only effectively losing in the soundtrack department (by a considerable, but not too great margin). The big selling point - character customization - is a little less complex than I imagined, but you have to give them credit for creating models to nearly every piece of equipament avaliable.
Another notable aspect is how there's still a lot to do after the main story is finished. With the whole grotto/legacy bosssystem, dozens of sidequests, and the option to fully maximize your character's stats (considering you're willing to grind for god knows how long), it's the first time I see a RPG with such a potential replay value outside of pokémon or a New Game +.
I just played through to the best ending of Cave Story. It felt really redundant playing through most of the game again (I've gotten lesser endings before), but the new bosses made up for it. There's a pretty nice variety of bosses in Cave Story.
Dr. BUGMAN wrote:First? Man, you haven't played Rocket Slime? Get on that shit.
Is that pretty good? A friend recommended it to me years ago when it was new, but I mostly try to avoid spin-offs because most of them are, y'know. Suck.
The big selling point - character customization - is a little less complex than I imagined
I couldn't bring myself to customize the character at all. I tried doing it once, but I felt so guilty I had to start over with the default features.
Green Gibbon! wrote:
Is that pretty good? A friend recommended it to me years ago when it was new, but I mostly try to avoid spin-offs because most of them are, y'know. Suck.
It's excellent. One of my favorite games for the system, in fact. It's more like Zelda than anything but with emphasis on hoarding anything and everything, and no touch controls, which make it better than either Zelda on the DS by default. The meat of the game are the strategic tank battle wherein all that stuff you've collected (pro-tip: using an item as tank ammo does NOT deplete said item, so don't be afraid to use the good/rare stuff) are used as ammo with distinct effects. You also get a crew to command, which may include an enemy character if you've managed to collect enough of said enemy. A bit on the grindy side (natch) but you're never up shit creek if you're not obsessive compulsive enough.
It also has a Shadow-esque character that you bitch-slap around to your heart's content.
Oddly enough, the original GBA version lacks tank battle, so keep that in mind if you see it sitting in a shop.
Rocket Slime DS is also one of my favorite games on the system. I loved that shit. It appealed perfectly to my penchants for OCD item collection, destroying idiotic AI, and simplistic pleasing art direction.
