[Dr. Eugene Felikson]

Been playing LOTS of Genesis lately. Found Streets of Rage 3 w/ case for only 80 cents! A bunch of other goodies too, including the Adventures of Batman & Robin, which actually plays a lot like Gunstar Heroes surprisingly.

Also picked up Ristar recently, been playing that A LOT. I actually like it more than Sonic, and almost as much as Rocket Knight Adventures. It certainly does have really interesting platforming mechanics (check out a few Youtube vids, if you don't believe me).

I guess this game was based on Sonic's original design as a rabbit that would grab things with its ears? I dunno...

 

At the beginning of the year, I was in a total Gamecube spree, but now I'm all about the blast processing.

Originally Posted by EVOLghost

Pretty soldier sailor moon.

 

MUST PLAY THIS

[Dr. Eugene Felikson]

Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii)

 

I have seen the future of JRPGS... and it is called Xenoblade. Amazing game, just came out in the US, yesterday. You Europeans have been very lucky to have this masterpiece for so long already.

Also played a great amount of Samurai Shodown w/ the gf.

[Ghostchase]

Well I gotta it then! I looked at it interested, but skeptical how it would play and quality of the storyline.

So its amazing? Who makes it again?

[Dr. Eugene Felikson]

If you do plan on buying it, act fast. For real. It's a GameStop/Nintendo.com exclusive RPG being released extremely close to the end of the Wii's lifespan - the game's value seems pretty much guaranteed to rise.

But okay, yeah, the game rules. It's developed by Monolith Soft.

Originally Posted by wikipedia

Monolith Soft is usually associated with the Xenosaga series, a series of role-playing video games on PlayStation 2. Some of MLSI's staff are former employees of Square Co., who transferred to the new company after the creation of Chrono Cross. They were previously involved with the creation of Xenogears, from which the Xenosaga series is derived.

What I like most about this game is that for some reason I keep on getting flashbacks to my favorite 16-bit rpg titles, despite this game being in the more modern 3d graphical styling. It really looks beautiful too, especially for the Wii.

It's more than just the Secret of Mana-esque alternative cover art (the game's insert is reversible)/art book cover that makes me feel that way. This game gets me just as excited about RPGS as I was back in the early 90's when I used to play them on my cousin's SNES. I haven't had a new game in the genre make me feel that way in a very long while.

 

The game features this really neat monster system - where some monsters are friendly, others are hostile; and it even goes as far as to differentiate the way monsters detect your party, via visually, sonically, etc.

It really reminds me of the first time in Chrono Trigger, you see those little green goblin dudes rolling around on balls; having fun in their environment, until they run into and surround you.

But the combat is a little more Secret of Mana-ish, I find it to be akin to a much deeper version of the one found in Contact (DS), or hell probably very similar to Xenogears (which I only played a bit of as a kid; probably didn't get very far). Needless to say, this is an action RPG... kinda.

When approaching a monster you can either choose to pass it (friendly monsters leave you alone; hostile ones do not), attack it, or lure it (which has proven useful so far) and then attack it.

 

Once in battle, your character (whichever member of your party you have selected as the lead) is able to run around wherever you wish. You automatically attack if you're close enough to a monster, but can select different 'arts' (stronger attacks, healing skills) to use when you can. There are different commands you can give to your AI-controlled party members.

There's a bit more to it, but I'm just starting to fully understand things myself. The game does however, do a very good job at gradually introducing you to its combat system.

Weapon/Equipment upgrading is really neat because you can actually see every single piece of gear your characters equip. This is something I find neat in any game, and it is done especially well in Xenoblade Chronicles.

I could rant on and on about how much I like the game already, and why so - but it's probably best to play it yourself. The story is pretty cool, there's a strong rural-Sci Fi-anime- fantasy feel to it. The opening reminded me of some sort of medieval Halo actually, haha. Pretty cool stuff.

The game retains all the charms of the genre's better days, with some convenient innovations, and puts them on a console that can deliver the adventure in a more realistic fashion than its predecessors. The world feels very much-so alive.

[Ghostchase]

GameStop/Nintendo.com exclusive RPG? Really? Nowhere else will sell this in North America?

[EVOLghost]

Doubt it.



I have Xenogears on my PS3...still need to play that. My gaming has been strictly limited to SF3. I was playing Parasite Eve but I got stuck on this stupid scene and ragequit.

[Grimoire]

19th century button making technology seems like a remote possibility given that these are concave on BOTH sides and look to have been re-rimmed via a device like an upsetting mill, the rim is thick and the center thin. I first considered that these were counterfiets but it seems more likely that they are modified cents as the date placement indicates each are the product of different dies. If I was to reproduce these I would have to crush or roll flat a cent, cut off some excess matierial and form a rim with a mechanical edge roller or by hand by tapping the edge of the piece standing on end over a hard surface, something that can be easily done. Still I want to know; Why was this done? Did these serve a purpose?

[Dr. Eugene Felikson]

Originally Posted by Ghostchase

GameStop/Nintendo.com exclusive RPG? Really? Nowhere else will sell this in North America?

Yup, unless you find it used or something, I guess. I think GS actually saved the day on this one. Nintendo was so hesitant to bring it over here, despite the whole Operation Rainfall movement.

[ink.]

 

[EVOLghost]

how do you like it?

[ink.]

I love it so far.. There are a lot of things I think function far better than wow as an mmorpg.. and a few things I hope will be fixed/added.. But the things I'd want added seem like perhaps 'left out because we are running out of time and need to release the game to get some cash flow' type deals..

I love the game play and I love the scenery.

[ink.]

There a lots of really tedious tasks that don't exist, that for me were the worst parts of playing such an online game. A lot of crafting type stuff is really streamlined and doesnt interfere as much with the storyline. Which for me is awesome because as much as sometimes I liked grinding to find a pet or some other reward.. I HATED runing around in one spot for hours digging up flowers or some shit. It was pointless and boring... and you ended up being a slave to spawn times. There aren't many things I've found so far that you need to dedicate hours to outside of actual gameplay.. it flows really well within the storyline. For me at least.. I guess if you really enjoyed fishing or mining for hours you might be upset......

[Ghostchase]

Originally Posted by Dr. Eugene Felikson

Yup, unless you find it used or something, I guess. I think GS actually saved the day on this one. Nintendo was so hesitant to bring it over here, despite the whole Operation Rainfall movement.

So I guess EB Stores in Canada would carry it, thats Game Stop's Canadian counterpart. (I think)

[EVOLghost]

Originally Posted by ink.

There a lots of really tedious tasks that don't exist, that for me were the worst parts of playing such an online game. A lot of crafting type stuff is really streamlined and doesnt interfere as much with the storyline. Which for me is awesome because as much as sometimes I liked grinding to find a pet or some other reward.. I HATED runing around in one spot for hours digging up flowers or some shit. It was pointless and boring... and you ended up being a slave to spawn times. There aren't many things I've found so far that you need to dedicate hours to outside of actual gameplay.. it flows really well within the storyline. For me at least.. I guess if you really enjoyed fishing or mining for hours you might be upset......

LOL NOPE!

Sounds fun. Lately I've had a craving for another MMO....but WoW is too ridiculous at this point (Even if they are givin' out free 80's)....I really wanted to check this out.

[floatingslowly]

I can send you a friend invite for 4 free days.

It's fun and casual time friendly.

That said, I loved mining, fishing and herbing

[floatingslowly]

One example of joy: using only npc companions, ink and I ran the first dungeon (flashpoint) by ourselves.

[floatingslowly]

I need a good last name for Bunny'slippers.

Something long and irritating...

Maybe Boombap'beatbox.

[floatingslowly]

Or....Biopillow. oh god yes.

[EVOLghost]

Originally Posted by floatingslowly

I can send you a friend invite for 4 free days.

It's fun and casual time friendly.

That said, I loved mining, fishing and herbing

Fer the Star Wars MMO? HMM I might take that offer. I'm still in school this semester and the only time I make for video games is basically SF3.

[Ghostchase]

My cousin is convinced SFIII + SSFIII is superior to Street Fighter X Tekken, and probably won't play it again. SO he let my poor ass borrow it! Can't wait play with Lili and Cammy tonight!