And so dies my 3rd Xbox 360. Having arrived one day after Mass Effect, it gave me nearly two years of service and has been my longest lasting 360. Despite being a brand new system, it still used the original chipset so I knew this moment would arrive at some point. Would have been nice had it let me finish Dragon Age first...
This monthly blog is brought to you by Hewlitt Packard and Windows 7. After 6 years of dedicated service, I have at last retired my PC and bought a new one. I usually build them myself, but systems have gotten really cheap and with the recent(?) shift to SATA from IDE, I can't cut costs by recycling old components. After some web browsing, I ended up in Best Buy purchasing an HP Athlon quad-core (2.6GHz) with 8GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive. The graphics card is a little underpowered (512MB ATI 4359HD), but I'd have to put a bigger power supply in to upgrade it. I never bothered with Vista, so getting used to Windows 7 has taken some time. A lot of things are easier, but other things have been buried pretty deep or hidden entirely.
This monthly blog is not brought to you by Square Enix. After 10 years of buying pretty much every game Square put out, an issue with my FFXI has caused me to cease my support of the company. Back in June, after a year of inactivity I cancelled my account once again. So imagine my surprise when I see a charge for $80.90 from SE in my checking account. Someone had opened up all 16 character slots at a cost of $27.95/month and bought a $25 server transfer. Since they only bill at the beginning of the month I was hit for two months of charges. They could find no evidence of third-party access they would not refund the charges. Since the odds of someone randomly using my account number and brute forcing their way past my password without leaving a trace is pretty slim, I am left with the conclusion that the intrusion came from within Square Enix meaning I can no longer trust my personal information on their servers. I have asked to have this information deleted and to recoup my losses I have decided to purchase any future titles second-hand. Not much of a boycott, I suppose, but like I'm going to miss out on FFXIII just because they screwed me out of 80 bucks. At least I'll know that when they release their final sales numbers, they sold one less than they could have...
October Gain +1725 - 94 Achievements unlocked
October Gain - Level + 0 Trophies + 0
Backlog decreased by 1 in October
Rank 15 on the MyGamercard.net RPG Leaderboard +2
Game spending vs. '08: Monthly -58% | Yearly -43 %
While I admit to holding off on all the DS RPGs, this fall still seems so quiet compared to recent years.
I never got into the 1st one and wasn't really expecting much out of this one, especially after the demo. I was pleasantly surprised by the finished product. The voices don't grate the ears, combat is quick (bosses excluded) and fun, and you have complete control over how you're characters develop their skills. Now if only the plot hadn't been pulled from the grand list of RPG cliches.
This one is pretty much on hold until I finish Dragon Age.
13:46 - Heading for the Wasteland of Silence
Juto 29/Crocell 28/Celestine 26/Argo 28
I enjoyed this so much on the 360 that I decided to grab the Game of the Year Edition and play through it again on my new PC. Actually, it was this game that finally forced me to get a new computer. When I bought it I didn't expect my old computer to run it well, but I figured with the graphics turned all the way down it might slug around just enough to be slightly playable. Instead I couldn't even get it to read the 1st install disc.
Anyway, an hour or so in and I'm in Rivet City deciding which quests I want to pursue.
This game was the subject of a fierce debate last year with a friend over the name of a character. The answer was fairly early into the game so we popped it in to settle the question. The argument was resolved in my favor and it was decided at some point in the future this fine game deserved another playthrough. That time has come.
7:20 - 8 Growth Stars
Serge/Leena/Greco - Hydra Marshes
A breath of fresh air after the disappointing Partners in Time. It is no coincidence that this coincides with Fawful's return to villain status.
18:09 - Peach's Castle
Mario 26/Luigi 26/Bowser 24
Dragon Warrior I
Level 20
The difference between levels 19 and 20 was amazing. DracoLord fell with little trouble this time.
Dragon Warrior II
Completed opening scene
Final Fantasy I
13:46 Lv 51 Knight/Ninja/Red Wizard/Black Wizard
Chaos defeated, game complete.
Final Fantasy II
02:36 Firion/Maria/Guy
The mission to Bafsk was a failure, guess it's back to Altair.
The first of five chapters, it won't take more than 4 hours or so to puzzle your way through the game. And the trip through was certainly worth it thanks to the hilarious dialogue. Well voiced with a rousing soundtrack and an ecclectic cast. The puzzles themselves weren't terribly difficult, though twice I found my thoughts moving in a different direction than the game required forcing trip to the FAQ. I will certainly be purchasing the complete set next year once the 5th episode is released. My score, slightly weighed down by a lack of replay value, is a 8.5.
My biggest complaint this series has slowly regressed as an RPG. In this game, the 4th entry, you're ability to influence characters at level up is down to nearly nothing. The boosts are nice, but you can only choose 3 of a hundred or so. Fusions as well, though they are extremely overpowered and really have no variety whatsoever. I don't mind more of the same, but this game's "improvements" went in the wrong direction. It has it's moments and might be worth a run or two for Marvel fans or those who enjoyed the previous titles, but overall it was a letdown. Here's hoping the inevitable sequel fixes what was broken. A 6.9.
Perhaps I'm biased towards Nintendo, but I just couldn't get into this game. While the early stages were fun at times, the later stages were just a pain in the arse, requiring pinpoint timing and a psychic ability to predict when offscreen enemies will suddenly attack. Sonic's greatest asset has always been his speed, but running anywhere is pretty much a death sentence. Most annoying was the artificial difficulty of the final stage where you were not even given a single ring to protect yourself with. Getting hit even once would send you back to the beginning of a back-to-back fight. Legions of fans swear by this game, but I can only see it as a relic of past best left there.
One genre that has not changed much over the years is the Strategy RPG. Select your units, and move them turn-by-turn across the map trying to exploit the weaknesses of the enemy. Valkryia Chronicles moves the genre ever-so-slightly forward by introducing a real-time aspect to the battlefield. As you advance your troops forward, the enemy units in range will begin shooting at you forcing you to use cover or find a way to slip behind them. Less realistic, though I certainly didn't mind, was the ability to select the same unit multiple times (with reduced movement). This was helped by tying the XP and base weapons to the troop type as opposed to the unit. No worrying about weaker units not getting the kill and the XP, you assign it at will amongst the five troop types. The main cast well voiced, though the scrubs sounded like they were phoning it in. Not that they were a part of the story at all. They each had their own idiosyncrasies, though it would take a trip to the encyclopedia to learn anything about them. The other aspect I didn't care for was basing the bonus XP and gold entirely on speed. This runs counter to my preferred slow and steady, wiping each unit out as I go and requires massive save file abuse to ensure that each move and shot proceeds exactly as planned. Missing is just not an option. Minor griping aside, the story is well told and I had a lot of fun with this. Highly recommended. It gets a 9.1 from me.
A first-person shooter wrapped in the trappings of a hack-n-slash RPG. An interesting combo and one that works quite well. It doesn't completely escape the repetiveness of the hack-n-slash; you are still killing lots of mobs, collecting loot, selling off the excess while grinding towards the next level, but the shift to FPS and need to aim does prevent the button mashing that most games turn into. The story is nothing special, the ending disappointing, and the bulk of the quests are offered through a bulletin board with no human interaction at all. some plot development would have been nice, but the core gameplay works well enough to more than make up for this. And it's even better when friends join in. 8.9 out of 10.
Tales of Monkey Islands Opening Theme
I had only only played Escape From Monkey Island once and very briefly so I wasn't sure exactly what I was getting when I started playing this, but the opening theme sure got me in the mood.
4 Pickups, 2 Additions, 1 Cancellation
Atlus and NIS America
Non-RPG
Another fall is upon us, but unlike previous years this one feels a little underwhelming. I should be swimming in RPGs by now. With my focus on cost-cutting this year, I suppose I shouldn't be complaining too much and I did end up with a few more games than in previous months. Several of these games were downloads. I'm still on the fence with digital distribution. It's great in the short-term, but what happens if I want to play it in the future and the game won't verify me because the company I bought it from no longer exists. But price trumps reason and $5 a piece for Drakensang and Elven Legacy was good enough for me.
I enjoyed a week of vacation this month. While I had a few things I wanted to accomplish while off work, I managed to get none of it done. In fact all I really did was sleep and game. What an awesome week! I also refocused my gaming efforts back to my 360 RPGs that week, catching up with the Mass Effect and Fable II achievements and brought Sacred 2 back out.
September Gain +1915 - 48 Achievements unlocked
September Gain - Level + 0 Trophies + 0
Backlog increased by 1 in September
Rank 13 on the MyGamercard.net RPG Leaderboard +7
Game spending vs. '08: Monthly -51% | Yearly -40 %
While I picked up a few more games than intended, three were cheaply obtained ($10) and the fourth was financed partially by trading in the individual games of the compilation (Metroid Prime).
I played it briefly when it came out last year, clearing chapter 2, but never got back to it. A regrettable mistake as this is a game worth playing. An unique blend of real and turn-based combat with a touching story.
Kind of a hands-off approach to leveling and equipment, but the lack of micro-management is a bit refreshing.
Currently in Chapter 13, the Naggiar Plains, where things just got interesting.
My 360 focus in the 2nd half of the month saw me set it aside, but it will be beaten by October's end.
This game was the subject of a fierce debate last year with a friend over the name of a character. The answer was fairly early into the game so we popped it in to settle the question. The argument was resolved in my favor and it was decided at some point in the future this fine game deserved another playthrough. That time has come.
3:07 - 5 Growth Stars
Serge/Pierre/Kid - Viper Manor
A breath of fresh air after the disappointing Partners in Time. It is no coincidence that this coincides with Fawful's return to villain status.
8:37 - Toad Town
Mario 14/Luigi 14/Bowser 17
Dragon Warrior I
Level 20
The difference between levels 19 and 20 was amazing. DracoLord fell with little trouble this time.
Dragon Warrior II
Completed opening scene
Final Fantasy I
13:46 Lv 51 Knight/Ninja/Red Wizard/Black Wizard
Chaos defeated, game complete.
Final Fantasy II
02:36 Firion/Maria/Guy
Minwu has left the party.
I didn't have high expectations going into this game, so I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. At it's core it is a fighting game, but RPG conventions are quite prevalent and ultimately your level and equipment will have a direct result on the fight, though skill and luck can certainly make a difference when overmatched. A hero and villian from each of the first 10 games is playable, along with a character from XI and XII you can unlock after beating the game. Though I've not played as any of the villians, each of the hero characters has a unique ****combining physical and magical attacks. My favorite ended up being Terra of FFVI (go figure), whom I mostly get airborn while flinging ranged spells. The battles initially play out as a tug of war as you seek to damage your opponent's bravery stat and add it to your own, hopefully driving it to 0 for a massive bonus to your bravery. Eventually you'll launch an HP attack converting your bravery into an equal amount of HP damage. The game was quite challenging when your opponent was more powerful than you and it doesn't take long for them to become quite skillful at dodging or reflecting your attacks, forcing you to master your own timing or rely on a lucky hit. The story is... sufficient (I'll excuse it for being a crossover game) and the amount of post-game content is staggering. It will certainly keep you busy for awhile if you want it to. I do recommend it to anyone who enjoys Final Fantasy. 8.6 out of 10.
I've mentioned this elsewhere, but a long time ago when I was but a wee lad with an NES I rented a game called Dragon Warrior. The concept of experience and levels was foreign and besides, I only had 3 days to play; no time for grinding. As one might expect I didn't get far on that rental. It would be years and another system before I would even attempt another RPG. So when I began my "History of the RPG" backloggery sidequest it was with a bit of dread that I would have to play this again. Final Fantasy felt easier with each port, but this port seemed unchanged from the original. A relic from another time, it's hard to give this game an unbiased look, especially with my negative memories of it. I did find it more playable this time around. Though it did require more grinding than I wanted to give it, at least it was on my GBA and I could do/watch other things while playing. My biggest complaint is the 1 on 1 combat. While you get a few offensive spells, I found my magic best left for healing so I never used them. Which means a battle pretty much consisted of me hitting the fight command every round until I needed to heal. As with many early games, the plot was giving to you at the beginning as opposed to something that happened as you proceeded. Play it if you want to see one of the foundations of modern RPGs, but only if you don't mind devoting most of your playtime to leveling. Score pending completion of DQII.
An unimpressive title all around with a unique, but ugly grainy graphic filter. A strategy RPG, your crew of 5 never changes. They have names, though they are rarely referenced and are better known as MACE-1 through 5. In fact, once the plot starts to get moving they really don't even factor into the story. They're there, but they aren't the ones influencing the plot. An interesting tactic, certainly, but I felt it distanced me from what was going on. Your zoids are limited to just a couple of weapons and the upgraded versions. Deciding on which one to take was tough, as it forced you balance range, power, and accuracy. After the first few missions, difficulty spiked harshly. Enemies came in waves with several reinforcements, but you rarely had time to finish the first one before the next wave was on you. Constantly outgunned, outsupported, outleveled, and outskilled, it really felt at times the game was out to get you. Enemies were usually several levels ahead of you, and though I don't think it much difference statistically, it did give them more points to spend equipping skills. The 2nd run and the extra boss encounters were actually fun, but not worth the 1st trip through. Not recommended unless you enjoy a game that gives every advantage to the opponent. 5.2/10.
While it can't escape the repetiveness that is inherent in the hack-n-slash genre, it does enough things right that you don't mind. The world is vast and varied. The enemies are scaled to just above your level until you hit the region's cap, ensuring a steady stream of useful loot. The plot is perhaps the weakest point, serving really only as a means to push you to the next region. While there are 500+ side quests, they are mostly just fetch or kill so many mobs quests. Most are fairly easy to accomplish and yield good xp. Character advancement is mostly based on choosing and leveling 10 skills. There aren't enough points to max everything, so what you focus on really can make or break your character. Combat Arts don't level with you and are instead advanced by finding dropped or trading for runes. But increasing the power will also increase the recharge time. Balancing this is key to the characters that can't depend on pure melee attacks. The only decent view is a zoomed-out overhead, although that may not be such a bad thing since most enemies attack in mobs. This is a game that can keep you busy for a long time, if you want it to. My score is 7.7.
Angela - Spiral
Angela has a new album out called Land Ho! I've been listening to the band since I watched Soukyuu no Fafner years ago and heard Shangri-La and Seperation, the opening and ending themes. Atsuko has a such phenomenal voice. And Fafner is still one of my favorite animes.
4 Pickups, 2 Additions
Atlus and NIS America
Non-RPG
New Super Mario Bros. Wii
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