Releases today, friends! Until yesterday I didn't think it was gonna hit until around the 19th, but I'm much too excited now. Little Big Planet and Far Cry 2 are being brushed aside.
1up: A-
IGN: 9.0
I'd like to link a Gamespot review, but they take their sweet time these days.
I won't have my hands on the game until after work today. I will say, something that pisses me off is how many customers have confused this as being a new Valkryie Profile game. So many facepalm moments.
I'm just rambling now. Talk about the game, but only after you buy it. Buy it. Buy it.
I have played the demo almost as often as I have played Little Big Planet this week. I really enjoy the way they designed the battle system and I cannot begin to explain how beautiful the graphics are in motion. If the plot keeps me interested, I can say I found my RPG of the year (sorry Lost Odyssey, you almost won by default)
I'm getting it, but not likely until next week.
I know it released early in the states today but it's still a week away from release here according to the EB I just pre-ordered from this evening, probably due to the bilingual packaging. Maybe it will be out here on Friday and I'll be able to pick it up along with Gears 2, who knows.
Either way I'm probably going to have to wait for the Christmas break before I even think of playing it.
Found the last copy at Futureshop and decided to buy it since I couldn't find it anywhere else. I'll likely drop everything else and play it for the next few weeks.
I've gone through about 7 battles. I wasn't impressed with the gameplay during the first two encounters, but it gets better. And better. And so on. Very deep, very fresh game. The battle system is dotted with so many little elements that wouldn't turn the tide of battle on their own, but used wisely in conjunction they can really tear up foes. It has some strong Skies of Arcadia vibes, too; the feeling hit hardest while watching the enemy leaders gather to discuss their plans. Group of baddies sitting 'round a table, bickering about evil deeds? That's classic Skies.
Every member of your squad has a unique voice and personality, which actually affects how you'll use them. Pessimists seem to give up hope and drop their focus if they're near death, overly-chatty females can distract themselves when surrounded by other teammates and become easy targets for snipers, etc. There are positive effects, too, such as "born leaders" getting an attack boost when surrounded by teammates. It reminds me of Final Fantasy Tactics' Zodiac system, except more personal and with much less abstract consequences.
Teammates can permanently die if you're careless, so I find myself caring to go out of my way to rescue them. I'm a bit surprised at how different it feels to save a videogame character because you like their personality rather than only because you don't want to lose the time you put into leveling them (a la Final Fantasy Tactics).
Oh, and it's really cool to play as Vyse and Aika again. I don't think I'll want this game to end.
I hate that they put Vyse and Aika in the game. Things like that really pull me out of the experience. Same as Kingdom Hearts, I couldn't get take it seriously with all the Final Fantasy characters running around everywhere.
I know I'm in the minority, but taking characters out or their world and sticking them in a completely different one really bothers me. I know it's just fan service, but still. The game can stand on it's own.
That's true. At least they fit in well within the world (i.e. not calling Vyse an "ex-Sky Pirate" or overpowering them). They wouldn't seem out of the ordinary at all for folks unfamiliar with Skies.
It's probably the closest Skies of Arcadia fans will come to getting a sequel.
Sigh...
I played the demo, and the first two skirmishes were easy enough (you and two buddies ambush some soldiers on foot). After that, it became too complicated.
I fear I'm becoming too much of an old fuddy duddy to enjoy these new fangled games.
It's not too bad. I think the strategy is too easy on this game. Then again, I'm a strat Whore. So don't listen to me.
I'm the type who actually enjoyed Panzer General and Allied General plus Daisenryaku type games. So take my opinion with a grain of salt or sugar.
It's probably the closest Skies of Arcadia fans will come to getting a sequel.
Especially with Reiko Kodama (Lead Designer of Phantasy Star1,2,4 & Skies) being placed where she shouldn't be (either with a crappy DS puzzler, or a DS Card-Battle RPG).
Why she suddenly got assigned to such crappy projects is beyond me, perhaps helming the shitty PS2-Altered Beast so poorly carried a harsh penalty.
It's kind of annoying that this game doesn't have Trophies. I've read that Sega is working on adding the feature but Trophies aren't retro-active.
Edit: That quibble aside I'm really enjoying the game, I've just completed the first chapter and don't know how much more I'm going to play considering it's 2:30 in the morning. I like the history book presentation and episodic nature of the game. I really like that the game doesn't make any presumptions about your free time and you can save at any point. What's really cool is the gameplay though, especially since it's the first Japanese strategy rpg that I've played in ages that doesn't even remotely resemble a Tactics Ogre/Final Fantasy Tactics variant. I'm seriously sick to death of those games, it feels like it's been forever since there's been a Japanese srpg that offered somthing new, something fresh, something different.
I love the action oriented spin on the gameplay; how positioning, cover and the direction your facing all matter. It's brilliant. I love how a battle can end on the enemy phase because you've grouped your party together well, placed them behind cover and facing the enemy. The moment the enemy makes a break from cover your entire squad just opens fire and the battle ends. It's a fantastic game.
Wait till you get the Tank JJ. Nothing kicks more ass than Mortar Attacks with the Tank against Infantry.
I should be talking about this game more! I'm up to Chapter 12 now, and I'm really loving it. I finally feel like I'm good at the game, having a much better grasp of the play mechanics. Destroying enemy cover is essential, since headshot are sometimes the only reasonable way for scouts/shock troopers to down a foe.
I'm also getting into the habit of playing 2-3 snipers on every map. Keep an engineer handy so snipers' ammo never dries and have a tank destroy enemy cover to totally fuck up their world. If only they could move worth a damn.
And if you think having one tank is cool....well, I guess I just gave it away.
So far, no member of my team has died. Gonna keep it that way.