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| chazumaru 620th Post
 
Red Carpet Regular Member
  
    
    
|  "Re(573):Random x Random: New Age of Gradius" , posted Wed 3 Sep 16:57:
I really dig Gradius and especially the weird idea to make it a sequel to the MSX games. The game follows the Gofer no Yabτ settei rather than the Arcade storyline, features music from the MSX games (+ some GB music apparently) and includes MSX2-type cutscenes with a cute cameo from Metal Gear mk2 (of Snatcher fame).
The different bonus item configs are not as innovative as Gradius Gaiden's or Gradius V's but still offer some variety and weapons (missiles, lasers, spread bombs etc) all allow for successive level upgrades. There are various classic features for modern games such as replay, Socre Attack, online ranking... But what I especially like is the possibility to restart from any part of any level of any loop as long as you reached it once. The Konami command works once per level.
My major gripe would be that the game might be slightly too easy, but I get the impression there is some depth to the score attack via some clever enemy patterns. The five levels are quite inventive while remaining typically Gradius-like (although they are a bit short).
For example, the first level is a remake of the first Gradius level. However, at the beginning of the level, you get to pass by a generator. If you break the lower part, you'll increase the temperature of the stage (more volcanos etc.). If you shoot the lower part, you'll decrease the temperature and snow will abound, which will give yet another spin to the level. All three variations of the level feature slightly different pattern and a different mid-boss section.
The second level is closer to Salamander (respawning organic walls etc.) and features a section clearly dedicated to max out your score by finding the best way to grind on enemy patterns. The later levels have up and downs; I need to look deeper into them before judging their quality. Not much suprise from the bosses. 5 levels in all, multiple loops as always. The MSX games were filled with secrets and even secret zones so I wonder whether this episode is the same (doubt it, though).
A really pleasant surprise and unexpected hommage to a rather obscure/cult side of Gradius. I expected that the game would be a mere port of a cellphone game but clearly a lot of MSX love was put into it.
Famitsu-time:
◆ Raping my Childhood Feather. Apparently the focus on otaku-loved character designers was a good strategy and Sega is banking on it once again. I finally understand why these injured horses get shot in the head at the end of their career. [edit] Apparently developed by Flight Plan and features at least some tactical aspirations. The problem is that SF was perfect at balancing interesting tactical elements with a casual-friendly system. I am not sure FP is the most indicated developer to get SF out of niche-land.[/edit]
◆ Port of Manhattan Requiem on DS. This is a bit of a surprise as I thought JBH DS had been a relative failure compared to Saburτ Detectice Stories and that Tecmo mystery game. I thought Manhattan Requiem's main selling point was its innovative use of Compact Disc / Laser Disc technology??? Although these are probably ports of keitai adaptations... SonicPowered is developing.
◆ Derby Time Online. Sony's big Xmas title. Betting mode included but you don't get money for realZ, only medals.
◆ New Atelier game.
◆ New pictures of that new Rockman game that Iggy is feverishly anticipating!
IT'S THE BLACK PUDDING!
[this message was edited by chazumaru on Wed 3 Sep 23:03] |
| nobinobita 394th Post
Silver Customer
| "Re(8):Re(573):Random x Random: New Age of Gra" , posted Fri 5 Sep 20:21
quote:
Oh I have no gripe against the artist(s), but rather about the fact Sega managed to make Shining force so irrelevant that the announcement of the artist is truly the most important PR decision they will make to set in stone the level of approbation of this episode among its new niche. Whereas, Shining Force should have remained the casual-friendly more popular entry point of tacticals in the industry, allowing the whole sub-genre to stop spiraling towards extinction by bringing new people in, especially outside Japan. But it seems this is now the sole responsibility of Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics.
ahhhhhh.... I C I C...
Yeah I totally agree with you. I do miss the days when you didn't have to be some sort of Otaku to get worked up about this sorta game. Or rather... I mean, this sort of game has always appealed to Otaku types. I mean, the original Shining Force artist drew tons of pr0n before and after his stint on Shining Force. But he also did really rad, fun, clean characters that looked like they were ready for battle and adventure.
I think things have gotten excessive these days. I can't believe I'm saying this, but everything's way oversexed. I miss the days when there were all sorts of different Otaku like, Monster Otaku, Mecha Otaku, Wrestling Otaku... Monster Robot Wrestling Otaku...
Nowadays everything is shoehorned into sexy girls.
Like I hate that my mag in Phantasy Star Portable HAS to be a little girl.
This sentiment seems to come up alot when I read interviews with Japanese artists that I like.
Oh well, at least I have Monster Hunter! : P
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| Maou 1477th Post
Red Carpet Executive Member
    
 
| "Re(3):Re(10):Re(573):Random x Random: New Age" , posted Sat 6 Sep 16:51
quote:
Black Hayato/Polly: Phantasy Star! I have no doubt that Phantasy Star was the only RPG series sophisticated enough to actually take its scifi setting seriously rather than littering it with the usual fantasy cliches like Star Ocean and friends appear to. I must get around to finishing Phantasy Star II soon...so gloriously somber.
I am glad to see 16bit Phantasy Star get so much love. If you enjoyed Phantasy Star, particularly part II or IV then you might enjoy Genesis Surviver Gaiarth, a fun OAV series from the early 90s by the peeps that did Bubblegum Crisis.
There was something really special about this particular period of sci-fi and fantasy stuff in games and cartoons. The designs were just so solid and effective and plain COOL! I know I'm repeating myself here, but, they just really had a sense of adventure to them. I'm glad I got to grow up with this stuff.
Yeah, it's an undeniably 1980's aesthetic that seems to have produced these games and also the animation you speak of, all of such a distinctive visual and thematic stripe. Maybe it was just a good decade for the stuff, what with Star Wars, Blade Runner, and Akira around to inspire.
人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．
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| sfried
216th Post
Frequent Customer
| "Re(6):Re(10):Re(573):Random x Random: New Age" , posted Tue 9 Sep 12:23:
quote:
the Lunar series was Phantasy Star and Cosmic Phantasy's progeny in terms of the way it used cut scenes to tell a story, but whereas Phantasy Star feels quite EIGHTIES, Lunar had already advanced with Kubooka's (Giant Robo) style, and I've not seen it since.
It says here Toshiyuki Kubooka worked on the Batman spin-off anime and...oh god no...IDOLM@STER?
I read this book "Japanese Comickers" (ISBN 0-06-051355-1) that talks about the revertion from the style caused by the collapse of the bubble economy, particularly with the proliferation of "galge" art. (The article mentions that the claim is unsubstanciated, but who knows...)
I used to think Akio Watanabe's style was also largely responsible, but his work on some (of the more serious) shows weren't that bad (like the Yohko Yamamoto series. He seems to have also worked on a couple of Street Fighter OAVs). In fact, his work looks better with stark lighting, but all those people want to see these days is cheery-eyed moe-moe drivel and "platonic love". Damn shut-ins.
That said, any new or recent shows that do display the same intricateness of 80's artwork?
Edit: I also noticed that most anime from the past (or at least the ones Ed showed me) had some sort of moral or virtue at least entrenched in it. It seems back then they were really seeking a sort of justification from the story. Nowdays, do shows even have plot?
[this message was edited by sfried on Tue 9 Sep 12:41] |
| Pollyanna 2555th Post
Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master
    
| "Re(7):Re(10):Re(573):Random x Random: New Age" , posted Tue 9 Sep 13:03
quote:
Nowdays, do shows even have plot?
Now now! I never buy into the "good old days" conversations, because while there are many wonderful things that we don't see any more, there are plenty of new nice things, too. But then again, I'll admit to being biased against nostalgia. I like my Ys Book, Phantasy Star and old school Castlevania, but I'll also be the first to say that the "good old days" aren't all they're cracked up to be.
I think for years, anime has been "one or two good shows a season" and that continues now. Actually, it's easier to recognize the bad stuff now, because the "moe look" is an obvious warning flag.
Ah, by the way, or rather, very much not related, did anyone watch Kaiba?
Oh wait! This was supposed to be relevant to something! I think the 80's anime-styled Phantasy Star stuff is okay, but I really like the 80's fantasy-styled detailed illustrations. That stuff had a lot of personality. I'd like to see a game that looks like that.
青春謳歌 弱肉強食
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| Iron D 2982th Post
Platinum Carpet V.I.P- Board Master
| "Re(2):Yakuza 2" , posted Sat 13 Sep 10:13
quote:
I enjoyed Yakuza 1 for the most part, but by the end of the game I was just trying to beat it just tot get it over with. The fighting system was alright, although I felt it could use a bit more polisihing up and more variety. The story started getting a bit on the confusing side towards the end as well.
So what can I expect from 2? How different is the fighting system? Are the mini-games worth caring about this time around?
Basically any non-storyline spoiler details anyone who has played the game can give would be appreciated.
From the short amount of time I've put into Yakuza 2 it seems like the game is more robust but it is more of the same. Take the fighting for example. While I'm not yet able to pull off counters, air throws or other crazy crap that Kazuma could do late in the first game, Y2 is good enough to start you off with what feels like a complete, albeit minimal, move list. This was a nice change from the first game where the beginning was hampered by not having a large enough Heat gauge or enough moves to build its meter.
Another change I came across was that after hanging out at the driving range for awhile I managed to teach Kazuma a new fighting move. I doubt knowing that move is going to make or break the game but it was a cute little addition to playing the side quests and I guess I'll have nice form when I hit people with a 9 iron.
The side missions still feel optional. Outside of knocking a few buckets of balls around I haven't really gotten into any of the more intensive mini games so I don't know if there is a large enough reward for working through them if you aren't thrilled with the task at hand. The missions you can pick up on the street still seem to consist of beating people up or playing UFO games. At least none of it feels like I'm obligated to fool around with it if I don't want to. I much prefer that approach as opposed to something like the Warriors, where the entire game was built around mini games I hated.
Yakuza 2 seems to be following the same path as its predecessor where a large, increasingly absurd plot is broken up by Shenmue-like opportunites for the player to find new and ridiculous ways to make your character waste time. Being able to equip two wristwatches and then get treated to a shot of Kazuma sitting in a restaurant booth ordering food is something that amuses me far more than it should. I also know that my reasons for playing a game are often very different from the reasons other people play a game. So while I'm not going to be able to shut up about this game for some time I can also recognize that Yakuza 2 is more of an upgrade than a monumental leap forward.
Hmm. Sounds mostly good then. Again, I did enjoy the original enough for me to want to see what happens in the sequel, so your rundown does help me know what to expect. Should still fun at the very least.
Er.....
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| HAYATO 883th Post
Red Carpet Regular Member++
| "Re(6):Yakuza 2" , posted Sat 4 Oct 02:39
quote:
I'm currently finishing conquering 3 remaining cabaret hostesses and I just won against that annoying American professional pitcher. I danced in celebration for that one!
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"Re(6):Random x Random: New Age of Random" , posted Tue 2 Sep 13:16
"Re(9):Random x Random: New Age of Random" , posted Thu 4 Sep 15:36:
Best site EVER:
who follow the path of a warrior
