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Post by Ex on Nov 9, 2018 22:32:09 GMT -5
I own many Tales of... games. I have played zero of them.
I have no excuse.
I should do Symphonia next year!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2018 5:59:45 GMT -5
Enclave (2003) PC/Xbox/Wii
Enclave is a third person fantasy hack'n slash game by Starbreeze Studios - or at least that's what most people think. The truth is that the melee combat in Enclave is mediocre at best and pales in comparison to the complex combo system of games like Severance or even the awkward but ambitious direct sword control from Die by the Sword. It's very basic gameplay and the game world/lore/story are dime a dozen and not even worth mentioning. However, what Enclave does have going for it are two single player campaigns - letting you play as both the good and the bad guys - as well as 12 different characters to choose from. Some of these characters are magic users and archers - and playing as these guys makes the game so much better and basically turns it into a fantasy shooter. Even better, you can switch the camera to first person, making aiming so much easier. Unfortunately, weapons become see-through for some reason and they kind of float in the air as if they were from one of those VR games. Hit detection is also a bit awkward, but going for headshots feels rewarding - while using magic is pretty much easy mode. It's not amazing, but it's surprisingly good. So why am I not finishing the game? Well, the game threw a switch puzzle at me and, quite honestly, my tolerance levels for switch puzzles are at an all-time low. Already I had to put my Arx Fatalis playthrough indefinitely on hold because of it. After uninstalling the game, I checked it out and it turns out that the switch puzzle in Enclave isn't a switch puzzle at all, but you are merely supposed to find a fifth lever hidden beneath the stairs while all the other levers will unavoidably cause you to lose and start the level all over again. Maybe I should have kept at it and eventually stumble upon this hidden lever, but as I said, I can't stand switch puzzles. Also, I don't have much time left and I'd like to complete one more game before moving onto SRPGs. Who knows, maybe I'll give it another shot - eventually. Some pics: ![]()   
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Post by Sarge on Dec 27, 2018 17:25:56 GMT -5
I remember reading about Enclave a long time ago in a Game Informer. They hit on the same point, that melee is kinda derpy, but the long-distance stuff makes the game a lot more fun.
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Post by chibby on Jan 3, 2019 22:25:40 GMT -5
I own many Tales of... games. I have played zero of them. I have no excuse. I should do Symphonia next year! was the only Tales game I ever started playing and I enjoyed it throughout. If I'm being critical, it's story expected JRPG fair and it's combat system can get a little repetitive, but I was on an RPG kick and I stuck it out to the end (and I think even got all the Demon Weapons/Summons). Part of me want to say "never say never" about the endless minefield of games that I've started and abandoned. The other part of me realizes that I didn't even finish making my VG Collect page so I could take stock of those games I didn't finish... |
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Post by Ex on Jan 3, 2019 23:56:12 GMT -5
Part of me want to say "never say never" about the endless minefield of games that I've started and abandoned. True enough. One thing I've learned after decades of gaming, is that my first impression of a game isn't necessarily my final one. I have come back to games I started and stopped, only to find out later that I actually enjoy them after all. (This isn't always the case, but sometimes.) I've learned that my energy and stress levels, as well as particular mood, can all affect my reception to a game. My point is I believe games always deserve a second chance. |
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Post by toei on Jan 7, 2019 2:21:23 GMT -5
Spent some time on the first Zillion. It's an interesting game, but it's too harsh for its own good. Firstly, this game badly needed save points or passwords. It's crazy that you were just supposed to do it all in one session. Secondly, it's really hard to heal, and hard to avoid damage once you get a little further into the game. I rescued Apple, she quickly died, and when I saw that taking her back to the ship to get healed didn't revive her I just quit. Also the action feels so rough compared to Zillion 2. Which isn't surprising, as that one was all action, but it's still annoying how you have to slowly duck every time you meet an enemy (or just get around by crawling, which is slow and boring), and how jumping over mines is so damn tricky. That said, I didn't like Super Metroid, either, so... I'd still recommend Zillion for anyone who likes Metroid. It's not a mere clone, either.
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Post by Ex on Jan 7, 2019 9:21:34 GMT -5
I'd still recommend Zillion for anyone who likes Metroid. It's not a mere clone, either. After having beaten both SMS games; I do like them both quite a bit. That said, I can absolutely understand someone liking one entry and not the other. The two Zillion games are very different from one another. I don't think it's wrong to imply that the original Zillion was influenced by Metroid. |
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Post by toei on Jan 7, 2019 9:44:45 GMT -5
It was certainly influenced by Metroid, but what I meant is that it also did enough to stand out, what with the computers and codes playing a central role in the gameplay, as opposed to a straight-up clone that brings nothing significantly new to the table.
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Post by toei on Feb 5, 2019 1:19:58 GMT -5
I knew Lord of the Sword was bad, but for some reason I still decided to try and play it again. I actually made it far enough to beat the first boss, this time. You sort of get used to the bad controls and crappy fighting after a while, at least enough to make it past most areas, but they're still really clumsy and inadequate. Still, if it were a linear side-scroller, I might have tried to finish it, but it's one of those early side-view proto-ARPGs like, huh, NES Valis or Romancia, where you have no idea where to go and keep wasting time going back-and-forth through different areas hoping to trigger the next event. Which really amounts to replaying the same boring levels multiple times in a row even even though you already beat them. It's quite a drag. I used the map in the manual, which helps a bit (you can sort of tell where you are, at least, which isn't really possible with the in-game map where nothing is identified), but I still quit because it's such a drag. You can't even save. This is really one of the worst first-party Master System exclusives. The equivalent on Genesis, quality-wise, is probably The Last Battle (though even that might be a little better).
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Post by anayo on Feb 15, 2019 5:58:24 GMT -5
Popful Mail (Sega CD)
Time invested before quitting: ~12 hours
Positive thoughts: In 2016 or so I played most of the good Sega CD games via emulation. Popful Mail was cute, with animated cut scenes that would have floored me in the early 90's.
Reason for quitting: The way the game handled mechanically didn't appeal to me (not a good tactile feeling like Mario, Sonic, or Castlevania). The puzzles didn't appeal to me either (didn't draw me in like Metroid or Zelda). I got to the mountain or volcano or whatever level it was, and playing it still felt like work, so I stopped. I can definitely appreciate why kids who had a Sega CD back in the day would love this, but I don't think I'll ever go back to it.
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