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Post by Ex on Aug 18, 2023 0:59:36 GMT -5
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Post by Ex on Aug 19, 2023 23:36:19 GMT -5
Finished the "Sealed Dungeon" this evening. This was a very large dungeon, five floors. The first of which had loads of highly dangerous chest mimics. The Evil Mage boss was no joke either. Also finally explored the entire random game world: I'm now saved at the entrance of the "Lost Castle" dungeon. This is the second to last dungeon, so I'm getting close. I did end up using a walkthrough to find one of the three required fairies the player rescues. The way the player must find this fairy falls under what I'd call "byzantine bullshit", so that is one strike against VH. I'm still enjoying this one quite a bit though.
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Post by toei on Aug 20, 2023 3:37:10 GMT -5
Those damn Mimics are ferocious. Still the scariest Mimics I've come across in gaming. Did you do the dungeon with the teleporters already? I think that might be the next one, actually. I don't think it's that confusing since you have a map and all. I can't remember where you found the Fairies. I know I didn't have access to FAQs at the time, so it can't be that bad. Then again, I also had plenty of time. Wait, did you have to bump against a random tree or something?
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Post by Ex on Aug 20, 2023 9:50:58 GMT -5
I've not done a dungeon with teleporters yet, so that may very well be the next one ("Lost Castle").
To find the fairy I was talking about, one must find a particular grove of trees on the game map. This grove of trees hardly looks different than all the other groves of trees in the game world. I mean, I'm sure I walked through it previously not knowing anything about it. There's about 40 trees in the grove. To find the fairy the player must bump against exactly the right tree in the grove. For all the other trees in the grove, if the player bumps against them, a mob of giant wasps comes flying out that will likely kill the player. So even if you know that you're supposed to be bumping against trees in that grove (not that the player usually has any impetus to be tree bumping mind), you've still got to play a game of roulette where you bump against random trees, fight or die to wasps, until finally you bump against the tree that releases the fairy. That's just shit game design period. The rest of the game hasn't been like that at all, though. So I'll call this instance an outlier.
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Post by toei on Aug 20, 2023 11:11:25 GMT -5
I've not done a dungeon with teleporters yet, so that may very well be the next one ("Lost Castle"). To find the fairy I was talking about, one must find a particular grove of trees on the game map. This grove of trees hardly looks different than all the other groves of trees in the game world. I mean, I'm sure I walked through it previously not knowing anything about it. There's about 40 trees in the grove. To find the fairy the player must bump against exactly the right tree in the grove. For all the other trees in the grove, if the player bumps against them, a mob of giant wasps comes flying out that will likely kill the player. So even if you know that you're supposed to be bumping against trees in that grove (not that the player usually has any impetus to be tree bumping mind), you've still got to play a game of roulette where you bump against random trees, fight or die to wasps, until finally you bump against the tree that releases the fairy. That's just shit game design period. The rest of the game hasn't been like that at all, though. So I'll call this instance an outlier. I remember that now. I think there was some kind of hint as to where to look, otherwise I found it by chance. You can outrun / survive the wasps. But yeah, that's pretty crazy, lol.
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Post by Sarge on Aug 20, 2023 16:48:24 GMT -5
The 7th Saga Mimics (called "Tricks" there) are also terrifying. The first time you encounter each variant, they will almost always wreck you.
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Post by toei on Aug 20, 2023 16:56:31 GMT -5
At least they're turn-based. When a Mimic attacks you in Virtual Hydlide it's a jump scare first, then you worry about dying.
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Post by Ex on Aug 22, 2023 22:23:05 GMT -5
Title: Virtual HydlidePlatform: SEGA Saturn Region release played: USA Year of release: 1995 Developer: T&E Soft Publisher: Atlus Graphics: 4/5 Audio: 4/5 Challenge: 4/5 Fun factor: 4/5 Quick Thoughts: Virtual Hydlide is a third-person fantasy action-adventure Saturn game, being the final entry in the Hydlide series. Players are on a mission to liberate fairies and jewels and a princess from a dark daddy demon. This will involve slicing through a randomly generated overworld, exploring labyrinthine dungeons, and fending off all manner of nasty foes. Unfortunately, Virtual Hydlide remains maligned to this day, due to its unpolished graphical engine and spasmodic action. But for patient players, this game will grow on them, revealing itself to be a highly entertaining and continuously innovative adventure. +Plenty of overall creativity and inventive dungeon concepts. +I was actually impressed by the graphics at times, given the platform and year of release. +Excellent sound effects and a mostly good OST. +A palpable and continuous sense of exploratory adventure. +Reminded me of King's Field at times, no small feat!
- Virtual Hydlide is definitely NOT for everybody. -The jank is real (but it grows on ya). -Finding that one hidden fairy in the bee trees is BS. -The mimic chests are the stuff of nightmares, especially when they gang bang the player. -There is one boss that can be a showstopper if you lack the correct equipment. Ex's time to beat: 3 hours 40 minutes (explored everything 100%, didn't follow a walkthrough) Ex's rating: 8/10
Big props to toei for getting me to play this underdog. I likely never would have if not for his advisement.
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Post by Xeogred on Aug 22, 2023 22:31:45 GMT -5
This has continually looked pretty compelling to me. But I wonder what my jank tolerance is for it, haha. I am shocked it's not that long though. I guess I was kind of expecting King's Field length, 10-20 hours or so.
I haven't been able to game at all yet since my vacation, think I have some errands to run tomorrow night too. But I should get back in the groove soon and knock out Tomb Raider 4. Definitely tempted to hit up Quake II as I've mentioned with the remaster, but Armored Core 6 is imminent...
I really think Sarge would like Quake II.
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Post by Ex on Aug 22, 2023 22:41:54 GMT -5
Armored Core 6 is imminent Right now my Amazon pre-order is telling me my copy will arrive Sep 6 - Sep 8. Not sure how that makes sense given the release date is August 25th. Maybe I'll get lucky. I will play it soon as I can. I agree. It's quite different from the first Quake.
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