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Post by Sarge on May 31, 2021 13:39:55 GMT -5
That seems like it should work. I'm not sure how big a chunk you actually miss if you don't follow the guide, but you will definitely miss story bits, and those are the big draw in my opinion.
Interestingly, you also miss content if you're not playing on Hard mode! There are dungeons only accessible there, and they are apparently more complex than the typical dungeons. I played on normal, but from what I've read, apparently the hard mode is actually easier, mainly because you get access to much better equipment. If/when I ever replay, it will definitely be that way.
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Post by Ex on May 31, 2021 20:50:47 GMT -5
SargeSo what are YOU going to be playing for this month? Are you going to revisit favorites? Or play the old Infocom tHGttG game?
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Post by Sarge on May 31, 2021 21:47:47 GMT -5
I've already started on one, and almost finished it. At the risk of spoiling it, it's a game I haven't played all the way through in over 20 years. I'm pretty happy with how well it has held up, all things considered.
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Post by Xeogred on Jun 1, 2021 6:33:39 GMT -5
I think I'm just going to play Valkyrie Profile blind and forget about it. This ultimate Ending A route thing has kept me at bay from it for far too long. I wager the Lenneth PSP version has more content too? I just want to play the PSX game as is and not worry about all this. And I thought this would be a 50 some hour JRPG, but I guess it's not that long actually.
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Post by Chema on Jun 1, 2021 8:56:07 GMT -5
I think I'm just going to play Valkyrie Profile blind and forget about it. This ultimate Ending A route thing has kept me at bay from it for far too long. I wager the Lenneth PSP version has more content too? I just want to play the PSX game as is and not worry about all this. And I thought this would be a 50 some hour JRPG, but I guess it's not that long actually. I beat it on the PSP, and from what I remember, the only new addition is some CG cutscenes and extra dialogue to link the story with the PS2 sequel. Nothing consequential or noteworthy.
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Post by Ex on Jun 1, 2021 10:21:03 GMT -5
I think I'm just going to play Valkyrie Profile blind and forget about it. I agree that is how you should play this game, and how people should play RPGs in general. That is how I played the original PS1 version of VP myself. I very much enjoyed the experience (I got the "B ending"). It wasn't until after I beat VP, that I found out about the "A ending" and the missable gameplay content preceding it. I simply went to Youtube and watched the "A ending" and "C ending" and was done with it. There was no way I was going to do all the asinine stuff required to see the "A ending" legitimately. Do I hold Valkyrie Profile's A ending shenanigans against it? Yeah, mainly because nobody could figure that out without a guide. I'm convinced it was put in to sell a guide. But before learning about the A ending mess, I had a great time with Valkyrie Profile and very much enjoyed playing through it. I decided I was good with the "B ending" that I naturally achieved, and went on with my gaming life. Don't worry about the "A ending", just play VP without somebody's else's training wheels and have a good time. If after beating VP you decide you want to see the other endings, Youtube is your friend. I do not recommend the PSP of version of VP for these reasons:The PSP port is based on the Japanese version of the original PS1 game, so the improvements (and certain bug fixes) that the USA version had, are not present in the PSP version. Mainly this regards to better menu functionality in the USA original. The PSP port occasionally has a stuttering frame rate and longer loading that weren't present in the PS1 version. PSP version lost some ergonomic functionality due to the PSP not having L2/R2 buttons. The hand drawn anime cutscenes of the original were replaced with rendered CG cutscenes in the PSP version. No new dungeons or characters or gameplay content (beyond CG cutscenes) were added to the PSP version. The only good things about the PSP version are it's portable, and it's an affordable alternative to the original PS1 release, for collectors who want to legitimately own this game.
- It's a lesser known fact that there is a 4th game in this series: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valkyrie_Anatomia:_The_OriginNot saying I recommend that entry though. I do still want to check out the DS entry, and eventually go back and finish (restart) the PS2 sequel. The PS2 sequel is challenging in some bullshit ways (I should have RTFM), but man is it gorgeous. - I plan to start playing Crystalis (NES version) sometime this week.
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Post by Xeogred on Jun 1, 2021 11:16:31 GMT -5
Good to hear Ex & Chema ! It's probably sad to admit I've owned Lenneth for ages but because of my disgust for the earlier PSP models (terrible d-pad to me), I never got far and I've always wanted to just emulate the original anyways. I have high hopes for VP as one of the last highly acclaimed PSX JRPG's I plan to hit up this month now. Sadly couldn't score a physical copy back in the day before it started hitting triple digits haha... And I'm glad Sarge mentioned Hard Mode again, because I remembered reading weird stuff about that having insane differences two. A whopping 8 extra dungeons, another character, and other stuff. Some people argue Easy Mode is the hardest in a way. Weird. I'll play Hard mode and if Ex and others can get the B Ending, I'll be content with that.
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Post by toei on Jun 1, 2021 12:04:45 GMT -5
Aside from the "selling guides" thing, another explanation is that Tri-Ace intended for you to play Valkyrie Profile several times over, to compensate for it being shorter than the average RPG. Hard Mode having so much more content supports this theory too, IMO. It *is* impossible to get the best ending by yourself on your first playthrough (well, maybe there's a one in a billion chance you'll trigger it purely by accident, but probably not), but it *might* be possible to figure it out if you replayed it a few times, since they do give you some vague hints. Either way, I don't think it's a good design decision, but I can see Tri-Ace doing that. Hiding post-game content halfway through a new game+ was already a thing then (ie Vagrant Story), so it fits in with that whole trend. Developers really, really wanted you to replay their games, and players were more likely to do so since we all tended to own way fewer games, and single playthroughs were a lot shorter.
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Post by Sarge on Jun 1, 2021 12:56:02 GMT -5
Yeah, mainly because Easy mode gives you less time periods per chapter.
Definitely agree that the PSX version is the way to go - the NA version has some QoL improvements over the Japanese release, which is what the PSP version is based on.
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Post by Xeogred on Jun 1, 2021 13:04:15 GMT -5
Aside from the "selling guides" thing, another explanation is that Tri-Ace intended for you to play Valkyrie Profile several times over, to compensate for it being shorter than the average RPG. Hard Mode having so much more content supports this theory too, IMO. It *is* impossible to get the best ending by yourself on your first playthrough (well, maybe there's a one in a billion chance you'll trigger it purely by accident, but probably not), but it *might* be possible to figure it out if you replayed it a few times, since they do give you some vague hints. Either way, I don't think it's a good design decision, but I can see Tri-Ace doing that. Hiding post-game content halfway through a new game+ was already a thing then (ie Vagrant Story), so it fits in with that whole trend. Developers really, really wanted you to replay their games, and players were more likely to do so since we all tended to own way fewer games, and single playthroughs were a lot shorter. So bizarre. You've mentioned how some Western publishers had an agenda against JRPG's back then, while the US were also trying to put up a fight against the rental business in ways. Pretty hilarious that VP's 20-30 hour campaign would be considered "too short" back then. I remember some back of the boxes or advertisements would exaggerate the length of some RPG's all the time back then too. "Over 100 hours of a breathtaking epic journey! Cutting edge graphics!" things like that, lol.
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