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Post by toei on Oct 30, 2022 6:07:20 GMT -5
I think I'd play the first game first, because HLTB says it's the shortest by far, and it seems much more linear. So it would work best as an introduction. I'm also interested in the technological achievement aspect, as well as it being FromSoftware's foundational release.
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Post by Ex on Oct 30, 2022 12:15:56 GMT -5
KF1 is the shortest and most linear. It is a technological achievement for its day. KF1 came out the same year as System Shock, an FPS lauded as significantly technologically advanced for its release date. Yet it's arguable KF1 is more technologically advanced than System Shock. But since KF1 was a Japan-only release, western game journalists were oblivious to its existence. toei I appreciate you are interested in KF1, but I'll be surprised if you like it.
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Post by Sarge on Oct 30, 2022 19:56:46 GMT -5
I feel like either starting at the original or King's Field IV is the way to go. The first lets you see it as it originally was, and KFIV gives you more polish and hardware heft behind it (and sets a fantastic mood).
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Post by Xeogred on Oct 30, 2022 20:31:40 GMT -5
There's enough subtle differences between them all, performance wise even, that if one doesn't land well with some player I'd encourage them to give another installment a chance. Which can be the case sometimes with a series of multiple games. Check a few out before writing them off entirely, hopefully one of them clicks and then someone can enjoy them all.
I personally didn't think Shadow Tower Abyss had much of a learning curve. But I've played Ultima Underworld, System Shock, other immersive sims and classic FPS's (Quake, etc, I honestly think can help a ton since you're accustomed to searching for hidden areas and secrets heh), and the big one being all my Souls knowledge. It was also probably nice that I've been more open to equipment durability and managing loot thesedays. Not to say STA has a Diablo styled system or anything even close to it, but you really do have to swamp out gear a lot and switch things up.
From there I still didn't quite know what to expect with King's Field and I didn't want to start with the most primitive one. So I was still skeptical, but then after giving KF2 a real fair chance, I was impressed by how smooth and fast that one runs. Even with all my gaming knowledge of the genres above though, it was still a steep hill to climb. If someone were to go into this one without having played any of the stuff I mentioned there, phew... could be brutal haha. Definitely can't emphasis enough how complex KF2's interlinked level design is.
Realistically yeah, I'd endorse starting with KF1(J) if possible, even if I didn't personally. It really is very much like Ultima Underworld and System Shock's format, a descent through big distinct and separate floors/levels.
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Post by toei on Oct 30, 2022 22:05:47 GMT -5
Ex You might be surprised. I played King's Field 2 for maybe 30-45 minutes a few months ago, I could see myself getting into it. I just wasn't ready for the time investment at that moment. In a weird way, it makes sense for me to play King's Field after Doctor Hauzer. Both early, fully 3D Japanese games of the then new generation, one from 1993, the other 1994. And I expect KF to be a better game.
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Post by Xeogred on Oct 30, 2022 22:14:11 GMT -5
Here's my rough completion time for them all, alas these are definitely the type of games that can vary from player to player (I say the same about the modern Souls games).
King's Field II - 17h 5m King's Field (JPN) - 9h 15m King's Field III - 22h King's Field III: Pilot - 40m King's Field: The Ancient City - 24h 55m
Shadow Tower - 12h 35m Shadow Tower Abyss - 10h 42m
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Post by Ex on Oct 30, 2022 22:35:12 GMT -5
Here are my completion times (from my HLTB records):
Eternal Ring = 13 hours 30 minutes King's Field = 13 hours 15 minutes King's Field II = 16 hours 45 minutes King's Field III Pilot Style = 55 minutes King's Field III = 25 hours King's Field IV: The Ancient City = 33 hours Shadow Tower = 14 hours 51 minutes Shadow Tower Abyss = 10 hours 47 minutes
I did not use a walkthrough or strategy guide for those, nor did I abuse save states.
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Post by Xeogred on Oct 31, 2022 22:27:09 GMT -5
I've been looking into some of the fan games over the last few days and there's some obscure videos / Let's Plays of them. But I'm very afraid that the magic is just simply never going to be the same again. They all look too "clean" graphically and then the newer stuff, you've got people making claims like "The Monomyth demo: Its like Kings Field, but better." Naaaaaah. Just makes me think of Skyrim. I skim through that video and think sure, this looks like an alright dungeon crawler of sorts... but this ain't King's Field. Not even close.
King's Field / Shadow Tower are SUCH ULTRA SPECIFIC VIBES and design/aesthetic... damn, guess I'm just coping with the fact that I'm now in a post-played KF/ST world personally.
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Post by Ex on Oct 31, 2022 23:41:38 GMT -5
I get what you're saying, and you're not wrong. But honestly dude, you ignore Eternal Ring at your detriment. It's the closest thing to one last KF you're gonna get. Very similar DNA, same awesome developer, same engine that KF4 and ST:A built on. No, ER's not as polished as KF/ST, but ER is still better than the vast majority of console first person dungeon crawlers. It's got a good OST, and it's got a complex subsystem to min/max that your stats OCD will love. Here's some screenshots to whet your appetite: I'd love for somebody on HRG to have played through Eternal Ring than just me.
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Post by toei on Nov 5, 2022 22:46:57 GMT -5
I just played an hour and a half of the original King's Field. I got stronger, got a Knight's Sword off a dead enemy and a Breastplate off a dead soldier, found a wooden shield guarded by a skeleton behind a secret wall, and found a Dragon Cup that I am supposed to take back to the fountain at the beginning to refill it with water. Guessing that's to restore HP/MP. I have no idea how to get back there, though. This is why I won't be playing this game. I cannot orient myself in first-person games. I just never could. I've beaten a few, but they had maps or automap features for the most part. I hate running around in circles with no sense of where the hell I am or am going.
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