Review for 3rd installment of the .hack series... and I haven't even started on 2nd yet... 
.hack : Outbreak that is.
http://www.gamers.com/game/117142
.hack : Outbreak that is.
http://www.gamers.com/game/117142
Console RPG Talk
- Thread starter Knight-Dragon
- Start date
First news of a Suikoden IV. 
To be released in Japan, sometime in 2004...
http://www.gamers.com/news/1460907
To be released in Japan, sometime in 2004... http://www.gamers.com/news/1460907
floppa21
Crusty Manhole
Well my local shop was sold out of disgaiueio. So I ordered it on amazon. XIII, didja play Final Fantasy Tactics or no? I forget if you said no before...
Hack...
They should call it Jack because that's what it does to the people who buy it. $200, or $120 if you wait long enough for four games with 15 hours gameplay in them? I wouldn't even consider trying it. I don't care about the anime discs that come with each episode though so...
I ALMOST picked up Suikoden3 last night since they were out of what I wanted... BUt I didn't.
XIII, didja play Final Fantasy Tactics or no? I forget if you said no before... Hack...
They should call it Jack because that's what it does to the people who buy it. $200, or $120 if you wait long enough for four games with 15 hours gameplay in them? I wouldn't even consider trying it. I don't care about the anime discs that come with each episode though so...I ALMOST picked up Suikoden3 last night since they were out of what I wanted... BUt I didn't.
Suikoden III, in retrospect, was rather boring, compared with the good run of RPGs this year. 
As for Disgaea, it really might be that good. Will try it out a bit this weekend... hehe.
Nope, never touched FFT - I was a latecomer to video-gaming and PC-gaming. Economically deprived childhood you understand.
As for Disgaea, it really might be that good. Will try it out a bit this weekend... hehe.
Nope, never touched FFT - I was a latecomer to video-gaming and PC-gaming. Economically deprived childhood you understand.
And here, they have screenies for Xenosaga II... I'm being swarmed under. 
http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMedia...enosaga+Episode+II:+Jenseits+von+Gut+und+Bose
http://mediaviewer.ign.com/ignMedia...enosaga+Episode+II:+Jenseits+von+Gut+und+Bose
Shion and KOS-MOS looked very different... 
Thrawn
Emperor
I think I should change my sig to "Depressed at the fact that good rpgs don't get released in New Zealand. 
"
"
floppa21
Crusty Manhole
Thrawn - Why don't you get a modded PS2? Or would it not work on the televisions over there? I always thought in Europe (for example), if one bought a tele from USA it would work but apparently it is the output of electricity that makes it incompatible... Is this the case in NZ?
Thrawn
Emperor
Probably. I don't really want to get my ps2 modded anyways.
Unexpectedly, just finished Xenosaga today. Clocked at about 50+ hours... The last 2 bosses (continuous) didn't seem tough at all, what with my fast tech attacks, and 25% speed skills.
The last cutscene was quite good.
The last cutscene was quite good.
floppa21
Crusty Manhole
Are you hooked for the entire six episodes?
Thrawn
Emperor
Talking about finishing games, I finished ff8 last night. Its certainly taken me long enough, but I think all the preparation I did paid off, as it wasn't difficult at all. 
Now I just need to finish 10.
Now I just need to finish 10.
I never get to finish FFX; continue leveling on and on and on...
@floppa - Yeah.
The battle system in Xenosaga is pretty good and deep. You got normal attks. Then tech attks. Once you speed them up, you can launch them in same time as normal attks. So after awhile, you'll mostly be attk normal 1st, followed by a tech attk during the 2nd stage for your round (you can attk normal twice in Xenosaga during your turn).
Normally tech attks can only be used in 2nd round (you need to 'save' one slot in the first round) - leaving you to attks by the monsters.
Then you have skills. Need to extract them fr items, and them 'equip' them for a character. Up to 3 skills can be equipped at any one time. Add the equipment, well lots of organising to do. Typically you only get 1 item with a specific skill for your party, so extracting skills is the way to go.
Then you have ether - the 'magic' in this game. Spells and stuff.
Quite a lot of tinkering available. Add in the AGWS (mechas), you really have a lot of options for your battles.
@floppa - Yeah.
The battle system in Xenosaga is pretty good and deep. You got normal attks. Then tech attks. Once you speed them up, you can launch them in same time as normal attks. So after awhile, you'll mostly be attk normal 1st, followed by a tech attk during the 2nd stage for your round (you can attk normal twice in Xenosaga during your turn).
Normally tech attks can only be used in 2nd round (you need to 'save' one slot in the first round) - leaving you to attks by the monsters.
Then you have skills. Need to extract them fr items, and them 'equip' them for a character. Up to 3 skills can be equipped at any one time. Add the equipment, well lots of organising to do. Typically you only get 1 item with a specific skill for your party, so extracting skills is the way to go.
Then you have ether - the 'magic' in this game. Spells and stuff.
Quite a lot of tinkering available. Add in the AGWS (mechas), you really have a lot of options for your battles.
floppa21
Crusty Manhole
FFX doesn't require much levelling for the end. I did it in 3 hits, one being a mug. I was a litle disappointed in that I wanted to steal some more but couldn't. 
Hey that is ocming out soon here too... FFX2... Seems like an expansion pack so I dunno, but I did like FFX so...
XIII - So it IS very similar to Xenogears in the battles? I saw it again for $30, I think it has been price reduced... <sigh> I'm too damn selective on my games. I'd probably enjoy Xenosaga... We'll see next time I'm at the game shop.
Hey that is ocming out soon here too... FFX2... Seems like an expansion pack so I dunno, but I did like FFX so...XIII - So it IS very similar to Xenogears in the battles? I saw it again for $30, I think it has been price reduced... <sigh> I'm too damn selective on my games. I'd probably enjoy Xenosaga... We'll see next time I'm at the game shop.
Thrawn
Emperor
FFX2 is a sequel, but from what I've read, its most definitely not a normal FF game.
FFX2 is more 'action' oriented I heard last time.
@floppa - I don't know - never played Xenogears before. I think the game's a little short - unless you're into levelling. Prepare for lots of cutscenes watching though.
The space battles were terrific.
@floppa - I don't know - never played Xenogears before. I think the game's a little short - unless you're into levelling. Prepare for lots of cutscenes watching though.
The space battles were terrific.
Well, I have logged 11 hours at Disgaea. Here's my feel on the game.
It's not for everyone. No cutscenes at all - story is moved by series of 'chats' between characters, and some storytelling narrations. It's like one of those cheesy Japanese PC RPG games (or maybe console). If you want story/presentation, don't pick this.
Though the way it's carried out is funny, esp with all the slapstick humor flying around. Lots of typical anime themes. And it's all driven around with a set of menus, the part when you go to dungeons.
But the gameplay itself is... I don't know. Like playing chess, but using RPG-style characters. You can have up to 10 in the field, but can have more in store. I guess that's what you'll expect of a strategy RPG.
I have the 3 main characters, plus the penguin troop (3 monsters; hadn't chged yet). Created 1 cleric, 1 warrior, 1 battler (better ver of warrior), 1 blue mage, 1 archer.
If you like organizing party, levelling up etc, this is your game. Lots of headache trying to figure it out.
You can dungeon-hack in items too. These are the tough ones. Then there's the Dark Senate, when you can try for certain stuff - creating characters, getting them to sell better stuff in the shops, more powers etc.
Only complaint is the camera angle. Though can move it, but it's hard to control the angle you want. Esp when got stuck in those chaotic heights, really want to strangle the gamemakers. Moving by 'logical deductions' mostimes in such situations, 'cause can't see.
Here's my feel on the game. It's not for everyone.
No cutscenes at all - story is moved by series of 'chats' between characters, and some storytelling narrations. It's like one of those cheesy Japanese PC RPG games (or maybe console). If you want story/presentation, don't pick this. Though the way it's carried out is funny, esp with all the slapstick humor flying around. Lots of typical anime themes. And it's all driven around with a set of menus, the part when you go to dungeons.
But the gameplay itself is... I don't know. Like playing chess, but using RPG-style characters. You can have up to 10 in the field, but can have more in store. I guess that's what you'll expect of a strategy RPG.
I have the 3 main characters, plus the penguin troop (3 monsters; hadn't chged yet). Created 1 cleric, 1 warrior, 1 battler (better ver of warrior), 1 blue mage, 1 archer.
If you like organizing party, levelling up etc, this is your game. Lots of headache trying to figure it out.
You can dungeon-hack in items too. These are the tough ones. Then there's the Dark Senate, when you can try for certain stuff - creating characters, getting them to sell better stuff in the shops, more powers etc.
Only complaint is the camera angle. Though can move it, but it's hard to control the angle you want. Esp when got stuck in those chaotic heights, really want to strangle the gamemakers. Moving by 'logical deductions' mostimes in such situations, 'cause can't see.
I took a peek at Gamefaqs' FAQs. In retrospect, I'm doing badly. These guys have characters in the 100s and 1000s of levels, while my best one is only at a measly level 12, after 11 hours of gaming...
I really need to pay attention - but all the details are making my head spin...
I really need to pay attention - but all the details are making my head spin...
floppa21
Crusty Manhole
Well I put about 15 hours or so into it now... My best level is 21 with Laharl... I'm hitting Item World for those Statisticians to get me 400% experience, and I'm on 5-1 right now. Apparently 5-3 is the first 'power leveling' map in the game... The statisticians are mandatory to leveling high, as are the power leveling maps... And Transmigrating which I have not tried yet... I guess the higher you are when you do it the better. How high is high enough? I haven't seen it in any FAQ or on the boards at GameFAQS...
Keeping track of items is time consuming, but I am loving this game. XIII, do you know the Hospital 'trick'? If you go to claim a prize and back out and go in again, it's stats change. Do it enough and you can get all RARE items out of the hospital. Legendary items are not there as far as I can tell...
Floppa scores this game a 10. Y tu XIII?
(I actually bought it twice... Once on Amazon, then saw it at Best Buy so I bought it there Friday night. Amazon's came on Monday. If you look on ebay at the items for sale by floppa21, Disgaea is available at cost with free shipping. )
Keeping track of items is time consuming, but I am loving this game. XIII, do you know the Hospital 'trick'? If you go to claim a prize and back out and go in again, it's stats change. Do it enough and you can get all RARE items out of the hospital. Legendary items are not there as far as I can tell...
Floppa scores this game a 10. Y tu XIII?
(I actually bought it twice... Once on Amazon, then saw it at Best Buy so I bought it there Friday night. Amazon's came on Monday. If you look on ebay at the items for sale by floppa21, Disgaea is available at cost with free shipping.
)
There's no 'best' level for transmigrating - and apparently you only reap the full benefits of it at your 2nd transmigration earliest (the lost levels in your first transmigration will only then be calculated for your extra points during your second transmigration).
I'm going to recreate my created characters too - using the best creation option possible. Apparently, the base stats (which you start out with) will determine how much you level each time, so in the long run, levelling up an expensively-created character will result in a much better one.
I'll use them for now to open up character classes paths, and then will toss them aside for good.
Yeah, I like this game too. I'm going to start on collecting the statisticians next, aside fr opening up new character classes. 
I'm going to recreate my created characters too - using the best creation option possible. Apparently, the base stats (which you start out with) will determine how much you level each time, so in the long run, levelling up an expensively-created character will result in a much better one.
I'll use them for now to open up character classes paths, and then will toss them aside for good.
Yeah, I like this game too.
I'm going to start on collecting the statisticians next, aside fr opening up new character classes. Similar threads
