Xeogred wrote:Alright pierrot, I know you have some crazy opinions on RPG's and say it yourself haha, but do you like BoF4? I love it but nobody ever really brings it up. If so I'm now curious to see what you think of it compared to BoF5 and vice versa. I personally don't like BoF1-2 at all and didn't finish 3 because it was so slow and uninteresting. But it really sounds like I need to give BoF5 a shot now.
Um--. I plead the fifth. <_<
Honestly, I played through it once, around its release, and pretty much hated it. I couldn't really tell you why, though. It's the same director, between BoF IV, and BoF V, so I have been kind of thinking about revisiting it sometime. BoF 2 was my introduction to the series, way back, and I loved it back then. As time has passed my opinion of it has really not fared well. Still love Katt/Linpoo, though. I probably like the original BoF the best, out of the first four. BoF III is all right, I think. I mean, I get why people like it, but I don't personally prefer it.
Xeogred wrote:Threads of Fate
Oh, man. You need to play this one, too. As a grown-ass-man, Lou's story made me more emotional than possibly any other game. Big reason why, right here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTCpisd ... D5&index=3.
Skip Persona. Play a real SMT; probably Nocturne. I still need to get/play SMT II.
Exhuminator wrote:I haven't played it myself. But this excerpt from Wikipedia explains why:
I'm 'unna be real blunt: Whoever wrote this wikipedia article is a terrible human being.
Wikipedia wrote:Rather than experiencing the entire game in a single play-through, Dragon Quarter is designed to encourage the player to play through the title multiple times in order to experience the whole story.[4] Using the Scenario Overlay (SOL) System, certain plot points and areas of the game are only accessible if the player's D-Ratio number is high enough.
True, except that most of the SOL cutscenes can be "unlocked" by using the SOL restore very early on. Exceptionally few of them are what I would consider "essential" to the plot. They are really more like "bonuses" for people who really want to breathe in the essence of Dragon Quarter, and glean every possible detail. Obviously I did, which is why I played through it so many times--at least 4, but I don't really remember. It's also not necessary to get anywhere near 1/4 D-ratio in order to see all of the cutscenes. I think they stop opening up after 1/128. The areas that are unlocked are also usually challenge rooms, and shortcut hallways that make it easier/possible to get 1/4 D-ratio, while offering juicy skills and items for completionists.
Wikipedia wrote:When players begin the game, their D-Ratio is represented as the fraction 1/8192, and can only be raised by continually restarting the game[...].
False. D-ratio can only be raised by
beating the game.
Wikipedia wrote:[...]and using the SOL: Restore function, which allows them to begin a brand-new game while carrying over all accumulated items, equipment, and skills found up until that point.[4] Progress is saved to the PlayStation 2's memory card using limited Save Tokens found during gameplay. Players may also suspend their game as many times as they wish by creating a temporary save at certain areas in the game, which are deleted as soon as they are loaded.
These are the reasons you would want to play the game for higher D-ratio. Essentially a new game plus where you still have to watch your ass, because the objective will be to beat the game in under 8 hours, opening up 100% of the map, all treasure chests, never getting ambushed by an enemy, with nothing but soft saves the entire way. (You could try to get to the bottom floor of the secret dungeon, in place of one of the others, but it would pretty much just be the time quota, because good luck beating 100 floors of Kokon Hore in under 8 hours.)
In terms of saving, does it keep you from playing any of the Resident Evil games? Dragon Quarter supplies you with enough save tokens to save at every save point in the game, at least once. Anywhere you can open up the main menu (almost everywhere, aside from battle, and cutscenes) you can soft save, as well.
Wikipedia wrote:When a player reaches a certain point in the game, they obtain the ability to use powerful dragon abilities and receive a D-Counter at the top of the screen represented as a percentage.[6] When the D-Counter reaches 100 percent, the game ends and the player is sent back to their last permanent save. The meter raises continually as the player uses these abilities in or out of battle and can only be lowered by restarting using SOL: Restore.
Somewhat fair. It's entirely possible to have a hard save (you're only allowed one instance at a time) just before the final boss, and be unable to finish because your D-counter is too high. Resident Evil style survival horror is hard coded into Dragon Quarter's DNA, though. I liken the D-counter to ammo in survival horror games. If you don't manage your resources, you'll probably screw yourself.
Exhuminator wrote:The idea of continuously replaying parts of a game I've already played through before is not appealing. Doubly so do I not find the idea of rereading/re-listening to dialogue and cutscenes I've already seen.
All cutscenes are skipable, even on the first playthrough. So that's good.
Exhuminator wrote:It's hard to believe this Scenario Overlay system is nothing more than a cheap way to artificially extend the length of play.
I think you'd get your money's worth out of one playthrough. I never had to use the SOL system other than for "New Game+"--although it was certainly not easy, my first time through. I'm actually a little skeptical that Nocturne is more of a challenge than Dragon Quarter.
BogusMeatFactory wrote:Pierrot!!!!! I am loving the enthusiasm! You make me want to play dragon quarter right now! It has always perked my interest but you are spilling it over! I need to finish the snes classic titles, get through Mario odyssey and then I will jump on this!!!!
I can understand why folks would be turned off. On paper, like exhuminator said, it sounds terrible, but I do know the context for the actions and it does make for a very peculiar idea. I am a man though who loves ideas, flawed as they may be over anything else so BRING IT ON!!!!!!
Awesome! if you need any coaching, when you get to it, I'll be happy to help.
