RPG Progress Report

[Ack]

Anvil of Dawn

I am only a couple of hours into this game, but so far, I am enjoying it. Anvil of Dawn offers real-time combat and grid-based movement, so in some ways it feels like an updated Dungeon Hack, albeit without the roguelike elements. AoD also doesn't use Dungeons & Dragons rules, and there are no character levels, only skill levels for weapon types and magic. I've raised my slashing level once, but magic hasn't been boosted at all yet.

I'm still very early in my mission to defeat the evil Warlord, but I have already knocked out a couple of short dungeons: Gryphon Keep and the Dark Lantern. I am currently in the Underground City fighting the Cronenberg-esque monsters contained within, but I need to head back to the Dark Lantern to travel to the Sunken Ship. Once there, I have to summon some kind of demon. I don't expect this will go well.

You get a choice of five characters to play as at the start, but if you don't like a character's stats, you can edit them to make what you want. All characters are fully voiced too, so I picked the strong black woman with a great afro and have been enjoying her mercenary attitude ever since. She grins whenever anyone mentions treasure, and taking damage causes her portrait to get splattered with blood, so I'm usually smiling while red streaks from my own innards adorn my cheeks. It's a marvelous touch.

So far, Anvil of Dawn has been wonderful. I hope it keeps up the quality.

[Ack]

I'm closing in on halfway through Anvil of Dawn. That is my assumption based on the number of locations on the world map, each of which is a dungeon of varying size. I also have a rough idea of what items I need to beat the game. You meet a demon in an earlier dungeon who gives a list of necessary items in the form of riddles in exchange for the hearts of the undead pirates who imprisoned him. I have several of the items.

Meanwhile, my physical combat abilities are getting a lot better, but my magic lags behind. I've been able to raise my ability with swords about five times compared to once with one school of magic, but I am not surprised; skills level based on how often you use them, and I tend to use magic for healing only. I'm good at darting in and out of enemy range to fight.

I'm really enjoying this game. Combat feels good, enemy aprites are gorgeous, and the menus and inventory system are relatively easy to navigate once you get the hang of them. I'm not a huge fan of how chests and bags work, but that is a minor complaint.

[prfsnl_gmr]

If you like real-time combat with grid-based movement, be sure to check out The Keep. I played the 3DS version, but it is also available on Steam (with better graphics). It is a short-but-sweet FPDC by the team that made Inquisitor, and I really enjoyed it.

[Ack]

I'll have to look into it at some point. This style of gameplay has really caught my attention of late, and I'm having a blast with them.

[TheSSNintendo]

Had an urge to play an old-school RPG, so I went with the SNES version of Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II). Started last Saturday, and I just made my first run through the Tower of Babil, where I lost Yang.

[Betagam7]

Had an urge to play an old-school RPG, so I went with the SNES version of Final Fantasy IV (Final Fantasy II). Started last Saturday, and I just made my first run through the Tower of Babil, where I lost Yang.

I might do a run through this version first in preparation for my Wonderswan run (or maybe a simultaneous run). As it is I'm still working through the first Wonderswan game. Just got the class change and airship though so not too much longer to beat that one.

[TheSSNintendo]

And I just finished my Final Fantasy II (SNES) playthrough. Survived the final onslaught of tough boss fights, and strangely didn't have that hard of a time against Zeromous.

[Markies]

And I just finished my Final Fantasy II (SNES) playthrough. Survived the final onslaught of tough boss fights, and strangely didn't have that hard of a time against Zeromous.

Very impressive!

The final dungeon of Final Fantasy II (SNES) is no joke. It goes on forever and it is just boss fight after boss fight. And Zeromous is a serious boss as well.

On Final Fantasy Chronicles for the Playstation 1, they released the Japanese version of Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy IV. If you want a much harder final dungeon and a near impossible Zeromous fight, try that version. I remember that I grinded from Level 60 to Level 80 in that dungeon to beat that damn final boss.

[TheSSNintendo]

Yeah, I remember how tough Final Fantasy IV was on the Playstation. And then there's the DS version, which will take years off your life.

[Xeogred]

Yeah the PSX version was my first too, haha. I think I too solo-leveled most of the characters one by one (so they get 4x exp) and maxed out Cecil for the Zeromus fight. Kind of a shame the GBA/PSP versions are so easy with the ATB bug... but amusingly, even the easy versions of FFIV are still tougher than the rest of most of the series.

I'm nearing the end of Shadow Hearts (PS2) myself and it's been incredible. Everyone should check this one out for something different and unique.