What RPG are you playing right now?

[dunpeal2064]

I think we can just sum it up and say SoM wasn't for you, because I'm not getting your argument about the combat vs others. In Terranigma, the magic was consumable and so it wasn't around much. You have a few more varied attacks, but one character and other than that, you're just... also running around hitting enemies over and over again. Same with Zelda, is there really that much more variety in defeating enemies in it vs SoM? Same with Super Metroid. Same with Super Mario Bros, all Mario does is jump and stomp. In SoM you've got three controllable characters, two with their own magic and elements, a dozen or so weapons, and everyone gets new attacks as they level up and new magic as you progress. I don't see how there's any kind of "repetitive" factor here that isn't also apparent in every other game you mentioned as well. This applies to Chrono Trigger and other turn based games as well... they are rather simple themselves and it's pretty easy to beat a lot of JRPG's without fully utilizing combo's/magic in a lot of them, Trigger and FFVI definitely being good examples. You practically end up breaking the game if you take the time to master everything in these.

Well, you did make me rethink my position on the game a bit, and I may have judged it unfarily. I will definitely give it another chance, and not expect FFVI/CT epicness this time, but more of a simple Zelda-esk adventure.

However, the part I put in bold, I do disagree with. Your main character does not learn any magic that I know of, he just... doesn't grow at all, unless I lost my data right before he was about to. I guess there's the charge attack, and the weapons, but anyone can use any weapon, and I found most of them useless aside their gimmick.

I dunno, I guess it just feels like a lot more when I am using Frog and Chrono to do an X-Slash, as its a combination of two moves that I had never seen in another rpg, and by characters that I actually cared about. They all learned abilites that just felt fresh and new, whereas every time I got new magic in SoM, I didn't even have to open the menu and look at them, I knew it was the same set of spells, but with a different element.

My comparison to Terranigma, Tales of, etc was more to counter the arguement that I should not expect story from the game. Knowing now that its meant to be more of a Zelda action style game, I can see that, but when I play an SNES game by Squaresoft, I can't help but think back to the numerous mind-blowing stories. I thought Terranigma was much more enthralling story wise, not gameplay wise, but that kept me interested in the gameplay.

And, I never said the game had bad music, it has great music. However, I do not think that music = atmosphere. Dodonpachi has a great soundtrack and almost no atmosphere to me, whereas Ikaruga is all atmosphere. Of course, its subjective


I didn't meant to come off as attempting to claim that SoM is a bad game, I still had fun with it. I just wanted to discuss the flaws I found and see if others had an issue with these, or if they were elements of the game that others enjoyed. There are some things I have not been able to appreciate in RPGs that have kept my enjoyment of them very narrow, and I want to change that so that I can enjoy more of one of my favorite genres.


So, I am playing Final Fantasy 13, finally got past a boss I had been stuck on for a while, and just got to Gran Pulse. This game just keeps getting better and better, I don't know why I let people deter me from playing this for so long.

[Xeogred]

Well, you did make me rethink my position on the game a bit, and I may have judged it unfarily. I will definitely give it another chance, and not expect FFVI/CT epicness this time, but more of a simple Zelda-esk adventure.

Yet still, why compare it to anything though?

But anyways, yes. I think we all said what needed to be said. It's a precious game for me, so I get a little hostile about it. Was probably one of the first SNES roms I loaded up on ZSNES back in the late 90's or something, then was a treasure hunt finding an actual copy. Same deal with SD3 (minus the being able to buy it here...), they've been two games I constantly replay over the last 10 years or so and still love dearly.

But yeah even I could fairly point out some of SoM's flaws. Like I said the charging kind of stinks, you're right about the main character not learning magic himself, and the weapons all around aren't all that versatile and it's best to just keep the characters focused on one. The hit detection can be wacky too, but amusing to manipulate when you figure it out.

I've certainly gone back and replayed games with another shot and ended up loving them in return. So I'm glad you're open to try it out again or something. I wouldn't force it, but who knows. Either way, still check out Evermore and Seiken Densetsu 3 as well. SD3 is another one where I can say... the story is even more non-apparent than SoM's, but the gameplay is just completely insane and the game is really dense with so much variety and it gets really open midway in, not something you always saw in most SNES JRPG's. The OST is HUGE too, like 10 boss themes or something. The amount of content and depth to the gameplay, topped off with the best graphics on the SNES next to Phantasia and the likes... just blows my mind they were able to get that done on the SNES. Magic is pretty essential and works in this one too, the game is pretty frantic and can be pretty brutal the first few times through.

And since Evermore was developed in the US they got Jeremy Soule to do the music, I really wish he did more on the SNES. There is just nothing out there that sounds like Evermore at all. The story is kind of hilariously bad after awhile with its repetitive twists, but just like SoM to me, the charm, atmosphere, and gameplay still make it stand out a lot. I just really can't stress how hilarious the story is overall, but the game still takes me to another place.




Terranigma was Enix/Quintet, but either way yeah. Probably one of the most cinematic SNES games I've ever played. Very flawed though, as I'd say all of Quintet's games were. Really experimental at times with some super annoying game design (invisible switches or just insanely un-obvious triggers, moreso in Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia). Regardless, I still think Terranigma is amazing because of all its charm, the themes it tackles (no wonder it didn't come to the US back then), and yeah just the way they handled some scenes... dramatic and epic stuff. I'm weird though and gotta say, I liked Soul Blazer, but Gaia not so much. I can imagine the translation had a lot to do with it though, the dialogue was just completely awful haha. Cool gameplay though.

Uh oh FFXIII, I uh... *stops*

[o.pwuaioc]

But anyways, yes. I think we all said what needed to be said. It's a precious game for me, so I get a little hostile about it. Was probably one of the first SNES roms I loaded up on ZSNES back in the late 90's or something, then was a treasure hunt finding an actual copy. Same deal with SD3 (minus the being able to buy it here...), they've been two games I constantly replay over the last 10 years or so and still love dearly.

It's interesting you found it later. I always have a nagging suspicion that the game I played as a kid are more influential on me today than they should be. Secret of Mana of course was the bridge between the action adventure Link to the Past and the pure JRPG Final Fantasy II (aka IV).

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'll admit that I didn't like the Evermore soundtrack at first, but that was mainly because I had grown so accustomed to the crashing bombastic pieces of Nobuo Uematsu and others.

But yeah, SoE does indeed have a brilliant OST, and I think Soule was something like 18/19 years old when he composed it.

All this talk of Terranigma really makes me want to track down a physical cart. Even Japanese Tenchi Sōzō carts are getting expensive though...

[dunpeal2064]

Yet still, why compare it to anything though?

So true, I don't know where I picked up the bad habit of always comparing games to other games, either of the same genre, same era, or same developer. It really is silly, the game should be judged on its own merits.

Uh oh FFXIII, I uh... *stops*

Ha ha, yeah, a pretty common response, both on these forums and in real life. I think Noise is literally the only person that has had a positive response from it.

Its one of those games that I could not blame someone for hating, but that I am having such a good time with. To me, it feels like the first Final Fantasy game since X, and it comes with all the Final Fantasy goodness, and all the flaws. Job systems, chocobos, moogles, all done in a new way, and the combat system is definitely different.

The one thing I would say without a doubt is that this game is much harder than any of the main series FF games that I have played. And its probably the only FF game where I understand why every character is in the journey taking place. There is no Irvine, Amarant, Vaan.

But yes, I suppose I do look a bit silly giving SoM a hard time for doing something different, and then hailing XIII for it.

[MrPopo]

Uh oh FFXIII, I uh... *stops*

Ha ha, yeah, a pretty common response, both on these forums and in real life. I think Noise is literally the only person that has had a positive response from it.

I thought XIII was excellent as well. But I had an epiphany back when X came out (which is just as much corridor running as XIII) that I will enjoy more things if I judge it by what the developer wants to deliver, rather than preconceived notions of what it should be like.

[AppleQueso]

I haven't played XIII, but for some reason I have this feeling that i'd probably end up enjoying it.

I liked X, didn't mind that it was on rails. XIII sounds similar.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

So over Christmas break I'd like to finally dive into and complete Shining Force II. Something I've been meaning to do since we played the first for Together Retro. Is there anything I should keep in mind for this game? Any tips going into it?

About how long would you all say it takes to beat?

[Zing]

I gave up on Secret of Mana. The dialog in the game is so extremely stilted due to the translation and lack of ROM space. I could tell after a few hours that the game was not complete. Also, I really disliked the combat. It isn't any fun to walk in, swing, step back and wait for the recharge. Each enemy can only be hit by one party member at a time. I don't understand why people said this was good for multiplayer. Each player is standing around half the time waiting for their turn to attack. I had very high hopes for this with my girlfriend.

I love 16-bit RPGs, but this game pales in comparison to pretty much anything else I have played. The graphics and music are amazing, but there is virtually no in-game plot since the translation is so abbreviated and the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.

I've given up n my rule against having multiple RPGs going at the same time. I just enjoy whatever game comes to mind. I am close to finishing Legend of Dragoon, still playing through Final Fantasy II (again), and Breath of Fire is also on tap. I just try to keep each game relatively fresh in my mind.

[Gamerforlife]

I'm currently playing through Anachronox. It's pretty cool so far