Pandora's Tower, NTSC-U major bug, questions...

[Ziggy]

I have not played this game yet, hell I don't even own it yet, but it's been on my want list since it got a North American release.

I was just reading today, from various sources such as Amazon reviews and forum threads, that's there a pretty major bug in the NA version of the game.

I haven't ever played the game, so mind you, I'm just repeating what I've read. After you've reach tower 13, if you try to load tower 11 or 12 the game will lock up. You'll have to hold the power button on the console or unplug the power to force a shutdown.

A work around has been found, posted in the forum linked above. It has been said that XSEED's own dev team couldn't find the problem, and that they never encountered it through quality assurance and play testing. It has also been said that Nintendo/XSEED will never release a patch.

So I have two main questions...

Has any one here on the forums experienced this bug with their NA copy of the game?

I'm just wondering if this only effects a percentage of users, or just everybody. And if a percentage, I wonder what my chances are of encountering it. It sounds pretty damn annoying. So leading into my second question...

Should I instead try and get a PAL version of the game...

...since that version apparently doesn't have this major bug? The thing there though, is there any difference between the PAL and NTSC-U versions? Or is it basically the same game with the region code changed? If the only difference is that I'd need a hacked Wii to play it, I would opt for the PAL version if it means no major bug like this.

[irixith]

Has any one here on the forums experienced this bug with their NA copy of the game?

I'm just wondering if this only effects a percentage of users, or just everybody. And if a percentage, I wonder what my chances are of encountering it. It sounds pretty damn annoying. So leading into my second question...

Should I instead try and get a PAL version of the game...

...since that version apparently doesn't have this major bug? The thing there though, is there any difference between the PAL and NTSC-U versions? Or is it basically the same game with the region code changed? If the only difference is that I'd need a hacked Wii to play it, I would opt for the PAL version if it means no major bug like this.

No.

All you have to do is go into Tower 13 first. That's how I played the game anyway, but knowing in advance not to backtrack before going into the tower is not a big deal IMO. It doesn't break your game or anything.

I wouldn't get a PAL copy for something like that personally.

[theclaw]

Physical PAL Wii games may be a small improvement, more languages if nothing else.

VC is what to avoid. Most are 50hz only with 480p removed.

[incominggame]

Has any one here on the forums experienced this bug with their NA copy of the game?

I'm just wondering if this only effects a percentage of users, or just everybody. And if a percentage, I wonder what my chances are of encountering it. It sounds pretty damn annoying. So leading into my second question...

Should I instead try and get a PAL version of the game...

...since that version apparently doesn't have this major bug? The thing there though, is there any difference between the PAL and NTSC-U versions? Or is it basically the same game with the region code changed? If the only difference is that I'd need a hacked Wii to play it, I would opt for the PAL version if it means no major bug like this.

I have encountered the bug. It even happened before reaching the 13th tower. It indeed is annoying. At least, once you do get in the tower, you're good to go (until you leave it and try to enter it again).

I don't know if there are any differences between PAL and NTSC. If there aren't and you can play a PAL copy without difficulty, I'd say go for the PAL copy.

[Ziggy]

All you have to do is go into Tower 13 first. That's how I played the game anyway, but knowing in advance not to backtrack before going into the tower is not a big deal IMO. It doesn't break your game or anything.

I wouldn't get a PAL copy for something like that personally.

Could you expand on this a little more. I've never played the game, so I really don't even know what I'm talking about when I say "Tower 13" and so on. All you have to do is go into 13 first... before 12 and 11 ?

[irixith]

All you have to do is go into Tower 13 first. That's how I played the game anyway, but knowing in advance not to backtrack before going into the tower is not a big deal IMO. It doesn't break your game or anything.

I wouldn't get a PAL copy for something like that personally.

Could you expand on this a little more. I've never played the game, so I really don't even know what I'm talking about when I say "Tower 13" and so on. All you have to do is go into 13 first... before 12 and 11 ?

When you reach tower 13, you can backtrack to 12 or 11 at the entrance. If you do that before going into tower 13 (i.e. backtrack to 12 or 11 immediately upon reaching 13) it causes a crash. If you go into 13 (even just going in and out) first, you can backtrack without issue.

It's an annoying bug, but certainly not a game ending one. If the prospect is too irritating, sure, grab the PAL version -- but just for that, eh.

[Ziggy]

Ah, OK. Because I read in a few places that even going to 13 and then 11 or 12 from the entrance will cause the bug too.

Do you even have to backtrack to 11 or 12 after reaching 13? I mean, does beating the game require backtracking, or can that just be avoided all together?

If it's not that big of a deal, then yeah, I'll just get the NTSC-U version.

[noiseredux]

Good to know - after reading the game compared to SOTC I was really interested in giving it a go.

[Ziggy]

Symphony of the Cock?

[ninjainspandex]

Symphony of the Cock?

Shadow of the Colossus i think he means