Summer Games Challenge 2015

[BoneSnapDeez]

One through four are all you need, really. V is an "experimental" trainwreck is VI just looks crappy (with no physical release).

[Ack]

Sorry chief, but BoF and BoF II pale in comparison to BoF III for me.

Hey you're welcome to your own opinion. I found BoF III to have a laundry list of faults. The worst being long load times for the constant random battles, way too many fetch quests, and a plot that sizzled out long before the game was over. It does have great graphics though and that wonderful jazzy OST.

Yeah, the OST is something I can say is consistent Capcom goodness throughout the series.

As for load times and plot problems...I was coming into this after the likes of Final Fantasy Tactics, so it never seemed that bad. I love FFT as well, but it's quite a mess.

[Key-Glyph]

Oh shnip, it's getting heated in here!

I hope you all know how much I love reading your conversations on these matters, even when I only understand 60% of what you're talking about.

[Ack]

Hey, RPGs = serious business.

[Sarge]

My favorites are BoF II & IV. Liked the first game, too. Only BoFIII has stymied me. Well, that, and Dragon Quarter. I know nothing about VI.

[Exhuminator]

Hey, RPGs = serious business.

[pierrot]

One through four are all you need, really. V is an "experimental" trainwreck is VI just looks crappy (with no physical release).

V is the crowning jewel of an otherwise blase series, and forms the holy PS2 RPG triumvirate alongside Suikoden III and Dragon Quest VIII.

There is nothing like living on the edge of your seat at the elevator out of the underground because your last hard save was a full playthrough ago, and dying means taking your lumps, and sitting back down at a 1/128 d-ratio. The art style is impeccable, the music is superlative, and the story is reminiscent of Matsuno Yasumi's works. Add a tactical battle system, with combos and active spacing; BoF V finds the people who are worthy of its majesty.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I was waiting for your input.

At least we agree on Dairy Queen VIII.

[Sarge]

I don't doubt there's hidden depth in Dragon Quarter, it's just not my cup-o'-tea. And honestly, Suikoden III was pretty weak to me. It's not bad, of course, it's just... I dunno. It felt long, and not in a good way. In a padded, repetitive sort of way. I probably should have liked it more, I mean, it was my first PS2 RPG!

But hey, different strokes and all that.

Dragon Quest VIII was fantastic, though. Absolutely no disagreement on that one.

[pierrot]

The most accurate criticism I've seen levied on BoF DQ is that it's not 1-4. It's greatest affront to the average person is that the barrier to entry is steep. It's rogue-like in its infancy: You're meant to die and start over to gain better standing. I understand how that's upsetting for some. I never really played the game that way. The save system is such that quite a deal of progress can be eliminated through death, also. That's the intent of the game as well, though. It's very much Survival meets RPG. A note on the story: It's the only BoF that really examines the metaphysical make-up of Ryu, as one of the last of his kind, in any meaningful way; and establishes a goal that isn't, 'kill (a) god.' Also, Lin is a krunking bad-ass.

On Suikoden III: I hated it when it came out. I was adolescent and angry (a potent combo) that it didn't live up to the expectations I had set for it from the pre-release trailers. The story is inevitably incomplete with Murayama Yoshitaka's later-development departure, but maintains the bar set by 1 and 2, until the last chapter. However, it's mechanically the best in the series. The skill system, and battle pairs add a level of customization unique to III. Friendly fire on AoE seems initially unfair, but is actually quite balanced. I love making Hugo into a one-man wrecking crew in the latter stages of the game.