RPG Progress Report

[Betagam7]

And that's absolutely terrifying. It's going to be increasingly tricky to make sure one doesn't get burned with a repro on eBay, methinks. Is there any good indicator that tips off that those are repros, or do they pretty much look like the real thing?

Well, they don't come with boxes and manuals for one thing (although I understand he makes these for his Genesis reproductions). That's always been my way of making sure on ebay, although I still ended up unknowingly buying a fake LTTP for GBA a few years back (unknowing until I saw that the manual was only 8 pages long and the game wouldn't save).

I agree that these are now ridiculously hard to tell apart though but, hey, we're living in the future...you can 3d print a car so why not play a perfect copy of Lufia on a cloned portable SFC in China?

I'm buying them for logistical reasons but partly for aesthetic tastes as I just enjoy the idea of owning a cart that lets me save. I have no problem giving some Chinese enthusiast $10 for a nice reproduction of a commercially unavailable game when the alternative would be either playing a ROM or paying some ebay scalper a fortune. (not that this is even an option while I'm living in Asia).

I'll personally never try to decieve anyone that these are anything other than originals (I even enter them into backloggery as Chinese)...but to me, they feel more like oddities in my collection and a memory of living here.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Those are not "repros" - those are bootlegs. In the retro gaming scene a "reproduction" - somewhat paradoxically - refers to a game that never had a retail release (ie: English translated versions of Tales of Phantasia or Star Ocean).

Those are designed to look like legitimate games, they are bootlegs. Enjoy 'em Betagam7, but please don't let allow them to filter back into the secondary market.

[Exhuminator]

Yeah makes you wonder how many people out there own bootleg copies they paid a significant price for, and don't even know they got ripped off.

But for what it's worth:

http://www.nintendoage.com/forum/messag ... did=100252

[Sarge]

Well, they are reproductions in a sense, but you're right, they're made to look legit. I know the GBA market is rife with them, although I've been fortunate in that most of the games I want I already have, so I don't order them often. Would love a copy of Ninja Five-O, though.

Thanks for the link, Ex. I know to look for some of those things, I guess the only real way to be sure is to pop it open. I guess it's good that I bought most of my SNES library back in the day, too!

[Erik_Twice]

So....I gave up on those breeder rats. I can defeat them but I would rely too much on luck to do so. I'll leave them for later.

It won't be the first incredibly tough enemy I encounter, though, they at least were beatable, the dudes at the swamp that could slow me down, had armor magic on them and hit for 30 damage to all the party probably aren't at this point in the game.

The game would also be easier if my Faerie Ninja could hit for more than 8 points of damage. Geez :/

I also met the Dark Savant very briefly. Like ten seconds. I already find him hilarious! I hope he gets more screen time


Man, I really wish Wizardry 8 had better graphics, it's difficult to get over the low draw distance or how difficult it is to see at night. :/

[Exhuminator]

Man, I really wish Wizardry 8 had better graphics, it's difficult to get over the low draw distance or how difficult it is to see at night. :/

Play these man...

https://www.gog.com/game/arx_fatalis
http://www.gog.com/game/legend_of_grimrock
https://www.gog.com/game/legend_of_grimrock_2

[MrPopo]

Grimrock is a Dungeon Master clone, while Wizardry 8 is a Wizadry clone. Very different playstyles.

[Exhuminator]

I knew you wouldn't let me get away with that one.

Can you think of a prettied-up modern Wizardry clone though?

As for the actual series, I think the most recent one released in English was Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls, but I believe that was a PS3 PSN exclusive... no physical release. I'm not an expert on this series by any means though.

[MrPopo]

I knew you wouldn't let me get away with that one.

Can you think of a prettied-up modern Wizardry clone though?

As for the actual series, I think the most recent one released in English was Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls, but I believe that was a PS3 PSN exclusive... no physical release. I'm not an expert on this series by any means though.

Class of Heroes series is definitely a Wizardry clone. Same devs did Labyrinth of Lost Souls, though you're right that it's a PSN exclusive.

There's also The Dark Spire, though that hews much closer to Wizardry 1 in mechanics. And it even has a classic mode that replaces the graphics with Wizardry 1 style wireframes.

Etrian Odyssey is more of a modern take on the formula with the richer party building mechanics and the FOEs.

[Erik_Twice]

Grimrock is a Dungeon Master clone, while Wizardry 8 is a Wizadry clone. Very different playstyles.

Also, Arx Fatalis is based on Ultima Underworld not Wizardry. You dissapoint me Exhuminator

Can you think of a prettied-up modern Wizardry clone though?

There are lots of Wizardry clones. Wizardry I clones, that is. But if you want to play Wizardry 6-8 there's no real alternative.

I'm also beginning to suspect that most Wizardry clones are worse than the original.