Together RPG - Skies of Arcadia - 8/4 -> 10/4

[Jmustang1968]

Man, I joined a community of lightweights.

If by lightweights you mean grown adults with spousal, parental, occupational, societal, and domestic responsibilities, then yes you did. You have an unrelatable gaming schedule for most of us. Although to be honest, I wouldn't want to play a game for more than three hours in a session these days even if I could. I have other interests besides just playing video games. But we are living our childhood gaming fantasy lives vicariously through you sir.

You sleep too much then heh. I have wife, 2.5 yr old, work 50 hr weeks with a 47 mile Houston commute each way and still get gaming time in.

[Exhuminator]

and still get gaming time in.

I still make time for gaming. I average 2.5 hours a night. At the expense of sleep. That still means a 50 hour JRPG will take me about three weeks to finish though.

[CFFJR]

I think there's an argument to be made that the dreamcast version is superior because its slightly more affordable.

I do not have a copy of the game to call my own, so I'll have to get on that.

[Stark]

You sleep too much then heh. I have wife, 2.5 yr old, work 50 hr weeks with a 47 mile Houston commute each way and still get gaming time in.

This sounds shockingly similar to my life. Just add a 4 and a 5 year-old.

[MrPopo]

So I'm about 2 hours into the DC version. I can see where the encounter rate might annoy people. For me the issue isn't with the encounter rate itself, but rather that battles take so long. 140 hours of Final Fantasy V over the past few months has spoiled me with its snappy battles.

Edit: Omg sky whale. Why have I waited so long to play this game?

[Jmustang1968]

You sleep too much then heh. I have wife, 2.5 yr old, work 50 hr weeks with a 47 mile Houston commute each way and still get gaming time in.

This sounds shockingly similar to my life. Just add a 4 and a 5 year-old.

About to add a newborn to the mix. That may take a game time hit for awhile.

[Stark]

About to add a newborn to the mix. That may take a game time hit for awhile.

Sweet! I don't think I knew that yet. Grats!

[BoneSnapDeez]

I have both the DC and GC version of SoA, and have 100%-ed each. While the GC version is by all accounts the definitive version in terms of content, it looks and sounds atrocious in comparison to the DC version; due in large part to a maximum supported resolution of 480i.

I don't personally feel that the additional content in Legends is worth the trade in visual and audio clarity, but I hear there are also namby pamby casuals about who can't stomach old-school encounter rates.

I think I actually like the original a touch more myself.

Generally speaking though, if I am to try a game out for the first time I prefer the original release/hardware.

I also prefer the Dreamcast controller to the GameCube's by some margin, though I suppose that isn't entirely relevant if we're discussing a turn-based JRPG.

[pierrot]

it looks and sounds atrocious in comparison to the DC version

I'm sure the game looks nice in 640x480 [progressive] over VGA on DC. But it absolutely did not look "atrocious" over s-video on a CRT via GameCube when I played it.

It's absolutely a night and day difference in clarity. This isn't even uncommon for ports between the DC and GC, but it's exacerbated by the respective maximum resolutions.

What it comes down to is simply that one has to play the DC version for the best audio and video, but for the "director's cut" content, the GC version is the only option. As much as you may want for it to be otherwise, there is no definitive version, per se. People have to weigh the pros and cons of each version for themselves. (Of which, price may also be a factor, so honestly I don't think it's helpful to steer people into the more expensive version.)

I also prefer the Dreamcast controller to the GameCube's by some margin, though I suppose that isn't entirely relevant if we're discussing a turn-based JRPG.

Get out of town! Who is this BoneSnapDeez? Have you always had this kind of love for the Dreamcast? (I don't personally have much of a preference between the two controllers.)

[Exhuminator]

Omg sky whale. Why have I waited so long to play this game?

Oh, you like sky whales?

Play Rune Factory Frontier brah.

As much as you may want for it to be otherwise, there is no definitive version, per se.

The GameCube iteration is the definitive version of this game. The vast majority of people did not and would not play SoA over progressive VGA on their Dreamcasts anyway. So that's a moot point in comparison to all the advanced benefits and extra content the GameCube version offers.

price may also be a factor, so honestly I don't think it's helpful to steer people into the more expensive version

If you want the best, you have to pay for the best. Simple as that.

However if the lesser Dreamcast version is one's only option, then by all means, roll with that. This game deserves to be played by as many players as possible by any means necessary.