massivepost.txt
Jun. 6th, 2008 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
slimequestSince school has been out, I've been trying to get out more and have some summer fun, which to me always includes epic gaming sessions along with going out, swimming, sweating, etc.
So anyway, here's a giant post about things, LJ-cut into bite-sized pieces for your convenience.
I have to make a horrible confession, I have never beaten Tales of Phantasia. In fact, I think I've gotten to the same exact place (Morlia Gallery/Moria Mine, whatever) in both the Super Famicom and GBA versions. I basically can never decide which version I want to play, and every time I sit down to make some progress in it, it seems like another version comes out.
Anyway, this translation is quite good from what I have seen of it. It doesn't have the "unique" aspects of the DeJap SFC version, but no matter what the translation of that boat scene says, Arche always has and always will fuck like a tiger. At least I'm spared the shortcomings of the US GBA release, which were... well, you shouldn't treat ToP like that, you know?
I'm playing it on my PSP, which basically lets me have all the advantages of the GBA and PS1 versions combined. I still really, really wish someone could use this translation on the Full Voice Edition for the PSP and release it, because then we'd get more voices and fullscreen and all sorts of other nice bonuses. Still, I'm actually going to stick to this version! ... Unless someone actually does come out with a translated PSP version...
Wild Arms 5 is quite an addicting game. I loved Alter Code: F and 3, but WA5 is just so... crack-like that I cannot STOP. Actually, at the time of this writing I've actually beaten the game, but I'm actually doing post-game stuff and sidequests! It helps that there's not some other WA game staring me in the face the whole time, since with AC:F I had WA3 sitting on my shelf, and during my looooong playthrough of 3, I had the limited edition box of 5 glaring at me.
Anyway, I kind of do miss some of the old things from AC:F and 3, like Migrant Seals and "!" avoiding encounters and tools, but WA5 basically streamlines the whole process so you can just focus on exploring and battling and enjoying the story. Healing items are no longer rare, and you recover all your HP after a battle. The hex system used in this game (originally in WA4) is really fun, and it seems like the whole game just moves at a better pace than the ones before it. I can safely say it's my favorite WA game now. So, yeah. Rebecca has a butt!
On to The Nightmare of Druaga, or as I shall refer to it, FUSHIGINO DUNGEON. You see, the English cover of the game decided to keep that part for whatever reason, but FUSHIGI and NO are smushed together to form some kind of marketing "word" that is supposed to make people want to play this game. Actually, if you search for "FUSHIGINO" on Gamefaqs, this is the only game that will come up as a result.
Anyway, this game is the kind of game that if you find it for $7 (like I did), it'll be this awesome little unknown gem that you can bring up at parties and try to sound all cool for playing this game that no one else even knows about. You'll get to a deep floor of the dungeon and realize that you've been playing a $7 game this long and feel all good about yourself.
However, if you walked into a game store and bought it new for $50 (if it even ever retailed for that much...) and came home with it all hyped up to play it ("FUSHIGINO DUNGEON! I mean, I don't know what the hell that means but it's in all caps and making me want to fucking play it!") you'll probably be disappointed.
Because, FUSHIGINO is not your standard RPG or anything. It's a dungeon crawler through and through. If you've ever played any of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, this is the same thing, except Gil (our hero) only moderately resembles Pikachu. Basically, whenever you move or do an action, your enemies get to. And you crawl around in some dank dungeons and find MAGICAL SWORD+8 and kill some wizards with it but then you die and lose MAGICAL SWORD+8 because this game is harsh on you when you die. Hilariously, if you try to reset the game without saving (because you died, or something), the goddess will go all Mr. Resetti on your ass and make you apologize 50 times and swear not to do it again.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? yes... shit!
Etc. The best part is, the game actually lets you get away with resetting this way, but you have to go through even more demeaning punishments each time.
So anyway, if you're the type of person who gets addicted to dungeon crawlers or Diablo or games like that you'd probably like this, but anyone looking for a deep storyline or a typical RPG or a hero who DOESN'T glitter like a little girl's kindergarten art project, then perhaps this game is not for you.
Accessory sets for portable games seem to be the new thing with Japanese gaming companies. Final Fantasy IV DS has one, as well as FFTA2, and now Star Ocean 2 for PSP gets its own. I'm a little obsessed with the PSP releases of these games, which I am hopeful will be released stateside too. I nabbed the limited edition Star Ocean: First Departure PSP along with this accessory set, but this set should look good on any PSP. I'm not sure if the faceplate is 100% compatible with the non-slim older PSPs, but don't quote me on that.
Contents:
- Silver PSP faceplate with the SO2 logo and symbols
- Pair of white SO2 around-the-ear headphones with the SO2 symbol on them
- 2 UMD cases, one with SO1's logo and the other with SO2's
- lanyard screen cleaner with the SO2 logo on it
Pics of everything here, despite the fact that it's currently sold out.
I think the most unique thing out of the set has to be the faceplate, which covers the entire face of the PSP nicely and makes it a "clamshell" much like the DS, but without the second screen, obviously. It actually screws into the top of the PSP through some pre-existing holes, which keeps it nice and secure. The added protection of the screen this thing provides almost makes the set worth buying for this alone, although there might be other protectors for the PSP that are similar. The silver matches the silver trim of the PSP, too! You can flip it up and out of your way, or keep it mid-level to block sun or other light. Pretty nice indeed.
The headphones are pretty similar to the regular behind-the-ear style that Sony manufactures. The ear clip thingies are a lot better though, you can hardly feel them on you. The cord is shorter than on most headphones, so I think they're best used to actually play on a PSP/DS or maybe listen to your iPod as opposed to using them at home or something. The fact that the cord's so short is actually a plus in my book, as the headphones I typically use for portable gaming have a lot of extra cord laying around.
The UMD cases are, well, UMD cases. They fit one UMD each, and are pretty nice if you just need to carry around an extra game or two in your pocket or backpack or purse or something.
Finally, the screen cleaner lanyard thing is... what it is. It's nice to Star Ocean-ify your PSP and to wipe stuff off the screen. That's pretty much it.
Anyway, believe it or not I do not actually work for Tri-Ace or Square-Enix, but I just happened to buy this and thought some other people on the ol' FL with PSPs might want to check it out. If you're in need of a PSP protector and some headphones you might as well pick this up. I'm finding it for around $30 from a quick Google search, which isn't bad considering what you get and that it's imported.
Phew! Well, now that's out of my system, at least. Looking forward to MGS4 coming out soon, but I'm hoping to polish off Portable Ops before then. Enjoy this summer weather, everyone~
So anyway, here's a giant post about things, LJ-cut into bite-sized pieces for your convenience.
I have to make a horrible confession, I have never beaten Tales of Phantasia. In fact, I think I've gotten to the same exact place (Morlia Gallery/Moria Mine, whatever) in both the Super Famicom and GBA versions. I basically can never decide which version I want to play, and every time I sit down to make some progress in it, it seems like another version comes out.
Anyway, this translation is quite good from what I have seen of it. It doesn't have the "unique" aspects of the DeJap SFC version, but no matter what the translation of that boat scene says, Arche always has and always will fuck like a tiger. At least I'm spared the shortcomings of the US GBA release, which were... well, you shouldn't treat ToP like that, you know?
I'm playing it on my PSP, which basically lets me have all the advantages of the GBA and PS1 versions combined. I still really, really wish someone could use this translation on the Full Voice Edition for the PSP and release it, because then we'd get more voices and fullscreen and all sorts of other nice bonuses. Still, I'm actually going to stick to this version! ... Unless someone actually does come out with a translated PSP version...
Wild Arms 5 is quite an addicting game. I loved Alter Code: F and 3, but WA5 is just so... crack-like that I cannot STOP. Actually, at the time of this writing I've actually beaten the game, but I'm actually doing post-game stuff and sidequests! It helps that there's not some other WA game staring me in the face the whole time, since with AC:F I had WA3 sitting on my shelf, and during my looooong playthrough of 3, I had the limited edition box of 5 glaring at me.
Anyway, I kind of do miss some of the old things from AC:F and 3, like Migrant Seals and "!" avoiding encounters and tools, but WA5 basically streamlines the whole process so you can just focus on exploring and battling and enjoying the story. Healing items are no longer rare, and you recover all your HP after a battle. The hex system used in this game (originally in WA4) is really fun, and it seems like the whole game just moves at a better pace than the ones before it. I can safely say it's my favorite WA game now. So, yeah. Rebecca has a butt!
On to The Nightmare of Druaga, or as I shall refer to it, FUSHIGINO DUNGEON. You see, the English cover of the game decided to keep that part for whatever reason, but FUSHIGI and NO are smushed together to form some kind of marketing "word" that is supposed to make people want to play this game. Actually, if you search for "FUSHIGINO" on Gamefaqs, this is the only game that will come up as a result.
Anyway, this game is the kind of game that if you find it for $7 (like I did), it'll be this awesome little unknown gem that you can bring up at parties and try to sound all cool for playing this game that no one else even knows about. You'll get to a deep floor of the dungeon and realize that you've been playing a $7 game this long and feel all good about yourself.
However, if you walked into a game store and bought it new for $50 (if it even ever retailed for that much...) and came home with it all hyped up to play it ("FUSHIGINO DUNGEON! I mean, I don't know what the hell that means but it's in all caps and making me want to fucking play it!") you'll probably be disappointed.
Because, FUSHIGINO is not your standard RPG or anything. It's a dungeon crawler through and through. If you've ever played any of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, this is the same thing, except Gil (our hero) only moderately resembles Pikachu. Basically, whenever you move or do an action, your enemies get to. And you crawl around in some dank dungeons and find MAGICAL SWORD+8 and kill some wizards with it but then you die and lose MAGICAL SWORD+8 because this game is harsh on you when you die. Hilariously, if you try to reset the game without saving (because you died, or something), the goddess will go all Mr. Resetti on your ass and make you apologize 50 times and swear not to do it again.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? yes
DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND? yes... shit!
Etc. The best part is, the game actually lets you get away with resetting this way, but you have to go through even more demeaning punishments each time.
So anyway, if you're the type of person who gets addicted to dungeon crawlers or Diablo or games like that you'd probably like this, but anyone looking for a deep storyline or a typical RPG or a hero who DOESN'T glitter like a little girl's kindergarten art project, then perhaps this game is not for you.
Accessory sets for portable games seem to be the new thing with Japanese gaming companies. Final Fantasy IV DS has one, as well as FFTA2, and now Star Ocean 2 for PSP gets its own. I'm a little obsessed with the PSP releases of these games, which I am hopeful will be released stateside too. I nabbed the limited edition Star Ocean: First Departure PSP along with this accessory set, but this set should look good on any PSP. I'm not sure if the faceplate is 100% compatible with the non-slim older PSPs, but don't quote me on that.
Contents:
- Silver PSP faceplate with the SO2 logo and symbols
- Pair of white SO2 around-the-ear headphones with the SO2 symbol on them
- 2 UMD cases, one with SO1's logo and the other with SO2's
- lanyard screen cleaner with the SO2 logo on it
Pics of everything here, despite the fact that it's currently sold out.
I think the most unique thing out of the set has to be the faceplate, which covers the entire face of the PSP nicely and makes it a "clamshell" much like the DS, but without the second screen, obviously. It actually screws into the top of the PSP through some pre-existing holes, which keeps it nice and secure. The added protection of the screen this thing provides almost makes the set worth buying for this alone, although there might be other protectors for the PSP that are similar. The silver matches the silver trim of the PSP, too! You can flip it up and out of your way, or keep it mid-level to block sun or other light. Pretty nice indeed.
The headphones are pretty similar to the regular behind-the-ear style that Sony manufactures. The ear clip thingies are a lot better though, you can hardly feel them on you. The cord is shorter than on most headphones, so I think they're best used to actually play on a PSP/DS or maybe listen to your iPod as opposed to using them at home or something. The fact that the cord's so short is actually a plus in my book, as the headphones I typically use for portable gaming have a lot of extra cord laying around.
The UMD cases are, well, UMD cases. They fit one UMD each, and are pretty nice if you just need to carry around an extra game or two in your pocket or backpack or purse or something.
Finally, the screen cleaner lanyard thing is... what it is. It's nice to Star Ocean-ify your PSP and to wipe stuff off the screen. That's pretty much it.
Anyway, believe it or not I do not actually work for Tri-Ace or Square-Enix, but I just happened to buy this and thought some other people on the ol' FL with PSPs might want to check it out. If you're in need of a PSP protector and some headphones you might as well pick this up. I'm finding it for around $30 from a quick Google search, which isn't bad considering what you get and that it's imported.
Phew! Well, now that's out of my system, at least. Looking forward to MGS4 coming out soon, but I'm hoping to polish off Portable Ops before then. Enjoy this summer weather, everyone~
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 01:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 02:10 am (UTC)But I have to wonder why they decided to age the guy-- I mean since usually people like younger characters in games.
Speaking of Snake, I finally figured out how to do the special taunt in Shadow Moses-- I knew it was the down taunt but everywhere I'd looked failed to explain it has to be a really light tap.
It was my sister though who activated it first in Corneria so we got to see some of the SF conversations, but it was fun watching Snake talk about Sonic and the others.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-10 02:17 am (UTC)That taunt is nearly impossible, I just had Krile stand there with every character while I kept jumping in and out of boxes, trying to do it xD Eventually I managed to do it for everyone. I still haven't done the Star Fox ones myself.