So I'm getting Dragon's Crown (Vita) tomorrow...

[boagman]

...what should I be expecting?

Once it dropped below $20, I figured I needed to be in with it. Let me know if my old-school side-scrolling beat-em-up proclivities will be satisfied.

[Skykid]

It's fantastic, enjoy. Just stick with it and learn the flow: it's a scrolling beat em up/dungeon crawler hybrid, so it doesn't click instantly.

But it's a beauty and the Vita's touchscreen makes it miles more playable than the console version.

[Squire Grooktook]

You might not like it if you're expecting an arcade game. This is a straight up action rpg that just happens to have beat em up style combat and perspective. If you're looking for something that you can 1cc or play for score, you might be a bit disappointed. But take it on its own merits and you'll find it's an excellent game IMO.

[boagman]

It's fantastic, enjoy. Just stick with it and learn the flow: it's a scrolling beat em up/dungeon crawler hybrid, so it doesn't click instantly.

But it's a beauty and the Vita's touchscreen makes it miles more playable than the console version.

So it's better played using the touchscreen rather than just the standard controls, yes?

[boagman]

You might not like it if you're expecting an arcade game. This is a straight up action rpg that just happens to have beat em up style combat and perspective. If you're looking for something that you can 1cc or play for score, you might be a bit disappointed. But take it on its own merits and you'll find it's an excellent game IMO.

Yeah, I'm kind of holding it to a lower standard as a result. I actively dislike RPGs, so that element of it isn't going to please me, but from what I've seen of gameplay videos, it looks like there'll be enough action/arcadishness to satisfy me for sub-$20. If not, oh well...it'll still be the first Vita game I've bought in 1/2 a year.

So long as it provides the fun/rush factor, it'll probably be good enough.

[Squire Grooktook]

Yeah. Don't get me wrong, it's very heavy on the action rpg. Fighting shit while navigating dungeons is what you spend 99% of your time doing.

[Skykid]

It's fantastic, enjoy. Just stick with it and learn the flow: it's a scrolling beat em up/dungeon crawler hybrid, so it doesn't click instantly.

But it's a beauty and the Vita's touchscreen makes it miles more playable than the console version.

So it's better played using the touchscreen rather than just the standard controls, yes?

You have no choice, it's part of the game - a simple case of tapping your thumb on the screen to unearth blinking treasure and cast rune spells in combination (the latter later in the game).

On console you need to perform the same actions using thumbstick and cursor. As I mentioned in the DC thread it's so cumbersome it almost breaks the game.

Edit: Contrary to what Squire says it's not a straight up action RPG at all, it has much more in common with a dungeon crawler: repeating areas, levelling up, mining for loot. But it's streamlined with arcade style and is easy to get lost in. Awesome fun.

[boagman]

It's fantastic, enjoy. Just stick with it and learn the flow: it's a scrolling beat em up/dungeon crawler hybrid, so it doesn't click instantly.

But it's a beauty and the Vita's touchscreen makes it miles more playable than the console version.

So it's better played using the touchscreen rather than just the standard controls, yes?

You have no choice, it's part of the game - a simple case of tapping your thumb on the screen to unearth blinking treasure and cast rune spells in combination (the latter later in the game).

On console you need to perform the same actions using thumbstick and cursor. As I mentioned in the DC thread it's so cumbersome it almost breaks the game.

Gotcha. Didn't realize it was part-and-parcel rather than just basically optional.

[Squire Grooktook]

It's fantastic, enjoy. Just stick with it and learn the flow: it's a scrolling beat em up/dungeon crawler hybrid, so it doesn't click instantly.

Edit: Contrary to what Squire says it's not a straight up action RPG at all, it has much more in common with a dungeon crawler: repeating areas, levelling up, mining for loot. But it's streamlined with arcade style and is easy to get lost in. Awesome fun.

Well, that's kind of what I meant. Most of the action rpg's I've played are more or less like that (I didn't mean Kingdom Hearts style arpg or anything).

[Skykid]

^ Really?

I didn't think it had much in common with a regular ARPG at all. RPG's usually involve progression between dungeons, multiple townships, emphasis on secondary characters and specific side stories. DC's NPC's and single linear hub didn't seem to follow that pattern whatsoever, it's just a series of missions based around levelling and looting.

[Squire Grooktook]

^ Really?

I didn't think it had much in common with a regular ARPG at all. RPG's usually involve progression between dungeons, multiple townships, emphasis on secondary characters and specific side stories. DC's NPC's and single linear hub didn't seem to follow that pattern whatsoever, it's just a series of missions based around levelling and looting.

That's not too different from some action rpg's. I mean there are different types of arpg's, from your linear story based games, to typical loot crazed dungeon crawling with real time combat, to some compromise between the two

I guess my closest comparison would be something like Phantasy Star Online (1 and 2 both, though 2 in particular for having completely skill based combat), since they pretty have the same set up of singular hub > missions > looting/hunting/crawling.

[Pretas]

Dragon's Crown disappointed me. It was adequately enjoyable for a single run through, but I felt no incentive to revisit it on the harder difficulties (which are really just MMO-style level cap boosts). There was too much mandatory grinding through previously cleared stage routes to have enough experience to progress. It lacks the technicality of a true arcade beat-em-up, combos are utterly brainless to pull off.

I feel Amazon is the most interesting character to play as. The Elf boils down to abusing the flame pillar arrows every chance you get, and the magic users are really intended for buffing and supporting a team.

[boagman]

Dragon's Crown disappointed me. It was adequately enjoyable for a single run through...

Which, if it's an enjoyable enough initial run, should be good enough for my $20.

[Cagar]

Be prepared for ugly sexist character designs!!!!!!

[guigui]

At the beginning, you might want to turn computer-controlled characters off. To do that, get to the inn and use the triangle button.

At first, I did not understand on-screen action and game seemed like a enormous mess. Then I turned them off, began to understand what all of this was about, and had lot of fun. Then at later levels I put them back on because they may actually be useful.

[Skykid]

^ Definitely switch them off. All of them. You'll learn the game and your character of choice much faster and levelling will be pure. You don't need to consider assistance for a long time until you're at the point where you're chaining stages with campfire meals.

[BulletMagnet]

Have a look around this thread.

[Khan]

I would also suggest just to stop and look around like ive done, some of the stages and boss design are typical of vanillaware visually very appealing.

[CMoon]

Be prepared for ugly sexist character designs!!!!!!

*sighs* The whole world needs to get over this.

[Some-Mist]

it's definitely some old school fun and much different than Kamitani's "Princess Crown" (which was more in line with Odin Sphere). Kamitani does have a little old-school beat 'em up cred too tho since he worked on D&D: Tower of Mystara.

I would say it's probably my 2nd favorite vanillaware title and definitely worth the low asking price

muramasa: the demon blade > dragon's crown > odin sphere = grand knights history > grim grimoire

(never played kumatanchi tho I can tell it's not my type of game)

[Cagar]

Be prepared for ugly sexist character designs!!!!!!

*sighs* The whole world needs to get over this.

What does posting another sexist image help????

[CMoon]

Be prepared for ugly sexist character designs!!!!!!

*sighs* The whole world needs to get over this.

What does posting another sexist image help????

I'm placing bets that Cagar is just Poe'ing me at this point. This forum has too thick a skin for this to be real.

[Cagar]

Well.. yeah.
I was kind of fishing for some great, short and sharp arguments against this attitude that I just roleplayed. Go ahead if you have any.
because someone else could've been serious.

[Some-Mist]

I'm sick of the current focus on sexism in gaming, but the whole dragon's crown situation was pretty hilarious. probably covered in the other thread, but jason schrier (kotaku writer who also posts on gaf) got targeted by the kamitani with an inappropriate but funny response

Spoiler

originally jason bashed the art style saying the artist was probably a 14 year old boy with the article "Game Developers Really Need To Stop Letting Teenage Boys Design Their Characters" and coincidentally... the president of the company is the designer.

Spoiler

This is the newest trailer for Dragon's Crown, the Vanillaware-developed game that will be out this year for PS3 and Vita. It features the sorceress, one character from the game. As you can see, the sorceress was designed by a 14-year-old boy. Perhaps game development studios should stop hiring teenagers? At least they're cheap, I guess.

UPDATE: This story has gotten a little bit bigger over the past couple of days, and I've apologized for insulting Dragon's Crown artist George Kamitani. For more context, check out our follow-up right here.


The Real Problem With That Controversial, Sexy Video Game Sorceress [UPDATE]
Two weeks ago, I wrote an article that criticized one of the characters in the upcoming game…

that was the whole article...lol

[boagman]

So, I finally had a chance to plug it in and play it for a while. So far, it seems to be doing all the things I had hoped it wouldn't be doing. Looks like it's going to be a chore to play, and far more RPGish than I like. *Way* too much story.

::sigh:: At least I can say I've given it a decent effort when I finish with it.

[Jonathan Ingram]

*Way* too much story.

It barely has any and what little it has is garbage compared to Grim Grimoire or even Odin Sphere.

[Some-Mist]

yup ^ you can just skip through the story and it won't take away from the playthrough.

[Skykid]

So, I finally had a chance to plug it in and play it for a while. So far, it seems to be doing all the things I had hoped it wouldn't be doing. Looks like it's going to be a chore to play, and far more RPGish than I like. *Way* too much story.

::sigh:: At least I can say I've given it a decent effort when I finish with it.

Like I said, it takes a while to click. You need to learn what it's all about first. After dicking around with all the characters I favoured the elf, she's fast and fun to play. Remember to play solo and don't switch characters.

[boagman]

So, I finally had a chance to plug it in and play it for a while. So far, it seems to be doing all the things I had hoped it wouldn't be doing. Looks like it's going to be a chore to play, and far more RPGish than I like. *Way* too much story.

::sigh:: At least I can say I've given it a decent effort when I finish with it.

Like I said, it takes a while to click. You need to learn what it's all about first. After dicking around with all the characters I favoured the elf, she's fast and fun to play. Remember to play solo and don't switch characters.

I'll give it some more time for sure. What I'm not understanding is how to turn off the other computer controlled characters. I've checked the options menus and can't seem to figure out what turns them off. It's certainly a very nice looking game...control is still being judged. I may end up switching to a new character as Fighter is just too slow, I think.

[boagman]

*Way* too much story.

It barely has any and what little it has is garbage compared to Grim Grimoire or even Odin Sphere.

Your statement is nigh-incomprehensible to me. It also seems backwards due to the initial clause.

Understand: Capcom's D&D arcade series would be *plenty* of story for me.