Grade Your Consoles/Portables 2009

[Elixir]

Devil Survivor.. oh look, another game based in Shibuya with teenagers.

I haven't played this, but, from what I heard, it's very different in tone from The World Ends With You and it's not like SMT hasn't dealt with teenagers before (and you didn't have this complaint with Persona).

WEWY is a bunch of kids in Shibuya and so is Persona and Devil Survivor. Given the chance I'd much rather play Persona, even if it is really easy. Persona would fall into the "complete overhaul" category while Devil Survivor would fall into the spin-off category. The story of Devil Survivor was laughable. WEWY was good, but not of this year.

Also, KitK seems extremely polished but overly complex for no reason at all. It doesn't take complexity for a game to be worthwhile, people can find the depth in them by their own doing. KitK's not bad, it's just trying to pull off too much at once. Also.. too many tutorials, seriously.

Phantasy Star Zero DS doesn't have a sequel in Japan yet. However, Phantasy Star Portable does have a sequel (which I heard is much better than the first).

I meant the newest PSP version which just came out.

Philosophy professors (in the anglo-american tradition) are experts in reasoning. We do our best to be consistent/coherent in our reasoning, and work hard to get others to do the same. So I appreciate your request that I be consistent. Your complaint seems fair: I said I've based my grade on what games I want to play, and you've done the same thing. Fair enough. My complaint about your grades, though, also seem fair: How can you be at all confident in your assessment when you haven't played any handheld games from 2009?

This still completely evades my point: why are you grading games you *think* might be worthwhile, games which you've never played?

Maybe I'm misinterpreting you, but from this post it certainly doesn't sound like you realized that HMH is a speedrunning game with a largely-incidental "parody JRPG" theme.

I'm aware that it's a jRPG for people who hate RPGs. It still feels rushed, as if the game wants to end itself as quickly as possible. I wouldn't say it's bad, just missable.

Since we're all having fun being bitchy, I wanted to mention that DQ5 is a COMPLETE OVERHAUL of the game--a game never ported in the US. Admittedly, the DQ series is the antithesis of innovation and progress, but it is the video-game version of comfort food and it is a FANTASTIC GAME on the DS.

My bad. Not port. Remake. Just like Persona.

Like I said, ports and remakes are boring. What is the point in crediting a game to a console or handheld's library that is essentially from another year--only upgraded--yet we can't select independent games from other years?

[professor ganson]

This still completely evades my point: why are you grading games you *think* might be worthwhile, games which you've never played?

So we are allowed to take into consideration the fact that a system has nothing of interest to us, but we are not allowed to take into consideratio the fact that a system has more of interest to us than we currently have time for? Maybe I'm not understanding the topic of this thread. I thought we were grading systems as they are currently relevant to us.

[CMoon]

Since we're all having fun being bitchy, I wanted to mention that DQ5 is a COMPLETE OVERHAUL of the game--a game never ported in the US. Admittedly, the DQ series is the antithesis of innovation and progress, but it is the video-game version of comfort food and it is a FANTASTIC GAME on the DS.

My bad. Not port. Remake. Just like Persona.[/size]

Like I said, ports and remakes are boring. What is the point in crediting a game to a console or handheld's library that is essentially from another year--only upgraded--yet we can't select independent games from other years?

Infinite loop here where I said the game has never been been available in the west before. New game never available to me = new game. Seriously, read my post, then read your post, then make an infinite quote pyramid. I think we're just saying the opposite of each other.

[boagman]

Maybe I'm not understanding the topic of this thread. I thought we were grading systems as they are currently relevant to us.

No...your interpretation of the topic is incorrect. Read the OP again. The OP wanted us to describe/grade how different systems did games-wise, this year (2009).

Not that big a deal, really. It's still been a relatively interesting discussion, but the OP directly points to taking 2009's releases and evaluating based on that alone. That's why I graded so poorly in my case, though I did sort of chicken out with the caveats about Darius Burst and Metal Slug XX. If they're allowable (and, obviously, if I like them when I play them), the PSP's grade could improve. I really don't see the DS' grade going up for 2009 though, unless I honestly missed some fantastic underground release or something. Treasure did release Bleach: Dark Souls this past year, but I doubt that even that would sway me, even though I'm a big time Treasure fan. Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea from the start.

[adversity1]

I don't have the gaming demand of some of you guys, so if a system has even one game I love and play really hardcore, I'll give it high marks.

Wii - B Overall lineup is weak, but Sin and Punishment 2 was an excellent ride which I want to get back to at some point.

DSi - D Have barely touched the DS this year except for Aa! Mujou! Setsuna! which was a good diversion. System as a whole though, awful this year. Last game I really enjoyed on it was the latest Castlevania, but that was last year.

PSP - C Got really good right at the end of the year with 428, Queen's Blade, Darius Gaiden and LBP, but overall had a pretty weak year. LocoRoco 2 I believe was also this year and was pretty good.

PS3 - D The only game I really loved on it was from 2008, Valkyria Chronicles. Killzone 2 was pretty good, as was Flower, but that was February for fuck's sakes. Rest of the year was really boring and capped off with the atrocious FFXIII.

360- A Despite a totally shit Japanese lineup, the 360 is still the most fun console that I own. This year, Bayonetta, Modern Warfare 2, Mushihimesama Futari, Deathsmiles, Shadow Complex, Fallout 3 and SFIV were excellent experiences and the titles that were multiplatform were simply better played on the 360.

Arcade - C Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu was pretty hot this year, Deathsmiles 2 was not. Border Break was nice to watch.

[professor ganson]

Maybe I'm not understanding the topic of this thread. I thought we were grading systems as they are currently relevant to us.

No...your interpretation of the topic is incorrect. Read the OP again. The OP wanted us to describe/grade how different systems did games-wise, this year (2009).

Not that big a deal, really. It's still been a relatively interesting discussion, but the OP directly points to taking 2009's releases and evaluating based on that alone. That's why I graded so poorly in my case, though I did sort of chicken out with the caveats about Darius Burst and Metal Slug XX. If they're allowable (and, obviously, if I like them when I play them), the PSP's grade could improve. I really don't see the DS' grade going up for 2009 though, unless I honestly missed some fantastic underground release or something. Treasure did release Bleach: Dark Souls this past year, but I doubt that even that would sway me, even though I'm a big time Treasure fan. Doesn't appear to be my cup of tea from the start.

Right. By "currently relevant to us" I just meant what we think of current (2009) games for the systems we have. My point is just the simple one that we can't be working with the rule: judge the systems only on the games you've actually played. If that were the rule, most of the F grades would be groundless. Most people are giving the DS an F grade on the grounds that there weren't any games they wanted to play. By the same token, I'm giving the DS an A+ on the grounds that there are many games I want to play.

In fact, I would give the DS an A+ just thinking of the games I've already played from 2009, so the point here is a minor one. (To state the obvious.)

[boagman]

Right. By "currently relevant to us" I just meant what we think of current (2009) games for the systems we have. My point is just the simple one that we can't be working with the rule: judge the systems only on the games you've actually played. If that were the rule, most of the F grades would be groundless. Most people are giving the DS an F grade on the grounds that there weren't any games they wanted to play. By the same token, I'm giving the DS an A+ on the grounds that there are many games I want to play.

In fact, I would give the DS an A+ just thinking of the games I've already played from 2009, so the point here is a minor one. (To state the obvious.)

Okay, *now* I'm catching what you're pitching. And yes, I'd agree with you on this to the extent that a system's offerings must be first alluring in order to actually get us to play said games, for the most part, anyway. I'm right with you on this. Fact of the matter is that the two systems in question, with the exception of the two games I mentioned previously, didn't really have anything that was exciting me or filling me with any kind of anticipation for their coming arrival...much less selling me on the gameplay/total package that I hadn't even played yet. We're copacetic on this point.

In point of fact, though, you really did go a bit overboard on listing that many games that you were really looking forward to, weren't you? I mean, it's a pretty significant list, considering. Don't you think?

[professor ganson]

In point of fact, though, you really did go a bit overboard on listing that many games that you were really looking forward to, weren't you? I mean, it's a pretty significant list, considering. Don't you think?

Good point. Here's the breakdown. These titles are ALL FROM 2009:

REALLY LOVED:
Fire Emblem SD
Phantasy Star Portable
Space Invaders Extreme 2

LOVED/LIKED SO FAR (not done playing):
Phantasy Star Zero
Crimson Gem Saga
Laevatein Tactics
Suikoden Tierkreis
Tactics Layer (not localized, so a bit hard to make full sense of)

SUPER PSYCHED:
SMT: Devil Survivor
Mario & Luigi: Inside Story
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Knights in the Nightmare
Super Robot Taisen OG Saga
Shining Force Feather

PRETTY PSYCHED:
Bleach: The 3rd Phantom (didn't mention this before)
Persona
Dissidia
Star Ocean 2
Half-Minute Hero
Atelier Annie

NOT ENTIRELY SURE, BUT AM THINKING ABOUT IT:
Pokemon Platinum
DQ 5
Nostalgia
Black Sigil

[BulletMagnet]

Laevatein Tactics

Sorry to butt in, but I'm curious regarding impressions of this one...I was tempted to try it out, but since there are so many SRPGs on the system already I chickened out. Also, if you're looking for an overview of Atelier Annie, I did a write-up on it similar to the one I did for Mushi Futari.

[Rob]

I don't have the gaming demand of some of you guys, so if a system has even one game I love and play really hardcore, I'll give it high marks.

If anything I wish I had played fewer games so the best moments wouldn't be tainted by the memory of FEAR 2.

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh lord, I liked the FEAR 2 demo. (

I'll happily scratch that one off the "to get" list then

[CptRansom]

As a major XBLA player (when it was an actual "arcade") ...xbla has gone to shit.

I miss XBLA when it wasn't full of mini-retail games.

Anyways...

360 - A - Played a shitload of games this year and even enjoyed about half of them. Raiden IV helped me finally start getting more into shmups... Futari sealed it.
PS3 - B - Just got this a week ago. I only have Demon's Souls for retail, and that's going to be good enough for me for a while. PSN has a few games I'm really enjoying like Super Stardust HD, PixelJunk Shooter, Flower, and Pain. I should probably look into some more exclusive retail titles... I'm open to recommendations (and no, I'm at all interested in MGS4... I watched a friend "play" that movie for about five hours one day and I swear to god I think he held the controller for a grand total of 30 minutes).

[professor ganson]

Laevatein Tactics

Sorry to butt in, but I'm curious regarding impressions of this one...I was tempted to try it out, but since there are so many SRPGs on the system already I chickened out. Also, if you're looking for an overview of Atelier Annie, I did a write-up on it similar to the one I did for Mushi Futari.

Terrific article, BM. The one on Mushi as well. I guess I need to bump Annie up to my SUPER PSYCHED category. There's a lot of content on your blog that I need to catch up on. Your writing is such a pleasure to read.

As for Laevatein Tactics, I'm still on the fence. The dialogue has a Spanish element to it that is distinctive and the graphics are nice and colorful, but overall the presentation is not as quirky or interesting as Disgaea, Luminous Arc, Drone Tactics, and other recent SRPGs that I've enjoyed. It's supposed to be cuter than Fire Emblem, but the story is about as gripping as a Fire Emblem title, i.e. not so gripping, and lacks the classic feel of the latter. Gameplay-wise, it has a few twists on the Fire Emblem model, but the twists are probably better labeled "tinkerings". Nothing too original here. In spite of these weak points, I'd probably still be playing the game if it had been a bit more challenging. I suspect that the game eases you into things, and that the difficulty comes later. For that reason, I still remain optimistic about the title, and expect it will ultimately deliver some interesting moments. But there's really not much going on in the first couple hours as you're getting familiar with the mechanics.

If you ever want to borrow it, BM, just let me know. I can easily send the cart by itself in a small envelope. (That goes for any other DS RPGs you may want to check out.)

[BulletMagnet]

Heh, glad you enjoyed the write-up, though I think your judgment of my writing skills may be slightly damaged after having to read half-assed student submissions most of the time. As for the game, thanks for the offer, though I'll probably just end up waiting for the price to drop (which shouldn't take long, since I think you and I are the only people on the planet who have heard of it).

[professor ganson]

Heh, glad you enjoyed the write-up, though I think your judgment of my writing skills may be slightly damaged after having to read half-assed student submissions most of the time. As for the game, thanks for the offer, though I'll probably just end up waiting for the price to drop (which shouldn't take long, since I think you and I are the only people on the planet who have heard of it).

Ha, believe me, papers that come in around finals time can be a painful read. But, to be perfectly honest, your writing would be in the top %2 among my students, and I'm at a top 25 liberal arts college. If you ever need a letter of recommendation...

I think you're right about Laevatein Tactics. I frequent an RPG forum once a day, and even the experts there have completely neglected this title. By the way, if you know about any good RPG forums or websites, I'd really like to know. I haven't found anything near as good as this site so far.

[BulletMagnet]

But, to be perfectly honest, your writing would be in the top %2 among my students, and I'm at a top 25 liberal arts college. If you ever need a letter of recommendation...

Heh, I'm sure that you of all people are aware of just how much a "top" college designation means these days (I offer this song for unnecessary emphasis). In any event, I've spent more time at college than I (or my folks) would care to remember...what I could really use is a full-time job, but considering that I've been turned down when I applied to clean floors and haul boxes (among other things) over the past couple of months heaven only knows when that'll come to pass. At least I've got some time on my hands to write about games, though the only paid instances of that were the pair of racketboy articles from a ways back.

By the way, if you know about any good RPG forums or websites, I'd really like to know. I haven't found anything near as good as this site so far.

I don't frequent any RPG sites so I'm not much help there...the only places I ever stop into are RPGamer and RPG Fan, both of which I'm sure you're aware of already.