PSP's Last Hurrah: A JRPG/SRPG Bonanza

[cj iwakura]

Shame, I heard it was pretty good. I pray GIV did better.

I wanted to try Gungnir, but it was no question which took priority.


As for Wayfarer, I'm close enough to endgame that I think I can share some Growlanser obsessee thoughts:

-The combat is (traditional) Growlanser at its finest. Some very repetitive random encounters and missions, but the good ones are DANG good. I love the skill system especially.
-The story... eh. Blasphemy to most, but I honestly liked II and III's more. You're the focus of those stories. You feel like just a bystander in 90% of Wayfarer's events.

That said, it's still a great game, and Atlus did a fine job localizing it.

[MR_Soren]

I can tell you my local GS had at least 3 copies of Growlanser in stock. I can also tell you that Growlanser didn't get it's price hacked in under a month.

Growlanser was most likely a lot more more popular. I haven't played it yet, but I did pick it up.

I'm not even sure if Ragnarok Tactics will be a good strategy game or if it's just going to be a grindfest like Disgaea, TO, FFT, etc. Still waiting to hear more about it. It's probably the last physical (EDIT: English-language) PSP release I'll be even remotely interested in.

EDIT: I just remembered that Gunhound comes out later this year in Japan and looks pretty awesome.

[Op Intensify]

I'm not even sure if Ragnarok Tactics will be a good strategy game or if it's just going to be a grindfest like Disgaea, TO, FFT, etc. Still waiting to hear more about it. It's probably the last physical (EDIT: English-language) PSP release I'll be even remotely interested in.

I tracked down some video of Apollo Soft's earlier SRPG, Blue Roses. It looks like your typical identikit Tactics Ogre/FFT clone, and there's awful button-mashy QTE sequences in battles.

So RT seems to be a cut above Idea Factory garbage, though still a dull grindfest. I'll get it on the cheap just because it's probably the final US UMD release of any worth, but it doesn't merit a preorder.

[MR_Soren]

I'm not even sure if Ragnarok Tactics will be a good strategy game or if it's just going to be a grindfest like Disgaea, TO, FFT, etc. Still waiting to hear more about it. It's probably the last physical (EDIT: English-language) PSP release I'll be even remotely interested in.

I tracked down some video of Apollo Soft's earlier SRPG, Blue Roses. It looks like your typical identikit Tactics Ogre/FFT clone, and there's awful button-mashy QTE sequences in battles.

So RT seems to be a cut above Idea Factory garbage, though still a dull grindfest. I'll get it on the cheap just because it's probably the final US UMD release of any worth, but it doesn't merit a preorder.

That's a shame. One of the things I really appreciated about Gungnir was that very little emphasis was placed upon grinding, and success was really about tactics and strategy.

I may pick up RT if I can find it cheap, but I won't feel bad if I miss it.

[Op Intensify]

Might as well mention that Ragnarok Tactics now has a release date of November 6.

[Op Intensify]

Download-only this time, but another PSP localization got announced for the US. It's Generations of Chaos 6, the latest installment in Idea Factory's ridiculously long-running bullshit mockery-of-an-SRPG series.

However, this one was actually developed in collaboration with Sting, and looks like a spiritual sequel to Knights in the Nightmare. Unfortunately, they've added some 'tarded QTE sequences. And the graphics...those field sprites wouldn't be acceptable on the GBA.

Black Rock Shooter is apparently also still coming to the US via PSN next year, but it's at the bottom of NISA's to-do list. That game doesn't look at all remarkable aside from its graphics, but it bears a weird similarity to the old Dreamcast game Charge & Blast.

[BulletMagnet]

Too bad about the download-only part...I'd consider giving both of those a try if they were physical releases, though that's obviously a pipe dream at this point.

[Op Intensify]

Apparently Ragnarok Tactics on UMD is not being sold at retail in the US, period. Gamestop has it, but only through online orders.

I'm almost tempted to get it in case it shoots up in price, since the print run will obviously be very limited, but I doubt there will ever be much demand.

Changed the topic title now that we have all these other games. I wonder if Aksys will bother bringing over Fate/Extra CCC, since the original was localized. I didn't bother with it myself after seeing the brainless rock-paper-scissors battle system.

I recently picked up the Megaman UMD Dual Pack that Capcom put out last year, seemingly in an attempt to pacify the fans after MML3's cancellation. It goes for ~$15 now, which is a great deal for two amazing remakes of the first games in both the original and X Megaman series. I was happy to see that the servers were still up for all of Powered Up's user-created levels and DLC. Maverick Hunter X has a surprisingly brutal Hard Mode, playable Vile and a 30-minute OVA.

[Op Intensify]

Imported the PSP remake of Falcom's grid-based action RPG/dungeon crawler Brandish. XSeed was trying to bring it to the US at one point, but failed. The original was crippled by its poor control method and confusing perspective, to the point of being nearly unplayable. Can't recommend this one enough if you like roguelikes, though. Mapping item shortcuts to the analog nub and rendering the world in 3D, with clean movements for camera transitions, easily solved both the problems I mentioned. You will get easily stuck at puzzles if you're not Japanese-literate, but there's a full English walkthrough + translation guide on Gamefaqs.

[cj iwakura]

Always wanted to get that.

I just purchased Half Minute Hero 2 from play-asia for ~$33. Should be getting it in a week or so.
Can't wait!

Finished Growlanser IV yesterday, thoughts:

Surprisingly good ending, more than I expected anyway.


What little VA the game had was damn good. Shame this couldn't have had a full VA budget.

So overall, compared to II & III:

Gameplay:
*****
Growlanser at its finest, no question. Challenging, varied, rewarding.

Story:
****-
It started out great, then flounded a lot near the end.
Would've been better off focusing on angels or the political intrigue, not trying to balance them. Both had great elements weighed down by the other.
(The small backstory on the angel civilization could've carried a whole game.)

I still prefer II & III, but don't get me wrong, IV is still great.

Music:
**---
(Very bland, only a couple tracks stood out)

Presentation:
****-
Great CGs and art design, love some of the characters(the Royal Guards, the twins, Vester); makes up for the bad ones(Eliza, Trisha, etc.).

Really wish I'd unlock/ed more CGs, they all looked sharp.


Localization:
*****
Can't complain at all, the writing was great, and Cley's 'jerk' dialogue is AMAZING.
(Wow, that's a lot of translators and editors.)

I hope this isn't the last we see of Growlanser, but if so, it went out with a bang.


It also had my favorite final boss fight yet. Appropriate and looked really imposing, too.
It had a great sprite.

[AweOfShe]

Imported the PSP remake of Falcom's grid-based action RPG/dungeon crawler Brandish. XSeed was trying to bring it to the US at one point, but failed. The original was crippled by its poor control method and confusing perspective, to the point of being nearly unplayable. Can't recommend this one enough if you like roguelikes, though. Mapping item shortcuts to the analog nub and rendering the world in 3D, with clean movements for camera transitions, easily solved both the problems I mentioned. You will get easily stuck at puzzles if you're not Japanese-literate, but there's a full English walkthrough + translation guide on Gamefaqs.

It's kind of amazing that I used to love the SNES version as a kid, but after replaying it recently, I absolutely hated it.
I've been meaning to give the PSP version a go, but thought I wouldn't enjoy it this time around. Sounds like I might be wrong though.

I still prefer II & III, but don't get me wrong, IV is still great.

Same sentiments. I've been told several times by a few people that 4 was the best in the series, but honestly, I don't enjoy it as much as I did with 3 specifically. Granted, it has been awhile, so it could just be a result of my preferences changing over the years.

[cj iwakura]

http://ufointeractivegames.com/psn/elminage-original/

I see it but I don't believe it.



Not the best publisher in the world, but hey, it's Elminage. Does it even have a script?

[Ganelon]

Elminage, as with most JP dungeon crawlers, has a fair bit of dialogue compared to the US Wizardry games it was based off of. Don't expect text to be a fraction of that of a traditional JRPG though. Elminage II has a lot more dialogue and is a smoother game overall, but the original is excellent too.

I'm not a fan of the recent trend towards digital-only localizations but will likely end up getting this version anyway. At least a digital release means the load times—a huge problem of playing the original UMD version without installing the game—will be minimal. Something that would make me happier is if UFO takes advantage of the occasion to fix the item synthesis bug and other issues present but I'm not optimistic that will happen. For folks who aren't aware, bugs aren't necessarily indicative of a bad game; every version of Elminage has bugs and the JP dungeon crawler genre is actually notorious for game-breaking glitches.

[cj iwakura]

This is the best thing about the digital era if you ask me. Niche games are getting way more chance for localization than ever.

Elminage stuff:

[Jonathan Ingram]

Hopefully, it`s compatible with Vita.

[professor ganson]

I picked up these new PSP titles, and wasn't drawn in. Back to playing Fire Emblem (GBA). I want to unlock Hector Hard Mode and see if I can get a perfect score.

[shmuppyLove]

HOLY MOTHERFUCKING SHITBALLS

http://kotaku.com/one-of-the-best-rpgs- ... 1261239221