Vanillaware love-in (Odin Sphere, Muramasa, etc.)

[undamned]

I've been playing Odin Sphere in the evening for a few weeks now. I must say that it's been well over 5 years since I've put this much time into an RPG. And it's a joy, not a laborious endevor

So where are you guys at in this game? Any cool tricks you think others would not have figured out? Currently I'm toward the end of Mercedes. Two more chars to go, but I'm in no hurry, as I'm playing through everything (for those of you who haven't played the game, you don't have to play every stage. Stages have paths between them that allow you to bypass areas you don't want to play through).

Any opinions on the game at large? My only complaint is that I find myself spending a lot of time organizing my inventory (which I've heard others complain about). Otherwise, it's a near perfect game

-ud


<If I change the thread title, will anyone talk about Oboromuramasa with Skykid? -inc.>

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

Leveling up is probably one of the most important things in Odin Sphere since enemies do a lot of damage and they take a lot of it. I always have the Spirit Stone equipped (except during bosses) for the extra phozons. For food, I always try to eat the high experience kind and avoid healing potions (no exp.)

My biggest complaint is that there's too little content for the amount of gameplay time. I played up to Velvet and lost interest in playing the same levels and bosses over and over. Then there's the loading times which range from bad to horrible and the poor visibility because you can't see anything until it's right in your face. Who wants to play using the screen map anyways?

Edit: Every area consisting of two different backgrounds is another problem.

[BulletMagnet]

Got it not long after its release - played most of the way through "easy" mode, got up to (I think) the last boss, have no idea what to do with him (no hints please). Currently playing other stuff, will go back to it eventually.

As far as opinion goes, obviously it's great to see a 2D title that doesn't present itself as a throwback, and some of the gameplay mechanics are quite fun (the 40-buck price tag's a plus too, I suppose). The aforementioned repetition is indeed a big downer though...it seems almost like the developers started out with these huge ambitions, and laid all the groundwork, but eventually got lazy and started re-using everything. I also don't think the story's as good as it's purported to be, though it does have some nice moments, and I'm sucker for Norse mythology. I also somewhat resent the linearity of the game...I can sort of see why they went with that, but at the same time it kind of stinks having to use a character who didn't have access to the better stuff the other characters got later on for one of the final boss fights, and having to go back and replay old stages just to get back up to snuff and finish.

All in all, loads of potential here, some of it realized, some not. I sincerely hope to see more from Vanillaware, though (I am curious about them, insofar as GameFAQs lists Odin Sphere and Grim Grimoire as their only games since Princess Crown...what were they doing in the decade in between?).

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Got it not long after its release - played most of the way through "easy" mode, got up to (I think) the last boss, have no idea what to do with him (no hints please). Currently playing other stuff, will go back to it eventually.

As far as opinion goes, obviously it's great to see a 2D title that doesn't present itself as a throwback, and some of the gameplay mechanics are quite fun (the 40-buck price tag's a plus too, I suppose). The aforementioned repetition is indeed a big downer though...it seems almost like the developers started out with these huge ambitions, and laid all the groundwork, but eventually got lazy and started re-using everything. I also don't think the story's as good as it's purported to be, though it does have some nice moments, and I'm sucker for Norse mythology. I also somewhat resent the linearity of the game...I can sort of see why they went with that, but at the same time it kind of stinks having to use a character who didn't have access to the better stuff the other characters got later on for one of the final boss fights, and having to go back and replay old stages just to get back up to snuff and finish.

All in all, loads of potential here, some of it realized, some not. I sincerely hope to see more from Vanillaware, though (I am curious about them, insofar as GameFAQs lists Odin Sphere and Grim Grimoire as their only games since Princess Crown...what were they doing in the decade in between?).

Perhaps, Vanillaware spent their time in "la-la land" during that decade of non gaming developement...or they offered their services for other gaming companies "on the side" barely scrapping by until in a zombie-like fashion before getting brillant ideas for Odin Sphere + Grim Grimoire and thus waking up from a long and tiring nap that's lasted a decade...who knows? ^_~

Word to the wise: let sleeping dogs lie...lest one incurs the wrath of a surprised sleepy canine -- then all hell breaks loose...guess that would be the perfect time to run like hell, right? ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[DarkWolf7]

Finished the game once on normal difficulty, where I wasted too much time with the cafe/restaurant pumping up my HP to unnecessary levels (smart use of items does far more for you than levelling up either your HP or your weapon strength). The game became comically easy once most of the potions became available, so I decided to start another game on heroic mode, where I'd play through with no items. Playing this way, I finished Gwendoyn's and Cornelius's stories (getting Cornelius through Titania without items in Heroic Mode was absolute hell). Stopped playing on Mercedes's story about half-way through due to boredom.

Overall a great game but a bit too repetitive. At the very least, they could have given the bosses completely different attack patterns when you fight them again with different characters.

[Tempest]

Any opinions on the game at large? My only complaint is that I find myself spending a lot of time organizing my inventory (which I've heard others complain about). Otherwise, it's a near perfect game

-ud

That and the slowdown are about it IMHO. I only got like halfway through Gwendolyn's story, but I've been playing a lot of other games lately (RE4 and Mario Strikers on Wii, plus STGT stuff) and lost track.

[Regulus]

I'm about half way through Mercedes story, but I haven't played in a few weeks (Mercedes kind of bores me as a playable character -- she certainly has an easier time with things, but...), but I am eager to pick the game up again when I've finished a few things up.

[GaijinPunch]

Bought it at release. Took me a few weeks but I got the "good" ending....although I'm still missing a star somewhere.

[Zebra Airforce]

I got bored and quit the first "story."

[BulletMagnet]

Not exactly Odin Sphere related, but figured I'd rather put it here than start a new topic...

Some of you might have heard this already (I tend to be late when it comes to getting news like this), but I followed a link at Majoria News today, and it seems that Vanillaware's working on a Wii title, "Oboro Muramasa Youtouden". It appears to use a visual style similar to that of Odin Sphere, but with some kind of feudal Japanese theme to it. I can't read either the French in the article or the Japanese in the scans, but I'm glad to see Vanillaware back at work. Wonder if this has a shot at a Western release...

[howmuchkeefe]

I'm on the final chapter of Oswald's quest. I'm not studly enough to take the boss quite yet, but I'm sure a few meals will take care of that.

I wish I could say that the play control never bothers me, but it does.

[PaCrappa]

I watched a buddy play some of this the other day and it looks great.

Has anyone played their other recent game, Grim Grimoire?

Pa

[captain ahar]

bought it four weeks ago, and it has yet to enter my ps2. first i was slogging my way through darkness, then i started watching smallville and doogie howser (both in the marathon sense), and then i got bioshock and can't seem to turn off my 360.

[undamned]

I'm on the final chapter of Oswald's quest. I'm not studly enough to take the boss quite yet...

Yeah, he can be a turd. I think I just used pain killers, ran in "Overload" mode (gotta have enough weapon experience, though), just wailed away, and avoided his dash as much as possible.

Also using an "Unlimited" potion and then going into "Black Knight" mode is a wee bit of fun

Just began Velvet's quest, last night. What a awesome attack array. Best use of a chain weapon since the "Morning Star" on Simon's Quest NES

EDIT:

Not exactly Odin Sphere related, but figured I'd rather put it here than start a new topic...

Some of you might have heard this already (I tend to be late when it comes to getting news like this), but I followed a link at Majoria News today, and it seems that Vanillaware's working on a Wii title, "Oboro Muramasa Youtouden". It appears to use a visual style similar to that of Odin Sphere, but with some kind of feudal Japanese theme to it. I can't read either the French in the article or the Japanese in the scans, but I'm glad to see Vanillaware back at work. Wonder if this has a shot at a Western release...

That's it. I'm buying a Wii. Seriously.

-ud

[junkeR]

I bought a sealed copy almost two months ago... and it is still sealed. Looks very cool though!

I still have so much more to beat before I get into this title.

[Necronom]

Not exactly Odin Sphere related, but figured I'd rather put it here than start a new topic...

Some of you might have heard this already (I tend to be late when it comes to getting news like this), but I followed a link at Majoria News today, and it seems that Vanillaware's working on a Wii title, "Oboro Muramasa Youtouden". It appears to use a visual style similar to that of Odin Sphere, but with some kind of feudal Japanese theme to it. I can't read either the French in the article or the Japanese in the scans, but I'm glad to see Vanillaware back at work. Wonder if this has a shot at a Western release...

Holy shit! That's one beauty. I'm gonna stare at and drool over those scans over the next couple of minutes...Guwange flashbacks

[BulletMagnet]

Has anyone played their other recent game, Grim Grimoire?

I played a ways into it, though I haven't finished it. It's an RTS game, except played from a side view (and you go up and down stairs and such to move vertically) - it's got a similar graphical style going, and thus looks great, but repetition rears its ugly head again, perhaps even more so than in Odin Sphere. I haven't played many RTS games, so I can't really compare it to much else, but many seem to think that it's too simple compared to others in the genre...then again, one of its taglines was "RTS for Everyone," so that was probably the intention anyways. There are around 25-30 "main" stages (though a decent amount of them are tutorials), and an equal number of "extra" stages, all of which can be played at 3 or 4 different difficulty levels (the game keeps track of which you've beaten at what difficulty - you also get a "grade" for each level, but unlike Odin Sphere it doesn't affect anything). Some complain about the control scheme, but again, not having played many RTS's before, I personally didn't have much trouble with it (if you want to get technical it's not "completely" real time, as the action freezes when making certain commands). Whether I'd recommend buying it basically depends, as I tend to say in most any case like this, on what kind of game you're looking for.

I'm on the final chapter of Oswald's quest. I'm not studly enough to take the boss quite yet, but I'm sure a few meals will take care of that.

I'd recommend basically the same tactics as ud suggested - 'roid yourself up and whale away at him like there's no tomorrow. Personally, whenever I see that dash attack coming, I just give up and use the "invisible" move to wait it out, as 9 times out of 10 I guess wrong and can't dodge it. Nothing else he does is really all that much of a threat.

I wish I could say that the play control never bothers me, but it does.

Yeah, it isn't perfect, but for a game with "RPG" elements it coulda been a lot worse. Hopefully they can tweak this in future releases which use a similar style, perhaps the Wii thing I posted earlier.

[PaCrappa]

Thanks man. I already have GG but no time to play. I usually buy any JRPG (or in this case JRTS) that looks enjoyable to me but it will almost always take years (literally) for me to get to them. In fact I still haven't played a single RPG type game for PS2. I've also owned Chrono Trigger for over nine years now and still have yet to play the thing. Since none of my "real life" friends have played GG it's definitely nice to get your opinion.

I've never really played an RTS game before either so "RTS for everyone" is probably just fine

Pa

[GaijinPunch]

"real life" friends

None of those around here. More time for JRPGS... not really though. Haven't played one in ages either.

[PaCrappa]

Well I'm playing one now. But only because I'm injured and I'll go mentally crazy sitting at the academy watching everyone do what I can't. And since I'm not such a social butterfly anymore I sit here and play Persona (EMO TONY FTW!!!) with the dogs and make RGB cables when I would normally be at class.

I was a little envious watching my buddy play Odin Sphere but I need to stick to one hecka lengthy game at a time or they never get finished.

Pa

[Jon]

I am the same way. I bought both Odin Sphere and GG and wont get to either anytime soon. Persona 3 I am making a priority to play next, I always loved that series and have read nothing but good things about the latest.

[PaCrappa]

I hate to take this thread any further away from Odin Sphere, but Jeez Louise! I like that Persona. Alot. I imagine that this will be the first RPG series I play as a series.

Anyways, somebody say something about Odin Sphere quick!

Pa

[undamned]

I'll go mentally crazy

As opposed to the other kind

I'll start putting down some personal tricks I picked up along the way:

Alchemy:

Quickly creating Material (empty bottles) with the correct number can be a
pain in the booty. One thing to remember is that the ten's digit of your Material doesn't matter.

Example: Antidote requires Material 0 and an Onion. You can use a material 10, 20, 30, etc.

The Mulberry is the easiest way to boost Material level as they have a value of 5, their seeds are dropped frequently at the end of each level, and only takes 5 Phozons to grow.

Here's a quick rundown of a few plentiful items and their values when added to Material:

Seeds - 1
Vegetables - 1 (use these to boost Odd number Material)
Napple Cores, Grape Stems - 1
Potions - 2
Bone - 3
Mulberry - 5
Napple - 5

Phozons:

Like UFO said, upgrading your Phozon Experience is critical, so be sure and pick up a Spirit Stone early on (boosts the amount of Phozon Experience gained from absorbing Phozons).

Depending on your Phozon Experience, you are limited as to how high your Phozon meter (lower is meter, upper is experience) can go. At the point that your Phozon meter is full, remaining Phozons that are gathered only go toward Phozon Experience.

Once you get your character to a Phozon level that they can use the "Phozon Release" ability, you may be able to get more Phozons than are on the screen. When you are absorbing a bunch of Phozons, watch your Phozon level and when it is full, do a "Phozon Release" and then continue gathering Phozons. Rinse and repeat. When using a Material 90 potion, you can usually get at least two Phozon Releases on top of the other Phozons you absorb.

Highly numbered Material will create more Phozons when you make a potion. The easiest highly numbered Material to make is Material 90. Here's what I found to be the easiest:

Material 0 + Mulberry + Mulberry = Material 10
Material 0 + Mulberry + [any vegetable] + [any seed] + [any vegetable] + [any seed] = Material 9
OR
Material 0 + Mulberry + Bone + [any seed] = Material 9

Material 9 + Material 10 = Material 90

At this point you can create whatever potion you want and the Phozon count is pretty nice (enough to grow a Ruewart).

More Later... maybe
-ud

[BulletMagnet]

Some slightly clearer pics of the upcoming game here, credit again to Majoria News for the link.

And yeah, I think it's safe to pretty much consider this the new, improved "Odin Sphere - and Friends!" topic.

[tekneekz]

anyone play SMT devil summoner yet? im still working on a Hard mode its freaking hard. as for persona 3, i like the more gritty persona 2 which was the ebst in the persona series

[Jon]

anyone play SMT devil summoner yet? im still working on a Hard mode its freaking hard. as for persona 3, i like the more gritty persona 2 which was the ebst in the persona series

Yeah I played and enjoyed it for the most part. It was a nice diversion I guess despite not living up to the other games in the franchise. I found the difficulty easy compared to the traditional megaten games although I should say I only played the game on normal.

I still think that SMT: Nocturne is my favorite megaten game.

Persona 2 was pretty cool too despite its rediculous encounter rate and bland dungeon design.

Thanx for the pics of the new Vanilla Ware game. Heres hoping for high res!

[undamned]

Thanx for the pics of the new Vanilla Ware game. Heres hoping for high res!

Well, afaik, the Wii will only do 480p, but after playing Odin Sphere in RGB for the past few weeks and still not really being able to see individual pixels, 480p should be plenty sweet. Speaking of 480p, I still really need to make you an RGB to component board for your Samsung (I found a chip that doesn't require much additional circuitry). I'm such a slacker.
-ud

[Jon]

Oooohhhh Brian I never even considered the fact that you had the ability to play Odin Sphere using your RGB display. Must see ASAP!

I didn't know their new title was for the Wii. That...kinda blows actually.

[BulletMagnet]

Credit again to Majoria News for this link - 1Up has a preview video up for "Oboro." According to the blurb included with it, the game will be more action-oriented than Odin Sphere, no RPG elements alluded to, at least not here.

[undamned]

Hot! Thanks for the news!
-ud