JRPG Catch-All

Final Fantasy: Dimensions was supposed to be out, but I'm not seeing it on the android app store (not surprising).

But I also read that it had released to iOS with broken in-app purchasing, so people could just get the prologue but none of the content. That one's a little surprising. Anyone iOS users get a chance to check out the prologue yet?

Blind_Evil wrote:

Final Fantasy: Dimensions was supposed to be out, but I'm not seeing it on the android app store (not surprising).

But I also read that it had released to iOS with broken in-app purchasing, so people could just get the prologue but none of the content. That one's a little surprising. Anyone iOS users get a chance to check out the prologue yet?

I just downloaded it last night, so hopefully I'll have a chance to check it out this weekend. The IAP stuff is fixed now. Reading through the Touch Arcade review makes it sound like Square locked the majority of the cool new mechanics behind the paywall. It'll be interesting to see how it works out for them with an iOS game this pricey.

Like DS, I am in love with TWEWY Solo remix on iOS. I had real control problems on the DS, even the XL, and gave up after about 3 hours. Thankfully, I had borrowed it, not bought it. I loved the music, premise and setting, but just couldn't use pins consistently.

On my iPad, I love it. The bigger, more responsive, screen means that I can carry out the attacks without any problems at all. I've been grinding out 5 stage battles with my level knocked down for a couple of hours this afternoon, messing about with pin combos and levelling things. Great fun. I like earning PP when I sleep too. Well worth the price of admission. My only gripe is the lack of retina graphics.

If SE have kept the interesting stuff on FFD behind the pay wall, people who picked it up as it is apparently free and on the front page of the app store aren't very likely to shell out for the full whack, I wouldn't have though.

spider_j wrote:

Like DS, I am in love with TWEWY Solo remix on iOS. I had real control problems on the DS, even the XL, and gave up after about 3 hours. Thankfully, I had borrowed it, not bought it. I loved the music, premise and setting, but just couldn't use pins consistently.

On my iPad, I love it. The bigger, more responsive, screen means that I can carry out the attacks without any problems at all. I've been grinding out 5 stage battles with my level knocked down for a couple of hours this afternoon, messing about with pin combos and levelling things. Great fun. I like earning PP when I sleep too. Well worth the price of admission. My only gripe is the lack of retina graphics.

If SE have kept the interesting stuff on FFD behind the pay wall, people who picked it up as it is apparently free and on the front page of the app store aren't very likely to shell out for the full whack, I wouldn't have though.

Unfortunately it chews the battery. This is a situation where I wish it worked on an iPod or Kindle Fire. Or I wish I had an iPad. That's minor stuff, though. I'm playing a version of TWEWY that's really fun. For once Square got a port to iOS right. I wish they would go back and give FFT similar enhancements and streamlining.

DSGamer wrote:
NormanTheIntern wrote:

I really like Phantom Brave, but there are other options for playing that now.

I also really liked Soul Nomad, I don't think there are other options for that one.

As in the NiS game? I own that and haven't played it yet.

I think im biased since it was the first nis game I've ever played, but man I love that game.

DSGamer wrote:

Unfortunately it chews the battery. This is a situation where I wish it worked on an iPod or Kindle Fire. Or I wish I had an iPad. That's minor stuff, though. I'm playing a version of TWEWY that's really fun. For once Square got a port to iOS right. I wish they would go back and give FFT similar enhancements and streamlining.

Yeah, it does take a lot out of my iPad battery too. There's a lot going on there, I suppose. It's no worse than the likes of NOVA 3, but I'll be keeping my charger handy during this one.

It actually hasn't been so battery draining for me. Do you guys have older devices?

Anyway, yeah, I really like the new content. It's so much easier to control your partner this time around.

Demyx wrote:

It actually hasn't been so battery draining for me. Do you guys have older devices?

Anyway, yeah, I really like the new content. It's so much easier to control your partner this time around.

Congrats!

SixteenBlue wrote:

Congrats!

Ooo this will be fun

NormanTheIntern wrote:
DSGamer wrote:
NormanTheIntern wrote:

I really like Phantom Brave, but there are other options for playing that now.

I also really liked Soul Nomad, I don't think there are other options for that one.

As in the NiS game? I own that and haven't played it yet.

I think im biased since it was the first nis game I've ever played, but man I love that game.

Interesting. I'll have to give it a look soonish. My first NiS game was La Pucelle Tactics and I loved it. Then played Disgaea and had trouble getting into that because I found it overly complex. I purchased Phantom Brave because I'm an SRPG fanboy, but I haven't cracked it open yet. I'll take the recommendation to heart.

Demyx wrote:

It actually hasn't been so battery draining for me. Do you guys have older devices?

Anyway, yeah, I really like the new content. It's so much easier to control your partner this time around.

I have played for about 90 mins this morning, and read comics for half an hour. Wifi on, 3G and Bluetooth off, 3rd gen iPad. I'm down to 69% from a full charge. The drain whilst reading comics is pretty negligible. The iPad is running hot, too; I can't normally feel the heat through the leather case, but I can now. It seems to be pretty resource intensive.

Hmmm. Not sure what I think about this. The battle system was the best part of the last two games.

1Up's FFXIII-3 (not what it's called!) preview

I'm okay with them changing stuff up. I think two games with that battle system was more than enough.

I really disliked the battle system. Matter of taste I guess.

spider_j wrote:

I have played for about 90 mins this morning, and read comics for half an hour. Wifi on, 3G and Bluetooth off, 3rd gen iPad. I'm down to 69% from a full charge. The drain whilst reading comics is pretty negligible. The iPad is running hot, too; I can't normally feel the heat through the leather case, but I can now. It seems to be pretty resource intensive.

I had a third gen iPad, played for several hours, and only had it down to like 70%. Not sure what the discrepancy is there.

Mr GT Chris wrote:

I really disliked the battle system. Matter of taste I guess.

I loved FFXIII's battle system but hey, new things can be fun too.

Mr GT Chris wrote:

I really disliked the battle system. Matter of taste I guess.

*blocks Mr GT Chris*

The battle system on the DS is really frenetic. I like it a lot, but I completely fail so far when trying to use both screens. It looks like the iOS version is less hectic.

Much preferred FF12 although even that wasn't perfect.

Demyx wrote:

I loved FFXIII's battle system

Me too, but it's based on a contrivance that I've never quite understood - why do commandos and ravagers have different effects on enemies? All the other classes make sense, but commando and ravager seem to be differentiated purely to add an extra layer to the combat, which isn't the best of intentions.

I mean, more of a contrivance than most JRPGs. Which is saying something!

Playing a bit of XIII-2 while trying to decide if I want to play this or Darksiders 2 next, and man. This game's bananas! The whole XIII world is just so divorced from any semblance of reality, sometimes it feels like the characters are aliens. I keep thinking to myself, "What kinda guy leaves his fiance with no clue about where he's going?"

shoptroll wrote:

...maybe VS XIII finally gets a release date?

;(

Third-hand report at andriasang that Versus XIII won't be at TGS.

Shar, a member of the Square Enix Members fan club, says that he spoke with Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto about Versus at today's Final Fantasy Gallery event. Wrote Shar at Twitter, "I spoke about a number of things with Mr. Hashimoto today. It looks like Versus won't be at Tokyo Game Show. They're first putting all their effort info FFXIV and the Lightning Saga finale."

Now that's just from a dude, so it should be taken with a grain of salt, but my instincts say it won't be there.

Edit: Square's now detailed their lineup and it won't be there. But at least Black Ops 2 will!

gravity wrote:

The battle system on the DS is really frenetic. I like it a lot, but I completely fail so far when trying to use both screens. It looks like the iOS version is less hectic.

It certainly is because your partner is a pin that's activated by tapping the enemy. There's no puck, so you build up sync by alternating Neku and his partner's attacks on the same enemy.

Blind_Evil wrote:
Demyx wrote:

I loved FFXIII's battle system

Me too, but it's based on a contrivance that I've never quite understood - why do commandos and ravagers have different effects on enemies? All the other classes make sense, but commando and ravager seem to be differentiated purely to add an extra layer to the combat, which isn't the best of intentions.

Well, commandos are the equivalent of warriors and ravagers are black mages. I thought the effects they had on the stagger bar made sense to me.

Random JRPG loathe - when the game falls all over itself to tutor me in twenty game mechanics, but neglects saving. Then I die on the second mission and have to go through all the tutorials again. My bad, I know, but still annoying.

Demyx wrote:

Well, commandos are the equivalent of warriors and ravagers are black mages.

I follow that part, but...

Demyx wrote:

I thought the effects they had on the stagger bar made sense to me.

That's the one I can't jive with - cutting me with a sword and lighting me on fire are both going to stagger me, personally. I don't shrug off lightning bolts!

I suppose it's not important anyway. As I said, I really liked the combat in both games. This might be a case where the "If reality gets in the way of fun, fun wins" mantra applies.

Blind_Evil wrote:

This might be a case where the "If reality gets in the way of fun, fun wins" mantra applies.

Pretty much. It's a totally arbitrary system to add to the tension and interactivity of the battle system.

Some possible good news: the second chapter of Trails in the Sky has hit PSN in Japan. If I recall correctly, one of XSeed's barriers to getting the game localized for the US was related to it running across multiple UMDs. This could alleviate that.

(The other issue, of course, is the text-heavy nature of the game and how much work it would take to translate. Nothing to be done about that one.)

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Some possible good news: the second chapter of Trails in the Sky has hit PSN in Japan. If I recall correctly, one of XSeed's barriers to getting the game localized for the US was related to it running across multiple UMDs. This could alleviate that.

(The other issue, of course, is the text-heavy nature of the game and how much work it would take to translate. Nothing to be done about that one.)

Ooh! I stalled out on Trails in the Sky after 30 hours or so, but that's more a function of real life intruding into my gaming time. It's been one of the best old school JRPGs I've played.

Go back to it! The journal is lovely and helps you get right back into the action where you left off.

Don't know if this has been brought up yet but
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/fx9XB.jpg)

http://www.trademarkia.com/skies-of-arcadia-76052580.html

Looks like Sega is going to do something with Skies of Arcadia again. Remake or sequel? Take your pick.

I'm way excited, I beat it on Gamecube and Dreamcast already, but I'd totally be willing to do it again. The game was just so dang charming. Anyways, thoughts?

Nicktock wrote:

I'm way excited, I beat it on Gamecube and Dreamcast already, but I'd totally be willing to do it again. The game was just so dang charming. Anyways, thoughts?

Since multi-platform HD remakes of Dreamcast games seem to be their current gig lately, an HD remake seems most likely.

The first Trails in the Sky was great so would love to get the second.

Skies of Arcadia had too many random battles so I never finished it.

I loved Skies of Arcadia, but I don't think I'd be too interested in a remake. A sequel, on the other hand...