ClockworkHouse wrote:I dunno, I feel like if "it's a collaboration between Level 5 and Studio Ghibili" isn't some kind of automatic enablement, then it's a lost cause. Because seriously:
Level 5 and Studio Ghibili, means nothing to me. I had never heard of them, until I heard of this game.
Same.
EDIT: Oh ok. I've played Professor Layton.
Everywhere south of North Carolina is devoid of culture!
The game is gorgeous. What are the mechanics, typical JRPG? Don't mean to make that sound like a bad thing.
There's a demo. If I had to sum it up quickly, I'd say the combat mechanics seemed...maybe Final Fantasy 12-ish?
But if you don't know who Level 5 or Studio Ghibli are, I wouldn't put money on you having played that either, so I'd say just try the demo.
EverythingsTentative wrote:Level 5 and Studio Ghibili, means nothing to me. I had never heard of them, until I heard of this game.
Level 5 is primarily known for Dragon Quest VIII, the Professor Layton series, and I think Dark Cloud?
Studio Ghibli is the animation studio which did Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and a slew of other titles. They're basically the
DisneyPixar of Japan.
I think this is a better analogy in terms of quality.
I've never played any JRPG until last year, that probably has a lot to do with it. So I've never played any of the games listed above. I do own one Layton game, but never played it.
Does the demo spoil anything. I was avoiding coverage of this game, because I was excited about it (GWJ talking about it) and I didn't want anything spoiled. I think that back fired on me though, now I'm not sure why I was excited in the first place.
I think this is a better analogy in terms of quality.
Depends on which Disney era
Does the demo spoil anything.
A bit, I guess, because it's two mini chunks from the actual game and not some level created strictly for the demo, but I don't feel like it showed anything super major.
I actually think the demo is a poor representation of what the game has to offer as it's essentially just two boss battles with a touch of traversal tacked on. Poorly explained boss battles at that (tutorial-wise).
It was enough to easily sell me on the game, but I have a JRPG background and understand that boss battles make up about 3% of what these games have on offer.
If EverythingsTentative really wants to be sold on the game, I imagine some eggs are gonna need to be broken in the process.
Polygon has a great preview here, but it has a MAJOR story spoiler that is revealed 15 minutes into the retail game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vh_C...
IGN has reviewed it as well. It has little story spoilers, but trades off in location spoilers.
garion333 wrote:I think this is a better analogy in terms of quality.
Depends on which Disney era
Absolutely true, but Disney movies were musicals. I see more parallels to Pixar even though they work in digital animation.
/sidetrack
Yeah I finally tried the demo the last 45 min or so. Not terribly impressed. Didn't hate it though. Mostly curious still.
Annoyed that there was a 25 min timer on the demo and then it ended at a certain story point anyway. Why make me rush? At least the 2nd demo section ended. The first one I didn't finish the end of if there was one. I was in the middle of a cutscene with two guards and the timer ran out.
The world map is so gorgeous.
Level 5 did Jeanne D'Arc, too, an all-time classic here at GWJ.
Gentlemen, please do not take offense, but cinephile that I am, I cannot help but see statements like "Studio Ghibli means nothing to means nothing to me," and feel anything less than horror--it is a stunning display of ignorance of world cinema, akin to discussing modern fiction while saying "What's the deal with this Faulkner guy? He, like, a big deal or something?" I consider myself a recovering JRPG man, and will end up getting this purely due to Studio Ghibli's involvement. When others have accurately said "They're like the Disney or Pixar of Japan," do not think that means they are a large studio--they are a significant creative force on the world stage. A Studio Ghibli film, yes film, is nothing less than a mission statement on the potentials of human imagination. What does a video game from them mean remains to be seen, but they are modern artists without peer, so even the attempt will be worthwhile.
Stele, we have circled long enough I may regard you as "homie"--Netflix Spirited Away, and if you say anything less than "Enchanted," I will call you a liar.
good stuff
While I'd probably end up being more happy with another film ultimately, I'm excited to see how their try at this medium works out. I know I'll enjoy it.
Everywhere south of North Carolina is devoid of culture!
I'm from Virginia originally, so I guess you mean, "South of Maryland".
"Studio Ghibli means nothing to means nothing to me," and feel anything less than horror--it is a stunning display of ignorance of world cinema,
This made me Google Studio Ghibli. Only thing in the Wiki I have heard of is Ponyo (never saw it). I'm ignorant.
While I'd probably end up being more happy with another film ultimately, I'm excited to see how their try at this medium works out. I know I'll enjoy it.
Exactly.
This made me Google Studio Ghibli. Only thing in the Wiki I have heard of is Ponyo (never saw it). I'm ignorant.
I would beg beg you not to take that as an insult, but rather as an admonition to check out the works of Hayao Miyazaki, starting with Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, moving on from there. When I say "He is among the top three film-makers in the world along with Martin Scorsese and Zhang Yimou," that is not a terribly controversial statement.
I didn't take offense. I'm agreeing with you. I am completely ignorant in regards to anything created by this studio. There's no shame in that.
Do they have anything on Netflix? I searched for Spirited Away, to no avail.
Yeah, as far as Miyazaki goes, it's probably him, Kurosawa, and maybe Yasujiro Ozu that are the big directors that influenced Japanese cinema (and world cinema to a degree, especially Kurosawa). At any rate, in my view, those are the people that I would bow down to in admiration.
I didn't take offense. I'm agreeing with you. I am completely ignorant in regards to anything created by this studio. There's no shame in that.
Do they have anything on Netflix? I searched for Spirited Away, to no avail.
Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke are the best ones to start with probably. They are distributed by Disney in the US, so Netflix might not have or get them. Hopefully, you could rent the discs via Netflix. I think both of those might even be on Blu-ray now. While the English dubs are basically the best you could ever do a dub, the original Japanese language tracks with subtitles will always be ideal.
Porco Rosso is also freaking awesome. Eek.. they're all just so damn fantastic. *tear*
Yeah, as far as Miyazaki goes, it's probably him, Kurosawa, and maybe Yasujiro Ozu that are the big directors that influenced Japanese cinema (and world cinema to a degree, especially Kurosawa). At any rate, in my view, those are the people that I would bow down to in admiration.
I dunno, man, Miyazaki has certainly done more, but Grave of the Fireflies is what takes Ghibli past a Disney or a Pixar in that it's the kind of subject matter the latter 2 haven't tried for.
Stele, we have circled long enough I may regard you as "homie"--Netflix Spirited Away, and if you say anything less than "Enchanted," I will call you a liar.
Oh that? I've heard of that, definitely had some friends that watched it. And now that I read some other posts, I've heard of Princess Mononoke too. Just never seen them.
Just because someone hangs out in the JRPG thread and follows it to JRPG game threads doesn't mean they're an anime expert.
tuffalobuffalo wrote:Yeah, as far as Miyazaki goes, it's probably him, Kurosawa, and maybe Yasujiro Ozu that are the big directors that influenced Japanese cinema (and world cinema to a degree, especially Kurosawa). At any rate, in my view, those are the people that I would bow down to in admiration.
I dunno, man, Miyazaki has certainly done more, but Grave of the Fireflies is what takes Ghibli past a Disney or a Pixar in that it's the kind of subject matter the latter 2 haven't tried for.
Yeah, Grave of the Fireflies trumps any movie ever made emotionally.
Edit: It's really hard to rank things. There are so many great works out there.
Gentlemen, please do not take offense, but cinephile that I am, I cannot help but see statements like "Studio Ghibli means nothing to means nothing to me," and feel anything less than horror--it is a stunning display of ignorance of world cinema, akin to discussing modern fiction while saying "What's the deal with this Faulkner guy? He, like, a big deal or something?" I consider myself a recovering JRPG man, and will end up getting this purely due to Studio Ghibli's involvement. When others have accurately said "They're like the Disney or Pixar of Japan," do not think that means they are a large studio--they are a significant creative force on the world stage. A Studio Ghibli film, yes film, is nothing less than a mission statement on the potentials of human imagination. What does a video game from them mean remains to be seen, but they are modern artists without peer, so even the attempt will be worthwhile.
#1 - Before the Ninostarter I barely knew who Studio Ghibli is and I see quite a lot of movies. I've just somehow missed that part. I've been rectifying it since then after really liking Arrietty. I don't think it's a shame to be ignorant of Studio Ghibli. Especially since ignorant isn't necessarily a pejorative. It just means you don't know. I didn't know, now I do and I like what I've seen so far. But here in the west it's not hard to miss what they do. Especially if you don't love animation outside of Pixar.
#2 - Saying they're the "Pixar of Japan" misses the fact that Pixar also did Cars and Cars 2.
And Ghibli did "My Neighbors the Yamadas" and "Whisper of the Heart".
If you want something closer to the tone of this game, I would probably watch Totoro or Ponyo. That would be my suggestion.
The other films are awesome (Porco Rosso is probably my favorite just for sheer oddness of setting) but they are more adult. This story has that very young child feel to it.
"What's the deal with this Faulkner guy? He, like, a big deal or something?"
The king of run-on-sentences that stretch for an entire page or more? I'm not bitter at all about having to read Intruder in the Dust in High School. Nope, not at all.
Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke are the best ones to start with probably. They are distributed by Disney in the US, so Netflix might not have or get them.
Netflix has a pretty extensive set of Ghibli available for DVD. That's how I watched them a couple years ago.
Netflix has a pretty extensive set of Ghibli available for DVD. That's how I watched them a couple years ago.
*shakes fists angrily about*
I was thinking about doing a little Ghibli marathon this weekend, but just figured out the movies are DVD only. Boooo!
Yeah, hopefully with the new Disney-Netflix agreement that'll change soon.
Level 5 did Jeanne D'Arc, too, an all-time classic here at GWJ.
Yup. That's what perked my ears initially on this project.
Jd'A is far and away my favorite Level 5 joint and further, my all-time favorite SRPG.
tuffalobuffalo wrote:Yeah, as far as Miyazaki goes, it's probably him, Kurosawa, and maybe Yasujiro Ozu that are the big directors that influenced Japanese cinema (and world cinema to a degree, especially Kurosawa). At any rate, in my view, those are the people that I would bow down to in admiration.
I dunno, man, Miyazaki has certainly done more, but Grave of the Fireflies is what takes Ghibli past a Disney or a Pixar in that it's the kind of subject matter the latter 2 haven't tried for.
No sh*t. That movie was soulwrenching.
I strongly, strongly recommend it for everyone, but with the caveat that you need to not be in a dark place in your life emotionally when you do.
*Edit: Let me put it this way: I felt physically ill by the time the movie was done, and it is not a violent or gory film.
OK this looks amazing. Might be the first JRPG I buy since FF10.
Any idea if it's going to be avail. for digital download on PSN?
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