Head for Shelter...The End is Near
RKeefe1032
RKeefe1032@aol.comI hate to be the bearer of bad tidings,as we approach the holiday season,but I can not get over how bad the last batch of RPGs from Japan have been. It is not just the Saturn. The Playstation has put out some real "dogs" and I am about ready to take up needlepoint.
I am known for being very lenient on RPGs. In fact, my friends are always amazed at the games I play even though they wouldn't use them for an ashtray. Let's start with the really bad news first. Lunar Magic School - The interim savior for all of us Lunar fans. The graphics are basically a lot like Silver Star except it took about 15 minutes to adjust my SVideo TV to cut the brightness down. You start in a town and have access to one other town and a couple of caves. Unfortunately the monsters are too strong to enter the caves.
The first thing you'll notice is there is no equip or item screen. The characters kick the monsters or use magic, that's it. Maybe things change down the line but the fights are not much fun and they pop up way, way, way, way, too often. Overall impression after, 4 hours (I really wanted to like this game) : Mediocre at best. What a disappointment!
This follows on the heals of Ronde (Atlus Strategy RPG - very average game play and graphics) and Falcom's absolutely pitiful Trilogy (Y's isn't bad but the other two are almost laughable). The Playstation fared no better the past month. Sony put out Lagnacure (action RPG) which has some of the worst polygons and slowest battle scenes ever. Then, this past week Konami (one of the great companies) releases Other Life Azure Dreams (action RPG). Needless to say, I couldn't play this game for more than 20 minutes. The theme was nice but it was one town and a big tower with slow, slow battle scenes, totally unresponsive characters. Even the top dogs are having a bad time.
I should mention two gems in this mess, Soul Hackers and Grandstream Saga, both excellent games. The graphics and game play are outstanding in both and I am going back to them after I play target practice with Magic School and Falcom. Pull!
Anyway, I am feeling pretty low about the state of RPGs (my favorite format) and have recently taken up baseball (World Series 2 - Saturn can't be beat) and the that gem of a racing game Sonic R is truly worth the admission. Let me know if we're going to need a 12 step program here on the Internet to kick the RPG habit. There is a little hope on the horizon, I have seen a couple that could bring us back. Shining Force III, Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon, Tales of Destiny, and Panzer Dragon RPG. Let's hope.