Comments on: News Roundup #003

By: SiliconNooB

SiliconNooB — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:07:10 +0000

Well then, I know what you need to play for Xenosaga week! The second disc sucks pretty hard, but the first one’s amazing (though you do need to make do with a Sony translation).

By: Riddles

Riddles — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:36:12 +0000

Noob, if there’s one thing I pity you for, it’s the fact that you only received Episode II. It is the worst entry in the series, and frankly impossible to enjoy if you didn’t love the first one.

And, uh, no. I haven’t played Xenogears yet. I DID loan it to my brothers, and they said it was amazing and I needed to play it. I’ve yet to take their advice.

By: Ethos

Ethos — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:57:07 +0000

Yup, looks like KH:DN will have a slow start no matter what. Let’s hope the words give it SOME oomph at least.

And no, SN, Twilight doesn’t have enough power to ruin anything for me.

By: SiliconNooB

SiliconNooB — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:07:23 +0000

Actually the best way I can contrast the difference in design between the two games is:

KHII- Started off slow, and didn’t really give you access to the games core game mechanics, yet it did offer you very diverse gameplay. Solving the mystery of your stolen words, playing mini-games to earn cash to get to the beach, solving the seven mysteries of Twilight Town, participating in a struggle tournament and exploreing Namine’s mansion. I enjoyed doing all of those things. Moreover you had access to most of Twilight Town at any one given time.

KH:DS- You read a tutorial, run up to the guy who gives the missions, run forward, kill the moster, watch a cut-scene, rinse and repeat x20. It’s the same thing over and over, to the extent that I was able to complete the Twilight Town segment without reference to a translation FAQ because every mission was the same. On top of this superfluous areas of Twilight Town are sealed off, giving the game a stripped down feel, and making the player painfully aware that they’re playing the handheld spin-off rather than the fully featured console title.

-Hey does anyone else think that Twilight has ruined Twilight Town?

By: SiliconNooB

SiliconNooB — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:25:58 +0000

-KH:DS has tons of dialogue at the start which will no doubt cushion the impact, but from a design standpoint it is pure fail.

-Yep they only brought over Xenosaga II *slap*. If you come accross any European or Australian gamers who violently dislike the series, now you know why. Untill I can afford a PC powerfull enough to emulate PS2 games, I won’t be able to play the first or third installments.

By: DarthGibblet

DarthGibblet — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:13:41 +0000

- Yeah, I think “Story: Yay; Gameplay: OHGODWHY” about sums up KH2’s opening, but if KH:3.14159*r^2 is similar without the story, I shudder to think about it.

- Posting speculation as fact is how you get the scoops first!

- SN, are you saying that didn’t do a PAL verison of Xenosaga 1, but then they brought over Xenosaga 2? Who the devil thought that was a good idea? Go slap them for me.

By: SiliconNooB

SiliconNooB — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:12:03 +0000

I was actually sad when the game shifted focus to Sora, Roxas just resonated so much more for me, hence my interest in KH:DS despite it’s lackluster opening and stupid name. Also I can’t believe the quality of graphics on display here, it is the PS2 game shrunk down and slightly pixilated.

By: Ethos

Ethos — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:02:30 +0000

I didn’t see your second post when I was making my post, SN, but it looks like we agree on KHII’s beginning in some ways. I don’t dread it at all, and I think it serves a good build up until we finally see Sora and the logo comes up and I’m like “HOLY CRAP, THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING”
Then I go into fanboy spasms.

By: Ethos

Ethos — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:59:46 +0000

@SN – Oh they hate Final Fantasy too at IGN! They just usually get the one guy who doesn’t to review them. And they gave ToV a surprisingly high school
-Yeah, we knew it was speculation, I guess we just didn’t drive the point home.

Re: Kingdom Hearts: Dumb Name – SN’s impressions seem to be lining up with Bozon’s. And yeah, Darth. The “training” was epic in KH2, but I liked it pacing-wise in terms of story. In terms of gameplay: uuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

@Andogo – lol, I think you did tell me that. I didn’t specify you were a fan of the games! You just have soundtracks.

By: SiliconNooB

SiliconNooB — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:54:46 +0000

-@DG- No, KH:DS is much, much worse. KHII as a slow start, but it’s also a good start, carefully thought through and designed. KHII’s start was actually my favourite part of the game (the seven wonders of Twilight Town FTW). KH:DS by comparison has about 20 missions at the start where all you have to do is run forward for a few screens and fight some enemies. All the enterences and exits of Twilight Town are blocked off by force feilds, except for those that you need to use to get where your going. Much, much worse than KHII. Agrabagh seems much better, but I’ve only touched the first mission.

-I’ve played through Xenosaga II in it’s entirety, and can honestly say that I wholly regret subjecting myself to that dank experience. Sadly PAL countries only got the bad entry in the series.

@Oliver- Boo.

@Ethos- Yay.

(For symmetry^)