If you can't slam with the best (aka RPG Thread XVIII), then jam with the rest!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Playing Grace and Xillia makes me want to play other Tales games. Since Abyss is on the 3DS I'll pick it up eventually. I heard so much about Vesperia over the years I want to play it so bad but I don't have a 360. I can't wait for Xillia 2 next year and hopefully the Vita Tales of games come out to the US as well.
I seriously hope they bring over the Vita games. Portables Tales would be totally <3. Hopefully the Vita does well this holiday season. The only reason they aren't bringing 'em over is because of how poorly the Vita is selling over here.

Vesperia was a damn good game. Troy Baker made it so much better, too.

Been dying a lot in the sixth maze/stratum in EO4 tonight. Now this is the Etrian Odyssey I remember!

That bit of grindiness aside, I think it's time for me to start something new, but I'm not sure what yet. Strongly considering Pokemon Black 2, though.
I tried EO4 but didn't like it much. After looking into the new one, I decided to reserve it. I like having the option of "classic" mode or "story" mode. I personally play games for their story which is primarily the reason I got turned off by EO4. :l

I never really saw it as useful unless you were getting backed into a wall or something.

Do you guys play in manual mode or semi-auto?
Semi all the way!

 
Glad to see I'm not the only fan of semi-auto.  There's something natural and fluid about that design that I love, and manual just feels clunky to me (at least for the melee-weapon characters, which is all I've ever used).

 
I think I've only played a couple of the Tales games back on the :ps2: if the ones for the :ps3: ever drop below $20, I might pick them up.

I will definately be getting Persona 4 Golden now that I have the Vita (even though I didnt like the social aspect of P3 much). Although that's probably another sub $20 drop wait for me.

Have a few PSP RPGs to finish off first, we'll see how they look on the Vita.

 
Manual and on the hardest difficulty.

I guess I'm just more of a gamer than you guys...
Same, manual/chaos...

Edit: Once you get enough CC, using a bit of CC to dash helps quite a bit.

Edit2: Also, Sophie has circular throwing move that stuns a lot of mobs frequenty. Once you move to the right position, you can spam it like an easy button for wins. Hard to position her right without manual.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Manual also made spell casting easier. No running into some default range and you can spam out some regular attacks that may or may not hit (because you're not running into default range) to get the spell out faster.

It doesn't make that much of a difference for melee characters, except a few arts that can hit a bit further out than from what the AI thinks it can. Plus some exact position stuff like elessar was talking about.

I could see why people would want to go semi, but I would feel like I'd lose out on too much by doing so, especially on the higher difficulties.

also my dick is longer
Thanks for reminding me.

 
Actually I liked Symphonia and Vesperia's combat, Xillia seems a little too overcomplicated.

Either way I remember playing Symphonia starting on Hard and I felt like bosses one shot me so I always played Tales on normal after that.

 
When Tales combat is good, it can be quite satisfying, but it's one of those rare JRPG series that I mainly play for the stories and characters. If I want to have a good time fighting things, story or no, I play dungeon crawlers.

 
I don't normally consider dungeon crawlers to be very good "fighting" games.  The "action" is all die rolls and number crunching.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't normally consider dungeon crawlers to be very good "fighting" games. The "action" is all die rolls and number crunching.
And Tales combat is button mashy. What's your point?

Either way, there's few problems that can't be solved through grinding.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
And Tales combat is button mashy. What's your point?

Either way, there's few problems that can't be solved through grinding.

No, Tales combat is not button mashy, at least not in Graces or Xillia. You can, of course, turn any action game into a button masher, if you want to. I don't play dungeon crawlers for the "fighting" since they are more stat battles and random outcomes. I thought that point was crystal clear. In reference to your post, I just thought it was an interesting comment. I play dungeon crawlers for the level up "ding" and the loots and the explorations, definitely not for the fighting itself.

You misunderstand if you think I'm poo-pooing dungeon crawlers or if you believe I am saying that they are not fun.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Manual also made spell casting easier. No running into some default range and you can spam out some regular attacks that may or may not hit (because you're not running into default range) to get the spell out faster.

It doesn't make that much of a difference for melee characters, except a few arts that can hit a bit further out than from what the AI thinks it can. Plus some exact position stuff like elessar was talking about.

I could see why people would want to go semi, but I would feel like I'd lose out on too much by doing so, especially on the higher difficulties.
I can definitely see how manual would be good for spellcasters. For melee though, I've never felt like I was losing out on anything with semi. Just feels a little more fluid to control since it's sometimes hard to face the right direction in manual. With that said, Tales combat always makes me wish I was playing a fighting game or at least something with a bit more depth. Graces was better than the others though.

Oh and my favorite part of the games is the story/characters/animation because they are hilarious.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Started Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy yesterday. It's pretty unique, and feels more like a top-tier indie game than a JRPG (I never played the original). It's been great to play in short bursts.

I also installed Cladun x2 and Ys Origins. Hope to be done with all, or nearly all, of my Steam JRPGs by the end of the year.

No, Tales combat is not button mashy, at least not in Graces or Xillia. You can, of course, turn any action game into a button masher, if you want to. I don't play dungeon crawlers for the "fighting" since they are more stat battles and random outcomes. I thought that point was crystal clear. In reference to your post, I just thought it was an interesting comment. I play dungeon crawlers for the level up "ding" and the loots and the explorations, definitely not for the fighting itself.

You misunderstand if you think I'm poo-pooing dungeon crawlers or if you believe I am saying that they are not fun.
I think part of the problem here is that we have very different ideas of what a "dungeon crawler" is. To me, they're mainly just RPGs with a large emphasis placed on massive and/or intricate dungeons, whereas you seem to be narrowing them down into roguelikes/likes and Diablo clones (correct me if I'm wrong). Some of the games I personally classify as dungeon crawlers are no more random or loot-filled than your average Tales, and one of them (Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter) has the best turn-based battle system I've ever seen in any non-tactical JRPG.

As for Graces and Xillia, I haven't played them yet, but previous-gen Tales battle systems didn't do much for me, and I found that the specific games' gimmicks were mostly useless. If they really do have improved battle systems that require more than just spamming hotkeyed attacks and healing items, then I look forward to playing them.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
My friend asked me if I finished ffxiii-2, so for giggles I threw it in and my last save was feb last year. I was still at the very beginning. I played 10 min and then stopped. :p
 
Started Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy yesterday. It's pretty unique, and feels more like a top-tier indie game than a JRPG (I never played the original). It's been great to play in short bursts.
Are you playing with the new art style or the 8-bit stuff?

I thought the new style was hideous. Plus, most of the modes can only be played in 8-bit.

My friend asked me if I finished ffxiii-2, so for giggles I threw it in and my last save was feb last year. I was still at the very beginning. I played 10 min and then stopped. :p
I played for like 20 mins.

Maybe even 30.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Doesn't matter if its a rogue like or pokemon or FF or Etrian. I prefer battle systems with more user control over what is actually going on rather than just selecting an option and watching the computer determine the outcome.

But I enjoy all games regardless.
 
Are you playing with the new art style or the 8-bit stuff?

I thought the new style was hideous. Plus, most of the modes can only be played in 8-bit.
New style, though that's interesting about the retro style. Might change things up a bit later.

Doesn't matter if its a rogue like or pokemon or FF or Etrian. I prefer action RPG battle systems where the illusion of control seems greater to me rather than turn-based RPG battle systems where it seems like it doesn't.

But I enjoy all games regardless.
FTFY :razz:

You're still "selecting an option and watching the computer determine the outcome" in Tales games; you're just doing so with a whole different style of RPG gameplay.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
No, if you don't move your character around and complete actions, you'll lose.  The battle system in Xillia and Graces are not "illusions" of control--they are designed to give the user more control than turn-based systems.   The illusion of control is more prevalent in turn-based games because you are given the control of selecting the options of the individual characters, however, you aren't actually participating in any of the outcomes at all.  To say there is no difference between "real-time" battle systems and turn-based battle systems is false.

Any game is an illusion of action and participation, though, if you want to go that route.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
New style, though that's interesting about the retro style. Might change things up a bit later.


FTFY :razz:

You're still "selecting an option and watching the computer determine the outcome" in Tales games; you're just doing so with a whole different style of RPG gameplay.
Yea... no. Go play Graces before you say more. Haven't played Xillia yet cause of FFXIV, but in Graces, you can dodge everything with reaction (or deflect some ranged attacks, etc). It's not a system where you randomly get hit cause your dodge rate is 95%. Obviously, you're assuming it has combat like other RPGs similar, but it doesn't. The closest to Graces would be Grandia 2.

 
Damn, Xillia suddenly got hard. That mine shaft where you have to find the spirit fossil, holy crap.

Edit: Ah, nevermind, I accidentally went into this entrance that had way harder enemies...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Damn, Xillia suddenly got hard. That mine shaft where you have to find the spirit fossil, holy crap.

Edit: Ah, nevermind, I accidentally went into this entrance that had way harder enemies...
I ended up grinding about 10-15 levels from that spot. The "gentlemen" give about 1500 base exp for a group of 3.

 
The closest to Graces would be Grandia 2.
Interesting. Grandia 2's system was wonderful, so I'll hold you to that :razz:

Unfortunately, I don't have a PS3 yet, plus I'm also a little bit behind on my Tales games, so I won't be playing Graces for awhile.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Damn, Xillia suddenly got hard. That mine shaft where you have to find the spirit fossil, holy crap.

Edit: Ah, nevermind, I accidentally went into this entrance that had way harder enemies...
Man If you think that's hard wait till you get further in the game.

That Muzet boss battle was kicking my ass. It took me 10 times to beat her.

 
I haven't had to really grind or change difficulties to battle in Xillia yet, but now you guys are making me scurred.  >_<

 
I'm about 50 hours in Xillia and I haven't died once. I'm not grinding on purpose but the battle system is so fun I often fight for no reason.

What characters in Xillia do you guys use the most? I haven't used Elize but I switch it up every couple hours. Alvin is probably my favorite to use.

 
I'm about 50 hours in Xillia and I haven't died once. I'm not grinding on purpose but the battle system is so fun I often fight for no reason.

What characters in Xillia do you guys use the most? I haven't used Elize but I switch it up every couple hours. Alvin is probably my favorite to use.
I switched off between Jude, Milla, and Alvin. I think i enjoyed Alvin the most.

 
since the day it came out I've literally played no other game other than SMT4.

2 months and 60 long hours, and the game just locked me into the Law path.

:cry:

oh well... here's to another 60 hours in New Game +

lol

 
I switched off between Jude, Milla, and Alvin. I think i enjoyed Alvin the most.
Once you get the ability to stock up 2 or 3 charged attacks Alvin can do some badass stuff. Leia's abilities are somewhat underdeveloped compared to the rest of the melee attackers. She's a healer first, fighter second, but I still use her every now and then just to mix it up. Rowen is fun at times if you're fighting against opponents who have a weakness to his magic. For a simple starter spell his Fireball is extremely powerful. And I can't complain about Jude and Milla, both are solid fighters. Milla is more suited for aerial combos, while Jude is ground based. Again I haven't used Elize at all. She's a fine character but similar to other Tales games the magic users are better handled by the A.I.

 
since the day it came out I've literally played no other game other than SMT4.

2 months and 60 long hours, and the game just locked me into the Law path.

:cry:

oh well... here's to another 60 hours in New Game +

lol
Whomp whomp. Glad you're digging it though. I want to get back to it, but getting that game after a Persona 3 and 4 marathon wasn't a good call. I'm dungeon-crawled out for a while.

 
Finished two and a half worlds in Kingdom Hearts 3D. The dropping/switching between characters is getting annoying though. I know you can slow down the drop rate with potions, but 'm a hoarder.

 
So far I only played as Milla and Jude. I love both of their combat styles but I love Jude's the most. I just always stick with Milla. I only switch to Jude if it's a boss that I can't beat when using Milla. To me, Leia and Rowen are only good for their linked arts. Leia and Milla can do some damage when they're linked together. Rowen is good for those big magical attacks that can take out everyone on the field. I might try out Alvin later. I can't wait to play Jude's part of the story but I'm ready to jump into GTA 5.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Status
Not open for further replies.
bread's done
Back
Top