I'll assume you are talking about the missing child case?
While it was a good segment (outside of the completely unbelievable child stuff. Someone please beat that kids butt) that doesn't help zero stand on its own.
And personally I just didn't find it believable/took it at face value for some of it. Especially the parts about loans. You don't just magically pay off loans.
#36844
Cjenvy I'm ready for you awd this time I'm wearing pants
Posted 01 June 2023 - 02:58 PM
I'll probably get to Azure sometime next year as I need a break from series to prevent burnout. But at least zero is thus far a more enjoyable experience than cs1 was somewhat. As the plot at least wasn't as much filler quest crap and backloaded.
It kinda felt like they leaned in on returning characters Joshua Estelle and Renne though. But I get it since they needed to wrap up their stuff. But much like cs I didn't feel like they developed the cast past they are x trope. callbacks to earlier events they should have saved for Azure as they are too early to be self references.
It kinda felt like they leaned in on returning characters Joshua Estelle and Renne though. But I get it since they needed to wrap up their stuff. But much like cs I didn't feel like they developed the cast past they are x trope. callbacks to earlier events they should have saved for Azure as they are too early to be self references.
#36847
Irreducibly Complex
Posted 02 June 2023 - 05:09 PM
I haven’t opened the Loop8 that Target delivered early, but reviews are coming out now and they are not good. May just return it.
I appreciate the post because I'm in the exact same situation. Disappointing - I thought this one was projecting to be solid.
#36849
CAG Veteran
Posted 02 June 2023 - 08:19 PM
Since I did like the demo for Bravely Default II (Switch)... I decided to use my last $5 cert (as I don't have their CC and so they cashed out my remaining points) for it. It's $30.99 on clearance and it qualifies for free shipping.. Ended up $28.59 after tax which it's kind of hard to get one for that cheap even on ebay. I'm sure there will probably be a better sale later as other stores still have it but so far this is about as cheap as it's been (especially with using a $5 cert) other than for a short period at gamestop.
https://www.bestbuy....p?skuId=6352135
#36851
CAGiversary!
Posted 03 June 2023 - 08:10 PM
When my Loop 8 is delivered I can give a mini review after an hour or two of play if you all want it. I'm about to start playing Monster Menu myself, just getting it as I forgot to pre-order it. I love these rogue whatever games, and will give impressions as well. There is quite a lot of new visual novel announcements I'll post, so look forward to that.
From seeing impressions/reviews from those who got to play Loop 8 early I can tell this game looks like one of those life simulation games I talk about like Summer Memories, which I previously gave a mini review. This looks way, way, way, way more grindy. I'm used to those type of games playing probably 3-5 recently. Frankly it looks like a developers first game and was very likely overhyped. I'll let people know, because it's very likely to be poopy. What also looks like pure poop is how janky the guy moves. I've played some janky life sims and got through them in a few hours, but those are doujin games, and likely only made by a small team of developers. Just my two cents.
- Covnam likes this
#36855
Irreducibly Complex
Posted 04 June 2023 - 07:39 PM
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES - nirvanA Initiative COLLECTOR'S EDITION for PlayStation 4 is $59.99 at Amazon. That is painful to see, I paid $119.99 for it.
I guess they never sold the all the extras they made after the cancellation wave at release. I think I paid $75 for the Xbox CE. It's a decent CE if you like the flourecent shrimp statue. Sadly I found the writing to be significantly inferior to that of the first game.
#36856
DontReadThis.
Posted 04 June 2023 - 07:39 PM
Wait until you find out how many replays are necessary...
... without the ability to skip previously read dialogue.
Yeah, for a game like this that is just bonkers. I'm wondering if they'll patch anything in to address it. In the meantime, I will happily wait/not buy for msrp.
#36857
Posted 04 June 2023 - 08:04 PM
Wait until you find out how many replays are necessary...
... without the ability to skip previously read dialogue.
Yeah that is what soured me on it. Is there any VN that doesn’t allow you to skip previously read dialog? That is a necessity.
I returned my copy. I’m sure it’ll end up discounted down the line because of the reviews,
#36859
Posted 04 June 2023 - 08:50 PM
Wow, a lot of stuff dropped. I haven't paid much attention but
Star Ocean: The Divine Force - $29.97
I bought all those at launch with Target's B2G1, so it doesn't sting too much. Yet.
Guess these aren't really that great of deals.
#36860
Irreducibly Complex
Posted 04 June 2023 - 10:16 PM
Wow, a lot of stuff dropped. I haven't paid much attention but
Soul Hackers 2 - $27.85
Star Ocean: The Divine Force - $29.97
Valkyrie Elysium - $29.99
I bought all those at launch with Target's B2G1, so it doesn't sting too much. Yet.
Guess these aren't really that great of deals.
Theyre also mostly b1g1 during GS Pro Weak. But free shipping requires $80 now. The SE titles will all inevitably be $20, so might just wait further.
From what I played of the first game, the dialog was already ass.
There's actually a well written plotline that serves as a backbone in the first game. The second game is mostly pointless nonsense. Just more innuendo and no backbone behind that same kind of dialogue to hold it up.
#36862
Cjenvy I'm ready for you awd this time I'm wearing pants
Posted 05 June 2023 - 12:42 AM
Wow, a lot of stuff dropped. I haven't paid much attention but
Star Ocean: The Divine Force - $29.97
I bought all those at launch with Target's B2G1, so it doesn't sting too much. Yet.
Guess these aren't really that great of deals.
Yeah soul hackers 2 already dropped a while back and the rest as well. I think so6 has been cheaper than that though as I remember it being 25.
#36863
Bang, bang... pew...
Posted 05 June 2023 - 01:19 PM
Wow, a lot of stuff dropped. I haven't paid much attention but
Star Ocean: The Divine Force - $29.97
I bought all those at launch with Target's B2G1, so it doesn't sting too much. Yet.
Guess these aren't really that great of deals.
Was wondering if was gonna pick anything up and SO and Valkyrie seem like good options. Local store has like 5+ copies of each... can't help but wonder if these are gonna go on clearance.
#36864
CAGiversary!
Posted 06 June 2023 - 05:52 PM
Monster Menu mini review after probably 10 hours...maybe more. TLDR I'm thinking of dropping it.
I'll probably be honest and say this is one of the worst NISA games they have released. It's not pure terrible, but it has a weird gameplay loop.
First of all the gameplay consists of going around dungeons a level at a time getting ingredients, running into monsters getting into mini turn based strategy fights and surviving till the next floor where you can craft and must feed your party. Feeding the party is where most of the action is as it's how you get your passive skills and buffs and how you get hydration/calories to keep going. This is a relatively neat system, but very very grindy and has so many moves to craft some things. You keep going and every 10 levels there is a boss that hopefully you can beat. When your main character dies your party starts at level 1 again keeping some stuff (equipment, some items, class/weapon skills). It is a true rogue formula.
First of all this is massively grindy with very little actual story. The graphics are average at best and navigating menus and the level can be annoying. The battles themselves are not exciting at all and the endless feeding gets old quickly. I've gotten to level 30 and I know there is a lot more than that. It gets old pretty quickly and frankly is just not very exciting to play.
I've given it chances and died quite a few times now. Every now and then you enter an overrun monster level that usually equals defeat or barely winning. Since you die to level 1, it's better to start from level 1, but it's so slow and grindy, and you can still die to a cheap shot from a powerful monster making it all a waste of time. That's the main thing. It feels like a massively grindy waste of time. I see the good parts, but frankly I'm about to tap out. This isn't a fun dungeon crawl like Etrian Odyssey that keeps you going with fun level ups and all. It's more bland than that, and frankly feels unpolished. It's not a terrible game, but I would recommend you check out videos before buying, as it's likely going to my sell pile. A disappointment for sure. 5.5/10
#36865
Knight of the Word
Posted 06 June 2023 - 07:57 PM
I gave up on Monster Menu after finishing the tenth level and Googling to confirm that the story was nonexistent. The initial premise was interesting, but they put zero effort into following up with any substance whatsoever. Glad I rented it.
#36866
CAGiversary!
Posted 06 June 2023 - 08:15 PM
I gave up on Monster Menu after finishing the tenth level and Googling to confirm that the story was nonexistent. The initial premise was interesting, but they put zero effort into following up with any substance whatsoever. Glad I rented it.
It's interesting because so many reviewers gave it 7+/10 saying stuff like turn your mind off gameplay and very satisfying and addictive. I really don't think the game is passive enough to turn your brain off, and it can be addictive. Also didn't help I just choose all the women characters so I ended up with a weird set of fighters/off fighters. I actually love myself a dungeon crawl, but it has to lead to awesome bosses, fun loot and probably cool skills. Even the animations feel unfinished and cheap like the throwing up animation. I wish I had rented it, but it is what it is. It's much worse to waste time on something you don't enjoy than just say it wasn't for you after trying and move on.
- nightc1 and TheSupremeForce like this
#36868
Cjenvy I'm ready for you awd this time I'm wearing pants
Posted 08 June 2023 - 01:14 PM
Finished trails from zero. Overall not a bad game but they really didn't do much with the cast, and holding the murder plot hostage to a second game and it supposedly being in a missable sidequest chain is just terrible. Definitely someone on the team is a sadist.
#36869
CAG Veteran
Posted 08 June 2023 - 01:23 PM
Picked up a few Switch games on sale over at Bestbuy.com ...
Harvestella ($35), Octopath 2 ($45), & Tactics Ogre ($30).
So that's 5 games so far for the year and the family version of NSO. The other two games are Zelda TotK and Bravely Default 2 (which should arrive today).
Monster Menu mini review after probably 10 hours...maybe more. TLDR I'm thinking of dropping it.
I appreciate you taking one for the team. I had been eyeing this one as maybe a budget buy if a deal popped up but it sounds like an easy avoid.
- BoxPizzaBox likes this
#36870
Irreducibly Complex
Posted 08 June 2023 - 02:09 PM
it supposedly being in a missable sidequest chain is just terrible.
I'd eschew spoilers as much as possible. That part of Azure isn't easily missable, especially if you're one to do all quests available. And the game eventually tells you no matter what, but you can unlock the answers earlier on your own by means of those missable scenes if you do diligent detectivework.
On one hand, I agree with this sentiment and it's part of the reason I say Zero isn't an amazing standalone experience compared to the best Trails games. But on the other hand, that's at least partially the point behind the character of Lloyd Bannings. He doesn't directly & immediately get all the answers/results/success but through all the struggle (theme: overcoming barriers) he ends up with unexpected, new things to care about & realizes what's most important to him.
