They are currently working hard to make a publisher demo so that they may get funding to make the full game.
It might look like MW in the screens but they are going to be giving it a more linear feel but also a tighter story. The battle system is likely to get elements from action games as well in order to avoid being boring like in MW.[/quote]
That game does look quite nice graphically, and it sounds good that it’s an RPG with an action orientated battle system. I guess we’ll have to wait and see how it turns out. I’ll keep my eye on this one.
The technical forums look quite interesting too, like you said.
What did you think of Skies of Arcadia’s story, Abadd? I found that, at least character-wise, those characters were some of the best I’ve yet seen a video game. A really well concieved game IMO.
[quote=“Solo Wing Dragon”]
What did you think of Skies of Arcadia’s story, Abadd? I found that, at least character-wise, those characters were some of the best I’ve yet seen a video game. A really well concieved game IMO.[/quote]
Some spoliers ahead if you haven’t played Skies:
Yeah ok, I’m not Abadd but i thought i’d give my 2 cents on SoA’s story. I actually found the the story to be average at best (ok maybe a little better). When it came down to it the game was just another “collect a bunch of elemental objects to save the world.” Though in Skies case i believe you were destroying the elemental monsters (i forget its been awhile). As for the characters i did enjoy the main character and most of his crew though i thought they were standard rpg fair, and not more memorable like Edge and Azel or Ashley Riot from Vagrant Story (Great RPG by the way).
I think where SoA excelled was in the beautiful world and true sense of exploration that it gave you. That was my favorite part of the game. I actually felt like an explorer. Plus i really love the fact that you were a pirate flying an airship. I absolutely love airships. The part where you are stranded on the island was absolutely genius. That is my absolute favorite part of the entire game. That was just way too cool.
Okay, removing myself from any possible sentimental feelings I have towards the story, here’s my opinion:
Aitrus is right: it’s a very generic fantasy story. It has archetypal characters, typical settings, and a over-used theme for the story.
However, where it succeeds is injecting each of those elements with a personality that is rarely seen in videogames today. Each character is given a touchingly humanistic backstory, and many of the “villains” are noble in their own right.
It was intentionally traditional in its story, because it was an homage to old school RPGs, and that was both its boon and one of its fatal flaws (in terms of character designs and gameplay).
But, it had all the trappings of an Indiana Jones movie, or Pirates of the Caribbean. It was epic, exciting, and had very humorous and memorable characters who whisked you away to a magical world.
Oh, and the English writing was soooooooooo daaaaaaaamn good
[quote=“Abadd”]Okay, removing myself from any possible sentimental feelings I have towards the story, here’s my opinion:
Aitrus is right: it’s a very generic fantasy story. It has archetypal characters, typical settings, and a over-used theme for the story.
However, where it succeeds is injecting each of those elements with a personality that is rarely seen in videogames today. Each character is given a touchingly humanistic backstory, and many of the “villains” are noble in their own right.[/quote]
I do agree about adding those touches of personality to the characters. Who was that Imperial General in skies who realized his wrongs and gave his life (i think) at the imperial base to allow you to escape. I really liked that character. We’ve seen the whole redemption thing a million times, but that guy was a likeable character which added so much more.
The pirate who is in search of the whale is a great character as well. I really enjoyed how that part of the story ended - with the whale lying their and the pirate coming to terms with his inner troubles. Plus i enjoyed the psuedo-moby dick aspect of that was well.
Gregorio is the name of the Admiral, and Drachma is the fisherman. The original name of Rhaknam (the whale) was “Mobius,” but the writers ehem felt that the name was too close to Moby. The parallels would be obvious, so there was no need to beat it into the audience’s collective head with a stick.
My favorite moment? SPOILER ALERT When Drachma pulled out the box with the feather and told Vyse how his ship got its name. That nearly made me cry (especially when you read his ending paragraph during the credits…)
[quote=“Abadd”]Gregorio is the name of the Admiral, and Drachma is the fisherman. The original name of Rhaknam (the whale) was “Mobius,” but the writers ehem felt that the name was too close to Moby. The parallels would be obvious, so there was no need to beat it into the audience’s collective head with a stick.
My favorite moment? SPOILER ALERT When Drachma pulled out the box with the feather and told Vyse how his ship got its name. That nearly made me cry (especially when you read his ending paragraph during the credits…)[/quote]
Rhaknam is also a reference to a great whale i believe. I forget where i read it. I believe they took the name Rhaknam from another name like Rhaknar or something like that. Meh, im going to try and find out.
Actually, I believe the name Rhaknam was made up. Well, sorta. One of the writers was the writer from PDS, and I believe there’s a character or enemy or something that has a similar name, correct?
I thought i had seen a variation on the name Rhaknam somewhere. I can’t seem to find it though. I’ll look a bit harder. Perhaps Rhaknam was just a made up name though.
Radgam, maybe? He’s the only character that springs to mind that has a similar name.
I think I’d have to agree with both of you on the points above. Skies of Arcadia did have a traditonal storyline, it was just executed in an amazingly refreshing way. I didn’t feel a groan well up inside me at any point in the story, not even when the “princess” was kidnapped, twice Actually, Fina aside, I think that game actually consists of some very strong female characters.
I guess this really comes back to the whole “What is original anymore?” question. If something can be executed in a refreshing way then I’d say that it’s still worth ‘remaking’ that concept.
Has anyone played the GameCube version of Skies of Arcadia? I’ve read that the GameCube version includes new characters, side-quests, weapons and discoveries. Since I will almost certainly never buy a GameCube unless Sega plans to release a Shining Force 3 compilation in English and therefore never experience whatever the enhanced conversion has to offer for myself, I’m eager to learn more about the nature of these enhancments.
The game needed more ship-to-ship battles but I loved every moment of it.
I hope Sega cough maintains this trend. If you look back at some of the old school RPGs Sega has translated in the past that, relatively speaking, only had a fraction of the text a game like Skies of Arcadia has, it is surprising that the translations were so poor, and in the case of the Phantasy Star series (among others) so inconsistent throughout the course of it.
Bad translations have a bad habit of alienating the non-native fans of a series, especially when a person discovers that everything they’ve learnt is a lie.
Skies of Arcadia was far longer than I expected. Perhaps the game’s length was the result of a graphics engine so good it could replace the CGI sequences of the past with equally stunning in-game cutscenes capable of portraying events in the same light. Also, unlike Panzer Dragoon Saga where every piece of dialogue was spoken, the dialogue was 100% text, which no doubt saved time, CD space and money. If PD Saga was programmed/designed in the same manner it could’ve been twice as long. Whether or not it would lose something in the process is hard to say.
I’m glad that Panzer Saga was done the way it was, the Japanese voice acting added a lot to the experience. Skies of Arcadia was also brilliantly done, and the odd voice here and there helped give the illusion that the characters were real speaking people.
If Skies of Arcadia 2 is ever released, let’s hope it consists of the same translation team
Has anyone played Alundra for the Playstation? The Action/RPG was developed by some former Climax Entertainment employees who worked on Landstalker and is therefore very similar in many respects (with a nice mixture of combat, puzzles, labrinthine dungeons; boulder dodging and platform leaping). The only problem is, I don’t own a Playstation!
I own it, although I have yet to complete it. I think one of the puzzles in the game drove me mad.
It is a fun game nontheless. I just need to finish it.
Yeah, some of the puzzles were quite tricky in that game. Navigating Aika and Vyse simultaneously required some serious thinking. That section of the game was highly original. The Dark Rift was challenging too, for a good reason.
See if you can get hold of ePSXe or Bleem for PC. Although I don’t say this from experience, apparantly they’re both good emulators. ePSXe is free, I think.
ePSXe is the best in my experience, just make sure you get Pete’s GPU plug ins.
You can find everything you need for the emus on www.ngemu.net (no illegal files there so you will need to get a hold of the PSX bios by yourself by they list the name so I’m sure you can search for it and find it easy)
Actually, Fina aside, I think that game actually consists of some very strong female characters.