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[LastingDawn]

Baroque on the Wii, I know that many people think the Sega Saturn version was better (I saw a few videos, I'm not a fan of it) though I find the straight RPG Roguetype feel to it much more satisfying then a quasi first person RPG. In any case it's been devouring my time lately, and I simply cannot put it down for too long. So my activity here for a while might be a bit... less... then it was.

[Cheetah]

Wait I'm confused. That game is actually good? It looked like a complete piece of flaming crap. How is it good and addictive?

[DarthPaul]

Crap is normally addictive. But good? That is unheard of in crappy games. Hence crap.

[LastingDawn]

Eh... to each their own. Roguetypes really aren't for everyone it seems (really I'm not even sure Baroque counts as a Roguetype but...)

[Cheetah]

Oh I was asking honestly LD. I don't know much about it and was hoping you could fill be in. The box art and description on the back just didn't seem all that appealing.

[Asmo X]

Roguelikes almost universally get panned by game journalists because a) they just don't have the first clue what the point is or b) they are used to having progression handed to them on a silver platter. The idea behind roguelikes is to make an RPG with a huge focus on improvisation. This means no infinitely returnable state (saving), treasure is all randomised and is not labeled and can have side effects or be downright negative, equipment that deteriorates, dungeons that are randomly generated etc etc. I can't comment on Baroque because I haven't played it but a good roguelike always leaves you with a few interesting stories to tell. I remember once during Shiren the Wanderer i picked up an unlabeled jar and was low on health and surrounded by enemies. So in desperation I used it, praying it was something useful, and Shiren got inside the jar, the monsters wandered off (cool) but because I hadn't eaten for a while I starved to death inside the jar. I remember there was also some jar that turned whatever you put inside it into any other random object in the entire game. If you were lucky enough to fine one, it was always fun walking up the mountain near the start just stuffing useless herbs inside it and having them turn into swords and scrolls of teleportation and shit like that.

[LastingDawn]

Oh I was asking honestly LD. I don't know much about it and was hoping you could fill be in. The box art and description on the back just didn't seem all that appealing.

Oh certainly, the game is very unique in it's execution of things. It is a dungeon crawler, I will be honest.  The game has random floors and items on each, the game isn't ever easy, if you get ove confident at a point you could find yourself back at the start of the tower, but that's not really a trouble. The game relies on you either getting to the bottom of your destination or dying. When you die or succeed you are back at level 1 (though depending on which ending you got you could be a different "character", though that's entering spoiler territory.) Though you can throw items into something to transport back to the main hub town. You're lucky though if you can keep said item though.

This game is relatively merciless to your items, even the plot relevant ones. Enemies can steal your items, you can step on a trap and rust your items, (or turn them into food) even some items will Eat your items!Hanging onto items is not an easy task in that game, especially if you want to continue to build up your record book of items, something has to go from your inventory for that.

The story is Excellent, it is a trippy mind teaser. I don't know why they put the ArchAngel on the front cover though... he's a main character to be sure, but he's far from the main character, I definitely like the Japanese box art much better.



The one we have was the one used for the PS2 version in Japan. It's fitting, but as far as I've gotten, though the ArchAngel is the one who gives the "directive" he's not the main character (who's on the back...) Some may find it repetitive, I find it endlessly enjoyable, I hope that explains a bit more about it.

[Cheetah]

Cool, thanks LD it sounds interesting. Especially items that can eat other items bit...

[DarthPaul]

Just started playing Disgaea.

So yea time to see what the craze is about.

[Dokurider]

Grinding and 'character design', that's what..

[DarthPaul]

I enjoy grinding (if you listen to vga cast you know already).

And "character design"? Can you give me more detail?

[Dokurider]

By "character design", I mean boobs and ass. That's what it always means.

[DarthPaul]

That is what I though you meant. Though you can never be too sure when T&A is involved.

[Cheetah]

I had a little time to play some wii games this week. I tried out Mario Super Sluggers and Fragile (a japanese adventure/storybook game). Mario Super Sluggers is looking to be pretty good, I am always amazed by how fun Nintendo makes these franchise sports games. The wii controls are gimmicky and at times detract from the game play (swinging the bat at the wrong time, and slow response to throwing the ball) but the core gameplay is decent. Your arm can get a bit of a workout haha, especially if you suck at the game and you are already stressed and you have to be switching between timed swings of the bat and frantic shaking of the wii mote to have your character dash.

Fragile is a pretty interesting looking game. I love the concept of being lost on an empty suburban world and exploring it. I only played about 45 minutes, but apparently the good bit is the story though so here is hoping for a US release.

Has anyone played Retro Gamer for the DS (I think that is what it is called)?

[DarthPaul]

Just got monster hunter freedom 2.

I shall review this game in VGA Cast and oooooooh will I have fun tearing it apart at the seems.

[philsov]

So yea time to see what the craze is about.

Truthfully the best part about disgaea is the storyline.  It's rather self-aware and makes fun of itself and a lot of other RPG clichés along the way.  

Then after about two playthroughs it becomes a mass grindfest and you play with colored blocks.  This is when I play something else.

[DarthPaul]

From the little bit I have played the story seems pretty original.

In other words I'm liking it so far.

[Archael]

NP: Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts for the SNES

[Dokurider]

Hey Arch, you ever play God Hand (PS2)? I think it would be your kind of game.

[Dokurider]

Lol wordfilter.