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Feb 8th, 2008 at 20:09:45 - Jeanne D'Arc (PSP) |
Upon playing this game for a second time I still found this game to be very enjoyable. The levels became more challenging as I progressed through the game and I was able to acquire more characters as well.
Design:
The challenge and the complexity of this game lies in the number of enemies on any given map. Typically there are about 10 enemies on a map but there can be an excess of up to 20. There aren't any super or ridiculous weapons which is a good thing because it doesn't take away the historical value of the game.
The level design is really enticing because the maps are not built on a single plane. They are layered with various elements, depending on what the level setup is like. The fortress levels have towers that you are able to climb via the ladders. Rivers slow characters down as they tread through the water. This is truly the peak of a strategy game because other than worrying about enemies you must also worry about the terrain.
The most prevalent reward structure of the game is leveling up and obtaining gold after a battle. The unique thing about leveling up in this game is that you can do it during the battle as well as after. Depending on the number of enemies you defeat, you receive a certain amount of experience points. At the end of the level, the experience is distributed to all of your party members, even the ones you didn't use in the battle. This makes it easier for characters to level up as well as a very enjoyable reward for a job well done.
At first I was a little skeptical about trying this game because of the historical elements of it but it was actually quite fun. I really recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good strategy game.
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Feb 8th, 2008 at 19:11:56 - Jeanne D'Arc (PSP) |
Summary:
You play Joan of Arc and your mission is to save France from England but there is a big twist. The English have control over demons and are attempting to resurrect the demon king. One day Joan's village is under attack and she finds a mystical armlet that grants her strange powers. She and her friends must embark on a journey to save all of France.
Gameplay:
For a PSP game, this game has really great cutscenes and there are quite a few of them. It's an anime style artwork and it looks very clean. Also, the voice acting is fairly top notch, only a couple voices actually get annoying. The voices are in English but the characters have accents, mostly French, which adds to the authenticity of the game era.
I feel that this is one of the best strategy games that has been released on the PSP but unfortunately it is not a widely known game. It is a very enjoyable setting, including 14 unique characters. The storyline isn't exactly unique but it is a twist on an already existing story.
What I really enjoyed was being able to transform some of your characters. The characters that have the armlets are able to transform depending on what jewels are imbued into it. The characters gain new moves and increases in stats. However, it is not overly powerful because the transformations only last 2 turns and each jewel can only be used once per battle.
The only feature that I find a little disappointing is how many party members you can use in a battle. You can only use 4 early on and then you are able to use 5 but there are so many more enemies but I guess that's where the challenge lies.
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Jan 25th, 2008 at 19:12:13 - Final Fantasy XII (PS2) |
Design:
During my second playthrough, my opinion of the game didn't change much, however, there are other elements of the game that made it at least a little enjoyable. First of all, the cutscene graphics are absolutely amazing, just like usual. Even if the game doesn't deliver the graphics surely will.
The levels are also very intricately designed. The towns are composed of quite a few unique areas and the dungeons are fun to explore in depth. Obviously the enemies can be a challenge to fight but it is an even bigger challenge to avoid them.
One of best things about the game is earning and allotting skills. Basically, Any person can use any weapon and almost every skill (excluding special skills). It makes the game a little more enjoyable and a little less tedious. The reward structure is very simple. If you defeat an enemy you get money, items, and exp. If you open a chest you get an item.
The game is a little complex at first due to the constant barrage of tutorials and the learning curve is quite steep. The battle system is definitely unique to the series but it's not exactly the best innovation and while I do respect the series, I just couldn't get into this game.
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Jan 25th, 2008 at 18:00:32 - Final Fantasy XII (PS2) |
Summary:
Yet another installment in the final fantasy series. You begin the game as Vaan and like most other games you must begin by completing quests. The world of Ivalice has already been established in a few of its predecessors. The kingdom is in turmoil and it is up to you to save the day.
Gameplay:
After making my way through all of the tutorials, I found this game to be a little unimpressive. The battle system allows you to move more freely but at the same time you are very restricted to what you are able to do. You can run around easily but if there is an enemy remotely close to you, a battle immediately starts. Your other party members go right for the enemy when the battle starts but you can change that setting.
The characters are not entirely original and the voices can get on your nerves after a while but it's not all bad. The game was innovative with its new playing style as well as the gambit system but it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. The gambit system is very hard to get used to at first but after you do it becomes very tedious and almost too easy.
You can set gambits for almost everything in the battle, assuming you can find the correct cards. After collecting these cards, you won't ever have to do anything again. When your health gets low you can automatically us a potion which is nice but it takes some of the fun out of the game.
Overall, I didn't really find the game too enjoyable due to the new battle system and the crude character designs (everyone has such pointy noses). The gambits make the game seem a little too easy. The voices tend to get old after a while. Even though it is a final fantasy game, I feel that it didn't live up to its expectations.
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animan09 has been with GameLog for 16 years, 10 months, and 10 days |
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