Friday 8 February, 2008

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.

Well constructed gamelog. It might be a good idea to have more of a gameplay section for the second gamelog entry. Overall keep up the good work.

~Sheena Marquez (TA)

I've just started playing this game and yes, I agree that it's nice (and unusual) to be able to level up in the middle of a mission. Also, I think the levelling system is interesting because you always need the same number of xp to get to a new level which seemed unusual as well. What did you think of this?