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[wyrdwad]

I found the first box. Can someone please tell me where the other boxes are? I don't want to miss them.

I don't think you will. They're pretty out in the open, like the first one was -- and you won't be getting the second for a long time yet (they're spaced out so that you get them right when you most desperately need them), so you're at least good for the moment.

If you go for 100% floor runs, even casually, you can't possibly miss them. But if you still really want to know where they are, I can look it up via Japanese walkthroughs for you. The one thing I do remember off-hand (with like, 90% certainty) is that

Spoiler

the second is in the Tower, and the third is in the Cave.

Maaaan, I wish we'd get the sequels. There's a certain mystique about old Japanese PC games that I love, and of course they never get re-released.

Well, you never know. Have you heard the story of how Dark Revenant came about? Basically, Falcom held a magazine poll asking fans which of their franchises they'd most like to see continued or updated -- and rather than just picking the top response, Falcom picked the top *four* responses, which were Kiseki, Zwei, Brandish and Vantage Master (not necessarily in that order).

Kiseki kind of went without saying -- it was pretty definitively Falcom's flagship series by this point and was making them money hand over fist, so of COURSE they were going to continue it, making it almost pointless to vote for -- but the other three were series that Falcom hadn't touched for years (and Zwei wasn't even a series, since at the time, there was only one game!)... but after the magazine poll, true to their word, the next few non-Ys non-Kiseki releases from them were Vantage Master Portable, Zwei!! and Brandish: The Dark Revenant on PSP, and Zwei II on PC.

I'm not sure any of these games sold particularly well for them (Zwei II, in fact, wound up being Falcom's last original PC title and famously underperformed despite being an absolutely outstanding game), but the fact remains that they listened to the fanbase and gave the fans what they wanted (or claimed to want, anyway!).

So if Brandish fans are vocal enough next time Falcom puts out a poll like this, who knows? Brandish 2: The Planet Buster DX could be a reality.

-Tom

 

[pje122]

Thanks. I'm in Ruins floor 8 I think?

 

[Reveirg]

So if Brandish fans are vocal enough next time Falcom puts out a poll like this, who knows? Brandish 2: The Planet Buster DX could be a reality.
-Tom

I'd love that, but at this point I'll just take anything with Falcom's name on it.

Can't believe I hadn't played one of their games until 2 years ago despite being a long-time JRPG fan. The Ys series is outstanding and Brandish has been quite a unique experience.

 

[wyrdwad]

I'd love that, but at this point I'll just take anything with Falcom's name on it.

Can't believe I hadn't played one of their games until 2 years ago despite being a long-time JRPG fan. The Ys series is outstanding and Brandish has been quite a unique experience.

I still have yet to play a Falcom game I've disliked, and the sheer variety in their offerings is pretty astounding. Want a traditional JRPG? Go Legend of Heroes. Want a fast-paced action RPG? Ys. Dungeon-crawler? Dinosaur. Tactical RPG? Vantage Master. Metroidvania? Dragon Slayer IV / Legacy of the Wizard. Shmup? Star Trader. Point-and-click adventure? Asteka II / Tombs & Treasure. 3D platformer? Gurumin. Combination of several of the above genres? Brandish, Zwei, Popful Mail, Xanadu, Sorcerian...

And that's just scratching the surface.

Falcom is awesome.

-Tom

 

[Reveirg]

I still have yet to play a Falcom game I've disliked, and the sheer variety in their offerings is pretty astounding. Want a traditional JRPG? Go Legend of Heroes. Want a fast-paced action RPG? Ys. Dungeon-crawler? Dinosaur. Tactical RPG? Vantage Master. Metroidvania? Dragon Slayer IV / Legacy of the Wizard. Shmup? Star Trader. Point-and-click adventure? Asteka II / Tombs & Treasure. 3D platformer? Gurumin. Combination of several of the above genres? Brandish, Zwei, Popful Mail, Xanadu, Sorcerian...

And that's just scratching the surface.

Falcom is awesome.

-Tom

So much catching up to do. (And so much japanese to learn...)

 

[YianGaruga]

Bought the US release with the voucher because I didn't want to wait anymore. Will start later today!

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

And that's just scratching the surface.

Well duh, you haven't mentioned Lord Monarch yet! I mean, First Queen is more interesting thus far, but it's worth noting Falcom/Yoshio Kiya developed an RTS in 1991.

 

[jdkluv]

Any chance we'll get to play the sequels one day?

Maaaan, I wish we'd get the sequels. There's a certain mystique about old Japanese PC games that I love, and of course they never get re-released.

Le sigh.

Only Brandish 4 has a chance receive an official localisation, since that's available for Windows. Brandish 2 and 3 are PC-98 games, so don't count on these unless they get remaked.

... But it's not like, you know, you can't play the sequels at all. Because they are still great games in their own, right? :v

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

I wouldn't shoot down the idea of localizing pre-Windows-designed Falcom games on PC that haven't yet been remade to fans' satisfaction. XSEED would need to figure out a different model for distribution/pricing, maybe. The bigger problem is jiggering emulated game images to use English text; if that gets solved, I can foresee releases of stuff like Azteka or Xanadu Revival on GOG and Steam.

 

[wyrdwad]

I wouldn't shoot down the idea of localizing pre-Windows-designed Falcom games on PC that haven't yet been remade to fans' satisfaction. XSEED would need to figure out a different model for distribution/pricing, maybe. The bigger problem is jiggering emulated game images to use English text; if that gets solved, I can foresee releases of stuff like Azteka or Xanadu Revival on GOG and Steam.

I'm not too familiar with Xanadu Revival, but the original releases of Xanadu are all in English to begin with, so I've been barking up that release tree for a while now.

Xanadu is one of the most punishing, difficult games I've ever played, and it's about as dated as you can get, but HOLY DAMN is it easy to see why it became such a hit for Falcom back in the day. For 1985, it's an absolute masterwork, hands down.

-Tom

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Tricky one to localize might be Star Trader for the PC-88 (no idea if this runs better at higher clock cycles or if the game's just never going to scroll well). I will keep vouching for Monarch Monarch as that came out for Windows and evolves the Monarch formula into puzzle-game territory.

 

[NolbertoS]

Man I was ploughing through the game in Floor 4, but had to stop due to work issues . I'm gonna pull a weekend marathon to a least make it to Floor 8, before I can't play during thr week . Any word on a Brandish 2 or 3 coming out to PSN store??

 

[jdkluv]

I wouldn't shoot down the idea of localizing pre-Windows-designed Falcom games on PC that haven't yet been remade to fans' satisfaction. XSEED would need to figure out a different model for distribution/pricing, maybe. The bigger problem is jiggering emulated game images to use English text; if that gets solved, I can foresee releases of stuff like Azteka or Xanadu Revival on GOG and Steam.

And that's exactly something I can't see ever happening . I'd gleefully eat my own words if proven wrong, though!

In other news, I did it - I managed to beat Brandish 3, and it was AMAZING. I really can't say if I prefer it to Brandish 2, but it was totally worth my time. I almost want to make a thread about how great I think it is. ;-;

Currently on my way with Brandish 4!

I'm not too familiar with Xanadu Revival, but the original releases of Xanadu are all in English to begin with, so I've been barking up that release tree for a while now.

AFAIK, both Revival Xanadu I & II are still in English save for the opening and ending cutscenes. In fact, I think they are actually based on the original games - with Revival Xanadu being based on the original Xanadu, and Revival Xanadu II on Xanadu: Scenario II.

Completely new music too.

Man I was ploughing through the game in Floor 4, but had to stop due to work issues . I'm gonna pull a weekend marathon to a least make it to Floor 8, before I can't play during thr week . Any word on a Brandish 2 or 3 coming out to PSN store??

They need remakes (that don't exist atm) first. I think Brandish PSP underperformed in Japan, so...

 

[wyrdwad]

AFAIK, both Revival Xanadu I & II are still in English save for the opening and ending cutscenes. In fact, I think they are actually based on the original games - with Revival Xanadu being based on the original Xanadu, and Revival Xanadu II on Xanadu: Scenario II.

Completely new music too.

I thought that might be the case. I know the original Xanadu has no opening cutscene, though the ending might be in Japanese -- I wouldn't know, since I still have yet to beat it. I'm not nearly hardcore enough.

The original Scenario II has a brief opening in Japanese, though. And although it's not Falcom, The Scheme has a massive Japanese text scroll for its ending, despite containing absolutely no Japanese whatsoever up to that point, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if Xanadu were the same way.

(And yes, I beat The Scheme -- legitimately, too, as part of the All About Bothtec disc that came with my copy of Dragon Slayer Chronicle. And it's a damned fine game that I highly recommend to all fans of Metroidvanias and Yuzo Koshiro music.)

-Tom

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

And that's exactly something I can't see ever happening . I'd gleefully eat my own words if proven wrong, though!

Patches for emulated Japanese PC games are getting slightly more common. Check out Helly's work on The Screamer, a game released in 1985 for the PC-88! The biggest problem with patches like these will be to see if they can run on the original hardware when copied to blank storage (floppies or HDs). If the MSX community's been able to do all this for their cartridge and disk games, why not do it for NEC, Sharp, and Fujitsu games?

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Finished the game today (the PSP Brandish... not whatever other Falcom games you guys are musing about now, that I also suddenly want to play.)

It was excellent. Falcom demonstrated yet again what makes them such game design experts. As I mentioned earlier, I really haven't played any dungeon crawlers like this before, but it's given me an appreciation for the genre and a desire to seek out more. But man, it's probably gonna be tough to top this.

And that music. Got. Damn.


So yes, thanks Tom, for all the effort that went into this. I'd wanted to check the game out for years, and I'm glad I finally had the chance. It was really a hell of a good time.

 

[Doombear]

Hey Tom, thanks! I am enjoying the hell out of this. Taking my time. I don't want this to end...

Seriously, thank you.

 

[YianGaruga]

Made it to Ruins 5 in my first session and got 100%s along the way. While I'm still struggling with the controls a bit and don't understand some of the mechanics, I am enjoying it a lot. It's a good thing the game doesn't hold your hand and isn't afraid to do things differently. So far it feels like a mixture of the Mystery Dungeon games and real-time first person RPGs like Grimrock, while still offering something unique with the camera and the defense focused combat. Can't say much more about the gameplay until I'm further in.

Music, while not offering a lot of variation so far, is good and I prefer the 8-bit version. I love the graphics, but I am fan of good low-poly graphics in general and the PSP has always been great at those. It looks fantastic on the Vita 2000 with bilinear filtering. Zero complaints in that regard. It really makes me sad that I will probably never see (the original) Type-0 on the VIta screen.

I'd love to say something on the translation but it's hard for me to judge it. Let's just say I didn't notice anything being out of place, which I guess could count as a compliment.

 

[jdkluv]

Patches for emulated Japanese PC games are getting slightly more common. Check out Helly's work on The Screamer, a game released in 1985 for the PC-88! The biggest problem with patches like these will be to see if they can run on the original hardware when copied to blank storage (floppies or HDs). If the MSX community's been able to do all this for their cartridge and disk games, why not do it for NEC, Sharp, and Fujitsu games?

I'm aware of that - I frequent on /jpc/. ;p

My point is that XSEED is already having a lot of trouble with getting Windows games to work right for Steam/GOG. Therefore I can't see non-Windows computer games being any easier to work with, let alone a way to sell them while making profit at the same time.

Regarding the latter - there's tons more of documentation and information about the MSX than for any other Japanese computer, and the scene for the others systems is definitely weaker. It also doesn't help that the MSX was the only Japanese computer platform with a presence in the Western world, so it's the only one that was beloved and with a huge amount of nostalgia on there. That's why people are only interested on the MSX for the most part while all the others systems are often disregarded, since it's the only known in the West and the most popular one at that. After all, why would you, say, translate the MSX port of Sorcerian when you have much better versions out there? And as far as I know, most of the translated Japanese computer games from the 80s/90s are only available on either the MSX or MS-DOS...

I kinda wish the MSX bias would stop already, so people would get interested on other Japanese computers. I understand why it's there, but... I can't say I like it.

TL;DR: It would be faster to just learn Japanese instead.

 

[wyrdwad]

After all, why would you, say, translate the MSX port of Sorcerian when you have much better versions out there?

Might not be the best example, since one of those better versions is for Windows.

-Tom

 

[perfect free]

Midway through the Caves. Goddamn, these pit traps do NOT fuck around. The sad part is they're easy to spot, which makes it worse when I inevitably fall in one anyway. And ESPECIALLY bad when I die from doing that... which is kind of why I'm posting here. I need a minute. >.>

Also, the Caves music is tense and badass. I really like it.

Also also, Medusas are nasty.

 

[wyrdwad]

Midway through the Caves. Goddamn, these pit traps do NOT fuck around. The sad part is they're easy to spot, which makes it worse when I inevitably fall in one anyway. And ESPECIALLY bad when I die from doing that... which is kind of why I'm posting here. I need a minute. >.>

Also, the Caves music is tense and badass. I really like it.

Also also, Medusas are nasty.

The Cave is probably my favorite part of the game. I love the way the maps interconnect, and find them particularly fun to explore.

...Though there is one puzzle I didn't much care for in the Cave, involving intentionally throwing yourself down a very specific pit. I could not find that pit for the life of me -- it's the one and only time I had to resort to a Japanese walkthrough (and map!) in order to complete an area. In retrospect, it should've been obvious, but it was just one of those things that defied my own personal logic and genuinely frustrated me. The one, and only, time I was legitimately frustrated by Brandish: The Dark Revenant -- not at myself, but at the game.

Cave still rocks, though, regardless.

-Tom

 

[pje122]

I am super stuck on Tower 4F. Am I supposed to be looking for a key? Almost all the map is uncovered but I have no idea where to go.

 

[wyrdwad]

I am super stuck on Tower 4F. Am I supposed to be looking for a key? Almost all the map is uncovered but I have no idea where to go.

Spoiler

The staircase to Tower 5F is just north of the center of the map. You need the Ruby Key to open the door, which can be obtained from a treasure chest in the southeast chunk of the map, along the west wall.

-Tom

 

[pje122]

Thanks, man. I had that key... I just forgot about it...

 

[Augemitbutter]

puzzle in tower 9f can gto. biggest troll ever. do not want.

 

[wyrdwad]

puzzle in tower 9f can gto. biggest troll ever. do not want.

That was the toughest puzzle clue to translate, actually.

Spoiler

The original Japanese puzzle clue conspicuously used the word "sango," which either means coral or the trident Vajra in context, but is included because it's a homonym for "three five." Because the Japanese made use of a conspicuous homonym, though, it's slightly easier to solve the puzzle in the original than in English. I think my solution worked... but if you got stuck there, I do give my apologies.

-Tom

 

[OniBarubary]

I really hope this game sells well, by which I mean, sells as well as a PSP game in this year of our lord 2015 can. It's a really great game, I just hope that the amount of time/money/effort that goes into localizing it doesn't hurt XSEED in the end because I really appreciate this game getting localized.

 

[Augemitbutter]

That was the toughest puzzle clue to translate, actually.

Spoiler

The original Japanese puzzle clue conspicuously used the word "sango," which either means coral or the trident Vajra in context, but is included because it's a homonym for "three five." Because the Japanese made use of a conspicuous homonym, though, it's slightly easier to solve the puzzle in the original than in English. I think my solution worked... but if you got stuck there, I do give my apologies.

-Tom

Spoiler

everything about that puzzle was odd to me. how many tiles you press down, how those calculator numbers are out of place in the world to the floor layout leading me astray. yup, i haven't been so stuck in years.

 

[CrimsonFist]

That was the toughest puzzle clue to translate, actually.

Spoiler

The original Japanese puzzle clue conspicuously used the word "sango," which either means coral or the trident Vajra in context, but is included because it's a homonym for "three five." Because the Japanese made use of a conspicuous homonym, though, it's slightly easier to solve the puzzle in the original than in English. I think my solution worked... but if you got stuck there, I do give my apologies.

-Tom

Spoiler

Yeah, I got stuck there for a bit. In hindsight it doesn't feel like it should have been too hard to work out though.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I started playing this today. I haven't gotten very far yet, but I've enjoyed what I've seen. So far it's pretty simple, but in a good way. I can grasp the mechanics pretty well, and I'm having fun exploring the areas and fighting enemies. Plus, the music is great.

 

[pje122]

Give back Geila's Sword or keep it? Any opinions?

 

[wyrdwad]

Give back Geila's Sword or keep it? Any opinions?

Give it back. You'll be getting better infinite weapons than that soon enough anyway, and while I forget what the actual reward is for giving it back, it's at least worth more than keeping it.

-Tom

 

[perfect free]

I'm in the Dark Zone.

...I don't understand. What did I do to deserve this? ;_;

 

[Quixzlizx]

I love this game so far, but Ruins 4 is really frustrating me. I have a sapphire key that doesn't fit into either of the 2 closed doors, a door that needs a different key, and a door that just won't open. I believe I've tried hitting every combination of switches, but it's very tedious to hit a pattern of switches and walk across the whole map to get back to that other door. I even walked back to Ruins 2 and fell down into Basement 1 because I thought the clue might have something to do with how the basements spatially related to each other. I don't see any broken walls in either Ruins 4 or Basement 2, either. I'm guessing I'm missing something very obvious.

 

[dallow_bg]

I just started the game last night. I quite like it!

The cost of those spells though... wow.

 

[wyrdwad]

I love this game so far, but Ruins 4 is really frustrating me. I have a sapphire key that doesn't fit into either of the 2 closed doors, a door that needs a different key, and a door that just won't open. I believe I've tried hitting every combination of switches, but it's very tedious to hit a pattern of switches and walk across the whole map to get back to that other door. I even walked back to Ruins 2 and fell down into Basement 1 because I thought the clue might have something to do with how the basements spatially related to each other. I don't see any broken walls in either Ruins 4 or Basement 2, either. I'm guessing I'm missing something very obvious.

No, everything you need is definitely contained on that one floor. I'm not certain where you're getting tripped up, but there is a guy who's been Let's Playing the game floor by floor, so if all else fails, give his Ruins Area 4 video a watch and see what you might be missing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxF2eVohApU

-Tom

 

[ys45]

Guys I need help for puzzle in the tower 9f .

I did

Spoiler

35

in all the direction I could I also tried switch them from left to right , seriously, I'm not good at puzzle -_-


EDIT: nvm I found it, I'm so stupid

 

[Augemitbutter]

you're not. that puzzle is shit

 

[Big_Al]

No word on the european release yet ?

 

[Augemitbutter]

i don't think so!

 

[dallow_bg]

Doing well so far. Did a fist pump when I got the first box.

2 quick questions:

1. Any point in keeping the Letter you get early on? Should I just sell it?
2. What is the talisman for. I see it raises my luck a bit. Infinite use?

 

[wyrdwad]

No word on the european release yet ?

We'll have more info on it very soon, I'm sure. Sit tight!

1. Any point in keeping the Letter you get early on? Should I just sell it?

You can drop it or sell it, yeah. The letters you get from Dela (there will be more!) are purely for fun.

You can also drop or sell H.Poison...

Spoiler

but M.Poison actually has a use...

2. What is the talisman for. I see it raises my luck a bit. Infinite use?

Infinite use, yes. I never found that it did much, personally, but other people swear by it, so I guess the added luck has effects I haven't really been able to determine.

-Tom

 

[RangerBAD]

How do I get 100% for Cave B7? It's at 98.09%.

 

[wyrdwad]

How do I get 100% for Cave B7? It's at 98.09%.

Have you opened and walked through every door? And stepped on or within one tile of every viable place you can stand?

If so, then I'm not really sure anyone can answer your question without seeing your map. If you take a photo of it and post it here, though, I might be able to help.

-Tom

 

[RangerBAD]

Have you opened and walked through every door? And stepped on or within one tile of every viable place you can stand?

If so, then I'm not really sure anyone can answer your question without seeing your map. If you take a photo of it and post it here, though, I might be able to help.

-Tom

It's the area where

Spoiler

Box C

is I think.

 

[wyrdwad]

It's the area where

Spoiler

Box C

is I think.

Did you get

Spoiler

Box C

, then, or no?

If not, you have to

Spoiler

hit a switch in the upper-left corner of that room, through a hidden wall, to get over to the island. Then, when you see the sign that says "jump into my arms," jump -- it's a false wall. After you open the treasure chest and get Box C, you'll then need to put something else IN the treasure chest, or you'll be trapped there forever (unless you have the Warp spell).

-Tom

 

[RangerBAD]

Did you got

Spoiler

Box C

, then, or no?

If not, you have to

Spoiler

hit a switch in the upper-left corner of that room, through a hidden wall, to get over to the island. Then, when you see the sign that says "jump into my arms," jump -- it's a false wall. After you open the treasure chest and get Box C, you'll then need to put something else IN the treasure chest, or you'll be trapped there forever (unless you have the Warp spell).

-Tom

There was one other place, besides that one, but that helped. Thank you.

 

[pje122]

Just finished the regular game. Thinking about the extra mode...

 

[wyrdwad]

Just finished the regular game. Thinking about the extra mode...

Dela Mode is super fun, but not for the faint of heart -- it squeezes every last bit of potential out of the game engine, featuring challenges you probably hadn't even considered. If you're not really, really comfortable with the way the game plays, it will totally kick your ass.

But man, is it ever satisfying!

-Tom