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[cj_iwakura]

No wonder they added in that feature. The included art is kind of... yeah.


Team:
Human Fighter/Dragon Brawler/Halfbreed Hunter
Elf Mage/Fairy Thief/Hotlet(?...) Bishop

 

[Kid_Compile]

Hearing rumblings that the soundtrack has been altered, and that the music in our Elminage Original is from Elminage III?

 

[Green Card]

I should have it soon, but to be fair, I doubt anyone who hasn't played a game like this would start with this of all games.

Then where should I start?

 

[Torraz]

There is another promotion? When does this one end?

20 nov - 26 nov. You get 10 bucks back on 6 dec if you spend 60 bucks in those days.

 

[NichM]

Then where should I start?

Etrian Odyssey IV.

 

[Augemitbutter]

played for 2 hours. fun and addicting so far, on par with the latest wizardry if we're talking difficulty. menu navigation is tough. it will take an hour before you get comfortable with those menu screens. they had to keep everything old school i guess.

music is nice.

so, how can i add freshly revived party members back to my party? they're available at the hall, but i can't add them at the bar.

 

[MaxDOL]

If I play this on my Vita, will '' data install'' improve anything?

Umm, the hardest part party creation.

 

[Augemitbutter]

If I play this on my Vita, will '' data install'' improve anything?

Umm, the hardest part party creation.

the install is only 65MB or so. i'm going without install on psp right now and it's very fast already.

 

[Jucksalbe]

Etrian Odyssey IV.

Haha, there's information and then there's plain advertisement.
The Etrian Odyssey games are great, but they probably won't help you much with these Wizardry type games.
I'd suggest trying the demo of the PS3 Wizardry game on PSN. It still takes a lot of time to understand everything, but it's easier to understand and actually has a good translation. Or maybe wait for Class of Heroes II to come out.

so, how can i add freshly revived party members back to my party? they're available at the hall, but i can't add them at the bar.

You have to pick them up at the temple, I think it really says "Pick".

If I play this on my Vita, will '' data install'' improve anything?

I doubt it will improve anything. They probably just forgot to take it out for the download version or more likely didn't even bother.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Then where should I start?

Depends on what consoles you own. None of them are particularly easy(in fact, Unchained Blades is dang tough), but I'd say Persona 1 is a pretty good start, convoluted battle system aside.

 

[Soulhouf]

I purchased it last night but I won't start it immediately since I have some games on going.
At least UFO Interactive has my dollars.

I put it on top of the pile though

 

[Kid Marin]

There doesn't appear to be any kind of digital manual included either.

There is a digital manual. You can check it from the XMB.

 

[Green Card]

Depends on what consoles you own. None of them are particularly easy(in fact, Unchained Blades is dang tough), but I'd say Persona 1 is a pretty good start, convoluted battle system aside.

I have almost everything but a 3DS (for now) and Wii U. I have played Persona 1 already and don't recall it being too difficult but I only played a few hours before I got bored.

 

[Mugaaz]

Any fan reviews or anything on this game at all? Im interested, but some of the eastern Dungeon crawlers are straight garbage, would like some more info on this game.

 

[Schopenhauer]

There is a digital manual. You can check it from the XMB.

Thanks Kid, didn't realize that was how digital manuals were accessed. Bummer that it was only 10 pages but at least it explained the tarot card stuff.

The in game help bar for the different cards isn't all that clear.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Any fan reviews or anything on this game at all? Im interested, but some of the eastern Dungeon crawlers are straight garbage, would like some more info on this game.

I'm really enjoying it now that it's rolling. It feels like a more polished PSN Wizardry(surprisingly, since this is much older).

Dungeons are just as involved, great monster design, and you can see icons in the field to indicate when there's an NPC to talk to.

Battle system is pretty much exactly the same.

And: music in the dungeons. FINALLY.

 

[Augemitbutter]

You have to pick them up at the temple, I think it really says "Pick".

thanks.

I have almost everything but a 3DS (for now) and Wii U. I have played Persona 1 already and don't recall it being too difficult but I only played a few hours before I got bored.

people go crazy over demon's/dark souls game challenge. i don't know why it's suddenly wrong to start out with a tougher dungeon crawler. most of these games are hard, because that's the point. you played P1 already. for the rest, just ask the community.

 

[Bento]

Just got around to booting this up and I notice one thing immediately as I'm making my party, haven't they mixed up the translation of gnomes and dwarves? Seems like the stats and portraits of the gnomes are more appropriate for the dwarf race and vice versa, not sure if this is a franchise specific thing but since it supposedly lies so close to Wizardry otherwise this would seem like an odd thing to change.

Aside from that the game is making a good first impression as I'm really liking the art style which for me hits a nice medium between something like Legend of Grimrock and Etrian Odyssey. Colorful yet not overly animeish (which is fine but have Class of Heroes and EO for that). Haven't much of the music yet so withholding judgement but it's promising to hear that there's at least dungeon music in the game (wtf LoLS?).

Also, does Cj or anyone else have tips for classes? Any that should be avoided due to poor balancing?

 

[dochuge]

More impressions needed. Love dungeon crawlers but last game I played was Class of Heroes which I didn't like that much. Is this one of the better for this genre?

 

[cj_iwakura]

More impressions needed. Love dungeon crawlers but last game I played was Class of Heroes which I didn't like that much. Is this one of the better for this genre?

CoH is widely regarded as mediocre, especially the first one.

Elminage has a very devout following, and now I see why.

I play a lot of dungeon crawlers. This one is great.


New hint(as I figure them out): frustration(Bishop fails appraisal) is cured by time, NOT by the church(i.e. in Wizardry PS3).

Bento: I played it by ear, but I went with a Human Warrior, a Dragon Brawler, a dwarf hunter(bad idea), an Elf Mage(why fight tradition?), a fairy thief(PERFECT choice), and a, uh, dark elf thing they call a Hotlet which is a Bishop.

Bishop, sadly, is NOT a priest at the start. I'll probably ditch the hunter for a priest.

The martial artist is outdealing my warrior for damage, that's for sure.

 

[cj_iwakura]

VERY handy guide to what classes do here(google translated):
http://translate.google.com/translate?tl=en-us&u=http://spoiler.sakura.ne.jp/srv/el1psp/index.html

For some of the more confusing classes:

Monks - Healing and physical(they get priest skills)
Alchemists - Spells and crafting

Could be wrong, but that seems accurate. Maybe Bishops get healing magic later on?


Oh boy!


Avatar Database!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArDRYX7CvrTCdGlBSmxoQTlFRnhId1Fyc2RCSjI2WHc#gid=0

第三避難所.jp/archives/el2.html
xn--ehqs60c2gs6ptzjh.jp/archives/el2.html

48x48 required.

 

[Augemitbutter]

currently running with human/fighter, human/samurai, fairy/thief, human/cleric, beastthing/alchemist and elf/mage.

New hint(as I figure them out): frustration(Bishop fails appraisal) is cured by time, NOT by the church(i.e. in Wizardry PS3).

pretty sure fear wears off in wizardry by just walking around as well, but can be cured in church if you wish to do so. good while you're appraising in town, for example.

 

[cj_iwakura]

currently running with human/fighter, human/samurai, fairy/thief, human/cleric, beastthing/alchemist and elf/mage.



pretty sure fear wears off in wizardry by just walking around as well, but can be cured in church if you wish to do so. good while you're appraising in town, for example.

I don't think I ever tried.


I wonder if XSEED still plans on doing the sequel?

 

[Kid_Compile]

Oh boy!


Avatar Database!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArDRYX7CvrTCdGlBSmxoQTlFRnhId1Fyc2RCSjI2WHc#gid=0

第三避難所.jp/archives/el2.html
xn--ehqs60c2gs6ptzjh.jp/archives/el2.html

48x48 required.

You should probably give a little credit to the dude that took the time to create this - _chaotikz_ over at Gamefaqs.

After playing Elminage, I am even more miffed that another publisher didn't give this series a shot years ago - definitely more accessible than The Dark Spire and much more robust than both CoH and Wizardry LoLS. I really think with a competent translation Elminage would have had a chance to be a cult hit. Solid game even with a horseshit translation working against it.

 

[cj_iwakura]

You should probably give a little credit to the dude that took the time to create this - _chaotikz_ over at Gamefaqs.

After playing Elminage, I am even more miffed that another publisher didn't give this series a shot years ago - definitely more accessible than The Dark Spire and much more robust than both CoH and Wizardry LoLS. I really think with a competent translation Elminage would have had a chance to be a cult hit. Solid game even with a horseshit translation working against it.

Typical anime fandom profit mindset, I assume. CoH anime generics = $$$, dark fantasy, not so much.

I can only wonder why UFO decided to give it a shot, not that I'm complaining.

And I'm almost positive there's been campaigning about the series at Atlus' MB, not that that ever matters.


Also, props to chaotikz for that. GFs is always a haven for niche DCs. The LoLS board was a godsend at the time of release.



So far, that brat in Orlando's shop is my favorite NPC in the game.

 

[Kid_Compile]

Yes, there had been a steady stream of regulars campaigning for Elminage for years over at Atlus. Kid Marin, Sayck, DTR, Olethros and a host of others come to mind.

 

[B.K.]

I really think with a competent translation Elminage would have had a chance to be a cult hit. Solid game even with a horseshit translation working against it.

So the game has a bad translation? How bad is it?

 

[Kid_Compile]

So the game has a bad translation? How bad is it?

It is really, really bad.

Sometimes names referenced more than once on the same screen don't even synch up. For instance, when you have the cursor over the Meow Meow Mart tab, it is referred to as Meow Meow Mutt in the description on the bottom of the screen. The Avi / Abi statue in the first dungeon also comes immediately to mind.

There is a four way mix up with character races, class abbreviations are wonky, all kinds of text formatting issues, and some untranslated kanji here and there.

Man, I am really just touching on the tip of the iceberg here.

 

[B.K.]

It is really, really bad.

So it basically makes the game unplayable? Too bad. I was looking forward to it.

 

[cj_iwakura]

So it basically makes the game unplayable? Too bad. I was looking forward to it.

Uh, no, it doesn't. It's just spotty. It's far preferable to not having any translated text at all.

I've endured games with no translation whatsoever, this is perfectly manageable, if unfortunate.

 

[dochuge]

Is there a bestiary in the game? Also, is it a relatively hard dungeon crawl?

 

[cj_iwakura]

Is there a bestiary in the game? Also, is it a relatively hard dungeon crawl?

Yes.

And I imagine it gets much tougher later on, but so far, it's been pretty easy.

 

[Augemitbutter]

I don't think I ever tried.


I wonder if XSEED still plans on doing the sequel?

xseed have been bad with sequels. i don't know.

Is there a bestiary in the game? Also, is it a relatively hard dungeon crawl?

yes, there is a bestiary. so far i'd say it's challenging. you can go explore multiple dungeons/areas with overpowered monsters after the tutorial if you wish.

 

[cj_iwakura]

xseed have been bad with sequels. i don't know.

We are getting Book of Shadows, and they said they're working on sequels...

H. Protagonist? Tom? Anyone?

 

[almostheathen]

Going to play some before bed, which will probably consist of putting way too much time into creating my party. Nice one button press for stat reroll.

 

[Vamphuntr]

It is really, really bad.

Sometimes names referenced more than once on the same screen don't even synch up. For instance, when you have the cursor over the Meow Meow Mart tab, it is referred to as Meow Meow Mutt in the description on the bottom of the screen. The Avi / Abi statue in the first dungeon also comes immediately to mind.

There is a four way mix up with character races, class abbreviations are wonky, all kinds of text formatting issues, and some untranslated kanji here and there.

Man, I am really just touching on the tip of the iceberg here.

That looks really bad. Something like you would expect from a rushed fan translation project. I mean, Kanji still appear randomly in text boxes? LMAO

 

[cj_iwakura]

That looks really bad. Something like you would expect from a rushed fan translation project. I mean, Kanji still appear randomly in text boxes? LMAO

NIS America's done it also. Ar Tonelico II.

Honestly I think this was a rush job, and poorly programmed by Starfish or whatever JP team handled the localization programming.

 

[dochuge]

Are the environments varied and interesting? I know it's a dungeon crawler but they looked monotonous. Locked doors? Pressure plates? Dungeon traps? On the fence with this one, haven't played a good one of these type of game in a while. Love Wizardry on the PS 2 btw, and also a Kings Field fan.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Are the environments varied and interesting? I know it's a dungeon crawler but they looked monotonous. Locked doors? Pressure plates? Dungeon traps? On the fence with this one, haven't played a good one of these type of game in a while. Love Wizardry on the PS 2 btw, and also a Kings Field fan.

I know there's been locked doors and secrets a plenty in the first dungeon alone, along with a neat compass/guiding light mechanic.

I know Unchained Blades has some great looking dungeons as well.

 

[cj_iwakura]

customerservice@ufointeractivegames.com

I just wrote them regarding the localization. We'll see what comes of it.
(Very politely mind you.)

Still, I hope this does well enough to get us a chance at seeing II or III localized. Morbidly tempted to look up videos of the JP versions to see if these murmurings of this having III's OST is true.

 

[Augemitbutter]

i freaked out when i swapped my alchemist out and the mini map disappeared. didn't look like an ability to me.

 

[dochuge]

Well took the plunge. Didnt play long but already liking the art style and gameplay. Yes, very much like Wizardry. Still very early impressions but can tell by the bestiary alone there's a lot of meat to this game.

 

[Kid_Compile]

So it basically makes the game unplayable? Too bad. I was looking forward to it.

Nah, it is still quite playable.

I am still a little puzzled by random fiend or whatever they are called attacks. The first group seemed to be part of the story, but the next encounter was out of nowhere.

 

[DTJAAAAM]

Anyone found an easy way to change alignment? I'm hoping to get turn my ninja good, but friendly encounters have been fairly hard to find.

 

[Schopenhauer]

i freaked out when i swapped my alchemist out and the mini map disappeared. didn't look like an ability to me.

The mini map is generated by that item the king gives you materials for at the beginning of the game.

 

[cj_iwakura]

Just cleared the first dungeon.

Wow. This game must be massive. I don't think anyone has to worry about variety. I see at least four different towns and nine different dungeons, including a forest.

 

[Parakeetman]

The game really isnt much to look at with dungeon design, esp the first title. But the gameplay is solid for a Wizardry title. Though that also includes the difficulty and some of the unexplained,

Spoiler

such as having to either have a mage to deal magical damage or a priest to bless weapons to do damage to undead type of monsters.

Party balance means a lot more in this particular title than the more "modern" wizardry-type of games. Though since this game isnt all special skill centric like Etrian for example, you need to focus a lot more on gear and such. Plus proper initial stats allocation to make the best of your characters from the get go. Be ready for lots of rerolling. Unless you want to go full on hardcore and do a 1 roll go type of play through.

Dungeons get stupid large too later on. So pushing ahead too much is generally a bad idea, so get used to constantly going back and forth to town a lot to replenish health / hp, restock and unload unwanted gear.

Nice seeing the OT for this title as been a fan of the series ever since the first one came out in Japan on the PS2. Good stuff CJ!

Warning

Spoiler

beware of the swamp. They have so many "negative" tiles in there that its easy to get lost, esp with how huge that particular dungeon is. I lost my primary party in there and the second one sent to recover them was getting hammered by the monsters that dwell in there. So tread carefully unless you want to have to go and set up some sort of fubar rescue mission with characters not up to the task lol

 

[cj_iwakura]

It is really, really bad.

Sometimes names referenced more than once on the same screen don't even synch up. For instance, when you have the cursor over the Meow Meow Mart tab, it is referred to as Meow Meow Mutt in the description on the bottom of the screen.

Ha ha. This is deliberate.

Spoiler

The shopkeeper misspelled the sign.

 

[Parakeetman]

Really hope that the game sells at least enough to make back the localization / production costs of the game. As to show Starfish that there is some sort of market in the West giving them the intention to release their other titles too.

 

[cj_iwakura]

I really love this game so far. It's almost too good to be true.

I think whoever did the localization did a very good job from the people I've talked to so far.

Morbidly curious about the story behind this game's localization.


I'm a bit confused about fame; the compass the King gave me has multiple segments to it, where do I assign the fame to? Does it depend on what ring I'm after or where I'm going?