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Infinite Space (DS) |OT| of Portable Space Opera Epicness
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WreckTheLaw said:
Yep, I've actually been taken at times regarding some of the game's themes. I'm curious if Sega toned it down at all and/or censored it for ratings purposes. Because if so, the original must be REALLY fucked up. The one we got features some interesting details, such as:
Mega-violence (Kira literally blows the head off a pirate from point blank range, and NPCs later comment on the nausea that the clean up crew faced).
Near-rape encounters.
Pretty naughty language, both implied and expressed (surprised to find an NPC saying the word 'ass' on occasion).
"Whining and wenching" scenarios and mentions.
Apparent under-age drinking/partying.
And I'm only in Chapter 3! (Or maybe it's 4, by now...)
Doesn't sound like Sega toned it down at all. The game gets away with A LOT simply by being a really ghetto visual adventure style narrative. When everything is mostly described in text, with some stills to go along with certain scenes, you can get away with a ton and still get a lower rating.
shichishito
Member
I'm about the same place as you Mejilan and I mimic the story sentiments. I love it!
When you mentioned rape, I was reminded of
:lol
When you mentioned rape, I was reminded of
when Ian gets taken away from the bar by pirates and there's a little scene when they realize he isn't a girl, and one pirate says, "even better!" or something to that effect.
PhoenixSFT
Member
I just picked it up, can't wait to dig in. The guy at Gamestop even thanked me for supporting it. Probably won't be able to get into it until tomorrow night though 
I should be doing hw
Member
What Ch are you on? I'm on 4 I think now, the prison warden wants to do Nia and that other chick. I thought that was funny, hope he tries something so he'll get his ass handed to him. :lolMejilan said:
Siliconera put up an interview with Atsushi Inaba (Platinum Games Producer) and Hifumi Kouno (Nude Maker Director)
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/2...e-hood-touches-on-childhoods-end-connections/
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/2...e-hood-touches-on-childhoods-end-connections/
I should be doing hw said:
I just killed the two pirate bosses in Chapter 3. I'm not sure if I've officially switched to Chapter 4 just yet, but if not, I'm probably VERY close. I'm fielding this and Lunar 2 at the same time, and they're both competing for the same handheld gaming hours. Now that my IS curiosity is satisfied, I think I'll focus on finishing Lunar 2 before delving any deeper. But I'm pretty conflicted about it, so I may just keep flip-flopping.
Count Dookkake
Member
This the best space opera since Star Fox 64.
LOVE IT.
LOVE IT.
Count Dookkake
Member
Mejilan said:
It was subtextual. "Do a barrel roll" ring a bell?
And you haven't even seen all that much so far. The game really is quite brutal and more than a little perverted at times. And I love it. There are a lot of issues, but I'm 35 hours in, and the story is so great and epic (better than anything I've ever seen in an RPG I'd say) - it might not be an awesome game, but it really is an awesome experience overall. The game also has one of the biggest WTF moments, or should I say a series of consecutive WTF moments, I've ever witnessed. I won't even spoiler tag the scene I'm talking about - everyone will immediately notice what I'm talking about when they see it I believe, and I don't want anyone to accidentally highlight the spoiler.Mejilan said:
EDIT: Also, Universe in Despair is an excellent track, and used to great effect in the game. As much as I like that the game is on the DS, it's really too bad that the soundtrack, and especially this track, is held back by the DS's terrible sound capabilities. I can live without texture filtering or the completely arbitrary polygon limit, but I want CD quality soundtracks for fucks sake! If only Platinum had asked Shin'en to handle the compression and encoding...
vagabondarts
Member
this game... this game is refreshing... almost done with chapter 2.
This is like a sleeper game or something
This is like a sleeper game or something
Foxix said:
No kidding, I'm consumed by this game. Although the combat is kinda underdeveloped and there's a lot of stats that are hidden from you making module and crew decisions kinda arbitrary, the game's pacing is just so good. Plus there's a lot of player decisions that actually change quite a number of things, I already can't wait to replay this game.
Foxix said:
I'm more than 30 hours in and feeling that I'm near the end and I don't even know that.
Ending stuffs, no story spoilers but still some comments.
Edit: They tried to use "Grus" replacing "Hell" throughout the game, but at one point one character basically yelled out "Damn you all to hell!". It was appropriate... but still kinda funny to see them basically just giving up on that. :lol Also, I can't believe that they actually have the main character saying he would relish on seeing someone die up close. ;p
Wow, the ending section of this game, or the last hour towards the end, is really unfortunate. They could've made a whole new act based on the relevations towards the end alone but instead threw everything together as quickly as possible with all the gradual build up from the previous 30+ hours being basically thrown away. I don't think it was a problem of them not knowing how to continue on the story either as they did a good job earlier and putting quite a bit of foreshadowing throughout, it might be a budgeting/time issue and that really sucks.
There's also something wrong when the climatic battle music with vocals (ds audio quality/compression ouch) is used for a mid-boss rather than any of the final bosses. But I guess it makes sense in a way for the music to be used for that battle, just that they really skimped on the presentation of the final bosses in comparison. I also think they had a very good idea for the ending by using the effect of having the whole thing in darkness then the light would reveal the beauty of the planet in its full glory, but then the presentation doesn't match the intended effect. Kinda sad really ;/.
Also it might be just me missing the story events, but it seems like there's a lot of loose threads that are never resolved going into the ending. But aside from the ending and easily broken combat torwards the end, the game is awesome.
There's also something wrong when the climatic battle music with vocals (ds audio quality/compression ouch) is used for a mid-boss rather than any of the final bosses. But I guess it makes sense in a way for the music to be used for that battle, just that they really skimped on the presentation of the final bosses in comparison. I also think they had a very good idea for the ending by using the effect of having the whole thing in darkness then the light would reveal the beauty of the planet in its full glory, but then the presentation doesn't match the intended effect. Kinda sad really ;/.
Also it might be just me missing the story events, but it seems like there's a lot of loose threads that are never resolved going into the ending. But aside from the ending and easily broken combat torwards the end, the game is awesome.
Edit: They tried to use "Grus" replacing "Hell" throughout the game, but at one point one character basically yelled out "Damn you all to hell!". It was appropriate... but still kinda funny to see them basically just giving up on that. :lol Also, I can't believe that they actually have the main character saying he would relish on seeing someone die up close. ;p
PhoenixSFT
Member
Working on a Mission guide for this game since I just started and there's no log (seriously, whose idea was that). Probably go the word document route, unless someone has a great idea for a spreadsheet. Seeing as how I just started, do you think it would be easy to divide the missions into sections like "first part of the galaxy" or "chapter 1 available missions"?
Is one really necessary?
I'm only in Chapter 4, admittedly, but all of the quests have been pretty straightforward, easy, and short so far.
At the very least, you'll probably want to organize them in chronological order and break them out by chapter, perhaps according to earliest availability.
I'm only in Chapter 4, admittedly, but all of the quests have been pretty straightforward, easy, and short so far.
At the very least, you'll probably want to organize them in chronological order and break them out by chapter, perhaps according to earliest availability.
GeekyDad
Member
Mejilan said:
Not sure that constitutes "win" for me personally, but it was definitely unexpected. Even Chinatown Wars wasn't that risque. I do certainly appreciate the themes and situations this game touches on, though, even if they're countered by typical Japanese quirkiness. Sometimes those elements seem at odds with one another, in spite of my love for both types of approaches.
I must say, though, as much as I loved the combat in the beginning of the game, it's grown a bit stale. I haven't really experienced much variety in that respect, and without an objective log, it's hard to keep the story as cohesive as I would have liked. Still enjoying the game, and its depth is really astounding in many ways. I just wish they added a bit more spice in the actual gameplay department.
Well I'm in Chapter 2 and I love this game, even if the battles are pretty unforgiving. Especially the boss at the end of Chapter 1 -- it took me three tries to beat him, but after that fight I felt like I had a much better grip on space combat in this game.
I love taking on random side missions while I'm doing a main quest mission and getting them both finished at the same time or not, it's up to me. So great. Fitting rooms in my ships is pretty cool, too.
I read earlier in this thread that there are on-foot battles when boarding ships and whatnot, which sounds great. I kinda wondered why I needed a security chief and whatnot...
I do wish it was easier to get money, though. I feel very poor right now :lol Another annoyance is not being able to skip through text quickly. Sometimes I have to talk to people multiple times to get everything out of them but when they've run out of things to say and start repeating themselves, it sucks having to just mash the touch screen for 60 seconds while it scrolls text. Blegh.
I love taking on random side missions while I'm doing a main quest mission and getting them both finished at the same time or not, it's up to me. So great. Fitting rooms in my ships is pretty cool, too.
I read earlier in this thread that there are on-foot battles when boarding ships and whatnot, which sounds great. I kinda wondered why I needed a security chief and whatnot...
I do wish it was easier to get money, though. I feel very poor right now :lol Another annoyance is not being able to skip through text quickly. Sometimes I have to talk to people multiple times to get everything out of them but when they've run out of things to say and start repeating themselves, it sucks having to just mash the touch screen for 60 seconds while it scrolls text. Blegh.
WreckTheLaw
Giant Bomb Japanimation Correspondent
Danthrax said:
Money will start to come easier around chapter 4. Just push on through for now. And fyi: shoulder buttons quick-scrolls text.
WreckTheLaw said:
That would be a very helpful tip thank you but my launch DS's shoulder buttons stopped working years ago, unfortunately.
Well, to clarify, the L button kinda works every once in a while if you press it hard, and at a certain angle, and the moon is in the correct phase. The R button is completely inoperable, though.
L and R can be used to fast forward or downright skip almost anything.
It'll fast-scroll text, speed up space travel, cancel out of cutscenes AND battle animations.
Seriously, battles can go from 1 minutes to 10 seconds with a few timely shoulder button presses.
Regarding your shoulder buttons, have you tried taking a solid amount of compressed air to them? If you clear out dust/lint from the between the shoulder buttons and the casing, you might regain functionality. Worked for my L button when it stopped responding a month or two ago.
It'll fast-scroll text, speed up space travel, cancel out of cutscenes AND battle animations.
Seriously, battles can go from 1 minutes to 10 seconds with a few timely shoulder button presses.
Regarding your shoulder buttons, have you tried taking a solid amount of compressed air to them? If you clear out dust/lint from the between the shoulder buttons and the casing, you might regain functionality. Worked for my L button when it stopped responding a month or two ago.
Mejilan said:
You mean just spraying some compressed air in there without taking the thing apart? No I haven't tried that but I'll give it a shot.
My other alternative, I've been told, is to take my DS apart and replace the pads that hit the shoulder button sensors with, you know, whatever I have handy. Bits of crumpled up paper or something. I haven't summoned the energy to attempt such a thing yet, though.
I should be doing hw
Member
Wow this game is pretty meta. The CTA is not what it appears! o: I'm assuming
Also something I found odd/hilarious
Either way I'm loving how the game keeps layering in more intrigue and epicness. It's over 6,000!!!
they are the people tracking Yuri and co. seeing as they said the CTA where around when people started TRAVELLING INTO THE SEA OF STARS!!! Fucking hell they love that line in this game :lol
"I've estimated that there are about 100,000 ships! Due to the military under under-compensating compensating the estimates (or some bullshit) they are only estimating 1,000!" :lol How fucking inept are the military then, I mean if you hand counted the ships on that vid it would be more than 1,000 :lol Sounds like the story team got lazy and just knocked off two zeros from the first guys reading :lol
Good lord, I don't know how you made it so far without using them. The space travel alone would have killed me if I hadn't been using them. Fix that shit or you will probably stop playing due to frustration.Danthrax said:
bought my first DS since selling my lauch unit 3 years ago and I have to give this game credit. 3 hours in and it has pulled me away from Final Fantasy 13, not even God of War could do that. i love the theme and settings, it's the type of stuff you would probably never see on one of the consoles, and the story seems pretty epic already. The only flaw i have is how simple the combat is. it seems to be nothing more than dodge,back, charge until full, advance, brace/evade enemy and unleash barrage. Rinse and repeat. Hopefully it opens up later.
I should be doing hw
Member
Re-read this post when you are in Ch. 4, re-read again later on.avatar299 said:
Fragamemnon
Member
Danthrax said:
It actually sort of feels like a really "modern" (if that makes any sense) Amiga/DOS game.. Simple to understand gameplay with depth provided by the game's customization and minimalist yet effective story presentation w/ animu stylings.
Anachronism or not, the game is great. Finally started playing it last night and didn't put it down until my DS started running low on battery (wasn't fully charged, though, so got a couple of hours in).
I'm hopelessly addicted to this game, and I don't know why! I'm in the middle of chapter 4, but I keep travelling from planet to planet in hopes that I don't miss any characters or jobs
, and I keep contemplating restarting sections from earlier saves in case I missed anything. My OCD is strong for this game. :lol
(being able to recruit HELP v2.0 as a crew member is pretty funny)
WreckTheLaw
Giant Bomb Japanimation Correspondent
Hey, another video tutorial hit today. It would be nice if these were actually in Infinite Space, or if they'd all been released earlier: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/uk-battle-infinite-space/63636
Picked this up today. I needed a game to play while co-piloting a 12 hours roadtrip to PAX tomorrow.
I was pretty much even between this and Strange Journey heading into Gamestop, but my mind was made up when a guy was buying their last SJ as I came in. I'm not that broken up about it though, as I love space operas and customizing stuff, so theoretically this is right up my alley.
I was pretty much even between this and Strange Journey heading into Gamestop, but my mind was made up when a guy was buying their last SJ as I came in. I'm not that broken up about it though, as I love space operas and customizing stuff, so theoretically this is right up my alley.
I should be doing hw
Member
Tenkei said:
Help v2.0
WreckTheLaw
Giant Bomb Japanimation Correspondent
I should be doing hw said:
In Chapter 3 or 4, you'll recruit Professor Minas. Once you do, go in and out of the help menu until the help robot breaks down. Once it happens, fly to the nearest star system. Minas will rebuild the Help robot as a female android with a crazy combat skill (something like 30+ combat, Maintenance and something else at 20+, the Medic ability, and the Assignment skill Calm and Cool at level 5 (which gives a huge boost to command gauge recharge. Yes, my Yuri has a sexy robot first officer, who occasionally joins the security team to massacre fools. I love you Infinite Space.
I should be doing hw
Member
Fuck, I'm in Ch. 5 now and nothings happening
I have a save from the start of Ch. 4 but there's no fucking way I'm going through that and most of 5 again.
I have a save from the start of Ch. 4 but there's no fucking way I'm going through that and most of 5 again.
WreckTheLaw
Giant Bomb Japanimation Correspondent
I should be doing hw said:Fuck, I'm in Ch. 5 now and nothings happening
I have a save from the start of Ch. 4 but there's no fucking way I'm going through that and most of 5 again.
I don't think it's part of those chapters... keep hittin' Help!
More impressions:
Arrrrgh. At the beginning of chapter eight,
Prof. Minas, Kira, Ian, Tatiana, and Torlo all leave your crew. I'm amazed at how much I care about this crew. Unlike other big-cast games, like Suikoden or Fire Emblem, there's no one I have yet who I don't have some liking of. I specifically really like how close Ian and Yuri have become. This is doubly interesting because so much of what the crew "does" is behind the scenes.
In fact, that's something about IS in general: playing the game well does not have a direct, easy-to-follow effect. In Suikoden or ME2, you know exactly how having X party member with you plays out. When you run against guys with armor, having Jack's warp ammo in ME2 has a clear effect - you know who to thank, so to speak.
If you've done it right in IS, you'll never know you could've done it wrong. If you had gone into your first melee fight with a security crew already in place, or had a whole crew of fighter squad captains slotted the first time you launched your multi-roles, or a beam shield equipped against a boss who only uses beam attacks, you'll be successful and you won't have that "good job, so and so" moment. And yet, I still feel close to these characters. Even though I don't have a formal tie to them. That's some decent writing. Once again, the fact that NudeMaker does a lot of work in the... ahem... interactive fiction department shows.
I wish there were some systemic inclusion of who I've placed where, though. If Gadina said things when her fighters were launched, or I could see Help 2.0 hitting buttons next to Yuri on the bridge, maybe my connection would be even closer.
Edit: Oh, and I meant that I assigned Help 2.0 to Lead Op, not first officer.
I should be doing hw
Member
I don't even think that it's good writing per se, just the fact that your extra crew members have dialogue to begin with. So many other RPG's that have secret or hidden characters only implement the for their abilities and aesthetics, outside their introductory segment, they become faceless mannequins. So for IS to have crew interactions at all peppered throughout the game, I think, makes the characters much more relate-able and likeable.
The things you mentioned would turn a great game into an amazing one, but it can't be mentioned enough how great the core game is here. So much so that I've stuck with it regardless of its many faults, which are really just archaic design choices more than anything.
Given the popularity here and in Japan, I hope a sequel or some sort of successor project is in the works. If only just to tighten it up.
It's like Suikoden in Space, and lord knows we need more of that in this world.
On a side note, I'm pissed off that I've missed so many side characters alraedy after a quick Google. I guess its just my lack of initiative of backtracking, because I never would have thought to do any of those things to get the characters I've missed so far. I think I'll just have fun with it the first playthrough wait for a faq to come out and do a replay in the distant future.
The things you mentioned would turn a great game into an amazing one, but it can't be mentioned enough how great the core game is here. So much so that I've stuck with it regardless of its many faults, which are really just archaic design choices more than anything.
Given the popularity here and in Japan, I hope a sequel or some sort of successor project is in the works. If only just to tighten it up.
It's like Suikoden in Space, and lord knows we need more of that in this world.
On a side note, I'm pissed off that I've missed so many side characters alraedy after a quick Google. I guess its just my lack of initiative of backtracking, because I never would have thought to do any of those things to get the characters I've missed so far. I think I'll just have fun with it the first playthrough wait for a faq to come out and do a replay in the distant future.
WreckTheLaw
Giant Bomb Japanimation Correspondent
Just beat chapter 8. Holy crap.