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[zeopower6]

The Toko needs so much EXP to get a level up (I thought that was a demo only thing... thought wrong though.) but Tokos are insane, lol. Their last forms' level cap is 8. X_X (The caps are like level 5 -> level 6 -> level 8 for both forms for the Toko... crazy!)

 

[Derrick01]

Everybody gets the same EXP, even if they were dead at the end of battle. Only reserves don't get any.

Good thing too because I just got my 2nd party member and the AI is next to worthless. They're dying almost every battle.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

The Toko needs so much EXP to get a level up (I thought that was a demo only thing... thought wrong though.) but Tokos are insane, lol. Their last forms' level cap is 8. X_X (The caps are like level 5 -> level 6 -> level 8 for both forms for the Toko... crazy!)

Yeah, I was wondering what gave me four levels (56-60) in the final dungeon. I thought maybe the game bugged or something. One of my familiars went from level 10 to level 31.

 

[Paddington Bear]

The Toko needs so much EXP to get a level up (I thought that was a demo only thing... thought wrong though.) but Tokos are insane, lol. Their last forms' level cap is 8. X_X (The caps are like level 5 -> level 6 -> level 8 for both forms for the Toko... crazy!)

Would it be worth it to use a Toko? Are they good for something other than EXP grinding?

 

[Aeana]

Good thing too because I just got my 2nd party member and the AI is next to worthless. They're dying almost every battle.

Set her AI to give backup or something like that (something other than "do what you want") and she'll eventually be fine. Her familiar is actually really, really good.

 

[Aeana]

Would it be worth it to use a Toko? Are they good for something other than EXP grinding?

One of the bes tfamiliars in the game, supposedly. If you can tame one. Word is that it's like a 2% chance.

 

[Beren]

You should try to speak to every NPC not only for what they have to say, but a lot of them have a bunch of recipes to give.

Thanks i will! i didn't because on the 1st town NPCs gave me nothing lol!

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Set her AI to give backup or something like that (something other than "do what you want") and she'll eventually be fine. Her familiar is actually really, really good.

Yeah, I wanted to steal her familiar, but it's a bird, so I let her keep it. I also gave her Griffy, because it's more forgiving of her limited abilities.

 

[Goli]

Thanks i will! i didn't because on the 1st town NPCs gave me nothing lol!

Well, what I said more or less only counts for towns after you get access to alchemy. Many quests give recipes too.

 

[zeopower6]

Would it be worth it to use a Toko? Are they good for something other than EXP grinding?

Not sure, entirely. I just know he's a speed demon of sorts. There's a stat breakdown if you want to see if you'd be interested in getting one.

Toko
Max Level: 5
Stats @ Level 1/Max Level:
Attack: 27/58
Defense: 27/58
M.Attack: 46/104
M.Defense: 47/164
Evasion: 69/211
Accuracy: 24/59

Tokotoko
Max Level: 6
Stats @ Level 1/Max Level:
Attack: 52/90
Defense: 52/89
M.Attack: 116/189
M.Defense: 221/295
Evasion: 321/440
Accuracy: 58/93

Tokotocold
Max Level: 8
Stats @ Level 1/Max Level:
Attack: 67/120
Defense: 70/126
M.Attack: 185/290
M.Defense: 329/433
Evasion: 596/770
Accuracy: 77/129

Docotoko
Max Level: 8
Stats @ Level 1/Max Level:
Attack: 70/127
Defense:70/126
M.Attack: 185/290
M.Defense: 320/420
Evasion: 596/770
Accuracy: 77/129

dat evade. Keep in mind that it takes an incredibly huge amount of EXP to max any of these forms though. Apparently Tokotokos are also in the wild with a catch rate of like... 1.6%?

 

[Derrick01]

Set her AI to give backup or something like that (something other than "do what you want") and she'll eventually be fine. Her familiar is actually really, really good.

That's working a bit better now. I wish we had FF12 levels of AI customization here.

 

[JohngPR]

I just finished up Ding Dong Dell.

REALLY enjoying it so far. It has a feel of JRPG's from the 90's but updated to today's standards. I've been playing this game all day today while my son was out of the house. I can't remember the last time I played a game for longer than 2-3 hours tops in one day...let alone 7 hours. 0_o

I turned it off because it felt like I should, but I just want to turn my PS3 on and play some more.

 

[Data West]

I am now rocking Mitey, Purr Loin, Sore Boar, Strongo, Greater Griffy, and Whambat.

Sore Boar took FOREVER to capture.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Finished the game and wrote a review. I don't normally score things, so I don't really put a huge amount of thought into assigning one, but 8/10 feels about right.

The genius of Ni no Kuni is that it combines two things gamers should remember fondly: hand drawn animation and classic Japanese roleplaying games. In doing this, Ni no Kuni developer Level-5 has provided something instantly appealing and attractive for an audience that has been yearning for something like this to come along for years. By simply looking as gorgeous as it does, it has more mass appeal than any JRPG in recent memory. Everything about this game radiates nostalgia and charm, and makes you not only want to play it, but want to love it.

Supporting this power couple of classic gaming and classic animation is a game that does its best not to ruin things. The world is fairly by-the-numbers in terms of environments and progression, though it is executed with so much beauty, and injected with just enough charm to feel fresh, or at least refreshing, considering the dreary state of environments Ni no Kuni‘s modern peers take place in. The story may be one you’ve heard before: a quest to save the world motivated by a quest to save a loved one, but there is a unique quality to it this time around, afforded once again by the game’s modern take on a classic presentation. It is hard to take a game seriously when realistically rendered adults are put in such an unrealistic situation, speaking with the coherence of a ten year old, but when I watch the main character Oliver run around in his other worldly wizard garb in his home town, I see a child running around and playing wizard in an world spawned by his imagination. The world of Ni no Kuni is that of a fairy tale crossed with a little boy’s fantasy.

In order to keep players’ hands busy while being seduced by its style, Ni no Kuni provides fairly robust character customization and combat systems to play around with. Combat takes place by controlling a set of creatures called familiars, each of which levels and learns abilities individually. There are over 400 familiars in all, gained by taming creatures found in the wild and metamorphosing the ones you use. While all this may sound familiar, the combat system thankfully attempts something new. Battles take place in real time, with the player controlling one of up to three party members at a time, and that party member’s team of up to three familiars. Each familiar has a handful of abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and part of the strategy behind battles is managing these qualities, along with taking control from the fairly lacking computer controlled teammates when needed. The combat system shows a lot promise and depth in concept, but in execution, the control is clumsy enough that most of the game’s difficulty lies in navigating the menus when under pressure and limiting the damage done by your incompetent AI controlled party members. There are short periods of time after using any ability that you cannot do anything that feel like an absolute eternity when you see a devastating attack incoming and need to defend.

The familiar system is sure to win over those among us who can’t get enough cute monster collecting, but as a character progression and customization system in a roleplaying game, it leaves a lot to be desired. It is hard to tell how effective a familiar will be in combat without investing a good amount of experience into it, at which point abandoning it and trying out another feels like a fairly major setback. Even with stronger familiars, there is an element of excitement that is missing when you gain a level, ability, or change forms. Changing forms isn’t an immediate boost in power. In fact, it’s usually an immediate drop in power, and by the time a familiar works its way back up to fighting shape, you merely feel like you were able to get back to where you started, not power up in any significant way. It doesn’t help that even when changing forms, familiars don’t change much in appearance. Something as simple as increasing their size along with their appearance could have gone a long way in making the familiar system feel more satisfying.

Otherwise, Ni no Kuni largely plays things safely. You guide Oliver from from town to town, across continents, and through dungeons on his journey to gather the resources to defeat an evil presence that threatens the world. Large portions of Ni no Kuni are woefully formulaic, a feeling that persists throughout the second half of the game, after its initial charm has worn off a bit.

This is where I feel Ni no Kuni makes its greatest misstep. It makes such a strong initial impression with its art style and charm that the rest of the game doesn’t quite live up to. Its gameplay is good enough, but it doesn’t convey a sense of progression or escalation that the best in the genre excel at, and as a fan of RPGs, I crave. Battles fought at the beginning feel almost exactly the same as battles fought at the very end, aside from one or two spells that Oliver gains access to in the final battles as part of the story. The towns each have their own character and flavor, but the tasks you complete in each are almost exactly the same through the end. How much one enjoys Ni no Kuni by the end of the game is completely dependent on how much he or she enjoys it at the beginning, as the game itself does very little to maintain a player’s interest in it as it progresses.

Despite its shortcomings, it’s hard to see Ni no Kuni as anything but a return to form for the Japanese roleplaying game genre, and it pulls it off in a way few others have tried. It is refreshingly old school, comfortably playable, has a style that makes people want to play it, and a heart that makes people want to love it.

 

[Crash Station]

10 hours in. Just beat

Spoiler

Old Smoky

and did a few things in Al Mamoon.

Seems my fears were realized. Esther died very quickly in the fight against the boss and even a few bounties afterwards. She just stood there while the boss wailed on her and used up all her mp in less than a minute. Had her set on backup.

The boss was still pretty fun with her dead, but it's definitely an issue. At least dead characters still get exp.

 

[mattiewheels]

Does Esther ever switch which familiar she uses? I gave her three, but it seems I only ever see her use the first one...

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Does Esther ever switch which familiar she uses? I gave her three, but it seems I only ever see her use the first one...

Yeah, but they usually only switch to heal (and then fail to switch back to attack). Sometimes they'll switch to cast a spell if the enemy has a weakness, but what they almost never do is switch to gain a sign advantage. They'll also switch if the battle lasts long enough and their familiar runs out of stamina, but I can't tell you how many times I've switched to them and their familiar is in recovery from being left out too long, so they probably only shift when they are forced to.

 

[Nakiro]

So Griffy is only available through the Pre-Order code?

 

[Onemic]

Currently downloading this game off PSN. What can I expect from it other than Studio Ghibli like visuals and pokemon type monster collecting? What makes it worthy of the title of best current gen JRPG?

 

[zeopower6]

So Griffy is only available through the Pre-Order code?

At the moment, yes.

And expect hilarious puns.

 

[bodine1231]

Those are the things I was talking about. I was level 24 when I fought my first one, and it was really easy honestly.

While the Toko may go down easily,the Mites and everything else on that island hit way to hard for that level.

 

[Goli]

Currently downloading this game off PSN. What can I expect from it other than Studio Ghibli like visuals and pokemon type monster collecting? What makes it worthy of the title of best current gen JRPG?

Broken AI, an overpowered protagonist and a lot of cappuccinos.

Honestly, I'm doing the post-game bosses and literally all can be beaten by using Mornstar over and over.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

At the moment, yes.

And expect hilarious puns.

I was both happy and sad that the suggested names are way better than anything I would come up with on the spot. Though they seem to get weaker toward the end, it may just be me.

Broken AI, an overpowered protagonist and a lot of cappuccinos.

Honestly, I'm doing the post-game bosses and literally all can be beaten by using Mornstar over and over.

That's basically all I did once I got Mornstar. Except for the final boss. I spammed Evenstar. That and my Puss in Bouts was strong enough to take hits, so it was more time/MP/damage efficient to just buff attack and swing, eating a cheeseburger from time to time.

 

[Jasper Avenue]

Got my copy with the steelbook earlier today!

...

But I leave for a 2 week vacation tomorrow.

 

[zeopower6]

Broken AI, an overpowered protagonist and a lot of cappuccinos.

Honestly, I'm doing the post-game bosses and literally all can be beaten by using Mornstar over and over.

Oh, so that's the porn star thing that people were hearing from the first trailer.

I hope that ultimate secret boss isn't as easy to kill! (though maybe I should hope so lol)

 

[Phenomic]

Finished the game and wrote a review. I don't normally score things, so I don't really put a huge amount of thought into assigning one, but 8/10 feels about right.

How many hours did you put into it and about what level did you finish the game at?

 

[zroid]

Oh, so that's the porn star thing that people were hearing from the first trailer.

LOL I'd completely forgotten about that

 

[Goli]

):

Spoiler

I went to the Deep Dark Woods again to beat the souped up version of its boss for the bounty you get from The Conductor's errand and a golden teeny bopper appeared. Hearts started appearing over it but I accidentally made my Mermite attack it ;-;. Bye bye golden teeny bopper. First time I accidentally kill a familiar that wants to join me.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

How many hours did you put into it and about what level did you finish the game at?

About 50 hours to clear the main game, complete all available side quests, clear (full explore and grab all the chests) all dungeons, and get to (but not clear) rank A of the collosseum. Ended the game with party members about level 65, familiars 30-55. Only 10% alchemy and 4/100 hidden chests, though.

Not sure I'll go back to do the post game stuff. I would have preferred that they rolled that into the end game instead.

 

[Data West]

What's the deal with stats and metamorphosis?

 

[ipitydatfu]

What's the deal with stats and metamorphosis?

if you delay the metaphasis, the evolution will yield higher stats (once it levels up again)

not sure if you'd like that kind of stuff though

 

[Goli]

About 50 hours to clear the main game, complete all available side quests, clear (full explore and grab all the chests) all dungeons, and get to (but not clear) rank A of the collosseum. Ended the game with party members about level 65, familiars 30-55. Only 10% alchemy and 4/100 hidden chests, though.

Not sure I'll go back to do the post game stuff. I would have preferred that they rolled that into the end game instead.

Wow, I just got my party (well... except for Swaine who's just 51) to level 65, and that's with a lot of the post-game-vlear-bosses-that-give-a-ton-of-EXP. under my belt. You must have overleveled a lot O:.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

Wow, I just got my party (well... except for Swaine who's just 51) to level 65, and that's with a lot of the post-game-vlear-bosses-that-give-a-ton-of-EXP. under my belt. You must have overleveled a lot O:.

I killed a Toko in the final dungeon. Got like 5 levels in one battle. At least I think that's what happened. Otherwise, I think we're about the same, since my Swaine is also level 51.

 

[NeededSleep]

So finally started tonight, I get into Din Dong Dell, and the second NPC greets me with:

"YAY, pee pee time!"

Was a little girl standing next to a bush..

Was a little bit lol/wtf a the same time moment.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

So finally started tonight, I get into Din Dong Dell, and the second NPC greets me with:

"YAY, pee pee time!"

Was a little girl standing next to a bush..

Was a little bit lol/wtf a the same time moment.

If you talk to her before opening the gates, she tells you she needs to pee.

 

[Sweet Baby Roy]

This game has the worst box art I've ever seen.

 

[pahamrick]

3 1/2 hours of off and on play, and nearly 100 Dinoceros later and I finally got one tamed. Decided to hit up Ugly Duckling island to level him up quickly, and tamed second Toko that spawned.

...Why couldn't that have happened to the Dinoceros?

 

[DarknessTear]

This game has the worst box art I've ever seen.

...What?

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

This game has the worst box art I've ever seen.

I actually prefer it this way. Box art usually gets changed to what they think will sell the most games, so you get stuff like:

becoming

The examples are endless. It's insulting, really. Cue angry Kirby.

 

[Dead Prince]

the second nightmare came out of nowhere. had no MP left for anyone. but managed to beat him. lvl 21 now lol.

 

[Goli]

3 1/2 hours of off and on play, and nearly 100 Dinoceros later and I finally got one tamed. Decided to hit up Ugly Duckling island to level him up quickly, and tamed second Toko that spawned.

...Why couldn't that have happened to the Dinoceros?

You eventually get a Dinoceros from a quest... without all that grind.

 

[pahamrick]

You eventually get a Dinoceros from a quest... without all that grind.

...Whelp, at least I'll have two now.

On the plus side, I was broke -- not anymore.

 

[MegaKungFuRadio]

...Whelp, at least I'll have two now.

On the plus side, I was broke -- not anymore.

Money comes and goes really fast in this game, and I have to say, I actually prefer it this way. I'm so over games where I have max money and items without even trying, but I also don't want to feel broke all the time.

 

[Nakiro]

If you wanted both types of Griffy, would you need to have 2 codes? If that's the case that's a bit of a misstep in my opinion.

 

[Aeana]

You eventually get a Dinoceros from a quest... without all that grind.

Err, isn't that a post-game quest?

 

[Kave_Man]

Got to Al Mamoon. Haven't even used the third familiar as yet.

Also spent a merit card on that jumping ability. Zero fucks have been given!

#YOLO

 

[pahamrick]

Err, isn't that a post-game quest?

If that's the case, I don't feel so bad now because Dinoceros is a beast.

Just got his second form, and most things I've been fighting only do 1-5 damage and he hits for 95-120 damage even at level 7.

He's my new BFF.

 

[Beren]

Question about missables and Hamelin

Spoiler

Any missable on the past on Hamelin lol? tameable creature or anything? :O

 

[Data West]

Got to Al Mamoon. Haven't even used the third familiar as yet.

Also spent a merit card on that jumping ability. Zero fucks have been given!

#YOLO

There's two kinds of people in this world. People who pick the jump ability and min/max scumbags

 

[HylianScribe]

I want to see if anyone else notices/experiences what I saw on my second play through. I'll make it clear what I outline below only impacted me during the last few bosses in the final area of the game. It was not an issue at all for nearly all of the game.

So, my issue is with having your spells cancelled by special enemy attacks or spells (the ones that involve a cinematic) even when you clearly already cast something. It seems I only took issue/noticed this during some of the last few boss encounters due to how frequent they execute those types of attacks and how little time you have to react to them.

I clearly cast a spell or used an item like something to heal me, but the effect of it hadn't kicked in just yet even though I heard the noise that sounds when your health is being refilled. In that small window, an enemy performs a cinematic attack. However, when the enemy's attack is over, I see that I did not get my health back, though the item or mana for the spell wasn't wasted along with it.

Sometimes when I got hit by one of these cinematic style attacks right before I had Oliver cast Burning Heart, then the last part of the animation wouldn't happen and the enemy didn't take any damage at all. One time Oliver just flat out vanished during the spell. It's like the attack never happened, and I no longer had the ability to cast Burning Heart (the special ability Oliver can do when he gets one of those golden orbs).

Not sure if maybe I was experiencing some bugs or what.