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[LittleTokyo]

One week until this fantasy RPG comes out on the GBA. I recently picked up a DS so my interest level in the game has increased greatly. It LOOKS like it could be a great original GBA RPG. I couldn't really tell how the game plays based on the Japanese trailer, but it looks on par with some of the SNES classics. Here are some IGN screens:

 

[bjork]

yeah, I want to check this out too. Looks like it could be really cool.

 

[demi]

Buying it on day one. Atlus whore in me + GBA RPG equals sure purchase.

I hope I am not burned like I was with Lufia: Ruins of Lore

 

[LittleTokyo]

Buying it on day one. Atlus whore in me + GBA RPG equals sure purchase.

I hope I am not burned like I was with Lufia: Ruins of Lore

Ouch, Lufia was horrible on GBA. I'm hoping this game delivers great gameplay and story. A good 16-bit RPG with a great story hasn't come around in a long time.

 

[neptunes]

I was interested until I found out that your character(s) don't actually move around freely.

Still a little interested though.

 

[FoneBone]

Technically, it's not an "original GBA rpg" -- it's a remake of a WonderSwan game. But I guess I'm being anal.

 

[Diomedeskun]

Your only movement seems to be room to room. Fights start when you enter the room. You don't directly move your character, you just choose which room to go to, somewhat like an old text adventure.

 

[jarrod]

Buying it on day one. Atlus whore in me + GBA RPG equals sure purchase.

I hope I am not burned like I was with Lufia: Ruins of Lore

Ditto. Sting's a pretty solid team though, I've got faith.

 

[ToastyFrog]

Your only movement seems to be room to room. Fights start when you enter the room. You don't directly move your character, you just choose which room to go to, somewhat like an old text adventure.

Yeah, it's sort of like Zork meets your typical J-RPG. You can't look around freely, either -- you have to earn expendable ability points in battle to search each room, and you're awarded points if you discover something. There are also random events in different rooms that require correct controller sequences to be input within a certain amount of time, which will reward you with points or items. It's a strange game, but interesting, and the translation's solid. And the graphics are beautiful.

 

[djtiesto]

Ditto. Sting's a pretty solid team though, I've got faith.

Hmm... I really want to like a lot of ST!NG's games - they have some some of the most adorable character designs in the business... but the actual games have always fell short for me.

Treasure Hunter G has some nice graphics (even though the whole DKC style rendered look is painfully dated), great music (I believe something like 7 composers lent their hand to this game?), and an interesting BOFV style battle system... but considering how limited movement ranges get in the latter portions of the game, the battles get to be such a chore (not to mention the game was extremely short and didn't have much in the way of story).

Evolution was the same way - I was so excited to be playing the first "next gen" RPG when I got my Dreamcast Xmas 99... but I never cared much for random dungeons, and the story was weak. Although once again, nice graphics for the time, awesome music, and a decent take on the standard turn-based battle system (lots of emphasis on front/back positions, for instance).

I'm still hoping Riviera turns out great, I've been excited for this one for a while, even though I bought a ton of GBA RPGs for my trip to Alabama and didn't even have time to play much of them (with the exception of Fire Emblem)

 

[djtiesto]

Yeah, it's sort of like Zork meets your typical J-RPG. You can't look around freely, either -- you have to earn expendable ability points in battle to search each room, and you're awarded points if you discover something. There are also random events in different rooms that require correct controller sequences to be input within a certain amount of time, which will reward you with points or items. It's a strange game, but interesting, and the translation's solid. And the graphics are beautiful.

Ahhh, that explains the "music-game elements" it when InsertCredit said it's an "RPG with dating sim elements and music-game elements." So, what's the deal on the dating sim portion?

 

[ToastyFrog]

So, what's the deal on the dating sim portion?

Not sure... I haven't had time to play very far into the game.

 

[krypt0nian]

I am all over this!