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[Adam Prime]

Ohmygosh,

Press V to see the whole map of the area. Luckily I haven't played too much (~5 hours) but jeesh I've been looking for that damn button the whole time! lol

Any tips for playing games in the Casino, can anything be exploited?>

 

[Nyoro SF]

Speaking of which I'm kind of sad the poker is just a complete draw against yourself and not the house.

For example if you don't get any combinations on the draw it's just hold one card and shuffle out. Blackjack is way more fun in comparison but pays out way less.

 

[Psxphile]

I didn't learn that at all, because

Spoiler

attacking more than one is almost impossible because they're so spread out in that boss fight. So there was no reason to think it wasn't just an attack they used at random.

Doesn't it tell you that in the description if you have Information quartz equipped? "Will retaliate if wounded' or something to that effect?
EDIT: "Causes quakes when injured" ... that seems pretty definitive.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Any tips for playing games in the Casino, can anything be exploited?>

Poker is easy money, since all you need to do is make a pair. You can keep building up your rate steadily, since it grows exponentially.

 

[BassForever]

Speaking of which I'm kind of sad the poker is just a complete draw against yourself and not the house.

For example if you don't get any combinations on the draw it's just hold one card and shuffle out. Blackjack is way more fun in comparison but pays out way less.

It's amazing how so many JRPGs have casio esque mini game areas, yet poker is always the most consistent in all of them for actually winning.

Also just got to chapter 8, oh lawd you guys weren't kidding, is there anything specifically I should know about this chapter for getting all bp?

Spoiler

I read something about how you shouldn't save Grancel for last otherwise you can't get 100%? I was planning to go Bose -> Ruan -> Zeiss -> Grancel -> Rolent and 100% each area along the way.

 

[flowsnake]

Doesn't it tell you that in the description if you have Information quartz equipped? "Will retaliate if wounded' or something to that effect?
EDIT: "Causes quakes when injured" ... that seems pretty definitive.

I've never used that, honestly. The early one with Information and Eagle Eye is bugged on PC.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

It's amazing how so many JRPGs have casio esque mini game areas, yet poker is always the most consistent in all of them for actually winning.

Also just got to chapter 8, oh lawd you guys weren't kidding, is there anything specifically I should know about this chapter for getting all bp?

Spoiler

I read something about how you shouldn't save Grancel for last otherwise you can't get 100%? I was planning to go Bose -> Ruan -> Zeiss -> Grancel -> Rolent and 100% each area along the way.

Spoiler

That's fine. Just know that you should go back to Bose before heading to your next objective once you've restored all the phones.

Ruan, Zeiss and Rolent each have a major semi-hidden quest. In that they aren't posted on the guild board, but they're triggered by going to areas that the respective folks from the guild branches ask you to check out if you have the time.

 

[BassForever]

Spoiler

That's fine. Just know that you should go back to Bose before heading to your next objective once you've restored all the phones.

Ruan, Zeiss and Rolent each have a major semi-hidden quest. In that they aren't posted on the guild board, but they're triggered by going to areas that the respective folks from the guild branches ask you to check out if you have the time.

If I've read correctly

Spoiler

once you turn in the last phone restore thing going to grancel basically locks you into end game so going bose -> ruan -> zeiss -> grancel -> rolent -> bose -> grancel is ideal as it'll let you get all bp and all gj just fine

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

If I've read correctly

Spoiler

once you turn in the last phone restore thing going to grancel basically locks you into end game so going bose -> ruan -> zeiss -> grancel -> rolent -> bose -> grancel is ideal as it'll let you get all bp and all gj just fine

Spoiler

Yeah, this is correct. That order would be ideal.

 

[flowsnake]

Where is the hidden quest in

Spoiler

Zeiss?

Spoiler

Nothing triggered in Central Factory or Elmo. The hot spring dungeon was open but there was no indication that going there would do anything.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Where is the hidden quest in

Spoiler

Zeiss?

Spoiler

Nothing triggered in Central Factory or Elmo. The hot spring dungeon was open but there was no indication that going there would do anything.

Spoiler

Talk to Mrs. Mao while at Elmo. That's what triggers the quest.

 

[flowsnake]

Spoiler

Talk to Mrs. Mao while at Elmo. That's what triggers the quest.

I did. I'm guessing you have to twice because I just got the typical "haven't seen you in a while" conversation, as far as I know.

 

[Aaronrules380]

I did. I'm guessing you have to twice because I just got the typical "haven't seen you in a while" conversation, as far as I know.

Did you

Spoiler

turn in the ZFG yet? I think you need to do that for the proper branch before you can do a sidequest in the region during chapter 8

 

[DPB]

Did you

Spoiler

turn in the ZFG yet? I think you need to do that for the proper branch before you can do a sidequest in the region during chapter 8

Spoiler

Plus you need to have Tita in your party.

 

[flowsnake]

Did you

Spoiler

turn in the ZFG yet? I think you need to do that for the proper branch before you can do a sidequest in the region during chapter 8

I think so, but I'll have to go back and see if it works now.

 

[Aaronrules380]

Spoiler

Plus you need to have Tita in your party.

Spoiler

You actually don't need Tita to accept the quest, just to progress in it

 

[chaosblade]

It's amazing how so many JRPGs have casio esque mini game areas, yet poker is always the most consistent in all of them for actually winning.

Also just got to chapter 8, oh lawd you guys weren't kidding, is there anything specifically I should know about this chapter for getting all bp?

Spoiler

I read something about how you shouldn't save Grancel for last otherwise you can't get 100%? I was planning to go Bose -> Ruan -> Zeiss -> Grancel -> Rolent and 100% each area along the way.

Spoiler

I'd actually recommend going the other way. You need to go to Zeiss after Raun due to a quest, so you can do that while backtracking to Grancel to finish the chapter. Rolent also has the single hardest battle so it helps to have more ZFGs for that.

But really it doesn't matter too much, if you use Agate + Zane you only really need 2 ZFGs at any point, for Estelle and Joshua. And you have one extra, so you're fine until you give one to the last guild branch.

 

[Psxphile]

I've never used that, honestly. The early one with Information and Eagle Eye is bugged on PC.

I've had that equipped on Estelle since I got it. Works just fine.

 

[Basileus777]

I've had that equipped on Estelle since I got it. Works just fine.

It's never worked for me.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

A much less positive VentureBeat-published review hot on the heels of the Kotaku article (some spoilers).

Reviewer hasn't played FC yet. I don't get the notion that Joshua is the source of half this game's story ass-pulls (implying it has even a few if any).

 

[Erheller]

A much less positive VentureBeat-published review hot on the heels of the Kotaku article (some spoilers).

Reviewer hasn't played FC yet. I don't get the notion that Joshua is the source of half this game's story ass-pulls (implying it has even a few if any).

Trails in the Sky consists of one story told across two games. I haven’t played the First Chapter of Trails in the Sky, and while I didn’t have much trouble getting up to speed on the story, the game did I assume I’d seen the first half of the story. I never got objective markers telling me where to go (which I actually appreciated, since it let me explore), but often, a character would tell me to go to specific place without much direction, assuming I already knew how to get there. This makes sense in world, since Estelle knows how to get around, but I felt like perhaps the first game had laid out where everything was and assumed I knew that already. So if you’re interested in jumping into this game, be prepared to play an entire other game before you can truly feel comfortable in this world.

Um. I wouldn't play disc 2 of FF7 before disc 1 of FF7 because that's an awful idea. The reviewer shouldn't play Trails in the Sky Second Chapter before Trails in the Sky First Chapter.

 

[Pellegri Testament]

So if you’re interested in jumping into this game, be prepared to play an entire other game before you can truly feel comfortable in this world.

Whoa, you're telling me this game is a direct sequel then? That's so unheard of after so many books/movies/other games also ask that you've went through the previous one to understand the latest. So stupid to review a direct sequel to a game that the reviewer hasn't even played yet and then dock said sequel for requiring previous knowledge.

 

[chaosblade]

Apart from the stupidity of reviewing "part 2" without having experienced "part 1," I agree with most of that review. The only other exception is the Joshua criticism. Don't see where that's coming from and the author didn't really do a good job providing any examples.

So it kind of surprised me to see how low the score was, because that doesn't reflect my opinion at all despite the text being fairly close. I guess the author gave the criticism more weight than I do, if I were going to attach an arbitrary number to my opinion it would probably be closer to an 8/10.

 

[Nyoro SF]

A much less positive VentureBeat-published review hot on the heels of the Kotaku article (some spoilers).

Reviewer hasn't played FC yet. I don't get the notion that Joshua is the source of half this game's story ass-pulls (implying it has even a few if any).

Run that by me one more time compadre

We are posting a review of a person who has played the sequel ahead of the first chapter

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Run that by me one more time compadre

We are posting a review of a person who has played the sequel ahead of the first chapter

I posted a warning FWIW. So far the flow of non-user reviews is a trickle, unfortunately, and this could signal a bad trend if reviewers are skipping FC.

 

[Taruranto]

Early chapter 9 spoilers

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/YbgFws7.jpg

"Hey this sequence really reminds me when they launch the Goliaht in Gears, is Grahf going to po- wat"

I wish Olivier stayed in the Prince getup. Kloe got a new outfit but her character art looks like an androgynous boy.

At this point I suspect the Aureule is just going to be an ANCIENT ALIENS Gizmodo.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Spoiler

I wish Olivier stayed in the Prince getup. Kloe got a new outfit but her character art looks like an androgynous boy

.

Spoiler

Why would he? The guy's so repressed in his usual Imperial context, let him go around in the cool trench-coat if he wants! Also, Klaudia looks great. She's keen to ditch the generic princess garb and dress up as the headstrong ambassador of Liberl (which looks androgynous only by contrast). At the same time I think her battle portrait looks extra smug because of the cravat, and that has to count for something (everything if you ask me). That outfit would make any fencer look cool, but then she's got the highest ATS too and now I have this image of her walking onto the grid plainly before unleashing Death Scream every turn

.

 

[duckroll]

A much less positive VentureBeat-published review hot on the heels of the Kotaku article (some spoilers).

Reviewer hasn't played FC yet. I don't get the notion that Joshua is the source of half this game's story ass-pulls (implying it has even a few if any).

He's absolutely right about the flaws of the battle system though. It does feel like they designed something with more tactical potential than the actual player options allow for. Not being able to pick movement and attack in the same turn is a huge head scratcher, especially with how the game systems are designed to support that sort of thing.

 

[BassForever]

He's absolutely right about the flaws of the battle system though. It does feel like they designed something with more tactical potential than the actual player options allow for. Not being able to pick movement and attack in the same turn is a huge head scratcher, especially with how the game systems are designed to support that sort of thing.

Yeah, it makes all the line abilities more situational then they should be.

 

[Dragoon En Regalia]

Yeah, it makes all the line abilities more situational then they should be.

Line Arts certainly encourage you to buff/debuff often (to manipulate turn order), which is one reason fights take longer in this game vs. expectations. I think most if not all fights are balanced around not being able to move and then attack in a turn. There's no doubt the game would have been more interesting for me if you could, but I find the battles well-crafted overall.

 

[wrowa]

Whoa, you're telling me this game is a direct sequel then? That's so unheard of after so many books/movies/other games also ask that you've went through the previous one to understand the latest. So stupid to review a direct sequel to a game that the reviewer hasn't even played yet and then dock said sequel for requiring previous knowledge.

Well, there aren't actually many games like that, are there? Even games that tell a continuous story usually have some mechanisms in place, so that first time players can get into the story as well. So, I can kind of understand where he's coming from and why he thought SC would be like that as well.

However, at the same time I think it's his responsibility as a reviewer to research stuff like this before starting to play a game. It actually boggles my mind how many reviewers are willing to review everything no questions asked as long as they'll receive a review code, regardless of whether or not they even have basic knowledge or interest in the game (since I'm working as a freelance writer for web & print myself, I'm speaking of personal experience here*). This more often than not results in reviews that are hardly worth reading, since they neither offer interesting insights nor really get a grasp about what a game is actually intending to achieve.

In this case, though, the review is relatively solid and the criticism mostly understandable, even though I don't really see where his objections to Joshua are coming from. At the same time, it's quite painful to read someone dismissing half the game as "filler" just because Trails is not about the kind of experience he apparently wanted to play (world building and characters vs a strong narrative). Chapter 8 in particular felt like a huge pay off to me with so many great details hidden throughout and yet for him it was nothing but the worst kind of filler. But, oh well, opinions and all that.

I do wonder if his opinion would have been different if he actually played FC first and actually knew more about the world and characters, though.


*Not in English, of course. I know that my English sucks, don't worry about that.

 

[duckroll]

Yeah I agree that we should look at the content of reviews rather than trying to dismiss dissenting opinions that don't fit with what we like to hear. I fucking love FC and SC, and chapter 8 is a HUGE payoff so far in terms of how it feels like the game has finally acknowledged how far the characters have come in earning the responsibility they have to the nation. But if someone feels differently, well, even if they're "wrong" about one thing, that doesn't invalidate a lot of the other points made.

In other news...

http://images.akamai.steamuserconte...764/315BF1587CFEAE810A2B468A38D5828921558715/

(Warning: Chapter 8 spoiler)

This is the medal exchange menu I get in the casino now in chapter 8. It is completely broken, as you can see the font and alignment is off, and the cursor doesn't even show up. There are no options other than to just exit this screen. XSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

 

[Taruranto]

I feel like the problem with the battle system is that never, ever evolves from past the prologue. I feel like I've been doing the same things for 60 hours.

Even the ultimate spells don't feel very much ultimate, in terms of damage.

This is the medal exchange menu I get in the casino now in chapter 8. It is completely broken, as you can see the font and alignment is off, and the cursor doesn't even show up. There are no options other than to just exit this screen. XSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

Maybe XSEED employers are those people who hate Casino in jRPG, and honestly I can't fault them for that!

 

[h3ad0rZ]

In other news...



This is the medal exchange menu I get in the casino now in chapter 8. It is completely broken, as you can see the font and alignment is off, and the cursor doesn't even show up. There are no options other than to just exit this screen. XSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

Do you play with controller? I had same problem with some menus using controller, but I could just use mouse to select everything fine.

 

[BassForever]

Yeah I agree that we should look at the content of reviews rather than trying to dismiss dissenting opinions that don't fit with what we like to hear. I fucking love FC and SC, and chapter 8 is a HUGE payoff so far in terms of how it feels like the game has finally acknowledged how far the characters have come in earning the responsibility they have to the nation. But if someone feels differently, well, even if they're "wrong" about one thing, that doesn't invalidate a lot of the other points made.

In other news...



This is the medal exchange menu I get in the casino now in chapter 8. It is completely broken, as you can see the font and alignment is off, and the cursor doesn't even show up. There are no options other than to just exit this screen. XSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

You can arguably dismiss parts of a review related to the story and character development pay off if someone hasn't played the original, but not their criticisms of the gameplay. Its obviously still their opinion and perhaps the game could have done a better job of filling in people who missed fc, but that's a separate problem.

And use a mouse if that happens again

 

[Se7enSword]

Yeah I agree that we should look at the content of reviews rather than trying to dismiss dissenting opinions that don't fit with what we like to hear. I fucking love FC and SC, and chapter 8 is a HUGE payoff so far in terms of how it feels like the game has finally acknowledged how far the characters have come in earning the responsibility they have to the nation. But if someone feels differently, well, even if they're "wrong" about one thing, that doesn't invalidate a lot of the other points made.

In other news...



This is the medal exchange menu I get in the casino now in chapter 8. It is completely broken, as you can see the font and alignment is off, and the cursor doesn't even show up. There are no options other than to just exit this screen. XSEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

Could you umm spoiler the image? You have a certain character there, plus hinted what to expect in said chapter. :/

 

[Shake Appeal]

I had wondered idly about how good the combat system be if they had a two-move system like XCOM. Obviously you would have to rebalance absolutely everything (and speed up fights in gneral), but it would be a potentially glorious system.

 

[Taruranto]

Could you umm spoiler the image? You have a certain character there, plus hinted what to expect in said chapter. :/

Yeah duckroll, you don't want to have people know you are using TITA.

 

[duckroll]

Could you umm spoiler the image? You have a certain character there, plus hinted what to expect in said chapter. :/

Ooops. Yeah I didn't even think about that. Sorry!

Do you play with controller? I had same problem with some menus using controller, but I could just use mouse to select everything fine.

And use a mouse if that happens again

Ugh. Yes I'm playing with a controller. If possible I would prefer not to have to use a mouse or keyboard when playing a controller-based game! >_<

 

[BassForever]

Ooops. Yeah I didn't even think about that. Sorry!





Ugh. Yes I'm playing with a controller. If possible I would prefer not to have to use a mouse or keyboard when playing a controller-based game! >_<

Oh I understand, but its not impossible to continue if that bug happens on the pc version

 

[Augemitbutter]

getting a little bored with the easy battles. i think FC was better balanced. so far only chapter 1 boss was a little challenging.

also i can't believe i cleared

Spoiler

the same long ass sewers again

in chapter 3.

 

[wrowa]

I actually played SC mouse-only for the second half of the game. It's a bit awkward at first due to that damn sticky cursor (just why would you do that Falcom?), but you get to used it after a while and it's just wonderful to be able to play a slow RPG one-handed.

 

[BassForever]

I actually played SC mouse-only for the second half of the game. It's a bit awkward at first due to that damn sticky cursor (just why would you do that Falcom?), but you get to used it after a while and it's just wonderful to be able to play a slow RPG one-handed.

What are you doing with that other hand while playing SC?

 

[krYlon]

What are you doing with that other hand while playing SC?

Eating pepper pottage obviously.

I feel like the battle system has everything in place to be brilliant but they just didn't balance the game very well and not being able to attck after moving really doesn't take advantage of the grid.
The long unskippable animations dont help either. I honestly think a lot of people complaining about the battle system wouldnt care as much if they were quicker. I still find it more fun than most jrpg battles if I'm honest. It's just annoying because the potential is there to be great. Maybe the recent games nail it.

 

[devious.one]

...


Ugh. Yes I'm playing with a controller. If possible I would prefer not to have to use a mouse or keyboard when playing a controller-based game! >_<

I've been running into that bug quite a bit in Chapter 9. I wonder what triggers it, because I didn't get it in Chapter 8 at all, and I know for sure I visited the

Spoiler

Casino

.

 

[ShadowgeistX]

Finished the game and gave myself a bit of time to take in the whole end of the game...man, I'm ready for the next one.

Also I screwed myself from max BP thanks to Grancel. I thought I had more time. I did not. 60 saves by the ending and I didn't have one that would save me from that either lmao. Hating myself hard right now.

I'm not sure if XSeed peoples are still checking the forum but there are a lot of selection menu bugs (at least for me) during the finale. Could probably list them if they're actively checking here.

 

[wrowa]

What are you doing with that other hand while playing SC?

Stuff. Looking at my phone when I'm just mindlessly from place A to place B, drinking, sometimes eating something, resting my head on my free hand. It's a long game after all.

Finished the game and gave myself a bit of time to take in the whole end of the game...man, I'm ready for the next one.

Also I screwed myself from max BP thanks to Grancel. I thought I had more time. I did not. 60 saves by the ending and I didn't have one that would save me from that either lmao. Hating myself hard right now.

I'm not sure if XSeed peoples are still checking the forum but there are a lot of selection menu bugs (at least for me) during the finale. Could probably list them if they're actively checking here.

I missed two BP and I'm still not sure how that happened. Well, being short two BP is still enough to get the max bonus in The 3rd. ... Hahaha, as if that will ever get an English release. :'(

I agree, though, I definitely was ready for the next one right when the game ended. It's the kind of game I could play endlessly. FC and SC are just... sort of relaxing. They aren't overly complex or difficult and it's a lot of fun to listen to the characters' banter and getting sucked into the nicely portrayed world. For me, it's a perfect game to rewind after a stressful day.

 

[ShadowgeistX]

I missed two BP and I'm still not sure how that happened. Well, being short two BP is still enough to get the max bonus in The 3rd. ... Hahaha, as if that will ever get an English release. :'(

I agree, though, I definitely was ready for the next one right when the game ended. It's the kind of game I could play endlessly. FC and SC are just... sort of relaxing. They aren't overly complex or difficult and it's a lot of fun to listen to the characters' banter and getting sucked into the nicely portrayed world. For me, it's a perfect game to rewind after a stressful day.

I'll have to do a obsessive full playthrough one day haha...We better be getting 3rd, I'm eagerly awaiting it now. =|

I agree with you there too, it's a pretty relaxing game (

Spoiler

except when fighting Loewe anyways lol

) that's a really enjoyable read. It makes reading the Kotaku article thread a damn shame cause it ends up being like "omg look how many cliches I can match it up to on TVTropes how can anyone enjoy this junk."

 

[Augemitbutter]

Eating pepper pottage obviously.

I feel like the battle system has everything in place to be brilliant but they just didn't balance the game very well and not being able to attck after moving really doesn't take advantage of the grid.
The long unskippable animations dont help either. I honestly think a lot of people complaining about the battle system wouldnt care as much if they were quicker. I still find it more fun than most jrpg battles if I'm honest. It's just annoying because the potential is there to be great. Maybe the recent games nail it.

i always liked the battle system. just needs to ditch slow animation and balance fights better.

 

[wrowa]

I'll have to do a obsessive full playthrough one day haha...We better be getting 3rd, I'm eagerly awaiting it now. =|

I agree with you there too, it's a pretty relaxing game (

Spoiler

except when fighting Loewe anyways lol

) that's a really enjoyable read. It makes reading the Kotaku article thread a damn shame cause it ends up being like "omg look how many cliches I can match it up to on TVTropes how can anyone enjoy this junk."

The first time I saw that thread it was already at 8 pages, and I was like: "Nope, not gonna read that, it'll just depress me." Seems I was right! :lol