Post by Aim on Jan 2, 2006 22:00:45 GMT -5
I got Growlanser Generations, a box containing both Growlanser 2 and 3, for Christmas this year, along with a plethora of other RPGs which for now shall remain anonymous (unless you check an old Christmas topic). I have a lot to say about the game so far, but I have to keep it short because my mom needs the computer by 10:00. The story opens with a young man (Slayn, also known as Gray), who has... gasp... lost his memory. However, don't count it out yet. Also involved in the plotline is the recovering of his memory, which reveals that he is a renowned assassin, the last kind of person your party wants to be working with. There is an intense war involving the James Faction and the Theodora Factions of the empire, and each group has a very bad idea as to how to unify the continent. Furthermore, because of solar irregularities caused by dark waves you can't stop emmiting (boy, you cause a lot of trouble), solar irregularities have caused major famine all over the globe, starting with the kingdom of Aggressival (haha). Of course, seeing as they have pretty much no food supply, Aggressival goes to war with the Xeronia federation to try and capture their food supply. The whole thing results in a massive war, depleting everyone's supplies for little or no gain.
One exceptional aspect of the game is the sheer amount of choices you are called upon to make. The song in the opening (AGH, DRILLED INTO MY HEAD) hints to the relationship building factor of the game. Choices you make will effect your overall personality, as will many other factors (in battle actions to an extent, blood type, zodiac sign
), and you'll feel the difference. Furthermore, you can spend time with characters
That's all I can type for now.
Alright, now to finish what I was saying. Furthermore, you can spend time with characters in order to strengthen character-specific relationships which will have an effect on that character's bond with you. You can go to a fortune-teller at any time to check the status of your character values and relationships. Relationships are divided into 6 stars, 1 for each other party member, whom I assume are:
-Annette
-Hugh
-Monika
-Yayoi (that's not spelled quite right, methinks)
-Victor
-Raimy maybe? I'm not sure on that last one. She's not really a party member, she's a fairy. Character values are divided into three points. Currently, the fortune teller tells me that I have keen insight, I have a good nature within, and other mumbo jumbo I can't remember.
As I said, you are asked questions that affect your mood. What you all may not realize is just how many you are asked. You can be asked them talking to random people, mid-battle, or during cut-scenes. Furthermore, the correct looking answer sometimes just comes off as cheesy. Trust me, telling every girl you meet that you are fighting to protect her won't come off as well as you would wish. I know from experience.
Anyways, the battle systems pretty nice too. You have an area where you engage multiple enemies with a party ranging from 1-5. The enemies can come in huge numbers, perhaps somewhere around 9 or more, although dungeon enemies luckily only come in groups of 6. Random battles are generally not too hard, although sometimes story-related mission battles (often against teams of soldiers, usually James Faction or Aggressival since the James Faction is the more violent of the two factions) tend to be harder, since they apply various goals and defense targets. For instance, one match requires you to:
-Protect Victor
-Protect your party
-Protect the Force-Field Generator
-Defeat all of your enemies, whom are scattered irritatingly all over the map
It can get kind of tricky, deciding what takes priority.
Artwork is great, although it's really mostly because every single character is glammed up with incredibly shiny hair and clothes. For instance, Annette's character is dolled up with the biggest head of hair you have ever seen, black tights, and a red dress with as much shining and texture as they could think to pack into it. Therefore, it can be said that the texturing is eccentric. Also, on characters like... say Barbara, the proprotioning can seem a little... awkward. Like perhaps the chest is a bit too high.Or large. But all in all, they're pretty decent. Large, nearly full-body sprites are used often with moving mouths and blinking eyes. Most characters have multiple sprites as well, or at least one other set for a common emotion they display, and most also have a "bleeding out of the mouth" sprite, or in Zion's case, "bleeding out of the mouth and all over my white shirt" sprite. In battle graphics are pretty decent, but of course, slightly dated. It's nothing unbarable though. Most of the in-battle sprites are 2-D, although there are 3-D magic spell animation and a few 3-D boss enemies.
The range of skills each character can get is pretty good. Actually, one very interesting thing about the game is that you can choose your own type of main character. Based on questions you answer early on, your character will build stats differently and will become either Close Range, Close Range/Magic Casting, or Magic Casting. I've never been one for magic myself, so I go close range.
Equipment for characters exists in 2 parts, er, and 3 sub parts.
-Armor
-Ring
-3 Gems
Armor, of course, is there defensive equipment (you can get some fairly funny sounding things, such as a leather suit with matching codpiece
). The rings are another pretty important feature. You see, most fighters in this game are "ringmasters," or soldiers who can manipulate their rings into weapons specified for them. Sadly, you can only use one type of weapon, which is a big golden sword. Or at least, so far that's all I've used. Anyways, different rings can be equipped which boost stats differently and are composed of 3 or 2 parts names such as "Arch Hero Warien" or "Duke Freed." One part adgative, one part rank, and one part random cool sounding name. Rings also have a certain 3 part value consisting of 3 one digit numbers. These numbers dictate the level of gem the ring may equip to its slot. For instance, a value of "9-3-1" will allow you to equip 3 gems, each with a corresponding maximum value. For instance, you could equip a lvl 6 "Magic Might" gem only in the first slot, it would not let you equip it anywhere else. Other rings might also include 0 as a value. In this case, no gem may be used in this slot.
Voice acting is pretty awesome, and amazingly frequent. Even non-major characters usually have voices brimming in emotion. So overall, sound works pretty well in Growlanser III. The only major problem I find (or more so, my brother finds), is that the music can be very repetative. For instance the level up music consists of about 14 notable beats and then repeats.
If you've played Lunar and liked the music, this is Working Designs too, so you might enjoy the opening song. It's very very short, as is the anime sequence accompaning it, but I find it absolutely mezmerizing.
From what I hear, there is also a deluxe pack which comes with a soundtrack, some kind of ring, a watch, a deck of playing cards, an arm, a leg, etc. However, it is mess-o expensive. Like I said, the pack I got comes with 2 full-length games on 2 discs. It costs about $49.00, as do most PS2 games nowadays, although it might actually be cheaper most places now that it's been out for a year. I personally have not played Growlanser 2 which is also included in the Growlanser Generations set yet, because I'm hoping my brother will. If it's anything like this one, it will probably be good.
So yes, I'd recommend the set. Sure, it's a little dated, but you're getting two great games for the price of one! I haven't finished it yet, but I'm liking it so far.
EDIT: Oh yes, I completely forgot what I'm sure everyone's looking for: the character atwork. Well, I found a sight with a few character pics, so I'll post them.
-Slayn, the man with Gray's soul, with his ridiculous purple vest and giant gold sword.
-Annette, the president of the Xeronias Federation's daughter, with her ridiculously enormous and shiny orangey red hair.
- Hugh, one of my favorite characters, a Wind Spirit Messenger with a likeable personality and a strong like for women.
-Monika, a lot cuter than she appears here with all of those daggers out at once. She's a Featherian who cannot fly.
- Raimy, adorable fairy friend.
-Victor, adorable Russian-accented scientist friend.
-Yayoi, your resident hotxorx... shrine maiden arrow user/moon spirit messenger?
Sorry, I can't find a pic of most of the antagonists. There were some of Clive, but that seems like a poor substitute for Reynold and Barbara.
One exceptional aspect of the game is the sheer amount of choices you are called upon to make. The song in the opening (AGH, DRILLED INTO MY HEAD) hints to the relationship building factor of the game. Choices you make will effect your overall personality, as will many other factors (in battle actions to an extent, blood type, zodiac sign
), and you'll feel the difference. Furthermore, you can spend time with charactersThat's all I can type for now.
Alright, now to finish what I was saying. Furthermore, you can spend time with characters in order to strengthen character-specific relationships which will have an effect on that character's bond with you. You can go to a fortune-teller at any time to check the status of your character values and relationships. Relationships are divided into 6 stars, 1 for each other party member, whom I assume are:
-Annette
-Hugh
-Monika
-Yayoi (that's not spelled quite right, methinks)
-Victor
-Raimy maybe? I'm not sure on that last one. She's not really a party member, she's a fairy. Character values are divided into three points. Currently, the fortune teller tells me that I have keen insight, I have a good nature within, and other mumbo jumbo I can't remember.
As I said, you are asked questions that affect your mood. What you all may not realize is just how many you are asked. You can be asked them talking to random people, mid-battle, or during cut-scenes. Furthermore, the correct looking answer sometimes just comes off as cheesy. Trust me, telling every girl you meet that you are fighting to protect her won't come off as well as you would wish. I know from experience.
Anyways, the battle systems pretty nice too. You have an area where you engage multiple enemies with a party ranging from 1-5. The enemies can come in huge numbers, perhaps somewhere around 9 or more, although dungeon enemies luckily only come in groups of 6. Random battles are generally not too hard, although sometimes story-related mission battles (often against teams of soldiers, usually James Faction or Aggressival since the James Faction is the more violent of the two factions) tend to be harder, since they apply various goals and defense targets. For instance, one match requires you to:
-Protect Victor
-Protect your party
-Protect the Force-Field Generator
-Defeat all of your enemies, whom are scattered irritatingly all over the map
It can get kind of tricky, deciding what takes priority.
Artwork is great, although it's really mostly because every single character is glammed up with incredibly shiny hair and clothes. For instance, Annette's character is dolled up with the biggest head of hair you have ever seen, black tights, and a red dress with as much shining and texture as they could think to pack into it. Therefore, it can be said that the texturing is eccentric. Also, on characters like... say Barbara, the proprotioning can seem a little... awkward. Like perhaps the chest is a bit too high.
The range of skills each character can get is pretty good. Actually, one very interesting thing about the game is that you can choose your own type of main character. Based on questions you answer early on, your character will build stats differently and will become either Close Range, Close Range/Magic Casting, or Magic Casting. I've never been one for magic myself, so I go close range.
Equipment for characters exists in 2 parts, er, and 3 sub parts.
-Armor
-Ring
-3 Gems
Armor, of course, is there defensive equipment (you can get some fairly funny sounding things, such as a leather suit with matching codpiece
). The rings are another pretty important feature. You see, most fighters in this game are "ringmasters," or soldiers who can manipulate their rings into weapons specified for them. Sadly, you can only use one type of weapon, which is a big golden sword. Or at least, so far that's all I've used. Anyways, different rings can be equipped which boost stats differently and are composed of 3 or 2 parts names such as "Arch Hero Warien" or "Duke Freed." One part adgative, one part rank, and one part random cool sounding name. Rings also have a certain 3 part value consisting of 3 one digit numbers. These numbers dictate the level of gem the ring may equip to its slot. For instance, a value of "9-3-1" will allow you to equip 3 gems, each with a corresponding maximum value. For instance, you could equip a lvl 6 "Magic Might" gem only in the first slot, it would not let you equip it anywhere else. Other rings might also include 0 as a value. In this case, no gem may be used in this slot.Voice acting is pretty awesome, and amazingly frequent. Even non-major characters usually have voices brimming in emotion. So overall, sound works pretty well in Growlanser III. The only major problem I find (or more so, my brother finds), is that the music can be very repetative. For instance the level up music consists of about 14 notable beats and then repeats.
If you've played Lunar and liked the music, this is Working Designs too, so you might enjoy the opening song. It's very very short, as is the anime sequence accompaning it, but I find it absolutely mezmerizing.
From what I hear, there is also a deluxe pack which comes with a soundtrack, some kind of ring, a watch, a deck of playing cards, an arm, a leg, etc. However, it is mess-o expensive. Like I said, the pack I got comes with 2 full-length games on 2 discs. It costs about $49.00, as do most PS2 games nowadays, although it might actually be cheaper most places now that it's been out for a year. I personally have not played Growlanser 2 which is also included in the Growlanser Generations set yet, because I'm hoping my brother will. If it's anything like this one, it will probably be good.
So yes, I'd recommend the set. Sure, it's a little dated, but you're getting two great games for the price of one! I haven't finished it yet, but I'm liking it so far.
EDIT: Oh yes, I completely forgot what I'm sure everyone's looking for: the character atwork. Well, I found a sight with a few character pics, so I'll post them.
-Slayn, the man with Gray's soul, with his ridiculous purple vest and giant gold sword.
-Annette, the president of the Xeronias Federation's daughter, with her ridiculously enormous and shiny orangey red hair.
- Hugh, one of my favorite characters, a Wind Spirit Messenger with a likeable personality and a strong like for women.
-Monika, a lot cuter than she appears here with all of those daggers out at once.
She's a Featherian who cannot fly.- Raimy, adorable fairy friend.
-Victor, adorable Russian-accented scientist friend.
-Yayoi, your resident hotxorx... shrine maiden arrow user/moon spirit messenger?
Sorry, I can't find a pic of most of the antagonists. There were some of Clive, but that seems like a poor substitute for Reynold and Barbara.
The music gallery's pretty fun; there's a lot of music throughout the game which is really fun to listen to, but you may not get to hear it but once per game. It's worth a listen too, I'd say. The gallery is my dream come true. Every game should have one of these. Using this feature, you can scroll through EVERY SINGLE LARGE SPRITE FOR EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER IN THE ENTIRE GAME. This provides pretty much the best artist's reference that has ever existed, for any character you could want to draw, even minor ones. Furthermore, you can also view the end-of-game artwork for any character whom you take with you to Dark Mountain. Yes, these extras make the whole thing feel complete. It's a short story I'd say, but there's a lot to do even once you're done.