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Project Octopath Traveler on Switch 2018, demo on eShop [Up: Surveys sent out]
- Thread starter Morrigan Stark
- Start date
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yes and as often as you like
Romancing SaGa isn't representative of the entire SaGa franchise though. What makes SaGa what it is - is the progression system. Not all SaGa games have a Free Scenario format, not all SaGa games have multiple characters to select at the beginning, but all SaGa games have a non-exp/lvl based character progression system.
They could call it The Romancing Eight though!
The Hermit
Member
Holy shit
a traditional rpg trait is enemy hp, which in combat you are trying to bring to 0. If an enemy has this HP number assigned but it is not surfaced to the player, it can lead to player frustration at the lack of combat clarity.
it can also lead to player experimentation and discovery in attacks and strategy, but the lack of visual progression in a combat loop is still disconcerting, and is generally bad game design, as the player has no clear objective.
civilstrife
Member
Crivens: The Crivening
MotionBlue
Member
If the engine looks/runs as well as the trailers, I hope they can use it for remakes/sequels.
This is excellent so far. Played through the first boss of Primrose's path. The story is pretty cliched for the genre, but it's presented so earnestly, I don't really mind. Some delightfully hammy voice acting from the villain guy.
I really really dislike the early part of turn-based RPGs when you only have one member... It is often so basic, it is like the worst thing ever. I still can't get into Earthbound because of it. But this game manages to pull off the early game really well. It's so satisfying when it finally clicks, when you realize how you can manipulate enemy turns and minimize damage. The fact that you gain one boost per turn gives you so much more flexibility in managing breaks, turn skips, and whatnot. The system (and even the worldview) reminds me a bit of Radiant Historia, in a good way. It's like Radiant Historia meets Bravely Default.
The premise of the game, with the 8 characters, reminds me a little of that old Uncharted Waters game on SNES. Anyone remember that one? It came out on Virtual Console for Wii during its heyday. That game was more of a simulator game with a lot of RPG elements, but what was cool about that one was picking your scenario character, and then their story intersecting with other playable characters'. I get the impression this game is more fixed with its story, but its trailer really highlighted the go-anywhere-with-the-character thing. And how they all share the same world space.
I remember back in the 16-bit days, Square made that "Live a Live" game in Japan that featured multiple protagonists (although in separate worlds). I wonder if this game will have some sort of final scenario once you completed the 8?
I really really dislike the early part of turn-based RPGs when you only have one member... It is often so basic, it is like the worst thing ever. I still can't get into Earthbound because of it. But this game manages to pull off the early game really well. It's so satisfying when it finally clicks, when you realize how you can manipulate enemy turns and minimize damage. The fact that you gain one boost per turn gives you so much more flexibility in managing breaks, turn skips, and whatnot. The system (and even the worldview) reminds me a bit of Radiant Historia, in a good way. It's like Radiant Historia meets Bravely Default.
The premise of the game, with the 8 characters, reminds me a little of that old Uncharted Waters game on SNES. Anyone remember that one? It came out on Virtual Console for Wii during its heyday. That game was more of a simulator game with a lot of RPG elements, but what was cool about that one was picking your scenario character, and then their story intersecting with other playable characters'. I get the impression this game is more fixed with its story, but its trailer really highlighted the go-anywhere-with-the-character thing. And how they all share the same world space.
I remember back in the 16-bit days, Square made that "Live a Live" game in Japan that featured multiple protagonists (although in separate worlds). I wonder if this game will have some sort of final scenario once you completed the 8?
Information is one part of strategy. Knowing how much HP an enemy has gives you an edge in making decisions during the battle. Obscuring such information until the player has the ability to surface it gives more meaning to such tactical skills.
But I generally agree that after beating the same enemy multiple times, such information should automatically be revealed in future battles.
Boss Doggie
all my loli wolf companions are so moe
Glad I'm not the only one who had SaGa feelings.
D
Deleted member 465307
Unconfirmed Member
4 hours? The demo is that long?
If it helps, the encounter rate is pretty reasonable.
All finished with the demo! Spent an hour with knight dude and thirty minutes with Primrose. Very satisfying, overall although I expected more story for the latter. There's obviously more the game will let you do but I think I'll save that for the full title.
Great demo!!! The graphical style really grew on me. The mix of 3D, pixel art, and full voice acting is very strange. The battle system was really great. I played as the knight and felt like the battles were really great and filled with a good amount of strategy. I particularly like the decision not to show enemy health. It very much changed the way I approached battles and I think for the better. I really had to debate what to do instead of plan 20 moves ahead based on healthbars and my average attack damage.
The story fell short. Great premise with the 8 characters, but why not create a bit more interesting and nuanced characters? The story was very cliche and cheesy.
My vote for title: The Eight Travelers
The story fell short. Great premise with the 8 characters, but why not create a bit more interesting and nuanced characters? The story was very cliche and cheesy.
My vote for title: The Eight Travelers
Pretty neat demo. I'm only an hour in with the guy / knight dude. Seems like the other character is pretty different?
It also seems like the first enemies you encounter have 10x the HP I'd expect them to have. Not that it's difficult, but even after boosting a bunch of times it still takes like 4-5 turns to kill even the most basic enemies? That doesn't seem right.
It also seems like the first enemies you encounter have 10x the HP I'd expect them to have. Not that it's difficult, but even after boosting a bunch of times it still takes like 4-5 turns to kill even the most basic enemies? That doesn't seem right.
ForkNetwork
Banned
This art style is so amazing that Im already interested. Square is making the third Switch game that I want to buy. Only two more until theres enough to buy the console
You were boosting your abilities, right?
mariachi507
Member
My first suggestion is to ease off the bloom just a bit that is in the center of the screen. It hurts my eyes to be honest. I'm really impressed with the other aspects though.
If you want to do everything with each playable character you are looking at maybe 5-6hrs of content from the demo.
Big Green Anus
Member
Getting my ass kicked by Primrose boss battle
Really great stuff all around. Interesting battle system, fantastic music and audio design, surprisingly decent voice acting and writing, beautiful art.
The vignette screen effect needs to be toned down, but this is an incredibly solid title and I want it in my veins upon release.
The vignette screen effect needs to be toned down, but this is an incredibly solid title and I want it in my veins upon release.
Yeah that'd work too
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Man I played that demo for hours and I'm still not done. Just got to that shrine in the east (lol @ having to beat up the guy who says "hey go back", I guess you can probably charm him too). Monsters are quite strong in there, I might need to come back with a better support NPC than Tobias...
I wonder how the hell I can beat the 5* villager, since she's seemingly immune to break...
Anyway, that's a great demo and I love the combat, art style, music, everything really.
I wonder how the hell I can beat the 5* villager, since she's seemingly immune to break...
Anyway, that's a great demo and I love the combat, art style, music, everything really.
Damn
That trailer has the same content as the one I linked to except it's shorter, and in Japanese. Don't see the point tbh
Nope. Olberic says "No, this is not the way I must go"
CielTynave
Member
Aw shit, I was just about to start up the demo and saw this. Pretty much an instant pass for me.
Big Green Anus
Member
I also need help understanding mechanics such as the shield and boosting. Took forever to kill basic enemy in Primrose side.
QisTopTier
XisBannedTier
I'm now looking forward to this game after the demo more than Mario and Xeno
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Try it anyway. The encounter rate is reasonable, and as someone who is NOT fond of random battles it didn't bother me. I'm also pretty sure the final game will have a Bravely Default-like setting to reduce the encounter rate, though I'll make sure to suggest it in the survey.
Do you people mash buttons during the tutorial or what?
Check the enemy's shield level. For example it might say 1, or 2, or 5 for advanced enemies. You can whittle this down by doing an attack they are vulnerable to. For example, most mobs in Primrose's scenario are weak to dagger attacks which is good 'cause that's her weapon. Some are weak to spears, swords, dark magic, etc. and the first time you meet an enemy you have to figure out their weakness. Once their shield is at 0, you "Break" them, which stuns them and lets you do massive damage.
Boost adds extra attack. So if you boost twice, you'll attack 3x. If an enemy has a level 2 shield rating, and you boost attack 3x with its weakness (e.g. dagger), the first two attacks will deplete it shield and the 3rd one will do extra damage. Once the enemy's turn returns, its shield comes back up.
Make good use of the special abilities. If you manage to use a max-Boosted ability on a shield-broken enemy, the damage will be insane (hard to pull off though but it's possible). SP is easy enough to come by so don't worry about wasting it.
The key is timing your boost chains properly, and understanding enemy weaknesses.
truestatic
Member
What're the odds that some of Bravely's mechanics get implemented that help the player decide their engagement on random battles, like encounter rate, fast forward, and autobattle?
AYYY let's hope.
AYYY let's hope.
truestatic
Member
That was pretty great.
othersteve
Member
Wow. Impressive stuff. Two hours into Primrose's side and I'm loving this so far. The aesthetic is gorgeous, and that soundtrack... Sheesh. Live orchestra, jazz ensemble, electric guitar.
What a stellar demo. Bravo, Square, and welcome back.
What a stellar demo. Bravo, Square, and welcome back.
SilverLunar
Member
Oh wow, i played Live a Live last year, and this is so similar to it! Buying a Switch as soon as this hits.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Game is too PC to say "Go fuck yourself", but grimdark enough to deal with subjects of
years of abusive pimping and rape, including child abuse
I was not expecting Primrose's story to be so disturbing. :\
truestatic
Member
It did not pull any punches. I'm... less troubled by Prim's character after having seen her
murder her pimp
Honestly though the line was more unique, subtle, and appropriate to Primrose as it was imo.