Support NeoGAF

[j^aws]

... Anyone else see the similarities with the battle systems?

I tried BoF: DQ for the first time yesterday. I've had it for ages and just never got around to playing it (for shame!) and was shocked to see the battle system very reminiscent of a 'modern day' SSI Gold Box system... Wasn't expecting that at all (a good thing!).

I never payed any attention to the reviews; so that would explain my surprise. And it also reminds me of SRPGs without the 'grids'...

I've never played anything from this series before and I seem to recall a love/ hate reception to this game when it was first released: Are these some of the reasons for this?

Anyway, my interest has been piqued enough to explore the engine to see whether it can rival some of my favourites, e.g. Infinity Engine and Wizardry 8...

 

[Prime crotch]

Don't know, although I never played the Gold Box series but from what I saw isn't the combat text based?

 

[Brandon F]

I'd assume most of the criticisms for Dragon Quarter would stem from the save system, which has limits on hard saves. Inventory also has very limited capacity. The concept of restarting the entire game upon death might have also not gelled well with certain folk.

Not that it matters, the game is brilliant and the soundtrack is one of gamings best.

 

[discoalucard]

It's nothing like the previous BoF games so the fanbase was pretty irked. It's also a very difficult game, and it doesn't really go out of its way to explain the inner workings of how you're supposed to play it. I always found it kind of a spiritual sequel to Vagrant Story, even though the battle systems are nothing alike.

I do love the game dearly though. I've never played any of the Gold Box games, I've only heard of them. Any place out there with more reading?

 

[Ledsen]

I've never played anything from this series before and I seem to recall a love/ hate reception to this game when it was first released: Are these some of the reasons for this?

Die-hard BoF fans who wanted another cookie-cutter jRPG hated it. The rest of us fucking loved it.

 

[Prime crotch]

Die-hard BoF fans who wanted another cookie-cutter jRPG hated it. The rest of us fucking loved it.

Quite sad really, even the creator had to apologize to them, fuck them all.

 

[larvi]

Gold box combat was definitely not text based. It was squad based, tactital combat played on a grid using DnD rules, definitely what would be called a SRPG in the console world. They did use text passages to flesh out the story line but that's about it.

I'm not familiar with BOF DQ, sounds like I might like it though, what platform is it for?

 

[Prime crotch]

Gold box combat was definitely not text based. It was squad based, tactital combat played on a grid using DnD rules, definitely what would be called a SRPG in the console world. They did use text passages to flesh out the story line but that's about it.

I'm not familiar with BOF DQ, sounds like I might like it though, what platform is it for?

PS2

 

[Link1110]

(Might be spoilers, I never played the game)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APOX49pN0vE

That battle system looks alot like Arc the Lad 4.

 

[larvi]

PS2

Thanks, should have guessed. I've added it to my list of games to keep an eye out for.

 

[No6]

Comparing BOF5 to a Gold Box game is a serious stretch. Gold Box games have much more in common with FFTactics or even X-Com than BOF5, which is closer to... Grandia 2, I suppose.

 

[Tsubaki]

It's also a very difficult game, and it doesn't really go out of its way to explain the inner workings of how you're supposed to play it.

So you would prefer BoF5 have hand-holding?

BoF5 has its game design built so that you're forced to learn how to play the game (well, assuming you don't do the sissy SOL and Dragon Power thing). I remember that I didn't really utilize the combo system much

Spoiler

and at the end, there was a boss that could not even be damaged without comboing like mad. Initially I wondered why I couldn't really hurt the boss.

But when I figured it out, it was like I discovered another level of depth to an already awesomely awesome game.

With your limited inventory and healing opportunities, the game also forces you to use PETS to stack the battles in your favor.

Pretty much every game system in BoF5DQ is taught by game design, not by retarded unskippable tutorial levels.

Edit: WTF at the Grandia 2 comment. As if Grandia 2 was anything more than a dumbed-down-for-masses Grandia.

 

[birdchili]

they're not much alike at all.

gold box (as i recall - it's been a while)
- random encounters
- grid-based fights
- large scale battles (dozens and dozens of participants - fights can take ages)

bof:v
- encounters visible and able to be interacted with on the map
- gridless fights
- small scale battles (3 pcs and rarely more than a couple of enemies at once)
- survival horror/roguelike aspects (limited inventory and save slots)

both highly recommended though.

 

[Brandon F]

The sad irony is that the older BoF games were never good...except 4 for its lovely animation and somewhat mature content(bitchslapped by Capcom USA with hefty edits though...jerks!)

 

[Prime crotch]

The sad irony is that the older BoF games were never good...except 4 for its lovely animation and somewhat mature content(bitchslapped by Capcom USA with hefty edits though...jerks!)

Didn't they just cut one scene? Everything else was there I think.

 

[BlackTyrano]

BOF: DQ's battle system is very overrated here. It's hardly more strategic than your average RPG battle system in the end, though it apparently makes people feel smart so they like it alot. I give it respect for being different at least.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Too be honest, BOF: DQ is closer to a game like Tales of Symphony than SSI Gold Box.


But I am someone who loved both games (both are in my top ten RPGS of all time). So, I think if you liked one .. you would like the other (although the SSI Gold Box games are flaky to run nowadays and have some archaic game features.)

 

[j^aws]

Don't know, although I never played the Gold Box series but from what I saw isn't the combat text based?

It's 3rd-person grid based. Larvi explained it succinctly.

...
Not that it matters, the game is brilliant and the soundtrack is one of gamings best.

Definitely enjoying it so far...

...
I do love the game dearly though. I've never played any of the Gold Box games, I've only heard of them. Any place out there with more reading?

Some links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Box
http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/gold-box-series

Die-hard BoF fans who wanted another cookie-cutter jRPG hated it. The rest of us fucking loved it.

Hmm, maybe they could've branded this game as a new IP?

Quite sad really, even the creator had to apologize to them, fuck them all.

Really? Uh, probably means we're unlikely to see another then...

...
That battle system looks alot like Arc the Lad 4.

Haven't played that series; I'll check it out sometime...

Comparing BOF5 to a Gold Box game is a serious stretch. Gold Box games have much more in common with FFTactics or even X-Com than BOF5, which is closer to... Grandia 2, I suppose.

If you see it as being more in common with FFTactics: In my OP, I mentioned that "it also reminds me of SRPGs without the 'grids'..."; so at least we see something in common...

...
Pretty much every game system in BoF5DQ is taught by game design, not by retarded unskippable tutorial levels.

I'm still at the very beginning of the game but I'm definitely looking forward to experimenting with these...

they're not much alike at all.

gold box (as i recall - it's been a while)
- random encounters
- grid-based fights
- large scale battles (dozens and dozens of participants - fights can take ages)

bof:v
- encounters visible and able to be interacted with on the map
- gridless fights
- small scale battles (3 pcs and rarely more than a couple of enemies at once)
- survival horror/roguelike aspects (limited inventory and save slots)

both highly recommended though.

Interesting view on what you see as similarities and differences.

I'm still early into the game but the first similarities (and also why I mentioned SRPGs) that I noticed when I encountered a battle (and didn't expect) were the strategic use of line-of-sight and positioning that incur a 'cost' using an AP system. And this reminded me of the Gold Box games without 'grids'; and also SRPGs...

The random encounters I didn't take as being that significant because (as with SRPGs) I was reminded on how the 'battlefield' worked...

I was hoping for large scale battles; but if you say that there aren't any, well, I'll have to quench that thought!

BOF: DQ's battle system is very overrated here. It's hardly more strategic than your average RPG battle system in the end, though it apparently makes people feel smart so they like it alot. I give it respect for being different at least.

It's still early days... I've found out that you can't have more than 3 PCs and the battles aren't as large scale as the Gold Box series; but I won't let that deter me!

...
But I am someone who loved both games (both are in my top ten RPGS of all time). So, I think if you liked one .. you would like the other (although the SSI Gold Box games are flaky to run nowadays and have some archaic game features.)

I like RPGs with turn-based battle systems and ones that also make strategic use of line-of-sight and character positioning; yes, I can definitely see the appeal in both...