Crimson_Gold
Member
I really am enjoying this game. It is not perfect, but it is certainly charming.
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Ni No Kuni - Anyone else felt a bit let down?
- Thread starter TalesOfWin
- Start date
It's good that sometimes a JRPG get the spotlight like that, especially if there's something like "Ghibli" on the box.
As for me I despise almost every game Level 5 made, this one didn't look appealing at all and all the reviews, feedback and the demo confort me in that this game absolutely wasn't meant for me, especially the gameplay which looks like crap.
As for me I despise almost every game Level 5 made, this one didn't look appealing at all and all the reviews, feedback and the demo confort me in that this game absolutely wasn't meant for me, especially the gameplay which looks like crap.
Hours Left
Member
It's a good RPG with it's share of problems.
I think the pros easily outweigh the cons though.
I think the pros easily outweigh the cons though.
Schopenhauer
Member
Can't say I felt let down by the game but I didn't care much for it.
People have already mentioned the reasons I disliked it multiple times over now. But to summarize, the battle system didn't do it for me, the characters were mostly annoying and the story was silly.
The game did look great though.
People have already mentioned the reasons I disliked it multiple times over now. But to summarize, the battle system didn't do it for me, the characters were mostly annoying and the story was silly.
The game did look great though.
Loved everything about it except the battle system. That awkward moment at the start of each battle when I wait for my AI partner to attack so I can make sure we focus on the same target. That awkward moment where the AI familiar pinches my badly needed health and magic ups. The whole combat system just feels awkward to me.
WAR recon zero
Banned
I played a Ghibili movie. Loved it enough to marathon 10 hours in the end game.
Best jrpg of the gen. Name one that is better on consoles.
Best jrpg of the gen. Name one that is better on consoles.
HammerOfThor
Member
I was really itching for a JRPG and couldn't wait to play it.
However, after about 15 hours I just can't bring myself to turn on the S3 and play it.
I want to go back, but just can't seem to.
However, after about 15 hours I just can't bring myself to turn on the S3 and play it.
I want to go back, but just can't seem to.
robotzombie
Member
I totally felt let down by this game and it was entirely due to the terribly unfun battle system. I had no interest collecting and fighting with the crappy monsters. I feel like if they just focused on the three human party members and gave it a wild arms style battle system where each character is very unique it could have made for a pretty excellent game
I can name two JRPGs that I think were better than Ni No Kuni and they are....
Tales of Vesperia and The Last Story!
Meccanical
Member
Lost Odyssey is the best RPG I have played this gen. Ni No Kuni started well but the game was so easy I stopped playing after I got to the desert town.
toddhunter
Member
From everything I have read, it seems to have the same strengths and weaknesses as RG and their other games.
Which is why I am yet to play it. Their style of JRPG just doesn't appeal to me. Hence my only real let down is that they kept their distinctive style. Can't really blame them for that.
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
I had lots of fun with The Last Story, myself. It could use a fuckton more colour, better textures and maybe some better tunes, but I had lots of fun with the combat.
Meccanical
Member
Combat got really old for me.
I don't know, didn't care for it.
Also Zael and Calista drove me up a wall.
Thank God for Cyrenne and Lowell.
cooljeanius
Member
I'm still let down that the DS version never came to America.
bodine1231
Member
I was let down as well. I thought it was a good game but it didn't come close to Xenoblade.
Dark Schala
Eloquent Princess
Mah boy, right here.
That was part of the reason why it is selling so well even though it's a watered-down Ghibli experience. Aside from the character designs and art direction, Level-5 couldn't quite capture the essence of Ghibli story and character mannerisms.
I thought the combat in The Last Story was a blast and the voice acting was beyond amazing, though I didn't care for Zael, he looked too much like a typical 80's teenager for me and his was just so whiny. Oh, I forgot to include Lost Odyssey on my list
Shouta
Member
Capturing was a bit annoying but everything else was fine to me. Didn't have any issues with combat, aside from not being particularly difficult. The story could've been a bit more compelling with its events but it was pretty orthodox and the characters were pretty fun still. Enjoyed it a lot.
Just started it a few days ago, and while I'm largely really enjoying a lot of things about it (music, art style, Mr. Drippy omg so cute), holy baloney does the hand-holding go on for a long time. Some stuff at the beginning just felt so frivolous, like the trip back to Motorville to hunt down a cat.
It's mostly what I've expected so far though; just waiting for the game to open up to really see what it's all about.
It's mostly what I've expected so far though; just waiting for the game to open up to really see what it's all about.
Karsticles
Member
This is exactly my opinion of the game, except for having concerns about boss encounter design (unless you mean the boss weaknesses, those were lame).
FateBreaker
Member
Definitely one of the best games I've played, so no, I completely disagree.
demosthenes
Member
I've only played it for 8 hours or so, so far. THe reason I haven't played more though is due to tax season killing me. I have almost no time to game and most of my gaming is when I'm in bed trying to fall asleep on my Vita.
Deified Data
Banned
Went into the game with a lot of enthusiasm, but that slowly waned as I got more party members, battles became a bit more hectic, and I began to realize just how much time I was spending recruiting all the monsters in each area. I strongly disliked the monster-recruitment system of "keep fighting Monster X until it decides to recruit you".
I liked Oliver, I loved Drippy, but the story just wasn't motivating me to finish. I'd like to return to it someday.
I liked Oliver, I loved Drippy, but the story just wasn't motivating me to finish. I'd like to return to it someday.
FateBreaker
Member
I don't really think that's the consensus.
PaineReign
Neo Member
I just bought it yesterday, I am like 7 hours in, I just unlocked
.
Basically every line not said by Drippy is groan worthy. The first conversation with
(literally 4 hours in the game, but I suppose I will spoiler anyway). Actually that entire quest line (ie going
) was awful. Clearly it was meant to elicit some emotion from the audience, it was just so poorly executed and written (horribly flat characters that I have no basis for caring about) that I got nothing out of it.
It doesn't help that I have not gotten one of the 2D scenes in a few hours, which makes me realizes how front loaded the best content is.
Also, apart from the characters and enemies I think the graphics leave something to be desired. Occasional low res textures and blandly flat landscapes (could have at least added grass or something to them) make the world feel bland compared to the creativity and effort that went into humans and monsters.
I am still finding something to enjoy in the battle system and once that is finished I am just going to stop playing. Probably not worth the $55 download.
monster taming
Basically every line not said by Drippy is groan worthy. The first conversation with
Ester and her dad
back to your town and talking to Myrtle
It doesn't help that I have not gotten one of the 2D scenes in a few hours, which makes me realizes how front loaded the best content is.
Also, apart from the characters and enemies I think the graphics leave something to be desired. Occasional low res textures and blandly flat landscapes (could have at least added grass or something to them) make the world feel bland compared to the creativity and effort that went into humans and monsters.
I am still finding something to enjoy in the battle system and once that is finished I am just going to stop playing. Probably not worth the $55 download.
Dunkelgrau
Member
I was pretty hyped for this one but after about ten hours (I received the letter for the ship now) I am very disappointed. Combat is fun, but there is so much childish dialog and tutorials, that you all have to skip away. Damn, when does this end?
Will this game open up later or should I skip it?
Will this game open up later or should I skip it?
pretty much, stopped around 20 hours in more or less
i wanna try it again sometime though, i really liked the first few hours
The Mana Legend
Banned
It's a good game, and I'm only in the desert region right now, but I really don't like the disconnected feel of the world. All separated by regions surrounded in mountains, and only one central city per region. It feels pretty lifeless.
And battle system is bland as shit, but it's not bad enough to the point where I hate it.
That world map music is fucking glorious though. The graphics are great, but pretty disappointed due to the limitations of the PS3.
I really hate the Gateway mechanic though. It really slows the game down.
And battle system is bland as shit, but it's not bad enough to the point where I hate it.
That world map music is fucking glorious though. The graphics are great, but pretty disappointed due to the limitations of the PS3.
I really hate the Gateway mechanic though. It really slows the game down.
The only letdown for me is the mindnumbingly bad story (Ni No Kuni would be much, MUCH better if the story is just about Oliver travelling around the world rather than this choosen one bullshit) and poor gameplay mechanic introduction. I mean, WHY the fuck you give all defense command long after that fight with the Pot Genie?! It still pisses me off to no end since the AI just keep dying because of that stupid self-explosion attack.
JimmyRustler
Member
I'm struggling too to finish it. Took me very long to get along with the extremely childish theme and dialog. The first few hours were hardly bareable. Like that game was designed for kids below 6 years. Awefull...
But I somehow did get used to that after a while. What pisses me off now most is the mindless descision to let your minions drop to level 1 again after the evolution. Who the hell had this stupid idea? What's the point in doing the evolution when you have to grind for a few hours after that before you can actually use that evolved minion again.? I don't get it.
But I somehow did get used to that after a while. What pisses me off now most is the mindless descision to let your minions drop to level 1 again after the evolution. Who the hell had this stupid idea? What's the point in doing the evolution when you have to grind for a few hours after that before you can actually use that evolved minion again.? I don't get it.
Edag Plata
Banned
The visuals are absolutely stunning as is the music. The problem for me is that every other second a character would go into dialogue vomit and start blabbering about nothing for a long period of time. Most of it wasn't even voice acted.
It's one thing to have text in an RPG, I understand that, but this and Mario and Luigi Dream Team just have waaaaaay too much pointless talking.
It's one thing to have text in an RPG, I understand that, but this and Mario and Luigi Dream Team just have waaaaaay too much pointless talking.
SkylineRKR
Member
Did I feel let down? Not really.
I don't like Level 5 all that much, I feel they usually come up a bit short as was the case with the WKC games and Rogue Galaxy. NNK was actually enjoyable compared to those, something I did not expect on forehand.
But the padding is tedious, and having to restore the heart of the king of every fucking region gets predictable. You always have to backtrack to collect certain emotions because you can only store one and sometimes the game won't give a specific one away until the story demands you to get one.
I don't like Level 5 all that much, I feel they usually come up a bit short as was the case with the WKC games and Rogue Galaxy. NNK was actually enjoyable compared to those, something I did not expect on forehand.
But the padding is tedious, and having to restore the heart of the king of every fucking region gets predictable. You always have to backtrack to collect certain emotions because you can only store one and sometimes the game won't give a specific one away until the story demands you to get one.
dapperbandit
Banned
Some of it felt too grindy.
Which becomes an issue when there's like a maximum of 4 things characters ay at the start/end of a battle.
Some of the stuff you need to do to for side quests crossed a line for me. That alchemists quest where you need a whole bunch of very rare ingredients which you can only get from golden enemies which may or may not spawn in particular areas and won't necessary drop the ingredients was infuriating and I just didn't have the patience to complete it.
Also the capture chance for some enemies was so low it was easier to actually capture the base form of some familiars, do like 30 battles and metamorph them into the required form for side quests. I remember being asked to capture a certain familiar in that snowy area and literally after 50 battles had not had the chance for capture a single time.
Which becomes an issue when there's like a maximum of 4 things characters ay at the start/end of a battle.
Some of the stuff you need to do to for side quests crossed a line for me. That alchemists quest where you need a whole bunch of very rare ingredients which you can only get from golden enemies which may or may not spawn in particular areas and won't necessary drop the ingredients was infuriating and I just didn't have the patience to complete it.
Also the capture chance for some enemies was so low it was easier to actually capture the base form of some familiars, do like 30 battles and metamorph them into the required form for side quests. I remember being asked to capture a certain familiar in that snowy area and literally after 50 battles had not had the chance for capture a single time.
Probably the PS3 game I enjoyed the most this year. The game has some flaws and tapers of towards the end, but I really liked the style of the game and Drippy was just great. Don't know just really was in love with the world and art style. Battle system could be really nice if they build upon it and remove some of the clutter. I really disliked the grinding for materials and for certain side quests, but overall that didn't deter me enough to take away from the fun I had.
Especially in the beginning the game's really slow and feels something like Inazuma Eleven, after Ding Dong Dell it picks up but a couple of hours in I started to hate the battle system and the annoying soundbites at the end of every battle. It's a decent RPG which oozes charm but doesn't offer much in terms of gameplay IMO.
It was disheartening reaching the 10th or so hour and realizing the game is absolutely subpar. It got so much praise from reviewers and sites, yet it's mind-blowing how average the game is. They really scored it high for the graphics alone, didn't they?
THE GOOD
1. Great atmosphere.
2. Funny and interesting world.
3. Studio Ghibli charm, but the animated sequences are far and in between.
4. Soundtrack.
5. Graphics.
6. Wizard Companion.
THE BAD
1. Battle system is laughably shallow.
2. AI of your allies is otherworldly stupid. Can't end a single boss with all of them alive.
3. Story is uninspired and rehashed from decades of jRPGs.
4. Characters aren't deep enough, feel like dolls most of the times.
5. Oliver's world is completely unneeded. Oliver is all kinds of uninteresting.
6. Side quests are boring and repetitive.
7. Linear dungeons.
8. Chests give no real treasures, you don't even feel compelled to search for them.
9. No mistery, every location is shown on the world map since the first time you're given the book.
10. Plot progression is too straightforward.
11. The emotions-locket system is an insult to every 5 years old kid out there. There's literally no reason for it to exist.
12 Creature taming is broken: every time you evolve your creature it gets WORSE by going back to level one! You need lots of battles to bring it back on par with its previous iteration.
13 Every creature you tame is level one, even if you're level 50 and you had problem beating it and capturing it.
14 The hand-holding is ridiculous, worse than in Skyward Sword, you're told what you have to do and where you have to go every single second.
15 No real challenge, if you die you just lose 10% of your mostly useless money and retry how many times you want.
16. Beautiful but bad world map, where places are too far from each other: it's a chore to navigate.
17. No random encounters, except you can't really escape from monsters 95% of the times, because they're far quicker than you and sometimes see you even if they're facing the other way.
Bought it expecting a masterpiece, biggest delusion of this generation after FFXIII for me.
THE GOOD
1. Great atmosphere.
2. Funny and interesting world.
3. Studio Ghibli charm, but the animated sequences are far and in between.
4. Soundtrack.
5. Graphics.
6. Wizard Companion.
THE BAD
1. Battle system is laughably shallow.
2. AI of your allies is otherworldly stupid. Can't end a single boss with all of them alive.
3. Story is uninspired and rehashed from decades of jRPGs.
4. Characters aren't deep enough, feel like dolls most of the times.
5. Oliver's world is completely unneeded. Oliver is all kinds of uninteresting.
6. Side quests are boring and repetitive.
7. Linear dungeons.
8. Chests give no real treasures, you don't even feel compelled to search for them.
9. No mistery, every location is shown on the world map since the first time you're given the book.
10. Plot progression is too straightforward.
11. The emotions-locket system is an insult to every 5 years old kid out there. There's literally no reason for it to exist.
12 Creature taming is broken: every time you evolve your creature it gets WORSE by going back to level one! You need lots of battles to bring it back on par with its previous iteration.
13 Every creature you tame is level one, even if you're level 50 and you had problem beating it and capturing it.
14 The hand-holding is ridiculous, worse than in Skyward Sword, you're told what you have to do and where you have to go every single second.
15 No real challenge, if you die you just lose 10% of your mostly useless money and retry how many times you want.
16. Beautiful but bad world map, where places are too far from each other: it's a chore to navigate.
17. No random encounters, except you can't really escape from monsters 95% of the times, because they're far quicker than you and sometimes see you even if they're facing the other way.
Bought it expecting a masterpiece, biggest delusion of this generation after FFXIII for me.