An other turn-based strategy game, this time from Marvelous Interactive, which will soon be ported in the States by Atlus. Reason for importing was pretty simple: had no news on a possible translation and the game looked like it was worth a try.
However, once popped in the cart into the DS and watched the animated intro (decently done but far too compressed...pixels are large and almost unbearable), I realized that the language barrier would prevent me from doing almost anything: aside for a few menu titles it's all in japanese, texts and voices alike.
The first missions are very easy, and if you have any experience with any turn-based strategy game it will be easy to figure out how to move your units and issue attack order or use healing items. The UI uses the touch screen for everything and to display the battlefield, while the top screen shows datas on terrain, monsters, characters or items.
Graphics are very FFTA-like, just sharper, more brilliant and somewhat less plain. Character portraits are wonderful, but after getting used to Grim Grimoire, returning to static busts with a couple of expressions is kinda harsh - however there is a lot of dubbing and it's good - both acting and compression.
The game right now feels a bit shallow. There's no real distinction between the first four characters you get in the beginning and essentially is all about ganging up on an enemy until it's dead - maps feature various heights (measured in tiles, just like Disgaea) and magic has an impressive rock-paper-scissor structure with seven magic schools intertwined with weaknesses and affinities, but I guess I'm too early to see any of this...or even understand, sometimes the game is just cryptic and it feels there are a lot of secondary rules just like in Yggdra Union - however there were english tutorials in that game.
From what I've gathered from the manual there's also a way to mix weapons and items as well as a Fire Emblem-esque love theater between characters, and various ways to unlock special moves, which is something I'm really looking forward to. Wi-fi connection sounds promising too, I hope I will actually find someone to play with.
However, once popped in the cart into the DS and watched the animated intro (decently done but far too compressed...pixels are large and almost unbearable), I realized that the language barrier would prevent me from doing almost anything: aside for a few menu titles it's all in japanese, texts and voices alike.
The first missions are very easy, and if you have any experience with any turn-based strategy game it will be easy to figure out how to move your units and issue attack order or use healing items. The UI uses the touch screen for everything and to display the battlefield, while the top screen shows datas on terrain, monsters, characters or items.
Graphics are very FFTA-like, just sharper, more brilliant and somewhat less plain. Character portraits are wonderful, but after getting used to Grim Grimoire, returning to static busts with a couple of expressions is kinda harsh - however there is a lot of dubbing and it's good - both acting and compression.
The game right now feels a bit shallow. There's no real distinction between the first four characters you get in the beginning and essentially is all about ganging up on an enemy until it's dead - maps feature various heights (measured in tiles, just like Disgaea) and magic has an impressive rock-paper-scissor structure with seven magic schools intertwined with weaknesses and affinities, but I guess I'm too early to see any of this...or even understand, sometimes the game is just cryptic and it feels there are a lot of secondary rules just like in Yggdra Union - however there were english tutorials in that game.
From what I've gathered from the manual there's also a way to mix weapons and items as well as a Fire Emblem-esque love theater between characters, and various ways to unlock special moves, which is something I'm really looking forward to. Wi-fi connection sounds promising too, I hope I will actually find someone to play with.
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