Post by Bytor on Jun 29, 2009 12:55:31 GMT -5
-Visuals- 7.5/10
There are some definite issues with the graphics. One problem is the game was released in Japan over a year before it hit the US market, so at the start the graphics are a year older looking. The second issue is the frame rate sometimes is a bit choppy and the backgrounds definitely suffer from "polygonalitis". Having said that the graphics will grow on you. The over all futuristic science feel very well made, especially if you consider the age of the game.
-Sound- 8.5/10
I personally found the voice acting to be excellent. The characters develop as you progress and yet they each remain true to their original identities (Alan starts as a whiner, and stays that way, lol) and while the voices may seem a tad over the top at times I found myself drawn to them anyway and by the end their pain and triumphs were my pain and triumphs.
-Gameplay- 9.2/10
There are many aspects to gameplay which influenced my high score, although I admit one thing which is certainly, to some, an issue will cause the score to go down drastically, more on that later. The basic gameplay is an easily recognized turn based PRG battle system, but with some twists. One twist is the boost gauge, each of your allies has this gauge which is increased by one increment on each successful attack, once the gauge is maxed you can, regardless of whether it is your turn or not, then attack again. by careful and strategic control of the battle you can, and sometimes must, set it up so that you get 3 or 4 attacks in a row while allowing the enemy none, this is very helpful in some of the tougher battles. One other aspect of the fights is the implementation of the A. G. W. S. units (fans of Xenogears will be real familiar with these) which are basically mechanized units which your players occupy and control. These units have much higher hit points and much stronger attacks but more limited mobility and more pronounced weaknesses in using items (such as healing). Battles also give your characters more ether, skill and tech points. Tech points enable you to increase your technical skill, for instance your attack power, hit points, evasive maneuvers etc. Skill points enable you to develop more powerful skills based on the base skill points you have, and ether points increase your "scientific (read magic) attacks. The last aspect of the battle system is the AP, or action points. These points are rewarded by simply attacking your enemies, the amount you have determines the type of attacks you may preform, typically these attacks are powerful combo attacks (you may actually use a laser attack, followed by a slash attack followed by a powerful physical attack). Now, on to what was alluded to earlier...cutscenes...at times this game is more of an interactive movie than a game. For those of you who insist on action after action after action, forget it, this will no doubt bore you to tears. However, for those of you who don't mind sitting through endless cut scenes, which in my opinion add so much to the story, then this is the game for you. The cut scenes do not, in my opinion slow down the game play at all, instead they enhance the game and add substance to the story which unfolds.
-Story- 9.7/10
I am going to be very brief because otherwise I would write a book and you would either read it and not play the game or read it and be confused or read it, play the game and be disappointed that you knew exactly what was going to happen. In a nutshell it is the year 4767 and the universe is divided into a few controlling factions. Each of these factions wants to gain control of this item, called the Zohar, which they think will enable them to control the known universe. The game centers around Shion Uzuki and her attempts, along with several allies, to not only figure out what exactly is going on but to put a stop to the various "evil" factions which are waging war over the Zohar. The twists and turns of the game are remarkable and the story itself is second to known, although some might find it a tad pretentious i found it to be both mind boggling and highly addictive.
-Overall- 9.5/10
Here is another example of the sum being much more than the parts. The game simply hooks you and keeps you hooked pretty much from the very beginning. If, and I understand not everyone does, you like RPG's and you are a science fiction fan then I'm not sure it gets any better than this.