Nintendo Switch

[Kurausukun]

I never personally saw the point of the Virtual Console except for things like the 3DS Pokemon titles where they added wireless multiplayer. Aside from things like that, you can just use an emulator. In fact, that's literally what you're doing when you're playing a Virtual Console title anyway. Yes, it's convenient to have everything on one system, but you don't necessarily need the Virtual Console to accomplish that; there are already emulators available, and I'm sure more will appear as the homebrew scene develops even further. Also, I don't see generalized GC/Wii emulators being possible for the Switch. As I recall, someone did a test and wasn't able to run Wind Waker fullspeed. I'm not saying it's impossible to have GC or Wii games on the Switch, but if they happen, my money would be on it being an engine rewrite/port instead of an emulator.

[Shonumi]

(08-20-2018, 06:51 AM)Admentus Wrote: Remember, I still have respect for the games you like and play!

And I respect yours too, of course Perhaps I am a bit too defensive about some games, but like I said before, I have no sacred cows. Even my favorite games have flaws, so I try to remember that when discussing this stuff

(08-20-2018, 06:51 AM)Admentus Wrote: Just wondering, you going for a retail release of Octopath Traveler instead of a digital purchase?

Definitely retail. I'm not a fan of digital downloads. I like to "own" something. For games that might not have the budget/exposure, sure I'll download them, or if there's no retail alternative. I recently beat Iconoclasts on the PS4 (couldn't wait for the Switch version) and downloaded Sonic Mania via PSN as well. But when I can help it, I grab a boxed copy. Maybe this is me just being old. I never got into Steam and digital downloads. Maybe that's just the video game preservationist in me, always wary that these networks won't always be here, but my physical copy will be.

Truth be told, I did get Super Mario Odyssey as a download when I bought my Switch "bundle". I think I got mixed up, otherwise I would have ordered the physical version. I'm actually going to buy the physical version on the cheap one day.

About Virtual Consoles, I played a few on the Wii, but they never appealed to me. I'd just emulate what I want on my PC. Buy the game and dump it. The Switch changes that equation because of its portable form-factor, and VCs would be an easy, hack-free way to enjoy classics. I was looking forward to getting some classics that way. But I'm not so sure about this a-la-carte subscription thing. I'd rather have permanent access to a title rather than continually paying. Once you stop, you lose access... Ugh. Just, ugh.

[MayImilae]

I'm ~13 hours into Octopath Traveler. It's good! It definitely borrows from Bravely Default in its combat system, but that's totally fine with me since I adore that game and its combat! It has a really great blend of rock-paper-scissors style type mechanics and timing breaks to open enemies at just the right time to nail them with obscenely powerful attacks. It requires thought and planning, and setting it all up and executing it is so satisfying! My only complaint so far is that the eight characters and their stories are very disconnected at this point. The game has hinted eeeever so slightly at the Big Plot™, but it really makes you work for it. I mean, it's fine, the individual arcs are pretty well done for the most part, but the characters have had no reason to form a party at all, and in some cases have even had reasons NOT to join the party!

Spoiler/rant: (Show Spoiler)

This is like, actually a spoiler, just warning you!

I'm referring to the thief specifically. Like, his whole chapter 1 is about how he won't team up with anyone, because of how he misses his old partner and the implied awful end of that relationship, and then my party waltzes into town and he's like "sure let's team up!". Argh! Mechanics and narrative conflict! At least this is the exception, but it is kind of a symptom of how isolated their stories are for their whole first chapters.

It just seems like it would make more sense to have each chapter 1 of each character's stories tie into the Big Plot™ in some more direct way so they all have some reason to travel together. Without a big arc yet, I don't have a lot of drive to complete the game, so I find myself playing it only in bite size sessions every day. It's kind of hard to get lost in. Still, it helps that most of the individual character arcs have been really good so far! (Primose's arc is my favorite, she's just awesome! Ophilia's is also a favorite, since she practically is me) So it isn't been a terrible detraction from the game, as I've kept playing it and I'm having fun!

Also Octopath Traveler's music is FANTASTIC!

On a minor note, I really wish they borrowed a liiiittle more from Bravely Default, and picked up the the random encounters spawn control. I miss that so much! But it has a very easy to use fast travel available right from the start, that helps.

Spoiler: (Show Spoiler)

Octopath Traveler is way better than the awful mess that was Xenoblade Chronicles 2. *runs*

EDIT: OH! Word of warning for new players! Whoever you pick as your first character is YOUR character. They aren't kidding on that point. Until you reach chapter 4 of that character's story arc, which will be really late game from what I can tell, the character you pick first is going to be required to be in your party. So make sure you pick a character that is useful for any party and/or has mechanics that you enjoy. You'll be with them for quite some time! Personally, I went with Ophilia, for practical reasons - since she's a healer she's always useful. I've been happy with that choice! She doesn't have a lot of type or weapon variety, but she's really strong, can attack-all early on, is a healer, and isn't super boring mechanically, so she's a good first pick!

[DacoTaco]

octopath = best game ive played in a VERY long time
music = amazing
primrose story = the best and her final battle/music is SO GOOD
thief = game breaking ability
mechanics = alot to play with, so very good

basically my opinion of it in a nutshell

[MayImilae]

Oh? How is the thief game breaking?

[DacoTaco]

(08-22-2018, 11:04 AM)MayImilae Wrote: Oh? How is the thief game breaking?

alot of characters have overpowered gear on them which you can steal. get those, eqiup it and shit gets to easy.

there is stuff you can steal that is even better then the gear i have now after 70+ playtime. its insane...
imo random npc's shouldn't have 300+ atk swords, 300+ armor or +250 elemental atk items.

also : <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3NlJYGb2us

[MayImilae]

.........

*adds the thief back to her party*

EDIT: Eeehhh, I changed my mind. It's kind of annoying, with the reputation system and all. Plus the game is already fairly easy as it is.

[Shonumi]

Heh, I'm excited to sink my teeth into this game. Should be here tomorrow

[DacoTaco]

(08-22-2018, 03:05 PM)MayImilae Wrote: .........

*adds the thief back to her party*

EDIT: Eeehhh, I changed my mind. It's kind of annoying, with the reputation system and all. Plus the game is already fairly easy as it is.

meh, just lvl him a bit and he can steal without much trouble. and even if you did, reload save and DONE

personally i dont want the thief because

1) i dont want to cheat my way through

2) in fights he's semi useless compared to olberic and the scholar

i only have him because im doing his story atm xD (there is a secret ending if you do all char stories)


also, personally i didn't find the game easy, specially in boss fights. even with 3 60+ char's and lvl 26 cleric i had trouble with chapter 4 of the cleric...
you really need to think in though fights, which ive seen quiet a few off (caves, boss fights, when i was under equipped for my lvl because LOLNOMONEY in the first 40ish lvl's )

[MayImilae]

I may not complete Octopath Traveler. I really want to like the game, and it has a lot of charm and some neat mechanics, but the further I go into the game... the less I'm enjoying it. The game is SO stingy with plot, yet at the same time it is cranking up its difficulty rather much for me. And not in an interesting or fun kind of difficulty. Instead of having new mechanics or interesting challenges, the Chapter 2 bosses are just... cheaper. Like, one turn they'll do next to no damage, and the other the boss and its minions do 600 damage attack all moves one after the other and I just baaarely survive - and only because I was playing super cautiously, keeping my health at maximum and only using BP for breaking (which is not fun and draws the already spongey boss battles waaaay out).

The type of challenge in games is critical for me. Maybe it's just a quirk of my brain, but I don't get any enjoyment for overcoming arbitrary challenges in games; at the end I'm just glad the stress is over and I can go back to the fun bits. I do play games with challenge in them of course, but I'm only ok with it if the encounter is interesting in its own right. Like, if there is a challenging boss with interesting new mechanics, lots of ways for me to approach it, and a great story payoff waiting, I'll enjoy it despite the difficulty and have a good experience overall. It's still stressful, but options make it easier since I'm not always trying new strategies, and the reward compensates for the stress. Octopath Traveler... is not doing that. It's just getting harder to be harder, while the experience itself has not gotten better. It's still good-but-I've-played-better JRPG mechanics with totally isolated characters and no Big Plot™ yet even 30 hours in. Ugh.

Meanwhile I'm seeing lots of games I'm interested in coming to the Switch, like Iconoclast and Hyperlight Drifter. And I keep asking myself, why am I doing hour long boring boss fights with cheap attacks for five minutes of amusing but not amazing writing afterwards, when I could be trying those? For some hope that there is something interesting if I keep going, I guess.