Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time hits PSP / PSN on July 31st!

[Kratoscar2008]

Are "nominations" like these that enables a company to keep rehashing games, a shame really only Big names get mentions as GotM or GoTY.

Very close doesnt matter really and further ensure me that brand rcognition gave KH the upper hand.

Usually those very big titles are well made, and probably the only area KH games (ones they put serious effort into) are generally agreed upon to be good at is gameplay... which can be enough. Plus I didn't elaborate enough on how an extra two weeks could've flipped things around: that'd have given Growlanser time for word of mouth to spread, and for those that got the game to sink enough time to form a real opinion. As is only importers and those with review copies could get that kind of time (obviously), and Growlanser definitely doesn't start fast, it's pacing is actually kind of bad at first though this gets better.

KH 1 and 2 had slower starts than WoT (Not sure in this KH case tough)

[Aeolus]

Are "nominations" like these that enables a company to keep rehashing games, a shame really only Big names get mentions as GotM or GoTY.

Very close doesnt matter really and further ensure me that brand rcognition gave KH the upper hand.

Usually those very big titles are well made, and probably the only area KH games (ones they put serious effort into) are generally agreed upon to be good at is gameplay... which can be enough. Plus I didn't elaborate enough on how an extra two weeks could've flipped things around: that'd have given Growlanser time for word of mouth to spread, and for those that got the game to sink enough time to form a real opinion. As is only importers and those with review copies could get that kind of time (obviously), and Growlanser definitely doesn't start fast, it's pacing is actually kind of bad at first though this gets better.

KH 1 and 2 had slower starts than WoT (Not sure in this KH case tough)

I don't know, that island segment from KH1 moved by pretty quickly if you knew what you were doing (KH2 on the other hand was indeed glacial).

[Mickeymac92]

Glacial or not, I still found the beginning of KH2 to be one of the better parts of the game, along with those Gummy Ship battles.

I'm too...scared to play this game. =P I was all ready for it until I found out that it doesn't use a traditional grid-based system (I skimmed over the battle system parts in the reviews since I simply assumed it was standard. Live and learn). Strategy games are notoriously frustrating for me, so the thought of having to learn a completely new gameplay style has me quacking in my boots - it just seems too daunting! I know that sounds weird, since I played and enjoyed and didn't suck too much at Heritage of War, but honestly, I didn't know that was a strategy game until someone pointed it out to me. I just figured it was like FFXII - an RPG with a little more control over your allies. I may end up putting this series off for a long time.

Though, I think Phantom Brave may have a similar style of gameplay. I suppose I could always play that first and see how I handle it. I'm just in that game for the music, so I don't mind if it turns out it sucks.

[Aeolus]

Glacial or not, I still found the beginning of KH2 to be one of the better parts of the game, along with those Gummy Ship battles.

I'm too...scared to play this game. =P I was all ready for it until I found out that it doesn't use a traditional grid-based system (I skimmed over the battle system parts in the reviews since I simply assumed it was standard. Live and learn). Strategy games are notoriously frustrating for me, so the thought of having to learn a completely new gameplay style has me quacking in my boots - it just seems too daunting! I know that sounds weird, since I played and enjoyed and didn't suck too much at Heritage of War, but honestly, I didn't know that was a strategy game until someone pointed it out to me. I just figured it was like FFXII - an RPG with a little more control over your allies. I may end up putting this series off for a long time.

Though, I think Phantom Brave may have a similar style of gameplay. I suppose I could always play that first and see how I handle it. I'm just in that game for the music, so I don't mind if it turns out it sucks.

Think of it like an RTS rather than a standard SRPG. Just replace the hoards of Marines with a single anime. Similarly replace vehicles with anime that can shoot really far, and nukes with anime that casts magic. Then just point and click to where you want each anime to go, and when they get there what to do, and now you know how to play.

[TiamatNM]

Phantom brave is my favorite NIS game.  Grids are cool but I like a well done gridless system better

[daved]

Glacial or not, I still found the beginning of KH2 to be one of the better parts of the game, along with those Gummy Ship battles.

I'm too...scared to play this game. =P I was all ready for it until I found out that it doesn't use a traditional grid-based system (I skimmed over the battle system parts in the reviews since I simply assumed it was standard. Live and learn). Strategy games are notoriously frustrating for me, so the thought of having to learn a completely new gameplay style has me quacking in my boots - it just seems too daunting! I know that sounds weird, since I played and enjoyed and didn't suck too much at Heritage of War, but honestly, I didn't know that was a strategy game until someone pointed it out to me. I just figured it was like FFXII - an RPG with a little more control over your allies. I may end up putting this series off for a long time.

Though, I think Phantom Brave may have a similar style of gameplay. I suppose I could always play that first and see how I handle it. I'm just in that game for the music, so I don't mind if it turns out it sucks.

I think Growlanser falls under the easy to learn, hard to master category.  But the series combat system is not as (needlessly) complicated as most tactical / strategy RPGs.  Really, I think calling it a SRPG is misleading... It's more like a traditional RPG with some tactical and real time strategy elements.  You still explore towns / dungeons like a traditional RPG and interract with NPCs.  It's only a strategy RPG in the sense that you can move your characters across the map and there are objectives in addition to "kill all the enemies".  I think it's very accessible to newcomers (and the battles in the first couple hours are rather easy and feature in game tutorials).   

I'm about 25 hours into the game and really enjoying it so far.  It's definitely not easy but not ridiculously frustrating either.  If all else fails you can grind just like a traditional RPG, though it's arguably less useful to grind and more about devising the most effective strategy for beating the mission. 

[greg]

You know what else needs some bolstered rep?

Langrisser.

Oh, HELL YEAH! Too bad Masaya is gone. NCS is no longer in the gaming industry.

[daved]

You know what else needs some bolstered rep?

Langrisser.

Oh, HELL YEAH! Too bad Masaya is gone. NCS is no longer in the gaming industry.

I never played a Langrisser title but I'd like to.  Maybe I'll check out the fan translation of IV once I finish WoT.

[cj_iwakura]

You know what else needs some bolstered rep?

Langrisser.

Oh, HELL YEAH! Too bad Masaya is gone. NCS is no longer in the gaming industry.

I never played a Langrisser title but I'd like to.  Maybe I'll check out the fan translation of IV once I finish WoT.

I strongly recommend playing Warsong/Langrisser 1 on the Genesis. Amazing stuff. One of the most frantic SRPGs I've ever played.

[Aurian]

Anyone have a game script? The cutscenes don't seem to be captioned and my hearing isn't good enough to make out the voice acting :(

[Fei]

Oh god, don't let the gridless system deter you.  That's an awful reason to be afraid.  It boils down to the same tactics anyway; it just has a different feel.

[Der Jermeister]

I've been largely enjoying the game except for that stupid fucking sidequest where you have to escort the braindead merchant to your town, which is too easy to fail.

[daved]

I've been largely enjoying the game except for that stupid fucking sidequest where you have to escort the braindead merchant to your town, which is too easy to fail.

A lot people seem to find the escort missions frustrating, but I find them pretty easy.  It's worth nothing that during any mission that requires you to protect a NPC, you can cast protective / healing spells or use healing items on the NPC.  Having Frayne constantly healing the NPC makes things considerably easier than focusing all of your effort on kiling the enemies. 

[insertnamehere]

Anyone have a game script? The cutscenes don't seem to be captioned and my hearing isn't good enough to make out the voice acting :(

Do you have headphones?
You could use some and turn up the volume really high, though someone appears to have started uploading them to youtube, you could probably hear them easily with computer volume turned way up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aZbDxI4ogo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdEcHtXATJc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlVlmiSVxL8

[cj_iwakura]

Does anyone have some pointers for the Alda Bridge return mission? My god. It never ends.