Conception II

[ZeronHitaro]

It's time to stop using 15 year old games as the benchmark for bad voice acting.

Chaos Wars - NA Release Date, 2008

15 years huh? ;-P

Snark aside, very certain there's more recent examples if the year 2014 is contemporary enough for you. The entire game's just chalk full of bad VA but this timestamp I think captures the spirit of it. 'This' is bad voice acting of similar caliber. Conception II blows this out of the water.

[deathsaber]

Also kinda find it very pot and kettle how many people here railing on Conception II with one fist but used the other to handwave pretty much all of Stick of Truth; which anything South Park is pretty much as juvenile, low-as-you-can-go, bottom of the barrel not-funny humor. I'll point it out again. SoT utilized ABORTION and ANAL RAPE (possibly of a minor; have no desire to research this particular topic but considering how many characters in the SP universe are children I think the odds are good enough to assume this until someone corrects me) multiple times for 'comedy'. Guess what it got? Editor's Choice. And yet Conception II is being ragged because of minor to moderate innuendo? *brain blown*

Real glad you brought up South Park- I was contemplating it in my defense of Conception (and games like it) but afraid I'd get shot down brutally becuase it isn't really a JRPG, anime, or tonally similar.  Conception 2 gives a lot of corny innuendo, a horny (but harmless) old man, some jiggle, and an accidental grope or two.  Southpark did indeed have your 4th grade character being sodomized on screen, graphic violence as well as straight up actual sex acts- ON SCREEN.  Granted, nothing in South Park was made to titilate, or be anything remotely serious- its all done in the name of outrageous/gross out humor.  But still- no outcry/controversy at all surrounded this. 

But bring up some light harem anime inspired game and here comes all the white knights. 

Look, I'm not saying Conception 2 is anything near GOTY material- but its just the kind of visual Novel/jrpg hybrid with attractive girls and bawdy boob humor I like to play once in a while.  I know the ladies have quite a few options geared towards them these days too, especially in the visual novel/dating sim world, which is fine.  People can debate the humor itself which will always be subjective, but it just rankles me to no end how a certain element out there just wants to outright drive these games off the shelves in the interest of having everything be just like Dark Souls or whatever other "hardcore" experience is popular at the moment.  Having variety is what makes life interesting. 

[Dice]

Granted, nothing in South Park was made to titilate, or be anything remotely serious- its all done in the name of outrageous/gross out humor.  But still- no outcry/controversy at all surrounded this. 

But bring up some light harem anime inspired game and here comes all the white knights. 

Whoops, what?

It's also been said a few times since that post that the bigger issue is when a game(s) relies on just one set of jokes than branching out into more diverse humour.  The type of yuks in Conception are mostly T-rated jokes about how big senpai's breasts are, much less the actual content of the game.

I think it's more (personally speaking) I'm bored of this.  I dunno, how long are these jokes funny for?  =/
I really don't hold much of an opinion for people who like these games (or rather I'm wishy-washy about it).  And while *I* don't like them, I can't fault people if they enjoy it for what it is.

[Embryon]

Also kinda find it very pot and kettle how many people here railing on Conception II with one fist but used the other to handwave pretty much all of Stick of Truth; which anything South Park is pretty much as juvenile, low-as-you-can-go, bottom of the barrel not-funny humor. I'll point it out again. SoT utilized ABORTION and ANAL RAPE (possibly of a minor; have no desire to research this particular topic but considering how many characters in the SP universe are children I think the odds are good enough to assume this until someone corrects me) multiple times for 'comedy'. Guess what it got? Editor's Choice. And yet Conception II is being ragged because of minor to moderate innuendo? *brain blown*

Real glad you brought up South Park- I was contemplating it in my defense of Conception (and games like it) but afraid I'd get shot down brutally becuase it isn't really a JRPG, anime, or tonally similar.  Conception 2 gives a lot of corny innuendo, a horny (but harmless) old man, some jiggle, and an accidental grope or two.  Southpark did indeed have your 4th grade character being sodomized on screen, graphic violence as well as straight up actual sex acts- ON SCREEN.  Granted, nothing in South Park was made to titilate, or be anything remotely serious- its all done in the name of outrageous/gross out humor.  But still- no outcry/controversy at all surrounded this. 

But bring up some light harem anime inspired game and here comes all the white knights. 

Look, I'm not saying Conception 2 is anything near GOTY material- but its just the kind of visual Novel/jrpg hybrid with attractive girls and bawdy boob humor I like to play once in a while.  I know the ladies have quite a few options geared towards them these days too, especially in the visual novel/dating sim world, which is fine.  People can debate the humor itself which will always be subjective, but it just rankles me to no end how a certain element out there just wants to outright drive these games off the shelves in the interest of having everything be just like Dark Souls or whatever other "hardcore" experience is popular at the moment.  Having variety is what makes life interesting. 

For what it's worth, I dislike Dark Souls and love games like Atelier, Trails in the Sky, etc. I also enjoy dark thematic material like in Shin Megami Tensei, Silent Hill, Valkyrie Profile, and so on. By no means do I want Conception to be "off the shelves," either, because I respect that it appeals to a particular crowd. My disdain for the humor may indeed be subjective, but I don't think you can deny that it's incredibly fixated on repeating the same type of joke over and over.

Also, it's not a very fun game. That's the most important thing I tried to drive home with my review. :)

[deathsaber]

Dice, for the record, the lack of controversy I speak of regarding Southpark is that amongst gamers themselves where The Stick of Truth is concerned.  - In general hardly anybody in the gaming world, mainstream review press included, seemed to have any problem with the content in that game. I know the mainstream zeitgeist has made controversy where South Park is concerned from the very start, but gamers could seem to care less. 

However, in comparison, Conception 2 has a pretty long thread going at virtually every major gaming discussion board out there right now debating its very nature.  I'm just pointing out how its funny these big debates pop up everytime when it happens that an anime-styled game dares to be a little saucy- but unquestioningly has far tamer material overall than South Park. 

Embryon, you have every right to your review and opinion that it isn't a fun game.  I value THIS website very much for its content and opinions, which are always very well stated.  I enjoy many types of games in all genres, styles, and tone too.  RPG and overwise.  Just remember, fun is a subjective thing.  Games like Conception 2 exist because some of us do like them and buy them, and I'm one of them :)

[ZeronHitaro]

Just a random thought.

Why do I get the feeling we're going to have this conversation all over again when Mugen Souls Z comes out? XD

Although to be fair at least Mugen Souls tried to mix things up and didn't rely on 'peon' jokes the entire time.

[Embryon]

Dice, for the record, the lack of controversy I speak of regarding Southpark is that amongst gamers themselves where The Stick of Truth is concerned.  - In general hardly anybody in the gaming world, mainstream review press included, seemed to have any problem with the content in that game. I know the mainstream zeitgeist has made controversy where South Park is concerned from the very start, but gamers could seem to care less. 

However, in comparison, Conception 2 has a pretty long thread going at virtually every major gaming discussion board out there right now debating its very nature.  I'm just pointing out how its funny these big debates pop up everytime when it happens that an anime-styled game dares to be a little saucy- but unquestioningly has far tamer material overall than South Park. 

Embryon, you have every right to your review and opinion that it isn't a fun game.  I value THIS website very much for its content and opinions, which are always very well stated.  I enjoy many types of games in all genres, styles, and tone too.  RPG and overwise.  Just remember, fun is a subjective thing.  Games like Conception 2 exist because some of us do like them and buy them, and I'm one of them :)

I appreciate this response very much. I love being part of RPGFan because I think we have an intelligent community that can have reasonable discussions.

[Annubis]

At which point do you give up on half baked ecchi games with hopes of titillation to simply go for eroge where the tits are actually there?
I mean, if the game has nothing else at all going for it... why the hell not go play an actual eroge that delivers the goods instead of teasing.

That's a real question.

[deathsaber]

Just a random thought.

Why do I get the feeling we're going to have this conversation all over again when Mugen Souls Z comes out? XD

Although to be fair at least Mugen Souls tried to mix things up and didn't rely on 'peon' jokes the entire time.

LOL didn't really care for that one!

[ZeronHitaro]

At which point do you give up on half baked ecchi games with hopes of titillation to simply go for eroge where the tits are actually there?
I mean, if the game has nothing else at all going for it... why the hell not go play an actual eroge that delivers the goods instead of teasing.

That's a real question.

I'll probably have the most boring answer out of the lot due to the HSDD- Never.

Personally I'd be quite happy to enjoy the Ecchi games with none of the Ecchi as I prefer more adorable character designs, light hearted plots, and decent combat/class systems without having to delve into the hard-drama plots most non-Ecchi RPGs rely on. My RPG entertainment needs pretty heavy on levity and even contain some brain deadness to it, considering that between my anime viewing and novel writing I saturate myself in enough 'darkness' and over-thinking as is. XP

So for me there's never really any combination of eating my cake and enjoying it.

[deathsaber]

At which point do you give up on half baked ecchi games with hopes of titillation to simply go for eroge where the tits are actually there?
I mean, if the game has nothing else at all going for it... why the hell not go play an actual eroge that delivers the goods instead of teasing.

That's a real question.

Because you are speakijng of porn and that is for scratching a completely different itch than what I would get out of something like this game.  There is no shortgage of that out there, and if I wanted that, i can have it in seconds, for free.  As a matter of fact, I can proudly say i've never spend a single nickel towards supporting that industry. 

However, I am paying my money to very much still enjoy a real videogame here, that will last 40+ hours, with stats, battle systems, grinding, and such.   Its just there is the added value of a wacky plot, bawdy humor, and some enjoyable artwork to this guy's eyes.

[Annubis]

However, I am paying my money to very much still enjoy a real videogame here, that will last 40+ hours, with stats, battle systems, grinding, and such.   Its just there is the added value of a wacky plot, bawdy humor, and some enjoyable artwork to this guy's eyes.

You speak as if eroge cannot have those.
Go play Kamidori Alchemy Meister, it's a great Tactical RPG and an eroge that possesses everything you mentioned.

[Kevadu]

I think it's pretty obvious that deathsaber has never actually played an eroge.  I do find it a little amusing how he can defend something like this game while simultaneously looking down on eroge when they actually have a lot more in common than he thinks...

[Dincrest]

I'm reminded once again of that episode of The Simpsons where Marge gets Itchy and Scratchy off the air by making it kinder and gentler, but when the decency groups wanted her on board to prevent Michaelangelo's David from making a tour stop in Springfield, she declined, saying "everyone should see it."  Then there was the whole "you accept David, indecencies and all, yet not Itchy and Scratchy, indecencies and all?"  

I'm cool with fanservice.  It's a good gimmick, especially since it provides a lightning rod for discussions like these every time.  Conception II is certainly not hurting from this publicity.  My only issue is if you were to hypothetically strip away the gimmick, is the core game any good?  It's like, when KISS washed off the makeup in the 80s and just played as themselves, they sucked.  They were just like any other cookie-cutter band.  Think about it.  KISS is really a mediocre band in terms of musicianship or even songwriting.  But put the makeup, the costumes, the pyrotechnics, etc. back on, and they were cool again.  

On the other hand, if you were to take away all the funky stage props that Red Hot Chili Peppers use (e.g. lightbulb hats, Flea buck naked, colorful costumes, etc) and just have them perform in street clothes, they'd still be fantastic because, at their core, they are an excellent band with skillful musicianship and songwriting.  

EDIT: And, yes, while there are plenty of eroge that are nauseatingly degenerate, just plain stupid, or both, there are some that are excellent.  Crescendo still remains one of my favorite VNs.

[TiamatNM]

Well I play eroge too and I'm doing Chou Dengeki Stryker at the moment.  Much much funnier than this game but no gameplay.  I know my brother likes Kamidori a lot but I haven't played it myself. 

This game is rather underwhelming for me so far but entertaining enough.  Really bad sign when you are already seeing re-used monsters in the 2nd main dungeon.  -_-  The convos with the girls are usually not very interesting either.  Fuuka is boring, chloe is...i dunno, and narika and serina are super cookie cutter.  Ellie is pretty fun though.  Her favorite food has an...interesting name.