The Last Remnant

[Parn]

Started the game, and there's already issues with writing.  I'm at the part where Rush first meets David (Dah-veed?  Really?), and David already starts talking to Rush about helping find his sister.  The problem?  Neither Rush nor Emma mentioned Rush's sister at all.  Either David can read minds, can see the future, or the story-writers weren't paying attention.

The combat system is interesting so far, though I've only scratched the surface.  I like the soundtrack, and the graphics are nice when the textures are there... it seems so strange how in some cutscenes, texture pop-in is minimal to non-existant, and in other spots there's texture issues all the time.  The animations are a mixed bag.  The awkward poses and animations characters do in many conversations look silly and completely unrealistic.  No one moves like that.

Minor gripes, really.  I'll comment more when I get further in.

[dab3]

Yeah, I've been able to dig into this game for about 3 days, focusing on both finishing side-quests and the main story-line. The story itself feels pretty good, though I'm not really sympathetic towards Rush's cause, and any characters in particular.

The battle system is fairly intense and I actually enjoyed the quick time events.. The system very much reminds me of Saga Frontier 1+2. I'm hearing in forums about an uneven difficulty which is quite reminiscent of Saga Frontier where you could easily get pummeled if you ran into the wrong monster or jumped into a dungeon at a low level. At least characters won't permanently die after being hit consecutively after KO. I haven't faced insane difficulty yet, however I'm fairly early into the game (Just met the Conqueror).

One thing that bugs me about the graphics (other than the usual pop-in) is completely aesthetic in regards to many of the explorational environments. Many are empty and lack a presence of life. What I'm getting to is, like many current games, there are a lack of animations for grass, trees, and other organic matter. Sometimes traversing can get a bit boring. But the battle system makes up for this in some way.

So far I'm enjoying the experience.

[Jet16]

Started the game, and there's already issues with writing.  I'm at the part where Rush first meets David (Dah-veed?  Really?), and David already starts talking to Rush about helping find his sister.  The problem?  Neither Rush nor Emma mentioned Rush's sister at all.  Either David can read minds, can see the future, or the story-writers weren't paying attention.

You know, although I agree it was a bit awkward, I got the impression that David's group already knew about Rush's predicament and it was a slip on their part when they said they'd help him go look for her even when Rush didn't mention it. Emma's reaction to Irina's name and Rush's last name made me think that this was the case. I assumed that, in his excitement, Rush overlooked that he didn't mention it to David himself. I could be completely wrong and the writers were just not paying attention there.

[Parn]

I had considered the possibility that David already knew about Rush's situation, but I just couldn't figure out a way to make it work.  If they knew that Irina was missing, then how did they have absolutely no idea who Rush is, who is with Irina all the time up until her kidnapping?  If she was so important that they'd have an informant keeping watch on her, then they certainly would have kept tabs on her brother as well, considering their family is supposedly famous and all that.

On a side note, the battle system is growing on me... it's definitely a lot of fun.  The animations for characters in conversation pieces however, is getting progressively more awkward the further I go.  It's as if no motion capture was done, because everyone animates like string puppets... which is made more distracting because they tried to make the characters as realistic looking as they could within the limits of the game engine.

[Jet16]

Yeah, the more I think about it the less that possibility makes sense. I'm fine with it though. As long as the story is mildly entertaining, which it has been, I won't be bothered since the battle system is as fun as it is. I also agree on the animations, they are indeed terrible. The motions are just so robotic and make me feel really odd looking at a NPC or even a main character that detailed moving like an idiot.

[CDFN]

The animations for characters in conversation pieces however, is getting progressively more awkward the further I go.  It's as if no motion capture was done, because everyone animates like string puppets... which is made more distracting because they tried to make the characters as realistic looking as they could within the limits of the game engine.

Onimusha 4 had that problem. It drived me insane. The characters would just repeat this completely unrealistic animation over and over even when they weren't talking.

[Suit]

1UP's review is up.

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3171517

[dab3]

It does seem to get progressively worse regarding animations in some of the more important cutscenes. However the less important ones are very stilted and awkward, and many characters (including main characters) share many looping animations.

One other thing that really bugs me is the use of depth of field. What happened here? If it even is DOF, whenever it's used, the backgrounds become distractingly pixelated, and just look like low quality textures. I've been constantly distracted by this effect when watching cut scenes, and usually wondering if it even is a DOF effect.

Haven't even tried much more of the main quest though, still pummeling away on various side-quests... You can take like 5 hours to complete two dungeons. Takes forever!

[Dice]

Yeah, the more I think about it the less that possibility makes sense. I'm fine with it though. As long as the story is mildly entertaining, which it has been, I won't be bothered since the battle system is as fun as it is. I also agree on the animations, they are indeed terrible. The motions are just so robotic and make me feel really odd looking at a NPC or even a main character that detailed moving like an idiot.

In regards to running.  Yeah, it is awkward.  But I've noticed a TON of games have this issue.  They have trouble making characters run on field.  Since it seems a lot of games prefer characters have, I suppose, a light jog (rather than a full-out RUN) animation, characters look goofy and stoic... I mean, if you have to run around dungeons and cities, who the fuck wants to do a light run around the world?

Breath of Fire III characters literally did a speed-walk.

Kalas [Baten Kaitos] looked like (no pun intended) he was bird that just turned into a man and figured out how to run.

And Kaim (Lost Oddy) jogged like his pants were too tight, than ran a faster version of his jog.

Just to add to the list; most RPG girls run flailing their arms around like a werewolf is behind them.  Its embarrassing.

[Parn]

Well, I traded in The Last Remnant to Gamestop for $30 (I paid $40 through Amazon, so it's a minor loss).  I gave the game a chance, but it failed to immerse me.  The combat system is fun, and the soundtrack is pretty awesome IMO, but it takes more than that to make a good RPG.  I overlooked the technical issues in the game just as I did for Mass Effect, but Mass Effect had an impressive world, interesting characters, fantastic writing, and a focused storyline.  The Last Remnant gives me none of that.

More power to the folks who enjoy it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea.

[CDFN]

Some remnant news: lots of DLC and bad sales.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=202610

[Dice]

I might join Parn.  Its got everything, just not enough.  The story is there but falls short, the battle is awesome but needlessly complicated, and the characters are diverse just not interesting.

[dab3]

I will continue until I see a "the end" screen! At least I hope I'll survive through from what I hear are 6 group-after-group boss battles to get there. But for now, I'll venture on!

[dab3]

I've been trying to complete as many sidequests as possible before heading to the second disk. Some sidequests are inaccessible once that disk is reached, so this is a small warning for others who haven't made it to the Aqueducts yet. The sidequests are quite interesting and help reduce the tasks of grinding if your unions are not at a high battle rank.

Now one thing I'd like to point out is, I find that what really makes this game is the battle system. The story isn't very interesting and the characters are kinda cliche, but if you love the battle system, then you will most likely enjoy this title. It's almost always a tough fight to the finish no matter if you've revisited a location because of the interesting "Battle Rank" system.
 
At the moment, I've defeated the bosses at the end of disc one without one game over screen (not one union ko'd during Hell's Gate :D), and while there have been many complaints of the insane difficulty of them (two bosses consecutively without a chance to save), if you have diverse and upgraded party formations, and members who can heal and revive unions, then you shouldn't have much problem. I have at least two healers per group (someone to revive, then another to heal that union) and many of my unions became incapacitated, but I was quick to get them in tip-top shape the next turn.

In this game you'll definitely have numerous incapacitated unions in boss battles, however if you properly plan out when to revive and heal others, then you shouldn't have too hard of a time. I love the tough difficulty, however it can be hard for those who just want to play the main quest without doing many side-quests.

[Shiguma]

Very disappointed to hear that the 2nd game to ever spark my interest in the Xbox 360 (the 1st was Infinite Undiscovery... what a terrible game) is a technical mess of slowdown and texture issues.

Next generation gaming makes me a sad panda.  If the industry keeps heading in this direction, I'm gonna have to take up a new hobby. :P