Hyperdimension Neptunia

[xXMelancholiaXx]

When I was younger and had time to grind like that, I was all over it.  I think my worst time was in FFVII and I mastered every Materia I had at the top of the Shinra building before I even left Midgar. That was something like 200,000 AP (Thief Materia) at ~18 AP per battle.   For comparison, a non-grindy Midgar usually nets you less than 2,000 AP.

That's amazing! I only had the patience to get a few of my materia up to level 2. I didn't start getting the higher level magic until around Mt. Nibel.

[Dincrest]

...in other words, this sounds like a fairly typical Idea Factory game.  It has potential, owing to its kooky ideas, but botches up on execution particularly regarding gameplay balance.  Yep, they haven't learned from their mistakes yet. 

[insertnamehere]

I agree with Pat about them improving gradually.
Instead of losing fans by drastically changing each game to be innovative like squeenix does, they slowly improve until a game that anyone playing it would like.
but they also need to stop hurrying with projects and make sure each game has no technical problems.

[Kevadu]

...in other words, this sounds like a fairly typical Idea Factory game.  It has potential, owing to its kooky ideas, but botches up on execution particularly regarding gameplay balance.  Yep, they haven't learned from their mistakes yet. 

It's Idea Factory, not Execution Factory...

[Dincrest]

I'll give you that, Kevadu.  I mean, heck, Suda 51 masterminds some of the most twisted avant-garde ideas for video games but they don't always play very well.  Of course, Killer7's somewhat clunky gameplay was definitely overshadowed by Suda's artistic merits but Flower, Sun, and Rain wasn't quite so lucky (if I am to believe Kyle's review, and I generally trust him.)  

Heck, I could call Peter Molyneux an "idea factory" since many of his games had ambitious ideas that were so far ahead of available technology that they ended up falling short.  

insertnamehere- I'll give you that about playtesting.  I wonder if the balance issues mentioned in that link would have been addressed had there been another pass in playtesting. 

[Ashtrot]

Idea Factory makes games aimed towards lonely fanboys with anime wetdreams.

I can't believe their shit is still receiving attention from NISA. It's disheartening.

[xXMelancholiaXx]

Sigh...anyway here are some screenshots from IGN. :)

[Tailzo]

I played through Trinity Universe and enjoy the battles.

As long as I can easely skip the story if it's not interesting, I can play a rpg for the gameplay.

[Mickeymac92]

I played through Trinity Universe and enjoy the battles.

As long as I can easely skip the story if it's not interesting, I can play a rpg for the gameplay.

Same here, and I'm looking forward to playing Trinity Universe and Cross Edge along with Hyperdimension Neptunia when I get a PS3.

Sigh...anyway here are some screenshots from IGN. :)

Thanks, man. I'm liking the style, to say the least.

[Danku]

the grindy, time-consuming nature of the combat.

I'm sold.

Welcome to the club. :D

I can't even comprehend the thought process behind this sentiment...

Honestly, I can't either. Unless you have no life outside of gaming, why would you want grindy, time consuming combat? I'm so glad I don't play this type of shit anymore.

[xXMelancholiaXx]

Same here, and I'm looking forward to playing Trinity Universe and Cross Edge along with Hyperdimension Neptunia when I get a PS3.

Sigh...anyway here are some screenshots from IGN. :)

Thanks, man. I'm liking the style, to say the least.

Me too. I especially liked the downloadable character designs for Red Entertainment and 5PB. Although I'm thinking they'll most likely be included in the game in the North American release.

http://www.compileheart.com/neptune/news6/

[Mickeymac92]

Same here, and I'm looking forward to playing Trinity Universe and Cross Edge along with Hyperdimension Neptunia when I get a PS3.

Sigh...anyway here are some screenshots from IGN. :)

Thanks, man. I'm liking the style, to say the least.

Me too. I especially liked the downloadable character designs for Red Entertainment and 5PB. Although I'm thinking they'll most likely be included in the game in the North American release.

http://www.compileheart.com/neptune/news6/

Man, Red Entertainment's character looks BA! I hope she is included in the NA version, I'd love to have her in my party.=)

the grindy, time-consuming nature of the combat.

I'm sold.

Welcome to the club. :D

I can't even comprehend the thought process behind this sentiment...

Honestly, I can't either. Unless you have no life outside of gaming, why would you want grindy, time consuming combat? I'm so glad I don't play this type of shit anymore.

It gives me a sense of satisfaction. Grinding gives the game a sense of progression, and I enjoy seeing how far I had come. Plus, I just enjoy raising something from nothing. I also enjoy trying to find the quickest and most efficient way to complete any battle in an RPG, and if the battles naturally take a lot of time, then it has a greater impact when I figure out the best way to make it go faster. It's only really annoying if you have a battle every 5 seconds, which I hope HN doesn't suffer from. I don't like it when any game is too easy, or if battles are too quick (unless they're only quick because I found some trick), because then it's not satisfying and I get bored of it quickly.

[xXMelancholiaXx]

I'm liking 5PB's design the best so far.

[Danku]

Same here, and I'm looking forward to playing Trinity Universe and Cross Edge along with Hyperdimension Neptunia when I get a PS3.

Sigh...anyway here are some screenshots from IGN. :)

Thanks, man. I'm liking the style, to say the least.

Me too. I especially liked the downloadable character designs for Red Entertainment and 5PB. Although I'm thinking they'll most likely be included in the game in the North American release.

http://www.compileheart.com/neptune/news6/

Man, Red Entertainment's character looks BA! I hope she is included in the NA version, I'd love to have her in my party.=)

the grindy, time-consuming nature of the combat.

I'm sold.

Welcome to the club. :D

I can't even comprehend the thought process behind this sentiment...

Honestly, I can't either. Unless you have no life outside of gaming, why would you want grindy, time consuming combat? I'm so glad I don't play this type of shit anymore.

It gives me a sense of satisfaction. Grinding gives the game a sense of progression, and I enjoy seeing how far I had come. Plus, I just enjoy raising something from nothing. I also enjoy trying to find the quickest and most efficient way to complete any battle in an RPG, and if the battles naturally take a lot of time, then it has a greater impact when I figure out the best way to make it go faster. It's only really annoying if you have a battle every 5 seconds, which I hope HN doesn't suffer from. I don't like it when any game is too easy, or if battles are too quick (unless they're only quick because I found some trick), because then it's not satisfying and I get bored of it quickly.

Ah, I see. More power to you then!

[Yggdrasil]

It gives me a sense of satisfaction.

Ooooh yeaaaah~