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Embark on an epic journey in a game made in two days as the brave lady Archeia tries to save Aremenia from the evil knight Lord Helaz! For ages he has plagued the realm, trolling the games of the fair citizens of Aremenia, but now, it seems there is someone or something more sinister behind the devilish Helaz's dastardly deeds! Gather your gear and ride forth with Liberty and LockeZ in a grand adventure that spans a map the size of however much the two day birthday time limit allows, and do battle in a combat system that's totally the generic RPG Maker system, spruced up a little bit by Yanfly scripts that make everything look slightly nicer.

This is the quintessential RPG Maker game, because no alterations have been made to the system or database beyond the absolute rudimentary necessities for at least pretending that I'm focused on the minute details!

With graphics by Archeia_Nessiah...because of course I have to...
And Celianna because why am I going to use RTP walls when my favorite walls are right there one file folder over?

The Age of Archeia! No! I won't guess! If I have to guess, I'll guess she's younger than me. That seems like a safe answer!

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  • Production
  • pianotm
  • RPG Maker VX Ace
  • Adventure RPG
  • 04/25/2019 09:22 AM
  • 03/02/2022 09:05 AM
  • N/A
  • 21010
  • 11
  • 226

Posts

Pages: 1
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
Yeah...Kentona just shows up. Kind of how he does in real life. Fun fact: it was originally going to be LockeZ, but then I thought, "Why is LockeZ in this team and not Anky or Kentona?"

I'm so glad you liked this! Thank you!
NOTE: This is originally submitted as a review, but denied because it doesn't meet the requirements. To get things done, I want to at least post it here as a comment instead, also because I'm not sure I'm "able" to spend more time on stuff without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of unfinished stuff at this time.
=============================================
2021 Secret Santa Review – Age of Archeia
12/28/2021 07:27 AM (GMT +8) by kiyasu

Note: This review is one of the presents done for pianotm during the 2021 RMN Secret Santa event.

Oh my, I LOVE this game from beginning to end so much. It’s basically my “kind” of game. This game is brilliant. Archeia, Liberty, and Kentona are the best in this game!! XD Though, I gotta mention… where on Earth did Kentona come from in the first place? (Just appeared out of nowhere when I left the building?! XD) Also, that equipment building in Yanflyton is full of these bugs that crashes the game. Other than that, this is something I would smile from the beginning to the end!!!

Click here to see my video playthrough of the game!

Game Rating: 8 out of 10
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
Thank you! And Merry Christmas!
This is one of the best things I've ever played! XD I really enjoyed this from beginning to end :P Happy I'm your Secret Santa this year!! To anyone else reading this, the full playthrough video I did is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW2fSDh-PB4
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
Oops! Thank you!
unity
You're magical to me.
12540
Hey piano, started playing today and I noticed all of the same errors that Addit mentioned, so I checked, and yeah, I have the original version. You didn't make the new version the primary download (so when people hit the download button on the main gamepage, they're still getting the original version). I grabbed the new version via the download page, so it's all cool, but you might wanna fix that. XD;

Also, the Ogres guarding chests in Misao Forest have a physical attack that's even weaker than the Trolls at the beginning of the game. With Mythril Caps equipped, they couldn't do a single point of damage to any of the characters.

Those things aside, this is still a very charming game! :DDD I'll let you know how I liked the rest of it when I finish it ^_^
@ Marrend - I never found the final boss THAT hard as long as you take care of his subordinates first that he summons worth and occasionally heal once in a while using Kentona, he’s pretty easy… I know that he occasionally likes to use that Flame and Fire II attack at the odd time that can do some big damage if you’re caught off guard by it, but he only did that to me once on my second playthrough (yes, I did play this twice, lol). Heck, I didn’t even need to use any items either, as he was that easy.

author=Marrend
He learns Cure (removes poison and paralysis) at level 8, and Heal II at level 9.

So Kentona DOES learn something that removes poison! Well, that’s nice to know.

(…Useless Kentona… Needs to kill over 300 hundred enemies in a forest before he can finally remember how to use the bloody Cure spell, for god sakes, lol.)
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
Okay! New upload should fix everything Addit pointed out!
Marrend
Guardian of the Description Thread
21781
Gave this a whirl. Thanks for reminding me that I wanted to play this, Addit!

I had a fun enough time with this, despite the errors/bugs. I kinda feel like the final boss fight was doing more damage than I could reasonably heal? I probably needed to rely on items more and use stat-books. Even so, I admit to peeking at the DB and generally being a terrible person to learn if Kentona really didn't learn anything other than Heal.


He learns Cure (removes poison and paralysis) at level 8, and Heal II at level 9. I may be able to see people putz around in Misao Forest to achieve level 8, and even then, that might be pushing it. Level 9 seems to be really pushing it.

I'm fairly confident to say, though, that for most play-throughs, yeah, he's pretty much stuck with Heal.

author=pianotm
The Curse of the Mystic Armor: This was not intentional, but it should have been, then I would have added a line about how the starting armor is the best of the best!

Yeah, in some ways - you should just keep it as it…or at least just add an extra line about it doing what it does - as I actually like the idea of a cursed armor that doesn’t do diddly squat.

author=pianotm
Yanfly's Weapon and Armor Store: Intentional. First, if you try to go in without saving, the game will then tell you, "No really, save your game!" and then open the save menu whether you want it or not. Second, notice that the missing "script" is an Audio clip. Do you really think someone would name an audio file "404 Error Yanfly Script"?

Awww. - I’M SUCH AN IDIOT! I thought that it was initially a script error when I first read it but instead – you’re right - it was a missing sound file, so it was supposed to crash on purpose! (This is what happens when you play the game at 2:30 in the morning, kids.)

(Hmmm…I wonder what happens when you add in the missing sound file…? I’m going to go try that later and see what happens - if anything happens.)

EDIT: So...apparently, nothing happens if you try to add in the missing sound file; all it does is play the sound effect that you've chosen and that's about it. No extra goodies...no additional cutscene that happens...absolutely nothing. (Well, at least it was worth a shot.)

author=pianotm
You never know what an aspiring dictator like OzzyTheOne might be scheming. It's also entirely possible that I didn't care if I had him on a tombstone AND in the town. Just think of the one in town as Ozzy Jr. Or maybe he's Ozzy Sr., and his son's untimely death is why he's so bent on Aremenia domination.

I’m still going to go with the life insurance scam when it comes to him, lol. Sounds a lot more funnier to me this way…

(Also, a bit of a missed opportunity, but too bad that he wasn’t the final boss instead of the other guy; he would have been a much more fitting choice, IMO.)

author=piantom
No the game wasn't intended to be darker. It was just never intended to be fleshed out. Literally, everything you mention about the absence of characters is just me not caring to complete story arcs for NPCs that don't have a big role in a game that should take four days to make. As for the winter environment, it's because I wanted to use the 2003Labyrinth BGM as much as possible since it's my favorite of all RTP music. Yanflyton was indeed deliberately run down, and it was probably the only symbol of abandonment that I deliberately put in since it was intended to make fun of the point that Yanfly no longer supports VX Ace, and if the game had been in MV, the town would probably have been in better shape, though a little rundown since Yanfly is actually no more and doesn't offer support to MV anymore either.

Awww… So it was all just in my head, I guess... Damn... I really thought that there was a lot more of a deeper meaning behind everything here - but I guess not! Oh well.

author=piantom
No. His only restorative is heal. That's not intentional and is definitely an oversight, but it really kind of fits with Kentona, doesn't it? "Hmm...should I learn antidote...? Nah, heal's fine. I can say I'm learning antidote. It'll be fine."

Considering the fact that he was just dragged into this confrontation against his will, that…really doesn’t surprise me at all, lol... Plus, he is retired, so it's expected that he doesn't have all his spells on hand, I guess.
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
Oh, thank goodness you could at least finish it.

War Room: Oops...

Wintervale Inn and Nessiah's Room: Shit, I forgot!

Nessiah...Scared of Helaz??? Damn it! I even changed this cutscene three times with intent of fixing that and still forgot!

Misao Forest: Hmm...Must have missed one (and then copy pasted it across all the maps.)

Character Portrait Cutoffs: Wait, how is that happening??? That is a rhetorical question, btw.

The Curse of the Mystic Armor: This was not intentional, but it should have been, then I would have added a line about how the starting armor is the best of the best!

I'm at WHAT again? In the grand scheme of things, this is the least of my concerns. Also, oops, again.

Two Cracks Instead of One: Intentional. I can change it if it really bugs you.

Yanfly's Weapon and Armor Store: Intentional. First, if you try to go in without saving, the game will then tell you, "No really, save your game!" and then open the save menu whether you want it or not. Second, notice that the missing "script" is an Audio clip. Do you really think someone would name an audio file "404 Error Yanfly Script"?

Final Boss: Umm...Oops.

Yes, it was originally going to be LockeZ with them. Then I decided, you know, I don't know of any real history between LockeZ and Nessy. So I decided it would be Craze, and then I decided, you know, I should probably make it Kentona, because then it would be the three modern admins of RMN going to lay a royal smackdown on Helaz. So, yeah. LockeZ is still in the description because I didn't think to change it.

You never know what an aspiring dictator like OzzyTheOne might be scheming. It's also entirely possible that I didn't care if I had him on a tombstone AND in the town. Just think of the one in town as Ozzy Jr. Or maybe he's Ozzy Sr., and his son's untimely death is why he's so bent on Aremenia domination.

No the game wasn't intended to be darker. It was just never intended to be fleshed out. Literally, everything you mention about the absence of characters is just me not caring to complete story arcs for NPCs that don't have a big role in a game that should take four days to make. As for the winter environment, it's because I wanted to use the 2003Labyrinth BGM as much as possible since it's my favorite of all RTP music. Yanflyton was indeed deliberately run down, and it was probably the only symbol of abandonment that I deliberately put in since it was intended to make fun of the point that Yanfly no longer supports VX Ace, and if the game had been in MV, the town would probably have been in better shape, though a little rundown since Yanfly is actually no more and doesn't offer support to MV anymore either.

The old man at the tent was literally an RTP cameo. I've seen a version of him with that character sprite offering shelter in the middle of the woods in nearly half the RM RPGs I've played.

No. His only restorative is heal. That's not intentional and is definitely an oversight, but it really kind of fits with Kentona, doesn't it? "Hmm...should I learn antidote...? Nah, heal's fine. I can say I'm learning antidote. It'll be fine."
author=pianotm
I can't help but think I've messed something up...

Oh, yes you did, all right. Here’s a list of issues and bugs that I found while I playing the game all last night:

War Room:


Passability Issues:
So...apparently, you can climb all over these two bookshelves, both on the left side and on the other side that's on the right, with no problems...! The other ones that are on the top part though are fine.


Wintervale Inn And Nessiah’s Room:


Notification Issue And Bug:
As the innkeeper mentions in the screenshot above, "apparently" you can just go to sleep inside your own bed in your own quarters instead of just paying the 10 gold to sleep here instead, but, apparently, you can’t...and the only way to rest in this game is to either rest here, at one of the Inn’s, or south of the Misao Forest where the old man at the tent can heal you for free. (Can you even sleep in your bed???)

Also, after resting here, the header notification on the top left, saying that you’re in Wintervale Inn, pops up again like you just teleported to another map but you’re still inside the Inn. Also, you can move around a bit before the music starts to play again.


Nessiah...SCARED Of Helaz!?!?!?


Sprite Issue:
Throughout the course of this entire scene, as Helaz is talking to everyone and spouting off his nonsense, Nessiah’s sprite is always constantly looking down towards Liberty and Kentona, even when she’s talking to Helaz from afar. What, is she scared of looking at Helaz or something??? (I guess I would be with a form and a face that, lol.)


Misao Forest:


Encounter Issues:
Some of the enemies here in the Misao Forest (actually...there's quite a lot of them here that do the same thing...) will only engage in combat with the player if the player is the one who presses the confirmation key right up to it and NOT the other way around where the enemies have to touch you, or collide with you, in order to start a fight.

In a strange way, it's a bit of a blessing in disguise...because those Mushroom enemies and their pollinating ability is a MAJOR pain in the ass to deal with here. But, I would imagine that wasn't what was attended to happen.


Character Portrait Cutoffs:


Graphical Issues:
Yeah...there are few instances here, like in this particular scene, where you happen to run away from an enemy, or when you're about to fight one of the Ogres in the Misao Forest, that the character portraits aren't particular aligned right with the text boxes below resulting in a bit of a cutoff to them.

It’s not so much of a big deal...but it's a bit visually distracting, nonetheless.


The Curse Of The Mystic Armor:


Equipment Issue:
So...when you happen to find this and put this on...



...Your HP totals will drop then like a motherf**ker. (Was this intentional???)

Un-equipping the armor will restore your HP totals back up to normal, but then you'll have to heal all of the lost damage in order to return back to fighting strength again. (Damn it.)


I’m At WHAT Inn Again???


Notification Issue:
When you enter the Yanflyton Inn (...BTW, why not call it Yanflytown? I think it sounds a lot better than Yanflyton myself - but anyway), the notification header at the top left of the screen says that you're in the Wintervale Inn but...you're not, actually - this is the Yanflyton Inn...

(What? Is the innkeeper here leeching off the name in order to improve her cliental or something? In a way, I can understand a little bit here, because Yanflyton, if you look outside of it, is a dump.)


Two Cracks Instead Of One:


Tileset Issue:
This one isn't that major of an issue...but it's still a bit noticeable.

In Yanflyton, when you come to these two buildings in the city, they both have huge cracks where the doors used to be, but on the other building on the right side it has another crack just right above it, and it looks a bit strange to me like this wasn't attended to be there.


Yanflyton's Weapon And Armor Store:


Script Issue:
I don’t know if this was intentional or not, because the game prompts you to save before coming here anyway, but when you do come in and examine the gear that's on the table and try to take it, this happens:



The game then suddenly crashes and boots me out with this message.

Again...I'm not sure if this was made to happen intentionally – but, damn it, I WANT THAT GEAR!!!


(Also, a little bit of typo here with the first screenshot, but it should say that, "This looks so much more awesome that what WE'VE got!", because it makes it sound like Nessiah only cares about herself and not the rest of her teammates, lol.)


Final Boss:


Sprite Issue:
Upon defeating the final boss, his sprite will then appear briefly underneath Nessiah's sprite for a bit and then, when it supposedly teleports away after the animation plays, his sprite will then still be standing right there in front of the entire party with Liberty making sort of an inside joke about the situation that, "It must have teleported away," or something stupid that like that. But it's standing there, you idiot! (I think Liberty needs glasses, or something.)


And...I think that's everything...! I even submitted a review for you so you can earn more of that sweet, sweet makerscore for this special type of occasion.

Overall...I enjoyed the game last night...! I mean, yeah, it's not the best out of all the community games that we have on here and all that...and the game itself could have used some more additional testing and fine tuning before you released it... But, overall, it's not a bad romp for a two day, 30 - 40 minute game that you made for someone's birthday.

- I do have a couple of questions, though, that I didn't manage to write in the review, but:

Questions:
Was LockeZ Attended To Be One Of The Main Party Members Before Ultimately Deciding On Kentona?
I ask this because LockeZ is mentioned in the game's summary page up top but he's nowhere to be found inside the game at all...and it did seem a bit odd and out of place that Kentona just joins the party out of the blue, not even a cutscene with him saying that he wanted to go on this silly little adventure or not at all; he just happens to show up and everything's all hunky dory, lol.

Is OzzyTheOne Actually A Zombie In Disguise?
Because he's in town at the beginning of the game laughing it up with all the other RMNers at the pub in Wintervale, but when you go to the graveyard and find and examine his gravestone there and then come back into town, he's still alive and doesn't mention any of that stuff at all to you... What, did he fake his own death so he could collect the life insurance?

Was This Game Attended To Be Much Darker Than We Imagined?
Because - look at this place: All the frigid snow...monsters running around all over the Misao Forest...Yanflyton completely sacked and gutted...and tons of RMNers, both old and new, have mysteriously all disappeared without a trace...even Craze himself, after barging into Nessiah's quarters at the beginning of the game is nowhere to be found after this... It's like this entire world has been completely abandoned and completely mistreated by the moderators and only a handful of them left, like Liberty (who barely gets any sleep as it is already) are the only ones left trying to fight the good fight... But even that's not enough, as even the Misao Forest, a place once full of green and envy is nothing but all snow and covered full of monsters now...sort of symbolizing the abandonment and mistreatment of the Misao Forest over the years like it's one big joke...like, nobody even cares about upkeeping its beauty and prestige anymore...

In a strange twisted way, it's almost like Helaz, despite his questionable ideals and gruesome appearance, is trying to bring new order back into Aremenia and usher in a new golden age, but it's the same tired group of individuals, including recent retiree, Kentona Anderson, trying to stop his uprising at all costs to keep Aremenia supposedly safe, but still stuck in the same hellhole that it's been for another hundred years...

I dunno... Maybe I'm thinking a little bit too much into this - but man, if that was the attention behind it, then you outdid yourself there, pianotm.

Who Was The Old Man At The Tent South Of Misao Forest?
He's doesn't have a name or anything like that when you talk to him or anything, but I was kinda thinking that this person IS LockeZ and he basically just banished from Wintervale without a trace because he was so p*ssed off that he was completely dropped from the game's database so now he just resides here, nameless and all that...alone... Either way, this had me a bit intrigued...

Does Kentona ACTUALLY Learn An Antidote Spell, Or A Way To Remove Status Aliments In This Game?
I didn't check the game files or anything like that - but does he actually learn something like that? Because those Mushrooms enemies in the forest and how often they like to poison your ass, mannnn...it would have come in REAL handy there, bud.
pianotm
The TM is for Totally Magical.
32347
I can't help but think I've messed something up...
Damn piano I hope it's not bothering you too much lmao.
thank you...excited to play it. <:3c
Poor Helaz... He’s been RMN’s punching bag for a while now, hasn’t he? I kinda feel bad for the little guy a bit… Oh well.

And this is a nice thing you’re doing, piano…making a little birthday game for Nessy and all of us to play. You really are something, you know that?

And I don’t wanna guess how old Nessy is either... If I had to guess…I’ll just say “chocolate” and just roll with that.
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