KARSUMAN'S PROFILE

I haven't even played this game and I could write a whole essay on what's wrong with this review, but I'll just sum it up with two words: extremely irresponsible.

Maybe it is just me, but perhaps those who are impatiently waiting for Act III+ (which I doubt will be out before sometime next year) might wanna give the 'non-plus' edition a whirl. Acts I-III of the 'old' edition before the 'Complete' edition enhancements. Go play those 3 and then do a review.

I have been told that the previous version's later acts have just as many or more problems. I also think reviewing something that is actually being worked on is more helpful.

The core reason for wanting to play this game should be for the story. As it is, the story is 'incomplete' unless you go and play the original Acts I-III. Many things are better explained in the originals, and my (unofficial) mod of the game may look to reintegrate some of those 'obsolete' or deleted scenes in flashbacks or dream sequences in order to flesh out the story, characters, and world a bit better. I'll also be adding a good 'Chrono' style campfire sequence where the characters can just chit-chat a bit before a big important event the next day.

People play games for any number of reasons. You can say I should play it for the story, but that does not mean I should ignore the rest of it, since clearly effort WAS put into other areas. Honestly, I'd find completely ignoring the other aspects of a game in favor of one thing more offensive in a review than anything.

As for your mod of the game, I have no opinion on something that I have never heard of, seen or gotten a chance to play.

The stats and battle system could use some work, yes. This was in fact PBC's first real attempt at an RPG back in their high school days, and it does show in some ways more than others. You can only patch old code so many times before you might as well throw in the towel and wait for the funding to remake it. The battle system is greatly improved in later installments, and in the 'Complete' edition some of those changes are then backported to the earlier Acts.

Yes, but he advertised this as a the 'remade' version of the game. He had an opportunity to make the battles fun. They aren't, to me anyway.

A opening bit was done purposefully to establish the tone and style of the rest of the game (excessive gore, brutal and ruthless enemy, no holds barred 'this ain't no nintendo game' aesthetic). Also the whole 'start with some fun action' to get attention before getting into the more 'mundane' things. The original versions actually started with Auria in East Naven rather than starting off in Banivia, then went from there. Though that story is 'retconned' now in the Complete Edition, some aspects of it still impress me. PBC took the advice of close friends and testers in order to make changes to the story and pacing to appeal to more people who didn't want to deal with tons of exposition all at once.

You can argue tone and style, I'll argue flawed plot direction. I am fine with this.

I will also point out that I've played a portion of the first act of the original version. I also had issues with it - but I also was not reviewing the original version when I wrote this.

One of the most important parts of game design is 'you can't please everyone'. Different people have varied tastes.

This is a given. You are stating the obvious.

There are other reviews that give this game a higher score. You can choose to believe their opinion is correct and mine is wrong if you like.

I'm curious why anyone still believes that Auria is 'a whiny angsty teen' since..you know, SHE DIED. Shot and murdered and left for dead, then brought back to life by some guy she barely knew. Knowing all that and dealing with that would mess up nearly anyone, teen or not.

She IS a whiny, angsty teen. Auria might have her reasons, but it still doesn't make her any more likable. She's bratty, selfish, passive aggressive, prone to incoherent jealousy, rarely shows sympathy, is even more rarely sympathetic and we never get to see her act like a human being(something which the rest of the cast fails to do on a regular basis to be fair to her) unless she's with Mia. The small amounts of camaraderie that are built among her and her allies is completely thrown out the window when the ending of act 2 hits.

Anyway, thanks for commenting. But we'll have to agree to disagree.

author=Archeia_Nessiah
Boobs?

the answer to all of life's questions

author=Solitayre
I hope you keep doing reviews.

=)

I'm playing I Miss the Sunrise, though I don't know if I'll review it immediately. We'll see what happens.

Thanks, Avee, Cralreain. Honestly, I could probably get even more thorough if the author shows any interest and wanted me to, especially since his commercial project seems to be using the same world and a similar combat system, but there's only so many details you can shove into a review before it becomes lots of rambling. Probably. Still getting the hang of this review format. I might add an advice/improvements suggestion section in my next review, now that I think of it.

I'd loaded this game up a few times in the past (in its prior version, before the improved battle interface and additional story stuff, too) and always had trouble getting past the first act. So after I finished the Skyborn review and saw another subscription notice for this game, and saw that the game was still well-regarded, I figured I'd finally push ahead to see how it had improved and why people liked it so much. In the end, I don't know why people liked it - yeah, you can quibble about the writing, I suppose, but the gameplay is a real drag - though it's not as if these problems aren't fixable, either.

Although with the commercial game starting up soon, maybe it's too late to make changes. C'est la vie, I guess.