[PS2] Rogue Galaxy

Originally Posted by SouthJag

Rogue Galaxy is now set for 01.01.07.

Wow, that seems more like a placeholder date than enything else, but if it's going to end up as a 2007 title, something's up.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Fresh info on Rogue Galaxy for those who still remember that this game exists:



Source

Quote:

First off, an entirely new planet has been added to Rogue Galaxy. The Japanese version only had four planets, and now Level-5 has added the water world of Alisita onto that number. Even though the planet doesn't contribute to the overall story arc, it does contain plenty of hidden items.

Developers have also made plenty of changes to the combat system as well. Chain attacks are no longer random, players now collect orbs during battle and get to choose when to unleash these special attacks. There are also new battle animations, special moves, monsters, costumes, and weapons. Plus, they've changed the layout and graphical look of several planets and dungeons and added new content to the Insectron Tournament sidequest.

The game now comes on a Dual-layer PS2 DVD to accommodate all of the new content, including over 2000 lines of additional dialogue. This extra space also allows for less compression of the FMV sequences so they'll look even better than before

Impressions from someone over on GAF who was apparently involved in making the title:
Oh, looks like he's a GAF mod too.

Source

Originally Posted by johntv

I played all the way through the US version (disclaimer: I worked on it), and I have to say, I honestly had a ton of fun with it. I've been a Level-5 fan for years, and this is definitely their best game yet IMO. The battle system is smooth as butter, and synthesizing weapons is really fun and addictive. Every single weapon in the game has attributes that get powered up through extended use, and once you max out their base skill stat, they become available for synthesis with other weapons. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on this, to the point that I frequently went back into areas I'd already cleared just to fight enemies and power up my weapons. Fighting is never pointless in this game because of all the systems that are attached; you build up weapons for synthesis, you kill monsters to earn Hunter Points and increase your ranking, you collect items to put toward creating new ones or learning new abilities in the Revelation Flow chart, etc. etc.

It helps that the graphics are mindblowing (even today they're still among the best on PS2 IMO) and there's absolutely no load times anywhere. And yeah, they added and refined quite a bit for the US version.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

No problem, just thought I'd update this thread since I know some people are looking forward to this (me included).

And yeah, as far as I know, it's still slated for a January 2007 release.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Gechmir

I guarantee you that the sales will be in the toilet T__T They have dawdled waaaaay too long with the US cleaning up.

Sales figures don't mean squat to me as long I get to play the game. =( Apparently they've fixed this game up considerably from the japanese release.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Crazy Redd

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/929240.asp

Reviews on this are looking good so far. The lowest rating so far is by EGM (not surprising since they only rate popular game franchises high). The most common complaints with the game are copy and paste dungeon designs and the combat system not having enough to it. I'm guessing they were spoiled by the gambit system in Final MMORPG 12. Otherwise, this game only shows that the ps2 is still going strong!

I can't wait for the release date.

Yeah, for all the bitching that surrounded the announcement of the gambit system and fears of an automated FF, people seem to like it quite a bit. It simply got rid of a lot of the tedium that made leveling/exploring a chore.

As for RG, it jumped 5% since the last time I checked gamerankings for it. I saw some videos of the gameplay/intro of the game and it definitely piqued my interest. Got a strong Dark Cloud 2 vibe from it, and IMO, that's a very good thing since that was one of my favorite games of this gen.

BTW, anyone know how much this will cost? I heard it'll be $39.99, and that's a steal just like Okami was, if true.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by SouthJag

It's $39.99, MS. And definitely a steal, at that. With all the added content from the Japanese release, they could've easily priced it up to $50 to make up for whatever labor costs they'd need to. But, Level-5 pwns n00bs, so there you have it.

Originally Posted by Crazy Redd

SCEA published games always sell for $39.99 on the PS2. I wish Nintendo would do the same with their first party sutff. =(

Hmm, so that would explain why the Ratchet & Clank games were $40, among others. I agree, with the tweaks and added content they added to the game, they would be completely justified in bumping up the price for it. I'm sure that even those who were put off by this game's elusive release will be tempted to pick it up due to its score and price point.

If the other two did what SCEA does in this case, the industry as a whole would definitely benefit from greater sales for those games.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by Chairman Kaga

I don't care what the reviews say; I'm getting the game regardless.

Gotta wait for the PAL release.

Not like the reviews are bad, but that 6.5 really stuck out. Looks like someone pretty much hated this game (even though the review, even the conclusion don't really seem like it)

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Hindman

The site uses a *true* 1-10 scale. Mathematically, 5 is the median and is therefore the average. A 6.5 there is like a 7.5 or possibly 8 on, say, IGN (where a 4 is the same thing as a 1, basically).
http://www.rpgland.com/games/criteria.html

Looking around at other reviews there, they need to slide towards the middle (read: 5) for the most part. Most games are neither abysmal nor orgasmic, often sticking around average. Going by this, titles would seldom grace the high 8s, unless they were really something (read: near classic).

That would make sense of not just this review, but many others (Radiata Stories got an 8!?)

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by JazzFlight

I've kinda changed my opinion on this game after playing it for 15 more hours (20 total now).

It's highly addictive because I LOVE the fact that you can't miss anything. You can always go back for something you forgot to pick up, and you don't need a guide when combining items. You'll always end up with a stronger weapon. SMART MOVE, FACTOR 5.

Chapter 6 actually had a good story. I can't say that for the other chapters (they're still pretty cliche, and I still hate the jungle planet), but the gameplay is captivating enough for us stat-freaks to enjoy.

While I thought the game was around a 6 or 7, I'd place it in the 8.5 or 9.0 mark now.

This shit is like drugs for me. I've literally ceased all forward progress in my obsession to see most everyone's weapons. The only thing that irritates me about that is how they're often scattered across several planets. Makes tracking down a required weapon a bit on the tedious side.

I agree that the end of Chapter 6 was pretty well done. BTW, when I didn't have the necessary weapon to continue synthesizing, I would just fuse with the strongest one I had available and would get something far more powerful. Unfortunately, the downside to my little experimentation is that it doesn't get recorded in the Frog Log so you wind up forgetting how to make it until you get it the legit way.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

You get one for Simon after you beat the Quarry out in the Rose Nebula, and one in that cave where tablet was (on Vedan).

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Mucknuggle

Is there any way to mess up getting the ultimate weapons for each character through item synthesis? I'm asking because I'd like to get them, but I don't really feel like resorting to a guide. Rogue Galaxy seems to be a very forgiving game where you don't need to search too much to find the secrets (although I'm still on the jungle planet).

Nope, the game is very forgiving about that. I'm probably near the end and the only qualm I have with the weapons thing is the fucking run around some of the characters' gear makes you do.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.