Good timing I've been listening to this game's unbelievably wonderful soundtrack. I beat the post game super boss once before putting Relink down. I'm still tossed up about whether I'll be tackling these updates as they come or waiting until it's all out and give the main story a full replay on the hardest difficulty.
Reverse covers usually have the better art, unfortunately they almost never include the game's title on the spine so there's no point in swapping it... Unless idk, you want to identify the game on your shelf by an inch of ambient background.
Better than before but man, the original is tough to beat. It's hard to read a definitive expression off the PS2 James in that scene, which I think was intentional. It's a bit sinister. But props to the updated face for the remake, he doesn't look like a crying wojak anymore.
I don't play many multi-player focused games nowadays because I've always preferred the RPG and Adventure stuff. But of the ones I have played they tend to be incredibly shallow experiences. Not for lack of design mind you, a lot of the ones I've played have strong core mechanics, but typically these multi-player games are so gung-ho about milking every dollar you have out of you that they strip that experience down into what feels like just the bones of a game. Different strokes and all that I guess.
The skin suit makes the game harder on account of you now playing one-handed
Watched a live-stream of the demo, it looked fun and I've been convinced to get it. And since the skin suit makes the game more difficult I foresee some awkward explanations to my family in the future lol
Finished the game yesterday clocking in just under 110 hours. This game hooked me as soon as I started, and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone who's into strategy RPGs. I will say though, it is on the easy side, I played on expert difficulty, and while the challenge definitely ramped up (mostly due to me going to areas earlier than I was meant to) at times, I found myself often steamrolling the enemies more often than not. Keep in mind, there were also several multi-hour long gaps that I spent building my units up in creative ways to combat weaknesses, so your mileage may vary depending on how much you'd like to delve into the unit AI (I didn't play with it much myself until I left Cornia, the first area).
The coolest thing about this game is just how much freedom you have in playing with its mechanics and how hands off it is on the world map. After a certain point you can practically go anywhere and that will lead to harder challenges but greater rewards in terms of new characters and equipment. The story probably isn't anything you haven't seen before but it's got a charming revolving door of side characters to keep it interesting and some solid world building to boot. And there's some satisfying twists at the end if you're that invested (not to mention a big ass glossary that has the backstory on like, every single facet of the world).
The game looks great, it's got those classic Vanillaware designs with plenty of cool, cutesy, and sexy characters abound, though they are a touch less flamboyant and exaggerated than games like Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown. (Even still, I think the elves in this game would make the Digital Foundry guys melt lol) It's also got a great soundtrack, though no song too stand out in my opinion, just generally pleasant to listen to and matches the areas well. Oh! And the localization isn't half bad. I noticed 8-4 in the credits, and they're responsible for localizing my favorite Fire Emblem game (Shadows of Valentia), which is written very similarly to this. I will say some of the dialogue is a little too flowery, even for me, but overall it's a great fit for the world and a disagree with other's assessment that the localization ruins the game (which I understand is a claim thrown out for just about every JRPG).
TLDR, this one's special. I don't give games 9s often, this one is a 9. Play it.
@Ryu_Niiyama How did you find the game's difficulty on your end? I'm curious what exactly changes between options.
Comments 262
Re: Stellar Blade Dev Is Plotting Boss Rush Mode for PS5 Smash Hit
This game's bosses kick my ass. Can't wait lol
Re: Granblue Fantasy: Relink Patch 1.2.0 Arrives This Week, with New Characters, Quests, and More
Good timing I've been listening to this game's unbelievably wonderful soundtrack. I beat the post game super boss once before putting Relink down. I'm still tossed up about whether I'll be tackling these updates as they come or waiting until it's all out and give the main story a full replay on the hardest difficulty.
Re: ShiftUp Reveals 'Secrets' of Stellar Blade's Physical PS5 Packaging
Reverse covers usually have the better art, unfortunately they almost never include the game's title on the spine so there's no point in swapping it...
Unless idk, you want to identify the game on your shelf by an inch of ambient background.
Re: Silent Hill 2 Remake Protagonist James Seemingly Got a Quiet Makeover
Better than before but man, the original is tough to beat. It's hard to read a definitive expression off the PS2 James in that scene, which I think was intentional. It's a bit sinister. But props to the updated face for the remake, he doesn't look like a crying wojak anymore.
Re: Fear Not, PS5 Exclusive Stellar Blade Remains Uncensored in All Regions
This is my April game. Everything I've seen of it looks promising.
Re: Stellar Blade Director Emphasises Importance of 'Single-Player Games with an Ending'
I don't play many multi-player focused games nowadays because I've always preferred the RPG and Adventure stuff. But of the ones I have played they tend to be incredibly shallow experiences.
Not for lack of design mind you, a lot of the ones I've played have strong core mechanics, but typically these multi-player games are so gung-ho about milking every dollar you have out of you that they strip that experience down into what feels like just the bones of a game.
Different strokes and all that I guess.
Re: Yuji Naka Surfaces to Accuse Recently Ousted Dragon Quest Producer of 'Lying in Court'
Nothing like a bit of libel to improve your presently rocky reputation, am I right guys
Re: Video: Our Favourite PS5 Games of 2024 So Far
Removed
Re: Stellar Blade Director Recommends Players Wear Clothes, Where Possible
The skin suit makes the game harder on account of you now playing one-handed
Watched a live-stream of the demo, it looked fun and I've been convinced to get it. And since the skin suit makes the game more difficult I foresee some awkward explanations to my family in the future lol
Re: Unicorn Overlord Sales Top Half a Million, Could Be Vanillaware's Fastest Selling Game
Easily my favorite VanillaWare game and my favorite 2024 game thus far, gonna be hard to top too.
Re: PS5's Stellar Blade Isn't Out Yet, But There's Already Talk of a Sequel
I love how unhinged people get talking about this game.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give Unicorn Overlord?
Finished the game yesterday clocking in just under 110 hours. This game hooked me as soon as I started, and I couldn't recommend it enough to anyone who's into strategy RPGs. I will say though, it is on the easy side, I played on expert difficulty, and while the challenge definitely ramped up (mostly due to me going to areas earlier than I was meant to) at times, I found myself often steamrolling the enemies more often than not.
Keep in mind, there were also several multi-hour long gaps that I spent building my units up in creative ways to combat weaknesses, so your mileage may vary depending on how much you'd like to delve into the unit AI (I didn't play with it much myself until I left Cornia, the first area).
The coolest thing about this game is just how much freedom you have in playing with its mechanics and how hands off it is on the world map. After a certain point you can practically go anywhere and that will lead to harder challenges but greater rewards in terms of new characters and equipment.
The story probably isn't anything you haven't seen before but it's got a charming revolving door of side characters to keep it interesting and some solid world building to boot. And there's some satisfying twists at the end if you're that invested (not to mention a big ass glossary that has the backstory on like, every single facet of the world).
The game looks great, it's got those classic Vanillaware designs with plenty of cool, cutesy, and sexy characters abound, though they are a touch less flamboyant and exaggerated than games like Odin Sphere and Dragon's Crown. (Even still, I think the elves in this game would make the Digital Foundry guys melt lol)
It's also got a great soundtrack, though no song too stand out in my opinion, just generally pleasant to listen to and matches the areas well.
Oh! And the localization isn't half bad. I noticed 8-4 in the credits, and they're responsible for localizing my favorite Fire Emblem game (Shadows of Valentia), which is written very similarly to this. I will say some of the dialogue is a little too flowery, even for me, but overall it's a great fit for the world and a disagree with other's assessment that the localization ruins the game (which I understand is a claim thrown out for just about every JRPG).
TLDR, this one's special. I don't give games 9s often, this one is a 9. Play it.
@Ryu_Niiyama How did you find the game's difficulty on your end? I'm curious what exactly changes between options.