Retro gems: From NES to the PS

Black Francis · 10-08-2015, 03:06 PM

Here's a Ps1 gem that still holds up as a great game.

Brigandine (Ps1)

Before i begin talking about this game i strongly urge tactical rpg fans to get this game. If you can get a physical copy or just get the rom do so cause this game is fantastic.

What makes this game stand out from other tactical rpgs is that this game takes a different perspective in its storytelling. Like most trpgs this game is all about kingdoms in a all out war but what's different is instead of being assigned a single party of heroes to save the day in this game you are assigned a kingdom who aren't the good guys in fact, your kingdom is led by a capricious king named Dryst who kinda behaves like Kefka from FF6

This is the leader of the nation assigned to you, a madman the game's wiki describes as a tyrant.

Black Francis · 10-08-2015, 03:07 PM

The cool thing about this game is that even though it has great characters, it doesn't bore you with a cliché role or a long story, instead it focuses on the game play which is more about unit management and character development than story driven

"In Brigandine, the player controls one of the six playable nations. Each nation possess a number of troops and castles. Each troop is composed by a human leader, called rune knight, and fictional creatures such as dragons, ghouls and fairies, which are called "monsters". The goal of the player is to conquer the entire continent by attacking the enemy castles with the controlled nation's troops (or troops from allied nations). Likewise, troops are also used to protect the controlled nation's castles from enemy troops' attacks. Brigandine features two gameplay modes, both turn-based: a preparation mode and a battle mode."

The game does have a good story but its conveyed through short dialogue events not through long cut scenes.

Black Francis · 10-08-2015, 03:08 PM

That's one of favorite things about this game, is all about building a powerful army not boring exposition.

The battles themselves play like the Fire emblem games

And just like the Fire emblem games, if your monsters or leaders are killed during battle they are gone forever which makes this game very challenging, imo its even more challenging than Fire emblem and you need to balance each unit very carefully. (Tip: Healers are crucial, get lots of unicorns)

Its hard for me to explain how great this game is but im not exaggerating when i say it's one of the best tactical rpg ive ever played next to Fire emblem& FF tactics

I left out alot of other cool details about the game to not spoil it because i want ppl that like tactical rpgs to play it themselves and see how good this game is.

Aux-In · 11-03-2015, 03:31 PM

Crystalis

Crystalis is an action-adventure RPG for the NES. While The Legend of Zelda will always be number one in this genre due to its classic feel, there are some other games of this ilk that feel a lot more open and free-flowing, even though they revolve around the same two dimensions as everything else on the NES.

The Skinny:

Quote:

The game begins with a man's awakening from a cryogenic sleep one hundred years after a global nuclear war.[6] Even though he is unable to recall his name or who he was, he begins to discover that he may be the key to save this world from destruction.[7] Aided by four wise sages and a mysterious woman, he rises up against the tyrannical Draygonia Empire to ensure that humanity ultimately has a future.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystalis

Recently, I tried to play this game again, but all that did was bring back the same type of memories.

Alright, I've beaten the first scenario. Whom should I talk to in the next town/area to get this show on the road? What equipment do I need? Oh yeah, I can't figure it out, so I'm just gonna start killing enemies and obtain coins for hours on end to help relieve some frustration. At least that will build my levels up a bit and I might be able to go up the mountain that tells me I cannot yet go up it because I'm not strong enough.

It seems the progression of time had not solved the fact that I still got stuck on the second scenario where I, eventually, find out that I need to walk through a poison forest to get some treasure and beat some bad guy.

Oh, I need poison boots to walk through the poison forest. Why didn't I think of that? I still don't know where to get them. **** this. I'm turning this off and playing Tetris instead.

The fighting in this game is standard hack-and-slash for the most part, but what's fun about Crystalis is that you can use different power-up gear, such as swords, armor, and some miscellaneous items that enhance each. The storyline wasn't too bad either for the era in which this game was released. Ages ago, I did beat this game. I remember the levels being more intense and engaging as the game progressed. Solid stuff.

Black Francis · 11-04-2015, 11:24 AM

Whoa dude, tone it down, you're making me look bad!

Good review, Ive never played Crystalis but i do know of it. I didn't know the game called you a moron though, that's pretty funny. I find that going back to some old rpg isn't much fun unless the game has a special something that sets it apart from the rest. Story wise old rpgs are very traditional and linear, you can't really go off script and character decisions are practically non existent that's why i don't enjoy playing them that much anymore.

Keep the reviews coming Aux-in.

Oriphiel · 11-04-2015, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

I find that going back to some old rpg isn't much fun unless the game has a special something that sets it apart from the rest. Story wise old rpgs are very traditional and linear, you can't really go off script and character decisions are practically non existent that's why i don't enjoy playing them that much anymore.

You should give Wild ARMs a shot, if you haven't already. You might like it. It's a Playstation game, and it's somewhat by-the-numbers, but it's got a lot of charm and personality. One character cuts his own arm off just to beat one of the bosses, another is haunted because he believes that he ran away and left his girlfriend to die, and another accidentally foils an enemy trap because she couldn't resist shooting all of the shiny glowing things on the walls. Later on, after the ship she's on gets attacked and starts to sink, she yells at the crew for traveling around in a video game without having a powerful weapon.

Aux-In · 11-04-2015, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

Whoa dude, tone it down, you're making me look bad!

Hah. Yeah man, that's why I asked you earlier in the thread if you were wanting others to contribute content or simply make suggestions for you to check out. Didn't want to take away from what you wanted your journal to be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

Good review, Ive never played Crystalis but i do know of it. I didn't know the game called you a moron though, that's pretty funny.

That's just a screenshot from the Internet. I wanted that specific scene, but that's the only one I could find. It was some wise guy who named his character Moron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Francis

I find that going back to some old rpg isn't much fun unless the game has a special something that sets it apart from the rest. Story wise old rpgs are very traditional and linear, you can't really go off script and character decisions are practically non existent that's why i don't enjoy playing them that much anymore.

I agree. I don't think any of the storylines on those old games are going to be all that compelling to an adult mind. I find that if I'm going to play old games, I like them to be less involved than RPGs, such as action, puzzle, racing or sports games.

Black Francis · 11-04-2015, 03:19 PM

@Ori

I played the 1st Wild arms and it was pretty good. Wild arms is a PS1 rpg though and by that time the rpgs had better story telling and a different landscape. If you look at the ground breaking rpgs from the Snes like, FF6, Earthbound, Chrono trigger, all those games are not set in a medieval era like tradional rpgs, they still had alot of tradional elements but they were expanding the rpg formula to different eras and by the time the Ps1 came out rpgs got really creative and really started breaking the mold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aux-in

Hah. Yeah man, that's why I asked you earlier in the thread if you were wanting others to contribute content or simply make suggestions for you to check out. Didn't want to take away from what you wanted your journal to be.

Don't worry about it, i want it this way cause there are alot of games im not gonna cover and that's why i want ppl to cover them themselves. There's too many retro games for me to cover them all by myself, ya know?

Black Francis · 11-24-2015, 09:59 AM

Toobin' (Nes)

I wanted to mention this game cause it's a game about Toobin, a concept you wouldn't think would make for a good game yet it was a fun game. i've only played the Nes version but originally this was an arcade game and even an atari game.

The concept is simple, you race down a river against the CPU or a 2P navigating through an obstacle course, i haven't played this game since back in the day but as i recall you could bump the opposing player into rocks and little whirlpools to gain the advantage and even collect power ups along the way which made this a great game to f*ck with your buddies while earning that sweet victory.

The game has three race classes, each with five rivers so there's alot of variety in the stages. It's not a game i would recommend you emulate, i can't imagine it has aged well but back in the day this game was tons of fun.

Black Francis · 12-07-2015, 05:24 PM

Flying Dragon (NES)

This game was one of my favorite rentals as a kid, idk why i loved it so much, maybe it's cause the box art made it seem like an anime or just cause the game had 'Dragon' in its title. wthvr the reason was, i really liked this game.

The story line of this game is not very memorable though, as i remember you play a martial artist who's main goal is to get stronger or be the strongest martial artist in the world, some cliché story like that.

The game is essentially a 2d platform side scroller with some beat'em up elements. as you advance in the stage you get power ups for your punches and your kicks as well as a projectile attack.

10-08-2015, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	Here's a Ps1 gem that still holds up as a great game. Brigandine (Ps1) Before i begin talking about this game i strongly urge tactical rpg fans to get this game. If you can get a physical copy or just get the rom do so cause this game is fantastic. What makes this game stand out from other tactical rpgs is that this game takes a different perspective in its storytelling. Like most trpgs this game is all about kingdoms in a all out war but what's different is instead of being assigned a single party of heroes to save the day in this game you are assigned a kingdom who aren't the good guys in fact, your kingdom is led by a capricious king named Dryst who kinda behaves like Kefka from FF6 This is the leader of the nation assigned to you, a madman the game's wiki describes as a tyrant. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

10-08-2015, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	The cool thing about this game is that even though it has great characters, it doesn't bore you with a cliché role or a long story, instead it focuses on the game play which is more about unit management and character development than story driven "In Brigandine, the player controls one of the six playable nations. Each nation possess a number of troops and castles. Each troop is composed by a human leader, called rune knight, and fictional creatures such as dragons, ghouls and fairies, which are called "monsters". The goal of the player is to conquer the entire continent by attacking the enemy castles with the controlled nation's troops (or troops from allied nations). Likewise, troops are also used to protect the controlled nation's castles from enemy troops' attacks. Brigandine features two gameplay modes, both turn-based: a preparation mode and a battle mode." The game does have a good story but its conveyed through short dialogue events not through long cut scenes. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

10-08-2015, 03:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	That's one of favorite things about this game, is all about building a powerful army not boring exposition. The battles themselves play like the Fire emblem games And just like the Fire emblem games, if your monsters or leaders are killed during battle they are gone forever which makes this game very challenging, imo its even more challenging than Fire emblem and you need to balance each unit very carefully. (Tip: Healers are crucial, get lots of unicorns) Its hard for me to explain how great this game is but im not exaggerating when i say it's one of the best tactical rpg ive ever played next to Fire emblem& FF tactics I left out alot of other cool details about the game to not spoil it because i want ppl that like tactical rpgs to play it themselves and see how good this game is. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

11-04-2015, 11:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	Whoa dude, tone it down, you're making me look bad! Good review, Ive never played Crystalis but i do know of it. I didn't know the game called you a moron though, that's pretty funny. I find that going back to some old rpg isn't much fun unless the game has a special something that sets it apart from the rest. Story wise old rpgs are very traditional and linear, you can't really go off script and character decisions are practically non existent that's why i don't enjoy playing them that much anymore. Keep the reviews coming Aux-in. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

11-24-2015, 09:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	Toobin' (Nes) I wanted to mention this game cause it's a game about Toobin, a concept you wouldn't think would make for a good game yet it was a fun game. i've only played the Nes version but originally this was an arcade game and even an atari game. The concept is simple, you race down a river against the CPU or a 2P navigating through an obstacle course, i haven't played this game since back in the day but as i recall you could bump the opposing player into rocks and little whirlpools to gain the advantage and even collect power ups along the way which made this a great game to fck with your buddies while earning that sweet victory. The game has three race classes, each with five rivers so there's alot of variety in the stages. It's not a game i would recommend you emulate, i can't imagine it has aged well but back in the day this game was tons of fun. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!"* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

12-07-2015, 05:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
Black Francis Out of Place Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: in an abstract house Posts: 4,111	Flying Dragon (NES) This game was one of my favorite rentals as a kid, idk why i loved it so much, maybe it's cause the box art made it seem like an anime or just cause the game had 'Dragon' in its title. wthvr the reason was, i really liked this game. The story line of this game is not very memorable though, as i remember you play a martial artist who's main goal is to get stronger or be the strongest martial artist in the world, some cliché story like that. The game is essentially a 2d platform side scroller with some beat'em up elements. as you advance in the stage you get power ups for your punches and your kicks as well as a projectile attack. __________________ "Hey Kids you got to meet the MIGHTY PIXIES!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbRbCtIgW3A

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