Episode 5: The Last Remnant — Let's Kick Some A!

The Last Remnant

Platform: Xbox 360 (this is the version we played), PC

Release Date: November 20, 2008 (Japan, North America, Europe)

Difficulty: Moderate

Amazon Price: $44.99 new for Xbox 360 (yikes!), $11.95 for PC, $9.99 on Steam  

Podcast: Download, iTunes, Listen on PodOmatic

Lightning's Review

  

Is it a dramatic scene…or sexual tension?

The Good

• An addictive battle system that forces you to focus on strategy rather than mere button mashing. Managing character rosters, formations, battle commands…it’s all here, and some mastery of it is required for a successful playthrough.

• A complex customization system that allows you to create or upgrade your characters’ weapons and accessories. Most of the components needed are obtained through winning battles, exploring dungeons, and completing optional quests.

• A varied quest system that is in many ways superior to that of Final Fantasy XII. Instead of just hunting down monsters, you get more variety, albeit through fetch quests, treasure hunting, and acting as bodyguard. A few even show some glimpses of character development for your party members.

The Bad

• Massive load times and slowdown in the Xbox 360 version. Usually load times and slow frame rates don’t bother me, but this was noticeable.

• The story is lacking – there is not only very little of it, but it also fails to answer some screamingly obvious questions that you will have at the end of the game. Sometimes the cutscenes felt reduced to mechanisms that would allow you to merely move on and fight more battles.

The Ugly

• Some very interesting (but hilarious) NPC interactions. One of them tells a Baby Got Back joke. Yes, you read that correctly.
• The thought of what some of the fanfiction for this game might be like.
• Jokes about Lord David’s Gae Bolg. But maybe that was just us.

The master will not approve without Torgal in the party!

The lowdown: An RPG with a very solid and unique combat system, although with that attention to the story accordingly suffered. Think unique combat system + a souped-up version of Final Fantasy XII’s mark system + a more complex version of Final Fantasy IX’s synthesis system + Mystic Quest’s story (yes, you read that correctly) = The Last Remnant. If you like dungeon crawlers and have an Xbox 360, go for it! I would recommend the Steam version, however, since it’s cheaper, tends to have better reviews, and has some upgrades that the Xbox version does not. 

         Podcast Credits: 

         J. Arthur Keenes Band—"Videogame Theme." Creative Commons.

         The Last Remnant Soundtrack

Episode 4: La Pucelle Tactics – Behold Our Kitty and Crossbones Flag and Despair!

La Pucelle Tactics
Platform: PS2, ported to PS3
Japanese Release Date:  January 31, 2002
U.S. Release Date: May 4, 2004
Difficulty: Easy aside from sudden level spikes
Current Amazon Price: $31.99
Current Playstation Network Price: $9.99

 Podcast: Download,  iTunes,  Listen on PodOmatic

Terra’s Review

Behold Our Kitty and Crossbones flag and despair. MEOW

The Good:

• A story that’s more complex and in depth than “Go, characters! Wander the world on your way to defeating the big boss."

• Humor that underlies the series and keeps even the darkest moments on the storyline from getting too serious and depressing.

• All of the main characters have well-defined personalities and they all get development and their time to shine during the game.

• Getting to see the roots of the battle system and slightly twisted sense of humor that the Disgaea series builds on and continues to fine tune.

The Bad:

•   Dull level grinding without much choice or variety in maps and battles.

•   Slightly too convenient pairing off of the main characters.

•   Minimal healing items.

 The Ugly:

•  
  

You don’t want to know what’s on the other side of that wall

The Lowdown: La Pucelle is a solid game with a storyline that moves briskly and characters that will keep players engaged and entertained.

   Podcast Credits:

        J. Arthur Keenes Band --"Videogame Theme." Creative Commons.
La Pucelle Arranged Soundtrack

Episode 3: Phantasy Star II — Retro RPG Russian Roulette

Phantasy Star II

Platform: Sega Genesis

Japanese Release Date:  March 21, 1989

U.S. Release Date: March 1990 (before the original Final Fantasy!)

Difficulty: Freaking Hard 
Current Amazon Price: Sonic Ultimate Genesis: $14.96 for PS3 & Xbox 360

Current iTunes App Price: $2.99

Podcast: Download,  iTunes,  Listen on PodOmatic

Lightning's Review:

 Epic box art! Ummm...I didn't know Rolf was 70!

The Good

• Do you think games these days are too easy? Then look no further! According to my not-so-comprehensive internet research, this game has been cited as one of the hardest RPGs ever to grace the planet. I do not disagree with this assessment. When you win a tough battle or find your way through a labyrinth of hell, you will feel that you have accomplished something, dammit.    

• For reasons that I do not completely understand, the battles are oddly addictive. They require a good amount of strategy regarding choosing the right party members and knowing which attacks will be effective in particular situations. Don’t let its outward simplicity fool you!

The Bad

• For such a challenging game, the final boss is lame-o. However, the boss before right before that is a huge douchebag, which makes me scratch my head a little. I fully admit to flipping the TV screen off when Dark Force was defeated. 

• I put the game’s difficulty as a good; on the flip side, it can also be a bad thing. The battles can be hard, and you need some badass cartography skills to get through the long, meandering dungeons. Or GameFAQs. Even the great guides at GameFAQs, however, can be of little help at times.  

The Ugly

• ‘80s shoulder pads! Monsters called Rabbitguts! (It’s as gross as it sounds.) A translation where you sometimes have no idea who is saying what! All of this and more awaits you! 

 

No verdant plains in the background, folks! Or lush forests! Just…Tron. 

     The Lowdown: Not for the faint of heart. If this is your first RPG, then this may scare   you off forever. However, if you like retro RPGs and are up for a challenge, then I say go for it. Winning this game is something you can BRAG ABOUT. 

     Podcast Credits:

     J. Arthur Keenes Band --"Videogame Theme." Creative Commons.

Episode 2: Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten – Sardines and Strategy RPGs

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten – Sardines and Strategy RPGs

Platform: PlayStation 3.

Japanese Release Date: Feb. 24, 2011

US Release Date:  Sept. 6, 2011

Difficulty:

    Base game default:  Easy to Moderate

    Downloadable content:  Difficult

Current Amazon Price: $18.85

Podcast:  Download, iTunes, Listen on PodOmatic

Terra's Review:

NOTHING is more powerful than sardines!

The Good

• Gameplay that the Disgaea games are always refining and improving, including new options such as the Character World.
• An engaging storyline with the signature wacky humor of the Disgaea series and excellent (and hilarious) voice acting to bring it to life.
• Updated HD graphics.
• The Item World gives players unlimited and ever changing options for level grinding.
• Downloadable content to expand the game, including the backstory of two of the main characters as well as a post-game story focused on some of the other main characters.
• BEHOLD THE POWER OF SARDINES. 

The Bad

• Unpredictable level spikes in the base game and huge level spikes in the Postlude and DLC.
• Some of the cutscenes drag on a little too long.

The Ugly

• Axel, President of the Netherworld.
• Great Flonzor X.

Especially you, Axel.

The Lowdown: A game worthy of the Disgaea name and my favorite in the series.  Highly recommended, especially to anyone who had enjoyed past Disgaea games (obviously),  anyone curious about strategy RPGs and looking for one to try, and anyone who likes sardines.

Podcast Credits:

J. Arthur Keenes Band --"Videogame Theme." Creative Commons.

Disagaea 4 Arranged OST

Episode 1: Star Ocean: First Departure – The Tail of Cinder-Roddick.

Star Ocean: First Departure
Platform: PSP
Japanese Release Date: December 27, 2007
U.S. Release Date: October 21, 2008
Difficulty: Moderate
Current Amazon Price: $14.99

Podcast: Download,  iTunes,  Listen on PodOmatic

Lightning's Review:

It might be a snowy, almost deserted town with sad background music, but at least it has a bar!

The Good

• Entertaining cast of characters…and you can pick who gets to accompany you on your adventure! (Some, anyway.)
• Hilarious dialogue and banter between your party members. The voice acting is for the most part a plus as well.
•  An interesting “private action” system where you can wander around various towns and get to know your party members. Depending on which ones you view and what choices you make, you might end up having a special ending involving that character. It’s L-O-V-E!
•  The Item Creation function allows you to customize your weapons, upgrade your armor, and even cook food to help restore your HP and MP.
•  Star Ocean fans will love this blast to the past – ever wonder what some of those dictionary entries for Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Star Ocean: The Last Hope allude to? Well…you might find out. 

   
The Bad

•  Mind-numbingly long spell animations. If you’ve got some chores you were putting off, now is the time to do them.
•  A lot of backtracking and moving to and fro between places you’ve already visited. This is whether you’re working on the main story, obtaining materials for item creation, or doing sidequests.
•  …And speaking of sidequests, there are not many in this game. 

The Ugly

• Disturbing, disturbing private actions between party members, which can be activated in towns and increase or decrease affection levels. One of the party members is obsessed with touching the main character’s tail…and another likes to hit on everyone. If you see any of these, you may not sleep that night. 

Ronyx is sad because he didn't get to touch your tail.

The lowdown: A great remake RPG for the PSP, and in fact one of the better PSP RPG’s I’ve played. A must for anyone who has liked any of the other Star Ocean installments!

Podcast Credits:
J. Arthur Keenes Band – “Videogame Theme.”  Creative Commons.
Star Ocean: First Departure OST.