just finished totori

[SaturnineTenshi]

Not unleashing untrammeled hatred on Atelier or any similar games. I only meant to point out that, despite their allure, the stories involved are typically the most glaring nadir. I play Atelier games for the synthesis and characters. As a broader statement: yes, I do miss powerfully woven tales. They aren't absent, though. Just buried.

I've been playing games since floppy discs were floppy. My first eroge was one such title my uncle owned. That doesn't make me value compelling narrative any more than the Final- wait, uh, Persona fan. Neither does it make me more hardened against horrible graphics than they are. It might help, but it's hardly a defined chasm between generations.

[Mlada]

That's actually comforting to hear that it's not a generation thing though. Graphics at least seem to be a bit, as anyone I know that started off with the older gamer generations usually won't rate that the most important factor to a game review. Granted, I love great graphics. I consider it a real treat, but I also don't expect every game to use top-notch graphic engines or anything like that.

As for story, I would love to use imagination for those as well when character pasts weren't always as clear as they could have been, but if there's no major groundwork to truly structure the potential plot points, then...it's a bit of a bummer, but not a disaster with games. I also loved using imagination for what characters sounded like, what might have happened after the ending credits, and some other minor things, which isn't left much to the imagination so much anymore (at least as far as graphics-wise, voice-wise, and the higher demand to have a much more defined ending it seems...which isn't entirely a bad thing once again either).

For me, Atelier was my break away from the "epic must-save-the-world" genres, which is most RPG's reasonably enough. I found it quite refreshing and all, so I guess that's my main reason for loving it so much. With the endings concept, what I was fond of were games that had an ending, and then a bonus ending depending on completion values. To me, that felt more motivating than playing a game over numerous times (or potentially if it's not possible to get all endings in one playthrough and a special save file) to get that special bonus of an ending. Trophies for the most part mean crap to me, but because other gamers obsess over it and I want to prove that I love a particular game, I'll force myself to get more trophies...which is really stupid on my part...LOL

Legend of Dragoon, Final Fantasy 6, and Xenogears were probably the most satisfying games I've ever played, and while some (or all) of them had some cheesy qualities to them and maybe not the most stunning of qualities in today's standards, they had the most impacting effect on me. Now, I'm not saying all games since then were crap or anything, because like Saturnine said, "They aren't absent, though. Just buried." There have been tons of games since then that I've enjoyed a great deal, or else I probably wouldn't still be playing games. But when I do find a game that clearly focuses on better stories and entertainment value (gameplay wise), it's quite refreshing...

Unfortunately, I just can't trust the FF series anymore...LOL...

[vampko]

Understandable. And I think I enjoy GUST/Atelier games mostly because of the characters and their interactions.

Graphics, like yourself, are usually a nice treat. Sometimes though, bad graphics can really bring a game down. And yeah, those who have been gaming for the long haul, generally will be able to look past 'bad' graphics moreso than those who are newer to gaming.

I see the appeal in very story-oriented games, and I see the appeal in multiple ends, and I definitely see the appeal in getting to make your own endings. Though, if you think about it, that's an example of a weak story

I really want to play Meruru xD

Stupid NISA wanting to spread the localizations apart so much...>_<

I mean, I understand where they're coming from, but it doesn't make the wait any easier...

[Alura--x--Uneii]

Well with all the fans wanting "HD REMAKES!" I prefer anime-style characters over the realistic 3D ones. I still have to finish Rorona and Totori...

[Mlada]

I know...I really want to play Meruru too...

But yeah, I don't really understand the big HD remake craze. I mean, I kind of do, but I'd rather have a new game than an old one getting a HD remake...Then again, I know that there are a lot of people that might not had the opportunity to play it the first time around and a remake would increase their chances of finally playing it, while making it HD just makes it cleaner.

It's still not that big of a deal for me though...But I can understand bad graphics bringing down a game too. Especially when you know the gaming company has used a better engine before but purposely opted to reuse maps and/or lower the quality for money reasons (as in the kind of money reasons being so they can make more money since the game is going to sell incredibly well regardless). The first example that comes to mind is Dragon Age II...now, the graphics looked fine to me, but the fact that they reused so many area maps for dungeons and didn't even try to make these places look really unique was a bummer when you can tell they took more time and effort for the first game.

[vampko]

I'm not all that big on HD remakes. It just seems so silly and pointless to me. But, there are people who want it sadly.

The worst thing? If people hadn't of embraced this, we likely would have gotten full PS2 backwards compatibility back in our PS3s. Which would trump HD remakes ANY Day

[shymel94]

I'm not all that big on HD remakes. It just seems so silly and pointless to me. But, there are people who want it sadly.
The worst thing? If people hadn't of embraced this, we likely would have gotten full PS2 backwards compatibility back in our PS3s. Which would trump HD remakes ANY Day

Wasn't the PS2 compatibility done with a chip that Sony took out to make the PS3 cheaper?

[SaturnineTenshi]

And Jesus died for your sins.

[vampko]

I'm not all that big on HD remakes. It just seems so silly and pointless to me. But, there are people who want it sadly.
The worst thing? If people hadn't of embraced this, we likely would have gotten full PS2 backwards compatibility back in our PS3s. Which would trump HD remakes ANY Day

Wasn't the PS2 compatibility done with a chip that Sony took out to make the PS3 cheaper?

That was when they basically had the ps2 inside of the PS3. The model afterwards used an emulator, which really doesn't cost extra to implement, since it's an emulator. Sony just wanted a way that they could still make money off suckers who buy into this sort of stuff. I bought ONE HD remaster, and I just ended up not playing it. I really should, but I just don't. I used to use my old Ps3 for PS2 games a bunch, and also PS3 games as well. But, buying games I already own again, just isn't working for me. Though, I didn't own the one HD remaster game I bought.

[Mlada]

I never (until about a few months ago) knew that the original PS3 was backwards compatible so I felt no need at the time to fork up $600 for a console that at the time had no games that interested me. When the price finally came down, that's when the next series came out while more games were finally announced and/or came out by then. If I had known that the first gen PS3 was backwards compatible, I might would have caved in or still buy a first gen instead of the newer model.

At least I'm glad my PS2's are still holding up well though, but that would have been a hell of a lot more convenient for the PS3 to play all games...

[vampko]

I never (until about a few months ago) knew that the original PS3 was backwards compatible so I felt no need at the time to fork up $600 for a console that at the time had no games that interested me. When the price finally came down, that's when the next series came out while more games were finally announced and/or came out by then. If I had known that the first gen PS3 was backwards compatible, I might would have caved in or still buy a first gen instead of the newer model.

At least I'm glad my PS2's are still holding up well though, but that would have been a hell of a lot more convenient for the PS3 to play all games...

Well, playing PS2 games caused the PS3 to Yellow light faster from what I've experienced and read from other people. So, it was a trade-off.

Though, that was only the 60 gigs.

[Alura--x--Uneii]

Glad I still have a ps2.

[Mlada]

Well, playing PS2 games caused the PS3 to Yellow light faster from what I've experienced and read from other people. So, it was a trade-off.

Though, that was only the 60 gigs.

Oh, well if that's the case, then I'm probably glad I didn't bother then. *knock on wood* As much as I've played the PS3, I've still yet to yellow light it. I've had a red ring of death on the 360 once, freaked out, kept it off for a good while, and it start back up just fine a few days later. I now have a fan (both a cooling fan made for the 360, which was there during the RRoD, and also a tiny desk fan) to make sure it stays cool enough. Seems to do the trick.

[SaturnineTenshi]

"both a cooling fan made for the 360"

I've heard those generate more heat than they dissipate. It was a Microsoft rep. who told me that, so take it as you will.

[Mlada]

I heard that too, but I didn't have any solid info to back that up so I chose to keep it. Now I think I feel confident enough to remove that SOB...LOL...That might also explain why I never saw a Microsoft brand fan in stores and only third party fans. Not saying MS never made one or don't still make one, but everywhere I've ever gone, it's only third-party brand fans...which is thus what I ended up getting so perhaps it's an even bigger problem with them...

Thanks again for the heads up!