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« on: September 14, 2020, 03:17:04 PM »
Pandemics made me go back to playing games, what is this shit
I went through two Fiesta playthroughs for FF5 (WHM/SUM/BST/DNC and BLM/SMN/RDM/DNC, latter being Reg50), the game was thoroughly smashed twice because mage classes in FF5 are just bonkers. Afterwards, I played through most of SRWT (stalled on map 50 because I got lazy and the map design in this game is just very uninspired) and went through the new Paper Mario and now am playing Brig. So, let's mull a bit on those last two.
Paper Mario The Origami King - This is everything Sticker Star wanted to be but lacked the heart to. The absence of XP, levels and numbered stats doesn't bother me in this game, honestly. The battle system against randoms is fun and interesting in a vaccuum, but later on I honestly wished it had some more tactical depth to it - its emphasis on getting the puzzles right for maximum efficiency is cool, but the crowd control options and the general modus operandi felt a bit one-dimensional in the lategame. Gimmicks like the Boo's invisibility, rewarding on-the-go memorization, and the papercut soldiers, which entail figuring out how they extend in the grid, were really cool and I wish there were more of those. This said, however, the emphasis on random battles CONSIDERABLY diminishes, and the game puts a nice emphasis on its incredible boss battles.
Without delving into details, the boss battles in Origami King are fucking -art-. Creatively design, full of personality and all of them working different grid gimmicks that require off-the-cusp adaptation and flexibility, they just felt like the crowning gameplay achievement in the game, and I can't say enough good things about them.
But honestly, the main draw for me is just how charming and well-written the game is. The writers really hit the jackpot with the surreal setting and bizarre implications of a paper world and the game has great pacing. Every location is memorable (Toad Town and its hub nature, Whispering Woods and the FUNKADELIC TREE ENSEMBLE, Scorching Sandpaper Desert and its stunning visuals and bizarrely cartesian structure, Snif City and the fascinating concept of glam decadence as enacted by the Mario World, FUCKING SHANGRI-SPA...), every arc finds new ways to be hilarious and fun, they finally stopped wasting Bowser as a character, the cast is very charming in spite of what the interviews regarding the game may tell you... yeah. When I was done, I honestly felt sad the game ended, because it's just such a loving, tightly knit little thing. TTYD orphans may never forgive the game for not being a full-on RPG, but this is an amazing game that deserves to be enjoyed on its own merits. The current Paper Mario series has gone into a pretty unique gameplay and writing place, and Origami King shows it's very much worth playing. Seriously, play it.
Brigandine: Legend of Runersia - Been playing for a week or so, this is fucking great. Running Guimoule right now, I'm almost done with the conquest part, only Shinobi Nation is left to rout (Dellia is a BITCH). Guimoule is a great starting point for a first playthrough, since the Rune Knight selection is really good (Eliza is very high-level and is a pile of good stats, while Accel, her ATK buff and Accel give her some utility on the side. Darian, Mu'ah and Kate are fucking incredible units with really strong stats and high level, Rose is a nice middle-ground character with surprising potential because Temple Knight hauls ass and the Royal Knight promotion is SURPRISINGLY versatile. Sugar is a solid project knight, as is Patricia, and Vayne is rather powerful, high-level Berserkers make for good offensive physical classes. Conrad is kinda middling in comparison, but perfectly functional, and he's a decent choice for a quest knight early on). Will post more coherent thoughts eventually when I'm not busy.
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