I just started this DS game called Avalon Code
…About 5 hours in so far, I’m bored as hell. First off, the premise that the world’s going to be destroyed anyway is a great one. So great, in fact, that this should’ve been a story-based RPG. Start with the story, stick with the story, focus on the story, develop the story, why, when, how, who. I’m sure the game will get around to all that eventually, but so far all I’ve done is run around a few fields, record a few people and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT random monsters ad nauseam. They’re wasting a perfectly good story.
Secondly, and probably a bigger problem for me, is that working with Codes is too fiddly and fussy. Your job is to record people’s, animals’ and plants’ codes in your little book. Think of a ‘code’ like DNA, only you can readily manipulate it. But flipping through the book is hell. For example, let’s say you want to modify a particular spider’s DNA. You have to go through the content page -> monsters -> type of monster -> particular page before you can find the spider (or hunt it down and re-scan it). If you want to put another code on it, you have to flip through the book to find a person/monster with the code you want, strip it from them, go back to the spider and rearrange its code to fit the new one in there. It takes forever and completely destroys the rhythm of the game.
Thirdly, I already complained about too much fighting, but even that would be okay if the fights were interesting. Instead it’s all slash-slash-slash-slash, charge up big move and use, or use the so-called Judgment Link to whack the monster into the air for points — rinse, repeat. And it gets worse because the enemies on a particular map respawn repeatedly, forcing you to fight at least 3 or 4 waves of pesky monsters that only need 5 or 6 lucky hits to take you out for good.
I’m not enjoying this. I’m not enjoying this at all. I’m giving it another 3 or 4 hours to pick up or I move on.
ohhh!!!I believe we share the same feeling On this game. I had to grind my teeth and swallow my patience for the first 4 or 5 hours of gameplay… You’re right, they should make a story base RPG, it has all the potential to BE one. I was just bore to death. running around killing foes and recording the same DARN code(because thats all there is around)is all i did, i don’t remember i went too far in the storyline… no wait I just DON’T remember the story. was there a story? what a waste of raw materials. could have been a good game though “sigh”
Something about preserving the world so a new one could be built, and I remember some random black knight trying to kill you. That’s it. As you can tell I didn’t play it much.
Yeah, I’ve been reading your blog and your opinions on Radiant Historia and other stuff. I have to agree with you on Avalon Code. That game was a huge disappointment to me. The concept was good, but the code system was extremely cumbersome. The battle system sucked and was essentially just a minigame of juggling the enemy into the air (judgment links) 3/4 of the time. The only somewhat decent parts of the game were the boss battles.
Overall a crappy game.
Yeah, I was pretty disappointed, since the idea was so cool. I didn’t play much further after I wrote that review and I haven’t touched it since.
Aaaaah, too bad you didn’t like that game! When one manages to get through the somewhat unfocused first hours of Avalon Code, there is a lot of enjoyment to be found. The story picks up the pace and leads you through tremendous ups and downs, packing one of the most heart-wrenching and nerve-wracking plot twist I’ve ever seen in a videogame, that left me utterly moved, shocked, and shaken. The code system is also easy to master, since there are not so many codes to begin with, and it’s really not long before you can juggle them with ease. The fighting system also improve, allowing you to wield other weapons and thus practise different fighting styles. And the romance element… Oh, the romance! It’s deliciously corny, refreshing and well-executed,and craftedly woven into the storyline. I am utterly in love with that game, and I can only encourage you to give it another try someday. It takes a bit of patience to enjoy it to the fullest, but that patience will definitely be rewarded!
Wow, you certainly are enthusiastic. All right, then. I was still an ARPG newbie back when I played that, so maybe I won’t find the battle system quite so trying next time. I’ll put it at the bottom of my backlog and give it a second chance in the future, along with Shiren the Wanderer.
Well, I usually tend to be very fervent and passionate about the games I love; maybe a little bit too much, in fact^^. As for Avalon Code, from reading the mostly negative critics about it before playing it, I had expected a fairly average game, if not mediocre, and I was utterly surprised and taken aback by how much I loved it. It may still not be a game for everybody; for instance, I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who dislikes Zelda-like puzzles or has very little patience. But it’s certainly not as broken as anyone seems to think, and I really feel this is a hidden gem that deserves more love^^.
I’m definitely going to replay it with an open mind. I hope I enjoy it.
[…] said I’d give Avalon Code a second chance so I gave Avalon Code a second chance. Last time I quit barely 5 hours into the game, but right now I’m at the 9 hour mark. Of course about 3 of […]