I said I’d give Avalon Code
Buuuut… I still think the system is too fussy. I still like the premise and I still wish the game allowed you to focus on that instead of throwing you into boring dungeons with horrible puzzles and wasting tons of time that way. Barely anything has happened story-wise in those 9 hours so when oh when is the story ever going to get going?
And the book is still a pain in the buttocks to control. If I need a simple Iron code to modify a weapon, I have to flip through every single page in the whole book looking for the places where I’ve used iron. And if I don’t have an empty palette to put the Iron on, I have to find a space on another page, put something down (which I might need later) and grab the Iron then flip back to where I need to use it. If they had made a proper code index for the book that would have improved the game by 80%.
We would still have to deal with the dungeon puzzles though. Have I told you lately how much I hate dungeon puzzles? And that even in the best of games, which Avalon Code certainly is not. So, to continue or not to continue? A commenter on my previous Avalon post promised me a “heart-wrenching and nerve-wracking plot twist” which I would kind of like to see, but am I curious enough to put up with terrible gameplay? I know I did it for Suikoden Hyakunen, but the battles there weren’t half as bad as this. Not to mention the chances of finding a complete Let’s Play are higher for AC, so maybe I should do that instead.
…aight, I’ll give it another 3 hours to get its act together and take it from there.
Yeah another DS game I had high hopes for but for some reason the whole micromanaging of the magical book dragged on for no reason. It might have a decent story but by then I just wanted to stop halfway in the beginning orz.
I heard there were some otoge elements but know I just the game felt like it was fighting me from clearing even the most basic battles and that’s never a great sign.
They barely count as ‘otoge elements’ IMO. I’m playing as a girl and there some guys you can romance, but the whole romancing process is as tedious as the rest of the game so I’m not going to bother.
Sorry to hear how it’s a pain even to date guys in the game too 🙁
It’s awkward because a lot of JRPGs offer the PC a choice b/t male or female MCs but it’s not really a otoge unless you count any event where you talk to a guy. The most recent example I can think of is Danganrompa 2 because you can “date” all the characters well, kinda? It’s more like you can be their personal therapist for a few hours (looking at you, P4)…
And so the list is even shorter if I take away those games orz. I would really like a game where it doesn’t feel like a female MC was added as a side thought vs the main storyline.
There are games like Parasite Eve and 3rd Birthday out there (haven’t played them myself) with female main characters, but I’m with you in hoping for more, especially when it comes to SRPGs and turn-based RPGs. Nothing against the plucky spiky-haired hero, but a plucky spiky-haired heroine would be interesting.
He he, I was waiting for this one! ^^
Too bad you still don’t like it… But yes, this game is bristling with dungeons puzzles, and tough ones at that. Better love these little babies if one wants to enjoy Avalon Code, indeed!
As for the plot twist, it’s at the end of Chapter five, which may be roughly 12 to 15 hours into the game, depending on how you play. But it’s worth noting that if you don’t love the game and the characters, you will probably not be that affected by the said plot twist. It’s not really that original story-wise; instead, it’s built in such a way that the effect it has on you is proportional to the amount of emotional investment you pour into the game.
I though the romance process was refreshingly simple compared to regular otome games: just shower your sweetheart with presents, and poof! Here comes a corny scene to reward you.^_^ At least, I managed to romance someone in that game, unlike in Riviera. 😛
I’m in Chapter 3 now, so I suppose I could keep going a little longer to Chapter 5. The gifting system relies on having at least 41 MP per gift, which I don’t always have. Plus I can never remember what anyone likes so I always have to flip to their entry and see what it is first, etc. Too much trouble.
Well, good luck! ^^ Chapter four is a bit of a pain, even when one loves the game; on the other hand, it introduces a third bachelor to the roster. Chapter five gives you a break and doesn’t require you to clear any dungeon; instead, it allows you to concentrate on side quests, exploring and romancing, which is quite neat.
Good to hear. If I had my way this wouldn’t be a fighting game at all.