OmiGCN
2018
>"Welcome to Lobotomy Corporation, new manager, here you-" *restarts run*
>"Welcome to L-" *restarts run*
This is merely but a glimpse of what awaits you in the hellscape that is this company.
Lobotomy Corporation is a management game about one too many things, but what stands atop it all is perseverance. Said concept is deeply rooted in the game's core, to the point where it even ties in to the developers, Project Moon, and the rough yet inspiring story behind the game's development.
The Will to Stand up Straight
Considering an unsuccessful overseas Kickstarter funding, while at least managing to get a decent Tumblbug (pretty much a Korean Kickstarter) project reception, and similar struggles, like almost going bankrupt due to their commission of a translation, it is quite evident at times that the game is short on budget, and it's made clearer by the time you see the credits, showing the names of a bunch of backers, and a seemingly scarce development team.
But what it lacks in resources, it more than makes up with sheer ambition, given it is no easy task to release a game with such a big scope...
...yet they endured the development cycle and finally did release it, so with Project Moon breaking out of their own cycle of torment and struggles, now it's the player's time to undergo their own.
The Fearlessness to keep on Living
Managing this company is no easy task, as you're dealing with weird creatures called Abnormalities, to meet the energy quota (yes, you obtain energy working with them) and call it quits for the day. This gameplay loop will keep going for a while, so you better get used to it.
However, this game wouldn't be as unabashedly difficult as it is without trying with all its might to make your management as miserable as humanly possible. With Abnormalities that range from seemingly harmless entities (Punishing Bird is the closest thing to a toxic relationship but I still love my silly little guy) to the most absolutely despair-inducing and soul-crushing gimmicks known to man, along with enemies that will pop up along the way, this games holds no punches whatsoever.
The Rationality to Maintain Discretion
But the manager does not partake in energy collection, instead, you order your employees to do so, risking their very lives in the process. However, you definitely don't want them to die, since it costs you time and points to recruit and level them up.
If you don't manage your resources properly, you might get forced to do a complete restart of your playthrough, but some upgrades carry through between runs, so everything will go faster in subsequent runs (kiiiiinda like a roguelike).
But why is such a relentlessly evil and equally obtuse experience so good, and so alluring?
The Expectation for the Meaning of Existence
Well, the game is hostile by design, not just in gameplay but also in its story. You're presented with a brutally ruthless organization that does not stop even at the face of death to fulfill its apparently corporate goals, coupled with a setting that instills the same sense of solitude that the gameplay and music that accompany it reinforce in you.
The whole experience feels just right; it nails the feeling of a very daunting and oppressive journey through the installations that comprise this corporation.
Those who are Faithful and Trustworthy
Said installations are divided into several departments, each of them spearheaded by a Sephirah. These characters will be presented to you during this play, and all of them have a story to tell, or more accurately, to unravel through their interactions, that you unlock by fulfilling missions during each day (these, for example, also get saved between runs, so you don't have to repeat them).
As expected, these missions also get very rough sometimes, and I do mean it (and well, they're also necessary for finishing the game). I don't blame anyone for dropping this game, but it is very much worth the chance, and at worst, just use mods if you can't handle the incoming waves of frustration, rather than watching a Let's Play online. A mod I do recommend right from the start that doesn't really hurt the experience is More Detailed Info, which shows you the real statistics of work success instead of vague words, among other things, so at least you can shave off a bit of that frustration and obtuseness of its systems.
The Hope to be a Better Person
The greatest highlight of this game, rather than the gameplay, is, as expected, the story and experience it provides. It is a game where I'm not even sure I appreciate the whole picture yet (I probably need Library of Ruina for this), despite having 100%ed it after a whooping 95h of playtime, epilogue included. I'm also still unsure of neither this review in its entirety, nor the rating I've given to it, so I may alter it slightly in the future.
What I can say for sure, at this moment in time, is how good this game is, including its narrative and symbolism, and how worthy it is of your time, if you can endure all of the quirks and gimmicks they will throw at you. It is, without a doubt, one of the best ludonarratives I've ever seen in a game.
Despite being as cryptic as it can get, it slowly provides you with bits of information about the characters and the world, and when everything clicks it's just amazing in hindsight. The characters do help with this, since they all have their own marked personalities and their quirks.
What may you do for them, you ask?
Well, perhaps you can somehow help.
Help them find a resolution.
Embrace the past, and help regain the Light.
>"Welcome to L-" *restarts run*
This is merely but a glimpse of what awaits you in the hellscape that is this company.
Lobotomy Corporation is a management game about one too many things, but what stands atop it all is perseverance. Said concept is deeply rooted in the game's core, to the point where it even ties in to the developers, Project Moon, and the rough yet inspiring story behind the game's development.
The Will to Stand up Straight
Considering an unsuccessful overseas Kickstarter funding, while at least managing to get a decent Tumblbug (pretty much a Korean Kickstarter) project reception, and similar struggles, like almost going bankrupt due to their commission of a translation, it is quite evident at times that the game is short on budget, and it's made clearer by the time you see the credits, showing the names of a bunch of backers, and a seemingly scarce development team.
But what it lacks in resources, it more than makes up with sheer ambition, given it is no easy task to release a game with such a big scope...
...yet they endured the development cycle and finally did release it, so with Project Moon breaking out of their own cycle of torment and struggles, now it's the player's time to undergo their own.
The Fearlessness to keep on Living
Managing this company is no easy task, as you're dealing with weird creatures called Abnormalities, to meet the energy quota (yes, you obtain energy working with them) and call it quits for the day. This gameplay loop will keep going for a while, so you better get used to it.
However, this game wouldn't be as unabashedly difficult as it is without trying with all its might to make your management as miserable as humanly possible. With Abnormalities that range from seemingly harmless entities (Punishing Bird is the closest thing to a toxic relationship but I still love my silly little guy) to the most absolutely despair-inducing and soul-crushing gimmicks known to man, along with enemies that will pop up along the way, this games holds no punches whatsoever.
The Rationality to Maintain Discretion
But the manager does not partake in energy collection, instead, you order your employees to do so, risking their very lives in the process. However, you definitely don't want them to die, since it costs you time and points to recruit and level them up.
If you don't manage your resources properly, you might get forced to do a complete restart of your playthrough, but some upgrades carry through between runs, so everything will go faster in subsequent runs (kiiiiinda like a roguelike).
But why is such a relentlessly evil and equally obtuse experience so good, and so alluring?
The Expectation for the Meaning of Existence
Well, the game is hostile by design, not just in gameplay but also in its story. You're presented with a brutally ruthless organization that does not stop even at the face of death to fulfill its apparently corporate goals, coupled with a setting that instills the same sense of solitude that the gameplay and music that accompany it reinforce in you.
The whole experience feels just right; it nails the feeling of a very daunting and oppressive journey through the installations that comprise this corporation.
Those who are Faithful and Trustworthy
Said installations are divided into several departments, each of them spearheaded by a Sephirah. These characters will be presented to you during this play, and all of them have a story to tell, or more accurately, to unravel through their interactions, that you unlock by fulfilling missions during each day (these, for example, also get saved between runs, so you don't have to repeat them).
As expected, these missions also get very rough sometimes, and I do mean it (and well, they're also necessary for finishing the game). I don't blame anyone for dropping this game, but it is very much worth the chance, and at worst, just use mods if you can't handle the incoming waves of frustration, rather than watching a Let's Play online. A mod I do recommend right from the start that doesn't really hurt the experience is More Detailed Info, which shows you the real statistics of work success instead of vague words, among other things, so at least you can shave off a bit of that frustration and obtuseness of its systems.
The Hope to be a Better Person
The greatest highlight of this game, rather than the gameplay, is, as expected, the story and experience it provides. It is a game where I'm not even sure I appreciate the whole picture yet (I probably need Library of Ruina for this), despite having 100%ed it after a whooping 95h of playtime, epilogue included. I'm also still unsure of neither this review in its entirety, nor the rating I've given to it, so I may alter it slightly in the future.
What I can say for sure, at this moment in time, is how good this game is, including its narrative and symbolism, and how worthy it is of your time, if you can endure all of the quirks and gimmicks they will throw at you. It is, without a doubt, one of the best ludonarratives I've ever seen in a game.
Despite being as cryptic as it can get, it slowly provides you with bits of information about the characters and the world, and when everything clicks it's just amazing in hindsight. The characters do help with this, since they all have their own marked personalities and their quirks.
What may you do for them, you ask?
Well, perhaps you can somehow help.
Help them find a resolution.
Embrace the past, and help regain the Light.
2018
Something I've been having a lot of trouble with while writing reviews in this website is doing so for games I love or really respect, partly because I feel like I wouldn't be doing them any justice whatsoever, or simply due to not being able to convey my feelings and experience properly (and honestly, there are reviews out there that are so good that it just feels like anything I'd write down would be inferior in every capacity).
However, this game, which also happened to be the 200th game on my profile, motivated me enough to at least give it a go.
"Even the sweetest treats get bitter with each bite."
I first stumbled upon this game when buying the itch.io Ukraine Bundle, and a friend telling me the game is amazing and "the Undertale of shmups" made me give it a go...
...and I ended up liking it so much I bought it on Steam not long after, if that's any indicative of how much I enjoyed it.
There are many things I could say about this game, but first things first, this game is a blast. It would be unfair to say other shmups aren't (i.e. CAVE games are amazing), but this game in particular shows it's been carefully thought of for years, and the sheer passion of the devs bleeds out of the game uncontrollably.
The controls feel snappy, it never felt unfair to me, the music is amazing, and so are the two-palette graphics. On top of that, it's really accessible to people who haven't played shmups before with its somewhat lenient continues/lives system.
...but most of this can be said for other shmups. What makes ZeroRanger stand out?
"You've entered a vicious cycle of life and death."
For starters, the game won't be a cakewalk. As is a staple of the genre, you will die. A lot. But your determination shall not waver, and even the game helps in this endeavour by progressively making it smoother with more continues the longer you play. The beautiful landscapes and scenarios this game presents while you shoot down Green Orange's forces will feel nowhere as unique and vibrant on your subsequent runs, but even so, you might feel compelled to keep pushing through despite the several adversities on the way (trust me, there are many).
"As you cling on to this cycle, your desires poison your mind"
With the actual progression system as your true companion in this journey, you will slowly gain the power to get through what this game has to offer, and even despite the aforementioned adversities, your rewards for your struggles will be there in the form of your runs lasting longer, and getting deeper and deeper into this everlasting cycle.
But it has an end to be put to. And the game seems so heavily insistent on the idea of reaching enlightenment. Maybe that's what's waiting for you at the finish line?
You may ask what that is, but I'm not one to say or decide. You can play this game and reach your so desired response, or lack thereof, but I'll keep this as vague as I possibly can.
"Ignorance. Attachment. Aversion."
The story and symbolisms that this game carries forward are top-notch, despite most of the storytelling being either very vague or just implicit. I will not talk about this much as I want to keep this spoiler-free, but when you reach the ending, the experience just clicks together, and makes the journey and the countless hindrances so much more satisfying in hindsight.
If whenever you finish the game you're confused, which you might as well be, there's a lot of discussion about this game and its story/topics online that may help on that front.
At this point in time, which is only a few days after having finished the game, I still don't know if I get what it tries to say in its entirety, but what I can grasp makes it a simple, yet meaningful story.
"Feeding these unwholesome thoughts will only lead to more suffering."
This game is probably one of the best experiences that are awaiting you in this entire genre. Maybe the game might not seem appealing to you, and that's fine, but if there's even one shred of doubt or interest, I strongly recommend giving it a fair shake before giving up on it. The game is a piece of art, but it's hard, and it will do what it possibly can to remind you of that fact of all times, so you know what you'd be getting yourself into.
Perhaps when you finish it you won't think the same way I do, or you may just think it's good but nothing amazing, but you never know, so give it a chance, I don't think you'll regret it.
Shall you get to dedicate some of your time to this game, remember these words:
Do not give in to Despair.
May you attain Enlightenment.
And if you do,
I hope you can carry this Power with you.
However, this game, which also happened to be the 200th game on my profile, motivated me enough to at least give it a go.
"Even the sweetest treats get bitter with each bite."
I first stumbled upon this game when buying the itch.io Ukraine Bundle, and a friend telling me the game is amazing and "the Undertale of shmups" made me give it a go...
...and I ended up liking it so much I bought it on Steam not long after, if that's any indicative of how much I enjoyed it.
There are many things I could say about this game, but first things first, this game is a blast. It would be unfair to say other shmups aren't (i.e. CAVE games are amazing), but this game in particular shows it's been carefully thought of for years, and the sheer passion of the devs bleeds out of the game uncontrollably.
The controls feel snappy, it never felt unfair to me, the music is amazing, and so are the two-palette graphics. On top of that, it's really accessible to people who haven't played shmups before with its somewhat lenient continues/lives system.
...but most of this can be said for other shmups. What makes ZeroRanger stand out?
"You've entered a vicious cycle of life and death."
For starters, the game won't be a cakewalk. As is a staple of the genre, you will die. A lot. But your determination shall not waver, and even the game helps in this endeavour by progressively making it smoother with more continues the longer you play. The beautiful landscapes and scenarios this game presents while you shoot down Green Orange's forces will feel nowhere as unique and vibrant on your subsequent runs, but even so, you might feel compelled to keep pushing through despite the several adversities on the way (trust me, there are many).
"As you cling on to this cycle, your desires poison your mind"
With the actual progression system as your true companion in this journey, you will slowly gain the power to get through what this game has to offer, and even despite the aforementioned adversities, your rewards for your struggles will be there in the form of your runs lasting longer, and getting deeper and deeper into this everlasting cycle.
But it has an end to be put to. And the game seems so heavily insistent on the idea of reaching enlightenment. Maybe that's what's waiting for you at the finish line?
You may ask what that is, but I'm not one to say or decide. You can play this game and reach your so desired response, or lack thereof, but I'll keep this as vague as I possibly can.
"Ignorance. Attachment. Aversion."
The story and symbolisms that this game carries forward are top-notch, despite most of the storytelling being either very vague or just implicit. I will not talk about this much as I want to keep this spoiler-free, but when you reach the ending, the experience just clicks together, and makes the journey and the countless hindrances so much more satisfying in hindsight.
If whenever you finish the game you're confused, which you might as well be, there's a lot of discussion about this game and its story/topics online that may help on that front.
At this point in time, which is only a few days after having finished the game, I still don't know if I get what it tries to say in its entirety, but what I can grasp makes it a simple, yet meaningful story.
"Feeding these unwholesome thoughts will only lead to more suffering."
This game is probably one of the best experiences that are awaiting you in this entire genre. Maybe the game might not seem appealing to you, and that's fine, but if there's even one shred of doubt or interest, I strongly recommend giving it a fair shake before giving up on it. The game is a piece of art, but it's hard, and it will do what it possibly can to remind you of that fact of all times, so you know what you'd be getting yourself into.
Perhaps when you finish it you won't think the same way I do, or you may just think it's good but nothing amazing, but you never know, so give it a chance, I don't think you'll regret it.
Shall you get to dedicate some of your time to this game, remember these words:
Do not give in to Despair.
May you attain Enlightenment.
And if you do,
I hope you can carry this Power with you.
2015
I am not candy but if I were him I wouldn't let us do puzzles either ngl
Most of what I've said in Rance I's review (https://www.backloggd.com/u/OmiGCN/review/985650/) is pretty much applicable to this one. However, it certainly does improve a little bit over its predecessor, and just feels like it has more substance when playing.
Boring battles, now with partners!
The battle system largely remains the same, but now you have an actual party! What did you say? You want to control the other characters? Ahahahaha, nope, this game won't let you, the others will do whatever they please (Persona 3 flashbacks ensue), though it's honestly not that big of a deal for most of the game.
I only really had trouble with that at the final boss, due to barely having any healing items left, and Sill just constantly healing Rance, even if she was a hit away from death (for context, if any character dies, it's over).
What is actually annoying is that the strategy of just spamming your way through is the exact same since you have the same amount of control as Rance I, but now there's also somebody else to back you up. Therefore, for the most part it's just spamming attacks, then healing occasionally.
So, in other words, it's as shallow as ever, but at least it kinda felt more fun, I guess? Twice the people, twice the fun, or something like that.
As parodical as ever
The humour from Rance I returns, as expected, but I wouldn't lie if I said a couple of jokes caught me off-guard and made me laugh more than I expected. Tone-wise, yeah, it's still goofy as hell, with some 4th wall-breaking jokes, and other wacky gags, don't really expect anything else or you'll come out disappointed. Of course, sexual jokes are also quite abundant; this is Rance, so who am I to be surprised.
When it comes to its odd and yet-to-be explored amalgamation that is its setting, it still doesn't really go anywhere, much to my disappointment. However, it felt to me that the story is less tacked on and less of an excuse when compared to I. Hell, there's even a few scenes that actually felt serious and seem to delve a bit deeper into the characters, which is something I'll gladly take over whatever Rance I was doing when it got "serious".
Proper guidance? They still don't know what that is
Definitely use a guide for this game too. It's as obnoxious and confusing as the first game, and sometimes seems to heavily rely in having some insane sixth sense to guess stuff, or setting in the boredom by just not knowing what to do. Maybe this gets somewhat fixed in the remaster, but I wouldn't know.
General thoughts
I don't know if I'm missing anything important, but that's pretty much it. Overall, it's nothing mindblowing, but it is, even if barely, a passable experience, and it once again has its moments (they're arguably a bit more frequent than in the first game). At least I had a bit more fun playing this than Rance I, so that's enough for me.
I just hope Rance III finally delivers a bit more on the characters and world, because I can see the potential it harbours. For that, they just have to free the series of the shackles of being limited to just a mere parody of RPGs.
Will they? I don't know, but I sure hope so.
P.S. I should stop making reviews this long, for Rance of all series, I swear.
Boring battles, now with partners!
The battle system largely remains the same, but now you have an actual party! What did you say? You want to control the other characters? Ahahahaha, nope, this game won't let you, the others will do whatever they please (Persona 3 flashbacks ensue), though it's honestly not that big of a deal for most of the game.
I only really had trouble with that at the final boss, due to barely having any healing items left, and Sill just constantly healing Rance, even if she was a hit away from death (for context, if any character dies, it's over).
What is actually annoying is that the strategy of just spamming your way through is the exact same since you have the same amount of control as Rance I, but now there's also somebody else to back you up. Therefore, for the most part it's just spamming attacks, then healing occasionally.
So, in other words, it's as shallow as ever, but at least it kinda felt more fun, I guess? Twice the people, twice the fun, or something like that.
As parodical as ever
The humour from Rance I returns, as expected, but I wouldn't lie if I said a couple of jokes caught me off-guard and made me laugh more than I expected. Tone-wise, yeah, it's still goofy as hell, with some 4th wall-breaking jokes, and other wacky gags, don't really expect anything else or you'll come out disappointed. Of course, sexual jokes are also quite abundant; this is Rance, so who am I to be surprised.
When it comes to its odd and yet-to-be explored amalgamation that is its setting, it still doesn't really go anywhere, much to my disappointment. However, it felt to me that the story is less tacked on and less of an excuse when compared to I. Hell, there's even a few scenes that actually felt serious and seem to delve a bit deeper into the characters, which is something I'll gladly take over whatever Rance I was doing when it got "serious".
Proper guidance? They still don't know what that is
Definitely use a guide for this game too. It's as obnoxious and confusing as the first game, and sometimes seems to heavily rely in having some insane sixth sense to guess stuff, or setting in the boredom by just not knowing what to do. Maybe this gets somewhat fixed in the remaster, but I wouldn't know.
General thoughts
I don't know if I'm missing anything important, but that's pretty much it. Overall, it's nothing mindblowing, but it is, even if barely, a passable experience, and it once again has its moments (they're arguably a bit more frequent than in the first game). At least I had a bit more fun playing this than Rance I, so that's enough for me.
I just hope Rance III finally delivers a bit more on the characters and world, because I can see the potential it harbours. For that, they just have to free the series of the shackles of being limited to just a mere parody of RPGs.
Will they? I don't know, but I sure hope so.
P.S. I should stop making reviews this long, for Rance of all series, I swear.
1989
"Hey, this series' music is pretty good and people seem to think Kichikuou Rance is amazing, maybe the games are worth something despite what they look like at first glance?"
i.e.:
- ex. 1 ~ Fiend Boss, Rance X
- ex. 2 ~ Mars, Sengoku Rance
- ex. 3 ~ Outdoor Crawl - arrange, Rance Quest
- ex. 4 ~ Influence, Kichikuou Rance (enough examples already, but Rough Edge is also pretty good)
As someone who sometimes gets really interested in a game due to its music, my thoughts were akin to the quote above. And so, I decided to try the series going by release order.
The answer is, at least for this first game, no. Bear with me while I explain why.
Old butgold copper
Beyond its appearance lies a product that has aged as well as a carton of milk contemporary to this game's initial release.
With its extremely barebones and easy-to-break battle system (within 10 minutes of random battles I had leveled up enough that I had no trouble at all for the rest of the game), Rance I's core is flawed beyond redemption.
The game isn't too long to begin with, so it's not like I was expecting some outstanding and profound RPG, but somehow, I was left disappointed. I guess I should maybe even be glad I broke the game that easily, becoming tedious would have been the last straw.
At least the graphics and music are decent for its time, I guess?
A parody to its core
The game's story is pretty much an excuse to make Rance go do something instead of having an actually meaningful plot.
A simplified summary would be something like: "there's a girl that has disappeared, go investigate and bring her back to earn a hefty sum of money", and then you do just that, but adding some minor sidetracking to the mix, so, expecting a lot from this story would not be the smartest move.
To be fair to this game, it pretty much feels like a parody of the average fantasy RPG, so I guess it makes sense it's like this.
When it comes to the humour, this game is an extremely mixed bag, because on one hand, there's a lot of content and puns that can alienate a lot of people, and understandably so, but despite that, the game admittedly has moments where it is genuinely funny.
An example I recall is (paraphrasing it):
+ "How old are you?"
- "I don't have an age."
+ "Huh?"
- "My writers are just lazy."
As you would expect from a game like this, the game does have some questionable content, but personally, the game is so unabashedly goofy that I couldn't take anything seriously and therefore, didn't care about it, I just brushed it off (having played it while talking in VC with friends might have something to do with it). Regardless, it is still something to take into account if you ever feel like playing this series, or this game particularly (for whatever reason).
A proper guidance for the player? Never heard of it
This is something a lot of old RPGs suffer from due to its shorter runtime back then, but this game is just obtuse as hell.
You either use a guide, wander aimlessly trying to take a stab in the dark in the hopes of getting somewhere, or heavily rely on the clue system the game includes, which if I recall correctly, was tied to money (I don't remember how expensive it was though), so... you better get ready to take part in more insanely satisfying battles! Exactly what everyone was waiting for!
Actually cool insights into its development
Before starting the game, there's an option called "Alice's Mansion" that's nothing amazing, but is worth mentioning for anyone interested in old game development, as it scratches the surface of what it entails, and overall, is just a nice bonus.
General thoughts
All in all, this game is definitely a product of its time, somewhat made as a parody to all the fantasy RPGs taking the market by storm at the time.
The setting itself may prove to be more interesting in future entries, but as it stands, with its severely outdated mechanics and structure, weird jokes, and run-of-the-mill storyline, this game is definitely not something I'd call good, at least by current standards.
At worst, the game is annoying, and at best, it's inoffensive. The game also seems to know it is not to be taken seriously, and also doesn't overstay its welcome, so there's that to take into account.
I might have been overly negative with this review, but anyways, it is simply not good, although it's not the worst thing I've ever played either.
If you actually want to play this game, be it for context for further entries, or anything else, download Rance I Rebuilt, it fixes bugs from the original English TL and is probably a better experience overall.
Will the next entries be better than this?
Probably.
Will I keep pushing forward until I reach Kichikuou to see if this is really worth it?
Perhaps.
Did this game make me want to do so?
Not at all.
P.S. why I've made such a long review about this game out of every possible option I could have picked is beyond me. Also, I hope I've been as accurate as possible, but I've played this game more than a month ago, so...
i.e.:
- ex. 1 ~ Fiend Boss, Rance X
- ex. 2 ~ Mars, Sengoku Rance
- ex. 3 ~ Outdoor Crawl - arrange, Rance Quest
- ex. 4 ~ Influence, Kichikuou Rance (enough examples already, but Rough Edge is also pretty good)
As someone who sometimes gets really interested in a game due to its music, my thoughts were akin to the quote above. And so, I decided to try the series going by release order.
The answer is, at least for this first game, no. Bear with me while I explain why.
Old but
Beyond its appearance lies a product that has aged as well as a carton of milk contemporary to this game's initial release.
With its extremely barebones and easy-to-break battle system (within 10 minutes of random battles I had leveled up enough that I had no trouble at all for the rest of the game), Rance I's core is flawed beyond redemption.
The game isn't too long to begin with, so it's not like I was expecting some outstanding and profound RPG, but somehow, I was left disappointed. I guess I should maybe even be glad I broke the game that easily, becoming tedious would have been the last straw.
At least the graphics and music are decent for its time, I guess?
A parody to its core
The game's story is pretty much an excuse to make Rance go do something instead of having an actually meaningful plot.
A simplified summary would be something like: "there's a girl that has disappeared, go investigate and bring her back to earn a hefty sum of money", and then you do just that, but adding some minor sidetracking to the mix, so, expecting a lot from this story would not be the smartest move.
To be fair to this game, it pretty much feels like a parody of the average fantasy RPG, so I guess it makes sense it's like this.
When it comes to the humour, this game is an extremely mixed bag, because on one hand, there's a lot of content and puns that can alienate a lot of people, and understandably so, but despite that, the game admittedly has moments where it is genuinely funny.
An example I recall is (paraphrasing it):
+ "How old are you?"
- "I don't have an age."
+ "Huh?"
- "My writers are just lazy."
As you would expect from a game like this, the game does have some questionable content, but personally, the game is so unabashedly goofy that I couldn't take anything seriously and therefore, didn't care about it, I just brushed it off (having played it while talking in VC with friends might have something to do with it). Regardless, it is still something to take into account if you ever feel like playing this series, or this game particularly (for whatever reason).
A proper guidance for the player? Never heard of it
This is something a lot of old RPGs suffer from due to its shorter runtime back then, but this game is just obtuse as hell.
You either use a guide, wander aimlessly trying to take a stab in the dark in the hopes of getting somewhere, or heavily rely on the clue system the game includes, which if I recall correctly, was tied to money (I don't remember how expensive it was though), so... you better get ready to take part in more insanely satisfying battles! Exactly what everyone was waiting for!
Actually cool insights into its development
Before starting the game, there's an option called "Alice's Mansion" that's nothing amazing, but is worth mentioning for anyone interested in old game development, as it scratches the surface of what it entails, and overall, is just a nice bonus.
General thoughts
All in all, this game is definitely a product of its time, somewhat made as a parody to all the fantasy RPGs taking the market by storm at the time.
The setting itself may prove to be more interesting in future entries, but as it stands, with its severely outdated mechanics and structure, weird jokes, and run-of-the-mill storyline, this game is definitely not something I'd call good, at least by current standards.
At worst, the game is annoying, and at best, it's inoffensive. The game also seems to know it is not to be taken seriously, and also doesn't overstay its welcome, so there's that to take into account.
I might have been overly negative with this review, but anyways, it is simply not good, although it's not the worst thing I've ever played either.
If you actually want to play this game, be it for context for further entries, or anything else, download Rance I Rebuilt, it fixes bugs from the original English TL and is probably a better experience overall.
Will the next entries be better than this?
Probably.
Will I keep pushing forward until I reach Kichikuou to see if this is really worth it?
Perhaps.
Did this game make me want to do so?
Not at all.
P.S. why I've made such a long review about this game out of every possible option I could have picked is beyond me. Also, I hope I've been as accurate as possible, but I've played this game more than a month ago, so...
2017
So, I tried this game out of curiosity after having heard of it, mainly due to being one of Arcaea's first collabs with other rhythm games.
The servers are no longer online and it's no longer downloadable through Google Play Store, so yeah it's sadly died off, therefore I could only try offline mode, which is as barebones as it can get, since it only consists in trying out the songs the game has in Practice Mode, that, as far as I can tell, doesn't even save your top scores.
Whatever modes and content the game had online, I can't talk about them from experience, though I might get better informed about it and come back to fill that out eventually.
After having played for a while, I can say it's pretty fun: the songs, even though it doesn't have much as the game didn't last too long, are pretty good and what you'd expect from an arcade-y rhythm game, and the chart are decently fun, with a fair level curve to get better at the game.
Its graphics are also really pretty, with how the character sprites look and all, so there's that to take into account too.
What I don't get are the ratings, I've managed to do a Full Combo in one song, with almost all of it being perfect notes, yet I didn't get even an A, just a B, and considering there's also A, S and SS, I don't know what I'm exactly missing out on (if my memory serves me right I do recall reading something about how the ranking system was pretty much broken or really weird in the last updates so that might be it).
Last, but not least, its English translation is serviceable enough, but a complete mess, there's no way that wasn't machine translated.
To sum it up, this is a potential-filled yet unpolished rhythm game that sadly went off too soon, the visuals are really pretty and if properly ironed out could have been a really good rhythm game, but alas, it couldn't.
If Collesta, the game devs, ever decide to try a revival, I'll be there to try it out as from the little I could play of it, they were getting onto something and I'd be glad to watch them polish it up and try again.
P.D. This score may not accurately reflect what the game was during its active runtime, I'll try to figure that out eventually.
The servers are no longer online and it's no longer downloadable through Google Play Store, so yeah it's sadly died off, therefore I could only try offline mode, which is as barebones as it can get, since it only consists in trying out the songs the game has in Practice Mode, that, as far as I can tell, doesn't even save your top scores.
Whatever modes and content the game had online, I can't talk about them from experience, though I might get better informed about it and come back to fill that out eventually.
After having played for a while, I can say it's pretty fun: the songs, even though it doesn't have much as the game didn't last too long, are pretty good and what you'd expect from an arcade-y rhythm game, and the chart are decently fun, with a fair level curve to get better at the game.
Its graphics are also really pretty, with how the character sprites look and all, so there's that to take into account too.
What I don't get are the ratings, I've managed to do a Full Combo in one song, with almost all of it being perfect notes, yet I didn't get even an A, just a B, and considering there's also A, S and SS, I don't know what I'm exactly missing out on (if my memory serves me right I do recall reading something about how the ranking system was pretty much broken or really weird in the last updates so that might be it).
Last, but not least, its English translation is serviceable enough, but a complete mess, there's no way that wasn't machine translated.
To sum it up, this is a potential-filled yet unpolished rhythm game that sadly went off too soon, the visuals are really pretty and if properly ironed out could have been a really good rhythm game, but alas, it couldn't.
If Collesta, the game devs, ever decide to try a revival, I'll be there to try it out as from the little I could play of it, they were getting onto something and I'd be glad to watch them polish it up and try again.
P.D. This score may not accurately reflect what the game was during its active runtime, I'll try to figure that out eventually.
I don't really have much to say about this, to be completely honest. It gave more mystery to some existing unknowns and it was a nice change of pace from the previous three chapters. Ooishi and the MC really shine here, but as much as I like this chapter, giving it a 9/10 would be unfair to the other three, as this one really shows it's a bonus chapter at times (plus it's quite short compared to the rest). Still worth it and a great time regardless.
This is so far the peak of Higurashi, this whole chapter is amazing from start to finish, Satoko went from being my least favourite main character to one of my favourite characters overall. A specific tip in Day 7 killed me inside, which is the only time this game had this much impact on me. The second half of this chapter is just perfectly written and crafted, Keiichi really shows how good of a MC he can be, and the entire ending of this left me in awe. If it does get better than this, I'm in for a ride.
Even though it's still a really enjoyable chapter, it didn't hit nearly as hard as Chapter 1 did. The Slice of Life content is still really good and entertaining and so is the more serious and eerie stuff, but it lacked impact compared to Chapter 1 (it may not be fair to compare it as much but oh well). Considering giving it a 8 due to the weird pacing at times and the lack of impact, but it still deserves a 9. Still great with the introduction of new characters and further setting up the mystery.
Considering this chapter is free on Steam, if I didn't have the rest of Higurashi in my possession already this would have sold me on the entire thing. Great start, great presentation of the whole premise, I love the characters and the SoL content. After the first half finishes this turns into one of the best experiences I've had in this medium so that really means something. Overall, a really good experience and a great start, setting the mysteries you'll want to unravel from here onwards.
Since this entry contains Chapters 1 to 4, I'm gonna review them individually (with as little spoilers as possible) and add a summary for the bundle itself after all of them to sum up my thoughts on it as a whole.
Note: you can also find these reviews submitted individually in the respective chapters' pages.
---[Higurashi Ch. 1 ~ Onikakushi]---
Score: 9/10
Considering this chapter is free on Steam, if I didn't have the rest of Higurashi in my possession already this would have sold me on the entire thing. Great start, great presentation of the whole premise, I love the characters and the SoL content. After the first half finishes this turns into one of the best experiences I've had in this medium so that really means something. Overall, a really good experience and a great start, setting the mysteries you'll want to unravel from here onwards.
---[Higurashi Ch. 2 ~ Watanagashi]---
Score: 9/10
Even though it's still a really enjoyable chapter, it didn't hit nearly as hard as Chapter 1 did. The Slice of Life content is still really good and entertaining and so is the more serious and eerie stuff, but it lacked impact compared to Chapter 1 (it may not be fair to compare it as much but oh well). Considering giving it a 8 due to the weird pacing at times and the lack of impact, but it still deserves a 9. Still great with the introduction of new characters and setting up the mystery even further.
---[Higurashi Ch. 3 ~ Tatarigoroshi]---
Score: 10/10
This is so far the peak of Higurashi, this whole chapter is amazing from start to finish, Satoko went from being my least favourite main character to one of my favourite characters overall. A specific optional tip in Day 7 made me die inside a bit, which is the only time this game had this kind of impact on me. The second half of this chapter is just perfectly written and crafted, Keiichi really shows how good of a MC he can be, and the entire ending of this left me in awe. If it does get better than this, I'm in for a ride.
---[Higurashi Ch. 4 ~ Himatsubushi]---
Score: 8/10
I don't really have much to say about this, to be completely honest. It gave more mystery to some existing unknowns and it was a nice change of pace from the previous three chapters. Ooishi and the MC really shine here, but as much as I like this chapter, giving it a 9/10 would be unfair to the other three, as this one really shows it's a bonus chapter at times (plus it's quite short compared to the rest). Still worth it and a great time regardless.
---[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Question Arcs)]---
Score: 9/10
Definitely a solid read that has captured my attention completely, as I love both sides/natures of what it has to offer. If it gets better than this, sign me in for the Answers Arcs (which I'm probably starting soon enough).
Note: you can also find these reviews submitted individually in the respective chapters' pages.
---[Higurashi Ch. 1 ~ Onikakushi]---
Score: 9/10
Considering this chapter is free on Steam, if I didn't have the rest of Higurashi in my possession already this would have sold me on the entire thing. Great start, great presentation of the whole premise, I love the characters and the SoL content. After the first half finishes this turns into one of the best experiences I've had in this medium so that really means something. Overall, a really good experience and a great start, setting the mysteries you'll want to unravel from here onwards.
---[Higurashi Ch. 2 ~ Watanagashi]---
Score: 9/10
Even though it's still a really enjoyable chapter, it didn't hit nearly as hard as Chapter 1 did. The Slice of Life content is still really good and entertaining and so is the more serious and eerie stuff, but it lacked impact compared to Chapter 1 (it may not be fair to compare it as much but oh well). Considering giving it a 8 due to the weird pacing at times and the lack of impact, but it still deserves a 9. Still great with the introduction of new characters and setting up the mystery even further.
---[Higurashi Ch. 3 ~ Tatarigoroshi]---
Score: 10/10
This is so far the peak of Higurashi, this whole chapter is amazing from start to finish, Satoko went from being my least favourite main character to one of my favourite characters overall. A specific optional tip in Day 7 made me die inside a bit, which is the only time this game had this kind of impact on me. The second half of this chapter is just perfectly written and crafted, Keiichi really shows how good of a MC he can be, and the entire ending of this left me in awe. If it does get better than this, I'm in for a ride.
---[Higurashi Ch. 4 ~ Himatsubushi]---
Score: 8/10
I don't really have much to say about this, to be completely honest. It gave more mystery to some existing unknowns and it was a nice change of pace from the previous three chapters. Ooishi and the MC really shine here, but as much as I like this chapter, giving it a 9/10 would be unfair to the other three, as this one really shows it's a bonus chapter at times (plus it's quite short compared to the rest). Still worth it and a great time regardless.
---[Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Question Arcs)]---
Score: 9/10
Definitely a solid read that has captured my attention completely, as I love both sides/natures of what it has to offer. If it gets better than this, sign me in for the Answers Arcs (which I'm probably starting soon enough).
1992
The game ever, so good they were afraid of making a sequel because of it not being as good as the first one.
A masterpiece that will make you go deaf because of its superb sfx and music.
It will probably make your eyes melt because of its crisp and outstanding visuals.
Life-changing game too, made my wife stay and it helped in winning the lottery.
Please play this game.
A masterpiece that will make you go deaf because of its superb sfx and music.
It will probably make your eyes melt because of its crisp and outstanding visuals.
Life-changing game too, made my wife stay and it helped in winning the lottery.
Please play this game.
2008
This game (here comes an actual cheesy as hell sentence to make you interested) feels like Undertale before the actual Undertale came out.
Now that I probably caught your attention, for better or for worse, I'll explain myself.
First of all, this game is actually FREE, so why aren't you playing it yet? :(
That aside, this game feels revolutionary in its own right, I won't spoil any details but hoo boy was this an experience. The game itself controls like a classic RPG (it's a literal RPG Maker game, nothing else should be expected). However, it's the actual world, vibe, and the overall story what makes me rate this game that high, since the gameplay just works as a medium to bring this story to life.
The music, the characters, everything feels so surreal yet so unique that it brings a feeling you barely get when playing games anymore.
Story/ambience is its main selling point, but as I can't say anything about that, just trust me, it's that good.
If you're gonna play this game, it's short, you could beat it in a few hours, but you should at the very least try to unlock the secret ending scene (doesn't bring much to the table, honestly, but it's the way you can experience all the game has to offer).
Try not to look too much online, and just play this game (in any case just search for vague hints for the secret ending scene), it's literally free, and I assure you it's a great experience.
Now that I probably caught your attention, for better or for worse, I'll explain myself.
First of all, this game is actually FREE, so why aren't you playing it yet? :(
That aside, this game feels revolutionary in its own right, I won't spoil any details but hoo boy was this an experience. The game itself controls like a classic RPG (it's a literal RPG Maker game, nothing else should be expected). However, it's the actual world, vibe, and the overall story what makes me rate this game that high, since the gameplay just works as a medium to bring this story to life.
The music, the characters, everything feels so surreal yet so unique that it brings a feeling you barely get when playing games anymore.
Story/ambience is its main selling point, but as I can't say anything about that, just trust me, it's that good.
If you're gonna play this game, it's short, you could beat it in a few hours, but you should at the very least try to unlock the secret ending scene (doesn't bring much to the table, honestly, but it's the way you can experience all the game has to offer).
Try not to look too much online, and just play this game (in any case just search for vague hints for the secret ending scene), it's literally free, and I assure you it's a great experience.
1999
Having played this game 20 years after its original launch, I can see why people say this is a really dated experience, yet I can't bring myself to actually dislike what I went through.
We have Ryo Hazuki as the MC trying to avenge his father, and that's pretty much the motivations behind the actual game plot going the way it does.
However, I feel the way it's pulled off feels really well-done, seeing that you can at times feel the actual resolution and determination in Ryo to go after Lan Di, the guy who killed his father, while still feeling the struggle and melancholy of leaving everything behind (including Nozomi, which actually hurts) in the actual game.
Gameplay-wise, it's just a walking simulator with some fights (gameplay being ripped out of Virtua Fighter) here and there.
However, it has to be one of the most immersive and charming experiences I've played in a good while: everything contributes to the atmosphere, from little side quests like the cat, to the soundtrack, and the actual game system, which feels closer to a real-life simulation than an actual game at times. They even took real weather data in the time frame the game takes place in and added it into the game, if that isn't dedication I don't really know what else could be it.
It's a masterpiece in its own merit, but a flawed one at that, seeing as you could actually end up waiting with no real stuff to do except wandering around or even using your phone in real life.
However, truth is, there is something so unique about this game that there is no way I could be even close to hate it.
Definitely NOT a game for everyone, but for some of you, it's worth your time.
We have Ryo Hazuki as the MC trying to avenge his father, and that's pretty much the motivations behind the actual game plot going the way it does.
However, I feel the way it's pulled off feels really well-done, seeing that you can at times feel the actual resolution and determination in Ryo to go after Lan Di, the guy who killed his father, while still feeling the struggle and melancholy of leaving everything behind (including Nozomi, which actually hurts) in the actual game.
Gameplay-wise, it's just a walking simulator with some fights (gameplay being ripped out of Virtua Fighter) here and there.
However, it has to be one of the most immersive and charming experiences I've played in a good while: everything contributes to the atmosphere, from little side quests like the cat, to the soundtrack, and the actual game system, which feels closer to a real-life simulation than an actual game at times. They even took real weather data in the time frame the game takes place in and added it into the game, if that isn't dedication I don't really know what else could be it.
It's a masterpiece in its own merit, but a flawed one at that, seeing as you could actually end up waiting with no real stuff to do except wandering around or even using your phone in real life.
However, truth is, there is something so unique about this game that there is no way I could be even close to hate it.
Definitely NOT a game for everyone, but for some of you, it's worth your time.
Review for the DS version (completely DIFFERENT from Wii/PS2/PSP)
As a kid, I used to play this game, but I couldn't get past the first big boss, or at least I don't recall so.
Having played the entire thing a lot of years later, I can say that while this game has redeeming qualities and is actually good by licensed games' standards, it falls short in some regards.
The music is pretty much a banger, with the boss theme and other tracks like Hoover Dam being the best in the soundtrack.
Gameplay, while cool, does feel rough at times, with not enough feedback to know when you're actually damaging enemies at times.
It's a good time, but it's something I can't see myself going back into again, unless my nostalgia kicks in, to be honest.
As a kid, I used to play this game, but I couldn't get past the first big boss, or at least I don't recall so.
Having played the entire thing a lot of years later, I can say that while this game has redeeming qualities and is actually good by licensed games' standards, it falls short in some regards.
The music is pretty much a banger, with the boss theme and other tracks like Hoover Dam being the best in the soundtrack.
Gameplay, while cool, does feel rough at times, with not enough feedback to know when you're actually damaging enemies at times.
It's a good time, but it's something I can't see myself going back into again, unless my nostalgia kicks in, to be honest.