this game took me fucking MONTHS to beat. I started it way before i finished five separate castlevania games, A Realm Reborn, and FF6. oops! I kept getting distracted and just not wanting to play it. I found Oliver quite annoying and the studio ghibli art style in 3d doesn't work too well (although this game is originally a PS3 title so you have to keep that in mind).
Finally however, I have bested it. YES I had the Griffin ticket from the switch version and YES I turned it to easy mode when I got to Hamelin, but thats because I didnt like the combat very much! I know this is probably a controversial comment but I stand by it. I think it would've been far more solid if it was classic turned based, having to move around the arena never quite feels right and when youve got 6 enemies runnning around on screen even the game gets confused. There are so many times where my guys would bee-line towards an enemy and then run into one of my allies and just, keep running into him? then I'd have to cancel the attack command and manually run round. that should not be an issue but it happens in almost every battle lmao
also, as familiars are such a core part of the battle system, why even have the option to use the Oliver, Esther, and Marcassin's brother? there is almost no time in the entire game where it is optimal unless you need to specifically use items or change tactics (and you could just add these to your regular familiar's menu). That being said, when I actually got Marcassin he would constantly get rid of his familiar to cast healing spells or hit all the enemies. He is waaaay better than his brother and also just has a bigger MP reserve, he's just better. Sorry Marcassin's brother; you're ugly AND bad!
As previously mentioned, there're lots of familiars. They are absolutely, without a doubt, the best thing about the game. Because you're essentially allowed 9 familiars per combat session there's lots of familiars you can choose from. By the end of the game my main guys were Dynamite, Sharper-Parper, Moggle Boggle, Puss-in-Boats, Bone Baron, and Griffidgerator. A pretty strong team! The first three in particular are my baby boys who I love. Once Sharper-Parper unlocked Parp it was fucking all over for you bitches. Mito and his evolutions are ludicrously cute and while his stats sort of dropped below that of Bone Baron and Puss-in-Boats he was still viable for the whole game, especially once he learnt super slash (and after feeding him about 200 bars of chocolate).
The characters and story are okay, you can see its Dragon Quest influence on its sleeve which is fine. The actual party members are a little flat but they're all likable. Mr Drippy High Lord High of the Fairies however is the best character in the game; I wanted to play in Japanese because I hated Oliver's voice so much but I had to go back to the English because I miss Drippy's dulcet Welsh tones. The entire Fairyground portion of the game was great for that reason, genuinely funny and charming. Drippy calling the final bosses "Those rotters!" is so perfectly in character. All I wish for Drippy is that he actually got a bit more? I think in the DS version he was a character and that would've worked well here! I think he could've joined me shortly after I got the magic world. Then I never would've had to have used Marcassin's brother!
I also got sick of the music pretty fast, especially the cave and battle themes. Oh well! Still a pretty good time. :)
Finally however, I have bested it. YES I had the Griffin ticket from the switch version and YES I turned it to easy mode when I got to Hamelin, but thats because I didnt like the combat very much! I know this is probably a controversial comment but I stand by it. I think it would've been far more solid if it was classic turned based, having to move around the arena never quite feels right and when youve got 6 enemies runnning around on screen even the game gets confused. There are so many times where my guys would bee-line towards an enemy and then run into one of my allies and just, keep running into him? then I'd have to cancel the attack command and manually run round. that should not be an issue but it happens in almost every battle lmao
also, as familiars are such a core part of the battle system, why even have the option to use the Oliver, Esther, and Marcassin's brother? there is almost no time in the entire game where it is optimal unless you need to specifically use items or change tactics (and you could just add these to your regular familiar's menu). That being said, when I actually got Marcassin he would constantly get rid of his familiar to cast healing spells or hit all the enemies. He is waaaay better than his brother and also just has a bigger MP reserve, he's just better. Sorry Marcassin's brother; you're ugly AND bad!
As previously mentioned, there're lots of familiars. They are absolutely, without a doubt, the best thing about the game. Because you're essentially allowed 9 familiars per combat session there's lots of familiars you can choose from. By the end of the game my main guys were Dynamite, Sharper-Parper, Moggle Boggle, Puss-in-Boats, Bone Baron, and Griffidgerator. A pretty strong team! The first three in particular are my baby boys who I love. Once Sharper-Parper unlocked Parp it was fucking all over for you bitches. Mito and his evolutions are ludicrously cute and while his stats sort of dropped below that of Bone Baron and Puss-in-Boats he was still viable for the whole game, especially once he learnt super slash (and after feeding him about 200 bars of chocolate).
The characters and story are okay, you can see its Dragon Quest influence on its sleeve which is fine. The actual party members are a little flat but they're all likable. Mr Drippy High Lord High of the Fairies however is the best character in the game; I wanted to play in Japanese because I hated Oliver's voice so much but I had to go back to the English because I miss Drippy's dulcet Welsh tones. The entire Fairyground portion of the game was great for that reason, genuinely funny and charming. Drippy calling the final bosses "Those rotters!" is so perfectly in character. All I wish for Drippy is that he actually got a bit more? I think in the DS version he was a character and that would've worked well here! I think he could've joined me shortly after I got the magic world. Then I never would've had to have used Marcassin's brother!
I also got sick of the music pretty fast, especially the cave and battle themes. Oh well! Still a pretty good time. :)