I've tried on a few occasions in the past to play through this, though each has been well after the the game's original release. This was my furthest effort so far, and I got near the halfway mark before I finally gave up.
It's a little frustrating reviewing this, because there is so much to like. The game is gorgeous; it has aged incredibly well thanks to the art style, which makes fantastic use of Yoshida's concept and character artwork. The score is another strong element, as is the story and localization. The script is frankly a wonder for a game of its time, when localizations were still often rushed and threadbare. You can tell that genuine care went into it, and the story deserves it; the characters are interesting, and the political/religious web of intrigue is compelling.
But the gameplay. I don't doubt that at a younger age, I would've had more patience to navigate the game's obtuse and granular combat system, exacerbated by the cumbersome menus you have to navigate on a constant basis. It took some effort to overcome one of the numerous walls in the game, spending several minutes sorting through a half dozen weapons one by one, looking for the one with the right array of parameters to deal more than a single point of damage against an enemy at hand. Eventually it was just exhausting, especially when little more than bad luck found me without such a weapon, and even more particularly when trying to navigate maps where said enemies respawn, hamstringing me in the throes of being hopelessly lost.
I think some of the elements of the combat design are very cool and interesting, and some amount of streamlining might've really clicked for me, but as is I just grew tired of it, and found myself trying to simply run past whatever fights I could, its own exercise in frustration. I simply wasn't having fun at a point, and I had to call it.
But I did immediately go to YouTube and find a cutscene compilation so that I could experience the rest of the story, visuals, and soundtrack. I can't give the game a bad rating in light of that, but I also just can't say I love the game like I wish that I could.
It's a little frustrating reviewing this, because there is so much to like. The game is gorgeous; it has aged incredibly well thanks to the art style, which makes fantastic use of Yoshida's concept and character artwork. The score is another strong element, as is the story and localization. The script is frankly a wonder for a game of its time, when localizations were still often rushed and threadbare. You can tell that genuine care went into it, and the story deserves it; the characters are interesting, and the political/religious web of intrigue is compelling.
But the gameplay. I don't doubt that at a younger age, I would've had more patience to navigate the game's obtuse and granular combat system, exacerbated by the cumbersome menus you have to navigate on a constant basis. It took some effort to overcome one of the numerous walls in the game, spending several minutes sorting through a half dozen weapons one by one, looking for the one with the right array of parameters to deal more than a single point of damage against an enemy at hand. Eventually it was just exhausting, especially when little more than bad luck found me without such a weapon, and even more particularly when trying to navigate maps where said enemies respawn, hamstringing me in the throes of being hopelessly lost.
I think some of the elements of the combat design are very cool and interesting, and some amount of streamlining might've really clicked for me, but as is I just grew tired of it, and found myself trying to simply run past whatever fights I could, its own exercise in frustration. I simply wasn't having fun at a point, and I had to call it.
But I did immediately go to YouTube and find a cutscene compilation so that I could experience the rest of the story, visuals, and soundtrack. I can't give the game a bad rating in light of that, but I also just can't say I love the game like I wish that I could.
3 Comments
@FallenGrace - It really is a gorgeous game; I'd always wanted to play it just based on how it looked, and it's worth it for that (and the OST) for sure!
They don't do you any favors with that anti-undead dagger they give you early -- it breaks the combat system in a way that isn't super obvious and leads to experiences like yours, unfortunately.
There is just a bit too much going on... Your assessment that it needs some streamlining is dead on, I think.
There is just a bit too much going on... Your assessment that it needs some streamlining is dead on, I think.
FallenGrace
1 year ago