Terrible name, but what can you do. I picked this up on a whim and am surprised how much I've been enjoying it. It's an RPG put out by Capcom, it appeared at first to be their attempt at a Dark Souls style game (which is why I tried it) but it's actually not, it's something pretty unique. It's a third-person action RPG, with some cool party mechanics.

It's not super heavy on plot, and the plot you do get comes at the beginning and mainly at the end of the game. Otherwise, you're free to fuck around and explore and do quests and kill shit. Exploration is rewarded, and there's a good amount of character itemization/customization.

I'm a huge Dark/Demon's Souls fanboy, but this has important differences. Where Souls was more about careful combat where you alone must remain in control of the situation, the combat here is about chaos, about group of foes going at it at once, or perhaps your party going against a large foe.

This is a SINGLE player game, but it does have an online element. To explain: You have your character, and you also create a "pawn", an NPC to travel around with you. You customize the pawn fully yourself, but the computer AI actually controls it's actions (you can tailor its actions, like making it stay back as a healer/buffer, have it attack strongest foes first, have it prioritize picking items up, that sort of thing). You can also recruit two more pawns, for a party of four. Those other two pawns are made by other players, and they can also recruit your pawn as well. (roads and towns are populated by other pawns so you can even recruit them just by seeing them on the road and speaking to them). You don't need to have a full party, in fact I think the game is too easy with one, but its your choice (you do get more XP with less people). Pawns can be any class except the three hybrids.

Classes:
FIGHTER- sword and board type
MAGE- buffs, heals, elemental damage
STRIDER- bows and daggers, nimble
WARRIOR- heavy fighter class, uses two-handers
SORCERER- heavy mage class, trades in buffs/heals for huge damage spells
RANGER- heavy strider class, ranged expert
MAGIC ARCHER- hybrid class, ranged expert
MYSTIC KNIGHT- hybrid class, fighter with magic abilities
ASSASSIN- hybrid class, gets huge boosts for playing alone and at night








All classes use a stamina system for abilities. Sorcerers have the most damage output but their tradeoff is being squishy and having long windups to get those spells off (like 15-20 seconds for the big ones). The rouge classes are fast, and they also specialize in climbing big monsters to stab at their weak points.

So yah, videos. Pulling these randomly from youtube. Trying not to spoil shit.
This one just shows some exploration, the guy picks on some weak critters and then runs from an actual fight.

bennyhillifier

An actual fight against a couple cyclops and straggler goblins.

bennyhillifier

A sorcerer casting a Tornado spell.

bennyhillifier

Anyways, figured I'd bring this game up since I think a few of you might like it, and it went pretty much under the radar.

this looks somewhat promising, at least from that cyclops video I just watched.

saw this played at PAX and it looked good. was hoping there was exploration because the party combat looked fun and annoying at the same time. will i squeeze it in my game queue, probably not.

looks pretty awesome.

No turned-based, no-care.

too many bits you mean,

it's TURN-BASED. i'm telling starcraft you said that.

dude be so slow he be wishin' his lyfe was turn-based and shit

The game does have flaws but despite them I'm still enjoying it alot. Random tidbits:

1. Turn off pawn subtitles and cinematic views the moment you start. Much better without them. You can turn on or off all AI elements.

2. You can change classes as much as you want, when you do you're able to keep some traits of a previous class. Apparently this is a common thing in japanese rpgs.

3. Body type makes a difference; small people get encumbered easily but they're quicker and regain stamina faster. Large people can carry a lot more, and resist getting knocked down better.

4. There is no fast travel, if you want to get across the map, you have to run there. (There actually IS a teleport stone but they're rare and expensive). This can make for some pretty long treks.

5. The game isn't over when you think it is and the credits roll.

6. When you get hurt, your max health also decreases. Magic healing only heals to this lowered amount. To regain full health, you must use items or stay at an inn.

7. Throwing people off cliffs never gets old.


bennyhillifier