Blogging the experience of gameplayhttps://www.gamelog.cl/gamers/GamerPage.php?idgamer=480https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2949After playing for another hour I found the game to be just as exciting as when I first played it. I recruited a few new allies and leveled my characters up a lot. I also completed some sidequests and that made everything more worthwhile. Design: The challenges of the game almost lie completely with the enemies you face. Just like you they also level up as the game progresses which can make them a lot more difficult if you are a low level but that is where leveling up comes in. If you are at a higher level the enemies the battles become much easier. Other than that there aren't really any other challenges in the game but they're not needed because it is a strategy game after all. There is one other minor challenge and that is a system which is unique to the game as far as I know. The game uses an "Action Point" or AP system. Every action you take in the battle requires AP and you only have 100 AP during each of your turns. This doesn't seem so original but you can alter how much AP is taken for each of your actions. The lighter the equipment you wear the less AP you spend but the more open your defense is. It takes time to balance but it is definitely worth the wait. The level design is interesting but it is not the key element of the game. They are just grids some of which have obstacles like stairs and boxes but the levels aren't gigantic which is a very good thing. It's hard enough fighting the enemies but running all across the map would just be too difficult. The reward structure of the game is also fairly minor. You receive items and money after battles and quests are over but there is nothing more than that.Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:20:23 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2949&iddiary=5558https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2949Summary: You play as Spero, a young man in the military whose job is to hunt spirits for their power. As you meet new allies you begin to realize what is really happening to the world because all of the spirits are being killed. You take on the duty of opening the Gate of Eternity in order to revive the world, no matter who may stand in your way. Gameplay: This game is similar to a lot of strategy games but it does have its differences. Unlike most other games, Stella Deus consists completely of hand-drawn art. The characters, backgrounds, and levels are all original which makes the game experience so much better. I really like the character design and development throughout the game. Everyone has a unique look on and off the battlefield which is something you should expect but Stella Deus can blow your perspective out of the water. That being said, I really enjoyed playing the game for a long time. Even leveling up your characters on the side is really enjoyable for some reason. Usually it would seem tedious or just get tiring after a while but it isn't. One of my only complaints is the voice acting. While the voices may fit the characters they are not very well rehearsed. There isn't much emotion put into the characters, their voices are really monotonous. Then again, most American voice actors don't put a lot of effort into their work. Other than this aspect I really enjoyed the game and I recommend it to people who like strategy games.Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:22:15 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2949&iddiary=5554https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2646The second time I played by myself and it was still just as fun as it was when I played with my friend. The computers were challenging in the later stages of the game but it wasn't too hard overall. Every level looks different from the others but they all have the same underlying principle, with the exception of one. They are all small spaces in which you can move in any direction. If you go over the edge you will get a ring out, giving the other player a point for the round. The one level that is an exception is built like a cage so you can't get knocked out of the ring. The challenges lie within the enemies you face. As you advance through your journey you encounter stronger enemies along the way. Something that I found interesting is the ability to choose different paths for each character. If you make the right selections and you don't die along the way you can fight the true final boss, someone much harder than the normal enemy. This is where the real challenge is. The reward structure of this game is fairly unique because there is so much you can earn. Beating the game with one character unlocks another character and the cycle goes on. You can unlock new costumes for your custom characters or you can purchase them in the store. You can also unlock new levels, challenge modes, weapons, and even more. My favorite part happens to be the many pictures you can unlock because they look so nice. There is so much to unlock that I still haven't finished the game. Overall I'd say this game is a big hit and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good fighting game.Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:09:36 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2646&iddiary=5044https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2646Summary: Although this is a fighting game it does have a pretty intricate story. You choose one out of many characters and embark on a quest for the "Soul Edge". Each story differs based on the character you use but it always ends the same way with a final showdown with Nightmare and Abyss afterwards. Gameplay: The social interaction of this game is outstanding since it is a fighting game. I played with my friend and we had a great time even though he lost most of the time. Regardless of that, we had a lot of fun playing because the game isn't overly complicated, similar to Virtua Fighter 5.There aren't strings of combos to remember and the special attacks seem almost trivial. The array of characters the game offers is one of the biggest that I have ever seen in a fighting. It contains the characters from the previous two games as well as quite a few new characters. The fact that you can create your own characters makes the game even better. The custom character creation is perhaps the best feature because not only can you make and fight with custom characters, but you can also earn and buy new costumes for them. Along with that, they can use a wide range of weapons that the normal characters don't have. Another one of my favorite parts is the Chronicles of the Sword. You create your character(s) and take part in a siege. It looks like an RPG combined with a fighting and you can earn new characters later. Overall, I feel that this is an outstanding game and one of the better fighting games on the market.Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:56:08 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2646&iddiary=5027https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2368Upon playing this game for a second time I still found this game to be very enjoyable. The levels became more challenging as I progressed through the game and I was able to acquire more characters as well. Design: The challenge and the complexity of this game lies in the number of enemies on any given map. Typically there are about 10 enemies on a map but there can be an excess of up to 20. There aren't any super or ridiculous weapons which is a good thing because it doesn't take away the historical value of the game. The level design is really enticing because the maps are not built on a single plane. They are layered with various elements, depending on what the level setup is like. The fortress levels have towers that you are able to climb via the ladders. Rivers slow characters down as they tread through the water. This is truly the peak of a strategy game because other than worrying about enemies you must also worry about the terrain. The most prevalent reward structure of the game is leveling up and obtaining gold after a battle. The unique thing about leveling up in this game is that you can do it during the battle as well as after. Depending on the number of enemies you defeat, you receive a certain amount of experience points. At the end of the level, the experience is distributed to all of your party members, even the ones you didn't use in the battle. This makes it easier for characters to level up as well as a very enjoyable reward for a job well done. At first I was a little skeptical about trying this game because of the historical elements of it but it was actually quite fun. I really recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good strategy game. Fri, 08 Feb 2008 20:09:45 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2368&iddiary=4638https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2368Summary: You play Joan of Arc and your mission is to save France from England but there is a big twist. The English have control over demons and are attempting to resurrect the demon king. One day Joan's village is under attack and she finds a mystical armlet that grants her strange powers. She and her friends must embark on a journey to save all of France. Gameplay: For a PSP game, this game has really great cutscenes and there are quite a few of them. It's an anime style artwork and it looks very clean. Also, the voice acting is fairly top notch, only a couple voices actually get annoying. The voices are in English but the characters have accents, mostly French, which adds to the authenticity of the game era. I feel that this is one of the best strategy games that has been released on the PSP but unfortunately it is not a widely known game. It is a very enjoyable setting, including 14 unique characters. The storyline isn't exactly unique but it is a twist on an already existing story. What I really enjoyed was being able to transform some of your characters. The characters that have the armlets are able to transform depending on what jewels are imbued into it. The characters gain new moves and increases in stats. However, it is not overly powerful because the transformations only last 2 turns and each jewel can only be used once per battle. The only feature that I find a little disappointing is how many party members you can use in a battle. You can only use 4 early on and then you are able to use 5 but there are so many more enemies but I guess that's where the challenge lies.Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:11:56 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2368&iddiary=4618https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2101Design: During my second playthrough, my opinion of the game didn't change much, however, there are other elements of the game that made it at least a little enjoyable. First of all, the cutscene graphics are absolutely amazing, just like usual. Even if the game doesn't deliver the graphics surely will. The levels are also very intricately designed. The towns are composed of quite a few unique areas and the dungeons are fun to explore in depth. Obviously the enemies can be a challenge to fight but it is an even bigger challenge to avoid them. One of best things about the game is earning and allotting skills. Basically, Any person can use any weapon and almost every skill (excluding special skills). It makes the game a little more enjoyable and a little less tedious. The reward structure is very simple. If you defeat an enemy you get money, items, and exp. If you open a chest you get an item. The game is a little complex at first due to the constant barrage of tutorials and the learning curve is quite steep. The battle system is definitely unique to the series but it's not exactly the best innovation and while I do respect the series, I just couldn't get into this game. Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:12:13 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2101&iddiary=4090https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2101Summary: Yet another installment in the final fantasy series. You begin the game as Vaan and like most other games you must begin by completing quests. The world of Ivalice has already been established in a few of its predecessors. The kingdom is in turmoil and it is up to you to save the day. Gameplay: After making my way through all of the tutorials, I found this game to be a little unimpressive. The battle system allows you to move more freely but at the same time you are very restricted to what you are able to do. You can run around easily but if there is an enemy remotely close to you, a battle immediately starts. Your other party members go right for the enemy when the battle starts but you can change that setting. The characters are not entirely original and the voices can get on your nerves after a while but it's not all bad. The game was innovative with its new playing style as well as the gambit system but it wasn't all it's cracked up to be. The gambit system is very hard to get used to at first but after you do it becomes very tedious and almost too easy. You can set gambits for almost everything in the battle, assuming you can find the correct cards. After collecting these cards, you won't ever have to do anything again. When your health gets low you can automatically us a potion which is nice but it takes some of the fun out of the game. Overall, I didn't really find the game too enjoyable due to the new battle system and the crude character designs (everyone has such pointy noses). The gambits make the game seem a little too easy. The voices tend to get old after a while. Even though it is a final fantasy game, I feel that it didn't live up to its expectations.Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:00:32 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=2101&iddiary=4072https://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1608Session 1 Summary: You begin the game as a custom character you create at the start of the game. You are born from the World Tree in Terresia and then informed by a creature named Mormo that your world is being threatened by a 'devourer'. You must find allies and travel the world while completing quests in order to eliminate the 'devourer'. Gameplay: One of the best features of this game is the fact that you are able to create your own character which helps you feel more attached to the character. However, unlike most custom characters from other games, these characters actually have speaking parts in battle. In addition to your custom character you also have other allies, many who are familiar from other games in the Tales series, such as Kratos and Raine from Symphonia and Luke and Tear from Abyss. The voices are fairly close to the originals but it seems like a little more effort could have been put into the English voices. The storyline is very interesting as I described in the first paragraph but it's not like a conventional RPG. The characters do not set out on a quest in the beginning of the game. You began the game by joining a guild and satisfying quests from clients. Special quests allow you to continue the story as well as satisfying other requirements. I feel that the gameplay is really phenomenal because it integrates many features of the previous games as well as introducing some new features including the Artes system and Unison attacks. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Tales series, the fighting style is somewhat similar to Star Ocean and Radiata Story. One of the other features I find entertaining and practical is the fact that you can change the appearance of your character by equipping weapons and armor. Everything you put on give you a different appearance unlike the other games in which only the weapons changed. Another feature I like is the innovation of cutscene style conversations. The prominent characters are displayed on the screen in high resolution pictures while the rest of the action of the scene is occurring in the background. Session 2 Design: After playing this game for about another 2 hours, I have made a few more discoveries of how this game compares to it's predecessors. Just like the other games, it does not have any CG cutscenes which is a little disappointing because the opening movie is absolutely astonishing but there could be so much more. There are a couple of new features that have been introduced that I feel are really great. You are able to change classes/jobs, but you start over at level 1. However, if you decide to change to a former class, you will be the same level as you left off. Another great feature is the party members. There are so many to choose from including characters that the game has created. Completing quests awards you fame points (along with gold and other things) which increases your respect by other characters. Someone could deny joining your party because you don't have enough fame so you have to work to earn their trust. The level design is very simple. Every dungeon has a different layout with a certain number of floors but the floors are very big and full of enemies which makes the levels seem even longer. You can revisit all of the dungeons but once you find the treasure chests you won't be able to find them any more. The complexity of the levels often create many conflicts. Sometimes, certain objectives must be fulfilled in a certain order so you have to travel to one part of the map and then figure out that you're in the wrong place. Challenges mostly lie in the battles and knowing when to change classes. If you are under leveled and you decide to fight strong enemies, things will become much more difficult. You also have to know when to change classes at the right time because you drop to level 1 if you start a new class. That being said, you are rewarded with items, money, and other things such as Grade points which allow you to purchase special items. This game is very fun and so complex that it is difficult to describe all of the features in the game. One of the only complaints I have though is the control scheme. The use of the joystick/nub is highly unnecessary because the d-pad is quite sufficient. Other than that everything else seems to be acceptable and I would highly recommend this game to anyone that loves RPGs. (This entry has been edited3 times. It was last edited on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:58:06.)Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:04:21 CDThttps://www.gamelog.cl/logs/LogPage.php?Log_Id=1608&iddiary=3330