Post by soop on Sept 12, 2018 8:25:08 GMT
Winds of Thunder is widely regarded as one of the finest shooters on the system. It's not a space shooter, but more of a fantasy setting, similar to something like Gynogue. It features, impressive, colourful graphics, and a banging, much lauded rock soundtrack. I'm not sure of the exact plot, but you're some kind of prince I think? And you're flying around dispatching fantastic monsters, using a magical suit of armour based on one of the 4 elements. This is something that differs from a lot of other shooters of the time (although later simulated by a choice of ship for example), in that you can't change your loadout mid-level by collecting different colour powerups. There's an impressive intro too, even if I don't understand it. It also has a shop at the beginning of each stage, which I absolutely love in games. The level design is interesting. It's not afraid to move you in a direction apart from left to right, snaking you underground at times. The spritework is usualy good, and occasionally fantastic, especially the larger bosses. The weapon loadouts are interesting too, each having an intended "best-fit" it would seem for a particular level. And lastly, the music is incredible, if not something I'd listen to in isolation.
Ys III takes a drastic Zelda-esque turn and goes side-on in its third installation. We start with a slightly goofed opening in the US version, where the prologue, instead of recounting an ancient tale, instead supplants our current hero as the protagonist. We then get some excellent music and a recap of current events, along with a pointless scene of the character walking right to left. Then we get a title screen, featuring more great music and some decent animations. This is a lot of content before the game even starts. But the title screen really gets you going, it's like an 80's cartoon opening. The game itself is brightly coloured, but the first thing you notice is a massive border of the kind that Falcom seem so insistent on. I'm guessing the play area makes up about 2/3 of the screen, which is strange and disappointing. I'm, sure the game doesn't use that many sprites. Now we get some terrible voice acting, and a strange door noise. I don't understand the decision process for what lines to voice and which to not, but it's a mixed bag. I could have done without the acting tbh. Also the tunes go from redbook to chiptune here. And then during the first mission, we're back to redbook. The game seems sped up and stuttery here. I was hoping it wouldn't be after the title screen, but it definitely looks like it was designed at a certain speed and then maybe doubled at some point. I guess the story and the music are the main selling points here, I don't like the physics of the game, and it doesn't look amazing, but I'd imagine it's fun when you get into it.
Ys III takes a drastic Zelda-esque turn and goes side-on in its third installation. We start with a slightly goofed opening in the US version, where the prologue, instead of recounting an ancient tale, instead supplants our current hero as the protagonist. We then get some excellent music and a recap of current events, along with a pointless scene of the character walking right to left. Then we get a title screen, featuring more great music and some decent animations. This is a lot of content before the game even starts. But the title screen really gets you going, it's like an 80's cartoon opening. The game itself is brightly coloured, but the first thing you notice is a massive border of the kind that Falcom seem so insistent on. I'm guessing the play area makes up about 2/3 of the screen, which is strange and disappointing. I'm, sure the game doesn't use that many sprites. Now we get some terrible voice acting, and a strange door noise. I don't understand the decision process for what lines to voice and which to not, but it's a mixed bag. I could have done without the acting tbh. Also the tunes go from redbook to chiptune here. And then during the first mission, we're back to redbook. The game seems sped up and stuttery here. I was hoping it wouldn't be after the title screen, but it definitely looks like it was designed at a certain speed and then maybe doubled at some point. I guess the story and the music are the main selling points here, I don't like the physics of the game, and it doesn't look amazing, but I'd imagine it's fun when you get into it.