Yearly Archives: 2018

Retro Review: Lufia and the Fortress of Doom

by Jason Parker (Ragachak)

Lufia 1 Review - Story

The story seems standard … but tragedy awaits.

I’ve reviewed Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals in the past, but I think it’s time I go back to where it started. What I think is fascinating is that Lufia 2 takes place before Lufia 1. Lufia and the Fortress of Doom is the first in the Estpolis/Lufia series, one that captivated me in Middle School, many thanks to that friend for letting me play/borrow it that wonderful summer. It’s bright, cheerful graphics hide a pretty dark story of loss, god and man clashing, and horrific, powerful beings coming down to the regular folk and ruining their lives. Within the first hour or two, an entire town is devastated by one of the Sinistrals, killing everyone in his path in probably one stroke. The only person that seemed to ultimately survive that wasn’t hidden deep in the castle was the Priest, and that’s only because he’ll save your game. In Lufia, you play the role of the Hero, who is the descendant of Maxim. Maxim was the legendary hero that led the cause to fight at the battle of the Fortress of Doom.

Lufia 1 Review - Lufia

Surely this young girl isn’t the key to something tremendous.

Somehow, the world seems to be in danger again, about a hundred years later, and the Sinistrals, once defeated by Maxim, Selan, Guy, and Arty are now alive and well. Somehow they resurrected. It was said that so long as Erim lives, the other Sinistrals can and will be reborn, but we have only seen Gades, Sinistral of Destruction. So Maxim sets out with the mysterious Lufia (replacing Selan) and meets the mighty warrior Aguro (who replaces Guy) and the young elf Jerin (taking up Arty’s role). The cycle of violence and destruction begins anew, and these young heroes will stand up to save the day if it can truly be done. Some might think it’s bland that these tropes were used here, but this was the first game! Not to mention, prophecy is funny like that in fantasy stories. Prophecy tends to want uniformity, and having the same types of people again in Lufia 2 (or 1 in this case) fits.

Lufia 1 Review - Battle

Awww, just look at ’em!

This is a turn-based RPG, and one of the only reasons I play Lufia 2 more than 1, is it suffers from Final Fantasy 1 syndrome. When an enemy is defeated and more than one character still has an attack queued up for them, they just whiff and that attack/spell was ultimately wasted. I can’t believe this was done in the SNES lifetime, but here we are. All of the enemies look pretty childish and silly, but I still like it. Every RPG up to this point had ultra serious, gritty looking enemies that I can recall. In a way, it makes sense to me to see the enemies this way from the eyes of young characters. It’s an interesting take and surely makes it stand out. This is not a difficult game beyond that though. Despite losing attacks and MP on dead enemies, combat’s pretty easy. Even the hardest fights in the game are relatively easy, with the only hard parts being dealing with Aguro taking tons of damage from magic, much like Guy did in 2.

lufia-and-the-fortress-of-doom-battle

Hey look! An ECW cameo!

Another positive is that you don’t really need to grind for levels too badly. You will grind because gear can be expensive, but that’s for your first playthrough only. Lufia (and Lufia 2) have a Retry Mode for subsequent playthroughs, to make them a little easier and enjoyable. This will multiply the gold/xp you receive from battles, and now you can just play the game, bask in the story, the giant enemies, and the wonderful party interactions. Maxim and Lufia quarrel like young lovers, and overall, your whole party is well written. The game itself is far more simple than its sequel, which shows growth. The puzzles are far and few between, and are far less difficult compared to Rise of the Sinistrals. That’s not really a negative though – the focus is more on the story and less on having to look up puzzle walkthroughs, pushing around blocks of various colors, shooting down bushes, et cetera. There are some, but not quite as many.

Lufia 1 Review - Beginning

It felt so awesome starting so strong like this. Then… level 1 Hero.

There aren’t too many sidequests, but there is a powerful series of gods waiting for you at the end. The first time I figured the story out and got to the end, I was blown away. I did not expect such a gripping, sad moment in such a cheerful-looking RPG. I’ll spare you the spoiler, but man. One of the reasons this game still has such a hold on me is the storytelling. It may look charming and cute, but it’s anything but. Difficult decisions, sad moments, paired with one of the best soundtracks I’ve ever listened to, thanks to Yasunori Shiono. There have been few games that are so memorable for me, despite being so simple and easy to access. In a time where RPGs weren’t quite mainstream yet, this was one of the smartest things I think they could have done, make it so anyone could pick it up and enjoy the game for themselves. It makes me sad that there have not been more successful Lufia titles, and the last one I recall was a subpar remake of Lufia 2. It’s a damn shame; this series had so much promise. It’s never too late though.

 

Gelly Break, Fimbul, & Pilot Sports: PAX West 2018 Impressions

by Andrew Skelton (Outfoxed)

European indie game developers are a severely underrated, rapidly up-and-coming section of the games industry.  They have a lot to offer, a lot to prove, and quite frankly, are responding to interests in the community immediately.  I got a chance to sit and play three different indie titles from three different developers, each offering something appealing in many different ways.  Whether you’re into exciting couch co-op, a story driven narrative based on historical fiction, or pining for nostalgic games from your childhood remastered, sit tight, because I’ve got something for all of you.

Gelly Break Close Up

First up is Gelly Break.  This is German developer ByteRocker’s first foray into an actual console release.  Gelly Break is a couch co-op platformer with limited and straight-forward puzzle action.  As they put it, they want a game where the focus is on the fun, not on frustration. You control two gellys who traverse varied levels, collecting items, jump across platforms, and defeat scores of enemies.  The twist? Alone you’re unable to do much of anything but jump. Together you form a mighty gel tank!

Gelly Break Action

Some platforms can only be jumped on by the matching color gel, which gives way to a switch mechanic that can be performed when both players hold the respective button.  Yes, this is the very definition of couch co-op where you actually talk to your gaming partner! This mechanic can be performed mid-air, on the ground, and up against glass blocks (useful if you need to break something).  In addition, there are various tricks and secrets you can use to access harder versions of each level, giving you and a friend a different experience each time. Oh, and bosses. Let’s not forget the bosses, which will require plenty of teamwork to clear.

 

Fimbul Raider

Next we have Fimbul, by Danish developer ZAXIS.  Co-funded by a grant promoting cultural experiences through gaming, Fimbul tells the story of a man called Ulf, as the fimbulvetr begins the road to Ragnarok.  Immediately you’re set forth in combat, and that’s one place I think Fimbul will shine. Combat is fluid, and it makes sense. Enemies won’t just attack you one at a time.  Expect to be flanked, expect enemies to try and attack from multiple directions at once, and expect to need to adopt a more defensive nature if you want to survive. You can find various pieces of equipment to bolster your offense and defense capabilities, but it’s your skill that will help the most.

Fimbul Caught

I was also treated to the next part of the game, which is a flashback sequence where the goal is not to be caught by the jotun.  This also introduced a new mechanic, torches, which are used in order to fend off the trolls who are also chasing you (a troll has to eat too, after all).  This whole section was part speedrun, part stealth, where you learned a bit more of Ulf’s past and his role in the world. Plus, who doesn’t like a story about Vikings, right?

 

Pilot Sports DoubleDecker

Finally, we have Pilot Sports, by German dev Z-Software.  If you remember the SNES game Pilotwings as fondly as I do, you’re in for a treat.  Pilot Sports is very reminiscent of its inspiration, giving you control over a variety of mechanisms of flight such as prop planes, hang gliders, and even a jet pack.  I played through the basic plane level, and was immediately transported back to my childhood, trying to perfect each level and get the best time possible. As was explained to me, the game starts easy enough for each of the minigames to get players used to the controls and objectives, but as you progress through the stages, the challenge will also ramp up, testing you to improve your skills every time.  While I didn’t get as much time here as I might have liked, I can already tell it will do very well for anyone with the itch to fly.

Pilot Sports 4 Player

All three games are being published by Wild River Games, and all three games offer something for most people to enjoy.

Indivisible: PAX West 2018 Impressions

by Andrew Skelton (Outfoxed)

If you weren’t a fan of the art style in Skullgirls, you can stop reading now.  No, I’m serious.

Brought to you by the same team that developed Skullgirls, Indivisible is a charming mix of platformer and roleplaying game, with a little bit of exploration peppered in for good measure.  Oh, and everything in the game is hand-drawn, just like Skullgirls. Like I said, if you weren’t a fan of the art style in Skullgirls, you’ll likely complain about the exact same thing here.

Indivisible Temple

You take on the role of Ajna, described as “a good-natured tomboy with a rebellious streak” by the devs themselves.  Right away you get a feel for her personality. She’s no-nonsense, sometimes dim, and seems willing to do almost anything to help anyone in need of aid.  Along the way, she meets several other friends (or frenemies as some seem to be), though in the demo it’s far different than how it will play out in the actual game, I’m told.  Each of the party members is quirky and delightful, and each have different roles they perform, like any good RPG.

From the get go, I found the controls for the game slick and responsive.  Ajna moves, jumps, and uses her various tools readily. There’s an element of realism involved too.  Some platforms, for instance, require the use of Ajna’s axe to climb. You have to press the item use button at the proper time in order to grapple yourself upwards, since there is an animation for both drawing and swinging the axe.  Exploration felt great, without the need to backtrack too much. Combat is quick and strategic, giving you control of all four characters at once .

Indivisible Combat

Oh, how I could wax poetically about the combat.  The last time I saw this style was back when Valkyrie Profile was launched, and most anyone who knows me well will understand how much that means to me.  Each of the buttons on the controller functions as the attack for the corresponding character. You can then chain these attacks together to inflict more damage on an opponent, rather than just pelting him one at a time.  The up and down arrows on the d-pad also change a character’s attacks, which can range from causing an AoE effect, to laying a trap to interrupt enemies, to debuffs, and more. This is a rare level of strategy from an RPG like this.

You also have access to special skills that are unlocked when you’ve dealt enough damage to enemies.  Ajna, for instance, will use her power to heal and revive everyone in your party, making it clutch for tough fights.  Each party member has a different skill, from major damage, to support, and given there were at least eight in the demo?  Yeah, you’re looking at a major party building dream come true. There are even more characters planned for the release, too!

Indivisible Overhead

To say I enjoyed Indivisible is an understatement.  The gorgeous, hand-drawn visuals and animations drew me in, the fast, unique combat system kept me going, and the blend of RPG and action platforming kept me interested.  There were no random encounters in the game, and every enemy encountered can be surprised for an early advantage, or dodged if you don’t feel like fighting. This is definitely a title to keep track of, because Indivisible was amazing, even in a simple demo form.

Star Control: Origins – The Living Universe Trailer

A vast universe awaits in the upcoming Star Control: Origins. Thousands of unique planets are there to be explored and, as the Captain of Earth’s first interstellar ship, who knows what you’ll encounter in space? Some, like saving stranded travelers or chatting with a variety of unique aliens to learn their history, will be non-threatening. Other encounters, though, will have players possibly facing complete annihilation merely for existing in the first place. Tough decisions with real consequences will shape how the galaxy remembers the human race.

DJMAX RESPECT Receives Girls’ Frontline DLC

DJMAX RESPECT is proud to announce that they have new DLC, Girls’ Frontline today on Playstation 4. The long-running rhythm franchise has sold millions of copies and dates back to 2006 on the Sony consoles. This DLC features new songs from the mobile game Girls’ Frontline, new UI skins, gear skins, and note skins, all themed around Girls’ Frontline. This DLC releases today for 4.99.

“We are thrilled with how much love the PlayStation community has given DJMAX RESPECT since we launched it in the west earlier this year.,” says Ji Soo Moon, CEO of Neowiz. “The Girls’ Frontline DLC is one of the most fun new packs of songs we’ve ever made for the DJMax series, and we can’t wait for our players to test their skills with the new challenges.”

The New Songs:

  • Barbarous Funera
  • Frontline
  • What am I fighting for?