The Genesis Chronicle by Smurf 90I found this to be a very interesting experience.
First... it proved something completely unrelated that I want to mention (This should be no big surprise... it is
me reviewing here). I had no room to save my game on the same card I was using to save the game data and when I did save on a card in the other slot, shut down, and reload with the game on one card and the game save file on the other card, it worked! I never did that before and since RPGM3 can't even read the card 2 slot (yeah, I know) I was unsure if I'd have to start over.
Back to work.
My four criteria for grading games are different than most people's (another shocker) and they are: 1) Amusement; 2) Functionality: 3) WOW Factor; 4) Hoopyness (I use Hoopy as an adjective for really complicated feats of scripting... scripting while "jumping through hoops"... metaphorically) (so what?). They were developed for a TETRIS review, but I like them, so I'll keep using them.
So... The Review:
Naturally my first observation overlaps many of the above categories and I could not decide in which it fit, so it gets a special spot right here.
One of my favorite things about other people's games is seeing what they chose to do with the [] button scripts. It is one of the places we can really add originality to our efforts.
This game had nothing at all there. That's gotta officially be a point off somewhere, but where?
Hoopyness? Functionality? WOW? (not having one did elicit a WOW response)
I don't know, so I mention it in this overly long prelude to a review.
And now for the second attempt at... The Review:
1) Amusement.
If nothing else, a game must keep me amused. To me this is more important than any other category.
There was so much in this game that reminded me of my early work with RPGM2 that it went beyond synchronicity. Maps, Music, and more were all familiar.
In battle I find VFX amusing. Using the DBS did get some points elsewhere, but I never saw a moment where a skill did more damage than a physical attack, so fights were all "Auto" except when items were needed. That may be better stated in Functionality, but it fits here too.
The storytelling was better than the actual story. People were very succinct in what they say and a certain self awareness of some characters and NPCs was shown when they crossed that "Fourth Wall" and mentioned things about the fact that they were in a game and the game system.
When someone wanted to join the party it was often just:
"You want to join?"
"OK"
And someone joined the party. This came off as almost making a mockery of the way RPGs handle such situations and was amusing.
The only drawbacks to Amusement were in the gameplay and sometimes frustrating lack of a map (more on that in Functionality).
The game incorporated what Smurf called Skit Points. These were random events placed around maps that trigger conversations when ever you "touch" them with certain party members present. These were the closest thing the game has to a cut scene or cinematic, but noteworthy because they show effort in so far as getting them effects future events. Read Smurf's walkthrough for details.
The maps showed a certain progression that is interesting. You can tell this game was built linearly. There is a noticeable improvement as you go through the game and the last map is very nice indeed.
This was overall a fine job for a first effort.
All together...
Amusement = **
2) Functionality;
Fights are well balanced. Gotta admire that no matter who you are. I still have not figured this aspect of RPGM2 out to my own satisfaction yet.
I hate to turn this into a list of bugs, so I'll post them in Smurf's forum. Feel free to cross reference if this interests you. A list of such things is not a proper way to review a game. I'll just say that I noticed enough to make a list, but none of them effected the playability of the game.
Remember what I said about the need for a map? Well, the map displays inside Evona! Before killing Otome anyway. I had a hard time reading the mayor's rant because of it.
It also comes on after killing whuzzizname, the guy who kills the mayor in the next town, and it also interferes with the after-fight conversation there too.
Strangely, when I went back to a town in Taira to hotelerize (hotelerate?) the map came on while roaming the continent!
Some weird map bugs there.
But overall everything functioned as intended. The bugs I noticed were minor annoyances at best (worst?). Therefore...
Functionality = ***
3) WOW Factor:
A Penguin. Few people use animals for Party Members. I salute this.
This was in my notes and I don't remember why: "Temple of ice... climb up to go down" It must have been interesting, but I did not want to backtrack and look for it after the game was over.
I don't know why, but the Stacked Coffins in the tomb made a visual impression. I also wondered what skulls and bones were doing littering a Tomb full of coffins, but blamed it on the monsters / Government.
Maybe now that I've killed King Genesis they can get a caretaker!
This may be unexpected, but since I never really played much with the DBS I was surprised by a couple of the effects for default weapons I never even bothered to look at! This counts for a Wow point that nobody will ever be able to get again because I've seen it now.
The plethora of coincidences with things I did in my first round of game making made a personal wow effect that probably won't apply to anyone else. But it does make it need more than 2 stars in this category! And since I don't do Half-Stars...
WOW = ***
4)Hoopyness
Events that have conditions abound. Many towns cannot be entered until various things are done first. This qualifies as hoopy, but without the walkthrough it is the player jumping through hoops to proceed instead of the creator jumping through hoops for the player's amusement.
The Barracks in Sashi are pretty psychedelic and hoopy to navigate.
The bit with all the floating corridors was groovy.
See?
I also think the idea of putting a Black Screen with the name of the Area you were entering was a nice touch and deserves mention here. I may even swipe the idea for future use of my own!
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW! [/Dan Backslide impersonation] {Surely you know Dan Backslide from the Classic Chuck Jones Looney Tunes Cartoon "The Dover Boys at Pimento University" (Good Old P.U.)}
Ummm... where was I?
Oh yes; Hoopyness.
Let's see; Skit points count a bit here too.
But in retrospect, due to the very basic nature of it all;
Hoopyness = **
Summary:
A fun ride and impressive for a first effort.
It is not anything spectacular but it is perfectly acceptable if you like the typical RPG.
I guess I should average the stars for a closing.
It gets more than 2 and once again, since I do not do half stars...
Overall Rating = ***
A rating which my seem high for such a basic game, but that's why I use the system I do. It rates things within their own context and does not compare to other things.
It is self consistent with few bugs. If I did half stars it would get 2 and a half, but my system does not allow for fractions and always rounds up, so 3 stars it is.
Epilogue; A Joke I left out:
With a town called Melville somebody should have been named Ahab or
<EDIT:> OK then, Richard? </EDIT> or even Moby (and why wasn't it a Fishing Village?).
Not a joke, but...
After reading smurf's walkthrough I have one question: Who's Bluewolf? I'll ask that in The Smurf's Forum. No need to respond here. Tune in there for another epilogue to this review.
And, of course, here is the Traditional mpg file to give a taste of the game:
s49.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2MJNRW9F6T17R1TNX9TCIYYW8F[/url]
As with all the mpg files I post, they are temporary links. If it expires and you want it renewed, just let me know (ordinarily I say to post in the thread, but this is for reviews only) (send a private message or post in the Screenshot / mpg file service. thread)
Peace.
