Getting it done with the power of friendship since 1991.
🔥💨💧💎 🌒🌕🌘 ✨ ___
Some suggested Lemmy communities:
!patientgamers@sh.itjust.works
!jrpg@lemmy.zip
!retrogaming@lemmy.world
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Discord for Japanese-style role-playing game (JRPG) discussion: https://discord.gg/vHXCjzf2ex
For a differing opinion, the artwork is great, but as a metroidvania it's below rate for my taste. I went four hours with the game and didn't see any new enemies and virtually the same environments. In this genre, that's a long time to go without seeing something new.
Maybe I went in with the wrong expectations and should have looked at this as a platformer/2D action game. The combat is certainly the centerpiece of the game, but that wasn't enough for me.
I've had pretty good success recommending Chrono Trigger. Was even my brother-in-law's first video game outside of simple arcade stuff, and he loved it. It's one of those that seems rare to get a negative response from, even if it doesn't always become a favorite in the end.
As you've already discovered, the answer is to instead focus your listening on simpler material like Nihongo con Teppei. I'm an acolyte of Krashen's i+1 input hypothesis for second language learning: we progress in language learning when we're exposed to input that is slightly ahead of our current level. I do think intermediate level can be a real struggle because there is tons of beginner-level material out there and (of course) endless native material, but the stuff in the middle is much harder to find. It really does have to be modified/simplified in some way from native level to be effective. Even native materials for kids doesn't always work out because they learn the language differently than we do.
Also, while I read more than I listen personally, within groups of material that we know is an appropriate level it's a good idea to push right past the stuff that's totally incomprehensible--it happens--and concentrate on the i+1 content. Do a quantity over quality approach when possible. I find this naturally easier to do when listening; it's too easy to stop constantly and go on a text parsing or copy/paste spree to dissect sentences when reading.
Similar story for me. I bounced off this game several times, going back to it repeatedly because (to this day) Matsuno's games are some of my all-time favorites. Then maybe 15 years after release, I realized I'd stopped just short of the crafting station which was such a strong hook for me I ended up with multiple spreadsheets!
Unfortunately, as I began to realize as I delved into the game, it had a lot in common with looter ARPGs, a genre that ages so rapidly. I probably would have loved the game back in 2000 but didn't give it enough of a chance back then. By the time I did, it was just too dated.
Was the big one, misskey.io. I found a federated instance I was able to register at, I just wonder just how federated it's all going to be if the big instance is restricted.
I can still hear Toreno's voice in my head. "Communism in Ohio. People sharing. Nobody buying stuff. That kinda bullshit!"
I have an eye on the upcoming game Keep Driving, been thinking I'll put on the Vice City or San Andreas soundtracks while playing it.
Has anyone been able to register for Misskey outside of Japan?
Hopefully not too niche being a Japanese service, but has anyone been able to register for Misskey? They aren't allowing registration from outside Japan (the VPN I tried didn't work). From what I can tell, they started restricting registration a year ago, has it been closed the whole time?
Also !RetroGaming@lemmy.world for even older. Active community!
spoiler
There are bromides (pictures) you can collect of the girls in the game.
Most of them aren't outright risque (it's not like The Witcher 1, nor is the context), it's mostly the concept itself that's a little out of place.
Like what Lunar does? It's pretty rare outside of the ecchi/outright eroge subgenres.
I’m playing a 90’s fantasy anime and it’s wholesome as shit
Yep, it'll meet those expectations (and probably not exceed them).
As for being wholesome, well...there is a small part of the game that's on the pervy side.
What's funny is the voice of Navi has turned out to be one of my favorite Japanese voice actors.
Man, I wanna live in your neighborhood. I'm surrounded by bougie people or people with bougie fantasies. They talk all the time about drinking wine on a boat.
After finishing Citizen Sleeper, I've been trying again to get into Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. I'm still struggling, and it's kinda bewildering. I've been an Ys fan since I was little and this is the first time I haven't been able to get into one of them. I'm happy when I'm in a dungeon. Otherwise, I can't get on with the story and cast (like Ys VIII, it's a heavier focus here).
A friend suggested I continue on with Horizon, so I'll probably pick up The Frozen Wilds this week, too.
Thanks for pointing this out. I've been holding fast to zero posting activity over there, but I think I'll keep an eye out in that subreddit and see if I can't grab any new recruits.
Unfortunately the open world content in The Witcher 3 is quite tacked on, the kind of generic stuff you'd find in any game that uses the same sort of system to fill out its maps. The actual side quests are often very good, however. Many of these have far-reaching consequences or plot twists sending you down rabbit holes you wouldn't have seen coming when you first pick up the job.
If you ever do find a reason to try the game again, just avoid the generic map markers entirely. As I'd tell anyone reading, there is rarely good reason to dip into them.
I do have a bit of regret on this with my Metaphor play. Normally in my first run through one of Hashino's games, I'm content with the possibility of leaving a social link or two unfinished so I'm not optimizing every last thing on my way through the calendar. Unfortunately, them being tied to the archetypes really bit me in the ass on this, because I always want to collect all the job class-type stuff in JRPGs.
I do wish I knew it would have been okay to take two days in a couple of the story dungeons.
Yeah, it took me longer than that, but there was certainly a point after which I wasn't too concerned about money.
Citizen Sleeper: A Compact, Sci-Fi Exploration of Survival at the Fringes of Space and Humanity
Citizen Sleeper, a light RPG with dice-based gameplay, feels like a classic sci-fi story with contemporary ideas and worries. It's tight gameplay; I felt on edge most of my time in this decaying space station, always a sense of urgency maintaining my body and getting enough scrip for my greater goals.
All this is underpinned by some great prose. It's not quite on the level of Disco Elysium or Planescape: Torment, but even after taking in positive initial impressions, Citizen Sleeper has a surprising amount to say. The developer said they wanted to tell a story about those on the fringes of capitalism, where many of us have had to learn to survive. I think they nailed it.
The player is a sleeper, a human-machine hybrid detached from the corporate network, having to start from zero. An interesting concept itself, the story is that sleepers came about as a loophole in AI prohibition: put a human to sleep and copy them into an artificial body for indentured servitude. The means of corporate control is a built-in body deficiency. You'll degrade without a very specific chemical. The sociological concerns presented by these concepts and putting these kinds of escapees in a "normal" society are also interesting. I never know who to trust as I try to survive, knowing that merely being off the corporate leash puts me at the mercy of someone looking for a cut of the bounty. Or, I might be taken advantage of by someone that knows I can't survive without stabilizer. That's just the start of it.
Very cool experience, and refreshingly compact (I was through the main story in under 10 hours). There's a sequel coming, and I'm eager to get more of a taste of the game world.
The Witcher 3 is one of the best games I've ever played, and I do think The Witcher 2 is worth trying going back to beforehand, considering how much the previous experience enhances the third game. I usually tell people that Chapter 1 (not the intro, which is good) is pretty rough. It's a bit aimless and the first boss there can be too difficult for an early game challenge. After that, it really picks up and sprints through the finish line, in my view. I disagree quite a bit on the writing; I think there's some excellent writing to be found in the game, both with an interesting core cast that continues its level of quality banter and intrigue into the sequel, and also on the politics of neutrality and the ripple effects that a set of small changes can have on the broader power struggles of the continent.
The Witcher 2 is also rare in that it has a genuine branching storyline. It's not quite to the insane degree that Baldur's Gate 3 went with it last year, but it's still very much the kind of design modern AAA publishers/developers shy away from, not wanting to invest resources in whole swathes of the game that half your players aren't going to see. Helps a lot for replay, especially since that first chapter gets smoothed out quite a bit once you know what you're doing.
I was specifically referring to quality. There were several underperformers this year.
Major Phantom Brave PC Overhaul Update!
Hi everyone, today we are releasing a major update for Phantom Brave PC, with several new features and fixes to long-standing bugs. Large parts of this update -- outside PC-specific fixes -- are a result of our work on Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered on PS5, and this patch brings all ...
Durante strikes again.
Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P, the director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI, has expressed his desire for Square Enix to re-release two classic PlayStation 1 RPGs: Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics. In a recent interview with 4Gamer, Yoshi-P emphasized that these...
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/21621969
> Naoki Yoshida, also known as Yoshi-P, the director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV and Final Fantasy XVI, has expressed his desire for Square Enix to re-release two classic PlayStation 1 RPGs: Vagrant Story and Final Fantasy Tactics.
Konami reports record high half-year profits thanks to strong performance of video game sector
Konami's profits for the first half of the 2025 fiscal year broke records thanks to steady performance of games like eFootball and Power Pro.
Castlevania to get official stage adaptation by Japan's all-female Takarazuka Revue
In 2025, Japan's all-female theater group the Takarazuka Revue will turn Konami's Castlevania / Akumajo Dracula series into a musical.
Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop is a wild, delightful on-the-job repair sim (and other Next Fest demo finds)
I'm a little late, but I finally got around to taking on the demos that caught my eye during Steam's Next Fest this past month. All positive experiences, with one big stand-out.
Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop is a repair sim with a wild story driven by roguelite progression. Think of it as Papers, Please or Hardspace: Shipbreaker but with the grimy, whimsical styling of Spongebob Squarepants or (dating myself here) Ren & Stimpy. At first, I felt like a fish out of water and couldn't tell my encoder from my pancake, surely by design. It wasn't long at all before everything clicked in a big way--gameplay, story, themes, visual design--and I was happily clearing alien waste out of toilets. Very much looking forward to this release.
Keep Driving is a nostalgic road trip sim. Hitchhikers make up your "party" as you take on harrowing encounters such as slow tractors on country roads and birds that won't move. Great soundtrack and UI design that's all evocative of a low-information time when roads meant possibilities and places to discover. I think I'd need to get my hands on the full game to be more sure about the gameplay loop and the meta-progression. I'm also not entirely sure about the drunk driving quest.
Keylocker describes itself as an "unforgiving Turn Based Rhythm JRPG." This is timed hits turned up to 11. The game's combat doesn't integrate music like I was expecting, at least not as far as I got in the game. Lack of music is a plot point for the game, and most spaces have some great ambient sound design to fill in the soundspace. The difficulty is certainly challenging, but the visual and audio cues for it are designed well. The sprite art is gorgeous stuff, with plenty of animation and distinct character design. It's still rough around the edges, and the writing is a bit much (even for me, as someone with built-up tolerance for this sort of thing), but I'm interested after it gets a little more polish.
Knights in Tight Spaces is a high-fantasy follow-up to the well-received Fights in Tight Spaces. I loved Nitro Kid, a similar melee card battler with 80's styling, and this is right up my alley. I'm much more into the detailed environments and characters here than Fights' minimalist silhouettes. If the animations/camera perspectives get polished up a bit, it'll be a treat. That said, I do want to know how much content I'll get out of this before I buy, so the price point is going to be important.
How about you? Any finds from Next Fest?
Legendary Games Chronicle: Final Fantasy
In this episode revealing the start of a famous Japanese game series, we journey into the origin of the legendary RPG "Final Fantasy" by meeting its creators.
Wants as many people as possible to play RPG
Wants as many people as possible to play RPG
What kind of difficulty curve do you like in a JRPG?
The question of difficulty came to mind while playing Metaphor. It was pretty challenging early on when resources were very limited and I was also learning the gameplay systems, but I'm starting to feel powerful now mid-game (while still being challenged a bit). That's where I like to end up, typically. It has a nice ludonarrative feel for the games that typically have you killing god.
What do you like?
Ys X: Nordics Review Thread
Game Information --------------------
Game Title: Ys X: Nordics
Platforms:
- PC (Mar 13, 2024)
Trailers:
Developer: Falcom
Publisher: Clouded Leopard Entertainment
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 80 average - 87% recommended - 23 reviews
Critic Reviews -------------
33bits - Fernando Sánchez - Spanish - 91 / 100
>Ys X: Nordics is presented as a solid addition to the franchise, offering evolved gameplay and new playable elements. The Mana String is quite interesting and gives many new possibilities to the protagonists that make the game more dynamic and fun. On the other hand, the naval combats, although interesting, have left us a little cold. Still, Ys fans are in luck because the spirit of Ys is still intact and in top form, and it's still devilishly fun.
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Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 7 / 10
>Ys X: Nordics may not have been the flourishing and vibrant first venture in the series I was after, but I'm also far from turned off by the franchise. Its fast-paced action combat with a plethora of strategies and abilities to employ never ceased to satisfy my brain's often insatiable need for flashy fighting. Backing it is kickass battle music with a heavy emphasis on electric guitar riffs that never get old. Though I wish the story, world and lore found within were more captivating, pretty and memorable, I can't fault how fun and solid the gameplay loop of perusing both the vast seas and involved islands is. There are plenty of secrets, fun gameplay moments and goodies that await. Having considered all that, I'd call Ys X: Nordics a damn fine seaworthy ride indeed. Nothing more. Nothing less.
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Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10
>Ys X: Nordics showcases many outstanding elements the series excels at — combat, skills, music, and characters are on-point and some of the best we've seen in the nearly 40 years the series has existed.
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Final Weapon - Raul Ochoa - 4.5 / 5
>Ys X: Nordics is a crowning achievement for Falcom as one of its most vibrant and compelling action RPGs yet. The setting of the Obelia Gulf invokes a sense of adventure and mystery, while its characters, locations, and lore keeps players engaged. As the young hero Adol and the pirate princess Karja, players experience a combat system that sets the new standard for the franchise as well.
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GameBlast - Farley Santos - Portuguese - 7.5 / 10
>Ys X: Nordics brings back the classic spirit of the franchise with fast-paced combat and revamped mechanics. The dynamic between Adol and Karja, united by a spell, creates a good starting point for the plot, and the duo combat system offers exciting moments, especially against bosses. The protagonists' customizations and abilities also give plenty of room to explore different combinations. However, the game stumbles in several aspects. The narrative, although promising, gets lost in superficial developments and unmemorable characters. Exploration, although well-intentioned with the addition of naval combat and transversal abilities, suffers from simplified maps and a lack of incentive to revisit areas. Overall, Ys X: Nordics is a fun adventure, but it could have been more memorable if it had made better use of its ideas.
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>Ys X: Noridcs is a competent development of a long-running series, and a great opportunity for new players to get to know it better.
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Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 8 / 10
>As the latest game in the Ys series, Ys X: Nordics doesn't stray far from the familiar formula. It takes a cautious approach, delivering a JRPG experience of consistent quality that lasts around 30-40 hours. If you're looking for a return to a classic RPG adventure with well-rounded combat, systems and gameplay, or if you have a deep affection for the Ys series, then this game will certainly meet your expectations.
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God is a Geek - Lyle Pendle - 7 / 10
>Ys X: Nordics is a fun enough RPG with enjoyable combat, but dull sailing sections and subpar visuals make it a slightly disappointing sequel.
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Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4 / 5
>Ys X: Nordics brings welcome changes to the template that made its predecessors enjoyable. The ship exploration and naval battles add a new dimension to exploration that wasn't present in previous games. The shift from a three-member party to two does put limit on play variety, but having two constant playable characters brings a different dynamic which works well in the greater context of the story. These changes help differentiate Ys X: Nordics from other entries in the franchise, but it maintains the elements fans have come to expect, such as recruiting people for their base and watching it grow. The story takes interesting turns, especially later in the game, and all is done with a great accompanying soundtrack and frenetic mana-enhanced combat. Returning Ys players will find many elements that are familiar, but enough changes were made to make this new entry stand out from what came before it.
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Hey Poor Player - Kenny McKee - 4.5 / 5
>As far as Ys chronology goes, Adol’s latest adventure is nothing if not a big step backward. If you ask me, however, this game is a major step forward. Offering an incredibly compelling story, intuitive new mechanics, and a refreshing and unique take on the Ys formula without compromising its identity, Ys X: Nordics is a literal boatload of fun that series fans and newcomers alike. I’d say that good things are on the horizon for Adol from here on out, but, well, we already know that’s true.
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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 80 / 100
>Hard-hitting action, naval battles, a wide variety of mechanics and systems... It has its problems (some very obvious), but once you get on the boat of Ys X: Nordics, you won't want to jump overboard.
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IGN Korea - Seongho Moon - Korean - 8 / 10
>One of the developer interviews mentioned something about implementing a Souls-like element to the game, which was a bit of a concern. Once the game was released, it kept the classic taste of Ys, all while adding creative cinematics thus if you’re once a fan, this game won’t disappoint. Classic ARPG masterpiece as Ys would be, we recommend everyone to give it a try.
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INVEN - Youngseok Yang - Korean - 8.3 / 10
>Ys X successfully expands and evolves Falcom's action style. A clean, flowing story that befits the adventures of the young Adol is presented, accompanied by excellent BGM. Moreover, offering plenty of additional enjoyment through New Game+ was also delightful. The challenging content is also quite engaging, giving a glimpse of Falcom's efforts in preparing for a new era.
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Nintendo Life - Mitch Vogel - 8 / 10
>Ys X stands as another great entry in this long-running action series, bringing in some cool ideas of its own without straying too far from what made its predecessors so beloved. Enjoyable combat, an excellent soundtrack, and an engaging world to explore all make this one an easy recommendation, even if it can stumble a bit with its performance and doesn't totally stick the landing with all its new ideas. We'd highly recommend Ys X if you're at all a fan of the past entries or are looking for another solid action RPG to add to your collection.
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NookGaming - Isaiah Parker - 9 / 10
>I’m thrilled to report that Ys X: Nordics isn’t just good, but in many ways it represents Ys at its best. I have some foibles with it, such as an occasionally inconsistent presentation and a comparative lack of memorable environments. However, it’s a mostly successful modernization and refreshment in a series that was in need of exactly that. Coupling this with improvements to cutscenes elevating an already great story and some of the best boss fights in the series, and you have a game that won’t be leaving my mind any time soon. I’m always excited for what’s coming next with Ys, but as I reflect on this title, I’m downright impatient as I think of the ways they can push its changes even further. Our 10th is always a big deal, and it’s clear that Ys understood that.
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PSX Brasil - Portuguese - 90 / 100
>Quote not yet available
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Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 9 / 10
>Just when I finally got burned out of the franchise after Ys IX, Ys X took all the necessary steps to elevate the franchise to higher heights and make one of the best games in the long running franchise by providing the most action packed RPG in Falcom's history despite the obvious budget choices.
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Spaziogames - Gianluca Arena - Italian - 8 / 10
>Ys X Nordics is an intuitive and refreshing action JRPG (more action than RPG, to tell the truth) that captures the spirit of the old episodes of the franchise and gives the player a lot of room to explore, loot and fight across the islands of the Obelia Gulf. Not the prettiest PS5 title to date, but certainly a funny and intuitive one.
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The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 4 / 5
>Ys X: Nordics showcases the impressive capabilities of the new engine developed by Nihon Falcom. Adol controls exceptionally well, and Karja adds depth to the roster of characters he encounters. Although the game starts off slowly, once you acquire all the necessary tools, it plays like a dream.
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TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 8 / 10
>Ys X: Nordics maintains a lot of the qualities that this series has come to be known for. Some of those qualities aren't necessarily a positive, like the familiarly linear dungeon encounters and the less-than-impressive visuals of the game, but a lot of it works great. Combat is the best it's ever been, naval gameplay is a fresh and welcome addition, and Ys X: Nordics introduces refreshing character moments with Adol and Karja that I'm desperate to see more of in the next entry.
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VGChartz - Thomas Froehlicher - 7 / 10
>I have deeply conflicting feelings towards Ys X: Nordics, to such an extent that it turns out to be difficult to score. The part of me that really enjoyed the battle system and sense of exploration, which are both better than ever before in a Falcom release, would opt for a high mark; the part of me that's disappointed with the characters, narrative, and visuals would score it lower.
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Video Chums - A.J. Maciejewski - 8.5 / 10
>I had an excellent time with Ys X: Nordics and it's outstanding that after all these years, Adol's adventures are still taking him to such refreshingly different worlds that are home to distinctly memorable characters. It makes me wonder: where will he end up next? ⚓
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Wccftech - Francesco De Meo - 9.3 / 10
>Ys X Nordics stands as one of the best entries in the series, second only to the excellent YS VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. With a cast of charming characters, an engaging story, and fast-paced action gameplay powered by some interesting mechanics that force players to balance offense and defense, the franchise by Falcom has taken a decisive step forward, delivering a highly polished and satisfying experience.
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oprainfall - Patrick Aguda - 4 / 5
>Ys X: Nordics is a very fun action game with loveable characters and a soundtrack that’s sure to have one or two tracks that’ll stick in your mind. The Cross Action System allows for players to enact beautiful destruction and is sure to be a hit with action fans. It has a story that does enough to capture your attention and keep it through the duration of the game, and is a perfect starting point for those new to the Ys series. The naval gameplay does need some polish, but Falcom gave an excellent first attempt. While the game was hampered by some technical and visual issues, this should not deter you from playing this game. Longtime fans of the Ys series, as well as newcomers, will find a lot to enjoy in this game. I certainly had a lot of fun playing through it.
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