tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post6423032651163227709..comments2024-03-29T00:31:02.713+01:00Comments on ボクの事件簿: 「ぼくは言った。犯人は・・・ぼくだ」Ho-Linghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-4778103699619581742019-05-04T10:06:54.384+02:002019-05-04T10:06:54.384+02:00Using the ROT13 cipher to hide the spoiler (you ca...Using the ROT13 cipher to hide the spoiler (you can use rot13.com to decipher it.<br /><br />Akatsuki no Monument spoilers: Gur phycevg vagragvbanyyl vaivgrq bire gjragl thrfgf gb gur bcravat bs gur gbjre, xabjvat gung gur crbcyr ba gur thrfg yvfg qvqa'g xabj rnpu bgure be qvqa'g ernyyl trg nybat gbtrgure. Gur phycevg pbhyq gurersber or fher gung irel srj bs gur gjb-qbmra thrfgf jbhyq npghnyyl unir n pyrne nyvov orsber naq nsgre gur pevzr (nf srj bs gurz jbhyq or gbtrgure), naq guvf nyybjrq gur phycevg gb whfg or 'bar bs gur znal' jvgubhg n pyrne nyvov (naq bs pbhefr, gur phycevg ernyyl qvq pbzzvg gur pevzr qhevat gung gvzr). Gung vf jul gur tnzr unq fb znal punenpgref/fhfcrpgf naq gurer jnf gung rabezbhfyl obevat zvq-frpgvba jurer lbh nfx rnpu bs gurz frcrengryl nobhg gurve nyvov/onpxtebhaq. Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-20553658844461009542019-05-03T18:54:46.891+02:002019-05-03T18:54:46.891+02:00Sorry if it’s too late to comment on this but what...Sorry if it’s too late to comment on this but what was the tricked used in the Conan game? I’m very curious. Dorinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09593402888517422593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-31721780717801735762012-08-05T14:46:56.072+02:002012-08-05T14:46:56.072+02:00I agree with you about locations. Etrian Odyssey i...I agree with you about locations. <i>Etrian Odyssey</i> is exciting as a dungeon-crawler because of the 3D-modelled environments. I do miss the party following me around, though, and that's why I prefer the concept of <i>7th Dragon</i>.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-30845499429092023572012-08-05T14:41:46.112+02:002012-08-05T14:41:46.112+02:00It's just not the best game I think it could b...It's just not the best game I think it could be. It's more an attempt to reach mass appeal, and it's successful due to the slick design, but it doesn't stick me with me personally.<br /><br />I want other visual novels and RPG's released in the West (i.e. more options to choose from). The games published here are mostly aimed at the non-gamer. Unique games like <i>Case Closed</i> or <i>Kindaichi</i> are pushed aside in favor of a Layton clone. Layton itself is a good game but it's had a bad effect. Games like Layton are not made with dedicated gamers in mind. It has a good story and yet no replay value: marketed to people who play games one week and throw them away the next. Because they're satisfied with quick experiences that don't last.<br /><br />I finished the two <i>Layton</i> games in a few days. They were extremely fun, but afterwards I thought of all the time wasted on those puzzles and cop-out endings. Other people feel the same way, and the series probably isn't for me or them. Life is too short to spend time on something you don't enjoy. I like reading books with more complex stories and puzzles.<br /><br />This is speaking as someone disappointed with the video game industry for a long time, who never wanted any next-gen console. The game I was most excited for was <i>7th Dragon</i> and it never got translated. There's lots of stuff that should see a worldwide audience. Niche audiences have been overlooked in the West, despite loyal fans creating the initial success.<br /><br />Instead I just replay my old games; for me they're irreplaceable and never let me down. As far as new games, I'm interested in Black/White 2, because I think Pokemon is timeless, and it's for a console I have.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-69520208811565174732012-08-05T09:04:47.346+02:002012-08-05T09:04:47.346+02:00Never played Devil Survivor (or any SMT games actu...Never played <i>Devil Survivor</i> (or any <i>SMT</i> games actually), but I actually enjoy exploring settings! When done right, the locations themselves feel just as important a part of the plot as the characters themselves and while this can be accomplished with text alone, I do have t admit that seeing locations modeled in 3D and exploring them myself really feels much more exciting than just reading about them. Great examples would be <i>Shenmue</i> and <i>Ryu ga Gotoku</i>, I think.<br /><br />Of course, <i>Shenmue</i> is a great example for a lot of things. *sigh* <i>Shenmue 3</i>~Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-10573060793906022722012-08-05T08:53:08.028+02:002012-08-05T08:53:08.028+02:00This is why I like the Devil Survivor games. They ...This is why I like the <i>Devil Survivor</i> games. They have a turn-based strategy battle system and don't feature any traditional exploration of the setting (actually feels like playing a visual novel with combat gameplay), but the plot always moves forward steadily and the setting comes to life nonetheless. As I basically play RPGs for the battles and the plot, this works perfectly for me.mousoukyokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755066580829504834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-6376359249707823002012-08-05T08:40:40.943+02:002012-08-05T08:40:40.943+02:00I actually enjoy Layton's disjointed presentat...I actually enjoy <i>Layton</i>'s disjointed presentation of core gameplay (brain teasers) and the presentation of said gameplay. Sure, they could have tried to reduce the amount of puzzles and to organically translate those brain-teasers into proper context-relative puzzles, but this would have made it no different from a normal point & click adventure. Not that this would result in a <i>bad</i> game (not at all!), but I do think that Level 5's decision on the current the <i>Layton</i> grammar was a very good one. It's a very unique presentation that sets its apart from other adventures (heck, <i>Layton</i>-esque adventures are now often considered its <i>own</i> subgenre). <br /><br />Like I said in the previous comment: the <i>Layton</i> movie was OK, but I did miss the brain teasers. On the other hand, I doubt I would have enjoyed a game that would <i>only</i> consist of brain teasers without any binding framework. I think that <i>Layton</i> is a very unique and well accomplished fusion of story and gameplay, that while actually <i>very disjointed</i>, is way more fun than just the sum of the parts.<br /><br />I like games with alternate endings, though I have to admit: I have trouble gathering the energy to proceed in <i>428</i> because of the insane amount of endings (with a great number of them almost inevitable)!Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-21946793750184385272012-08-05T01:56:37.728+02:002012-08-05T01:56:37.728+02:00I agree with what you said about RPG's. Though...I agree with what you said about RPG's. Though I haven't played many action-RPG's like <i>Tales</i> (unless you count <i>Zelda: Link to the Past</i>). However, I have played a lot of turn-based RPG's, and in that sub-genre the gameplay is often too similar, everything basically derived from DQ or FF. That's when I really appreciate games that change things up, sometimes in their battle system, but mostly in their stories. Just pure gameplay is not too exciting; sometimes the story is what stands out or inspires.<br /><br />I like to lay back and chill, which is why I prefer turn-based systems, but I still want to see the story to the end. It's sort of a paradox that I want to relax and be stagnant in one place leveling up, and yet want to see the ending right away. I could go countless turns in turn-based combat, if I like the music and battle system; but in the end, it only takes a few twists and turns in the plot to make the whole journey feel worthwhile. The plot must be surprising, when the gameplay's the most familiar type of combat.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-25328106286123265502012-08-05T00:19:43.686+02:002012-08-05T00:19:43.686+02:00I like Layton, though I feel Conan has more comple...I like Layton, though I feel <i>Conan</i> has more complex and engaging mysteries. In the manga you can feel love put into every line, spoken or drawn.<br /><br />The Layton control system is good but the core puzzles are brain-teasers you can find in books and the internet. They don't need to be in a visual novel. Layton has a lot of charm in the hand-drawn animation clips, and the puzzles are also placed in a nice package... yet a package doesn't increase the weight and substance of the content. Some Layton puzzles are clever but they don't have substance. Many who enjoyed the <i>Layton</i> games—myself included—admit they don't feel like coming back to these puzzles. If you pick up a new game in the series, you're forced to do just that.<br /><br />Then again, <i>Layton</i> is not the only series guilty of not having much innovation. The GCN <i>Animal Crossing</i> is one of my favorite games but AC is not one of my favorite series since it keeps recycling gameplay, and removing things I like about the first game. And <i>Dragon Quest</i> has recycled the same 1980's battle system at least nine times, but I agree with you that the fun stories keep us coming back to DQ.<br /><br />Other plot-based games, I like the concept of alternate endings, like with the Saturn <i>Kindaichi</i>, the sort of game I feel I could replay indefinitely. Maybe Western publishers are afraid of releasing games that are easily replayable. Gamers may not be in a hurry to get new games, satisfied with the ones they have. Yet when something sticks with you more, that for me is a sign of a better game.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-13397901237213675162012-08-04T08:07:55.182+02:002012-08-04T08:07:55.182+02:00When I'm really excited about the story, any a...When I'm really excited about the story, any awful gameplay can be overcome with a bit endurance. The opposite is less likely to happen in my case and I'll drop that title as my main aim when playing such games is wanting to get to the finale and see how the story ends. So yeah plot is more important in RPGs after all. And don't mention Grandia, man... I'm really getting old.<br /><br /><br />Who knows, maybe I'll add a food tag to my blog once I'm eating Japanese food on a daily basis ;) Good food is the most important thing anyway... But RPGs might also find their way to my blog again once I get my hands on those I've been fancying.mousoukyokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755066580829504834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-67095247211743913202012-08-04T05:48:49.419+02:002012-08-04T05:48:49.419+02:00One day, we will have discussions on food here too...One day, we <i>will</i> have discussions on food here too.Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-42717685496689485512012-08-04T05:37:24.204+02:002012-08-04T05:37:24.204+02:00I concur that Layton works better as a story than ...I concur that <i>Layton</i> works better as a <i>story</i> than an integrated game: gameplay-wise, the story segments feel very disjointed from the puzzles themselves. Yet the variety of the puzzles (the kind of puzzles), the raising difficulty and the presentation of them <i>are</i> an example of good gameplay, I think. C.f. Telltale's <i>Puzzle Agent</i>, which follows the <i>Layton</i> formula. I've only played the first installment and while it was entertaining, the game suffered from too few puzzles (which were occasionally repeated too!). If we were to see the puzzles as <i>Layton</i>'s gameplay, I would still think that is a well designed game, which is made better through the terrific effort poured into the complete presentation (incl. story). For example, I thought the movie was entertaining enough, even including a hand-full of solvable puzzles, but I did think it felt less <i>Layton</i> because of the little amount of puzzles and the way of presentation (thus I thought the gameplay was important to the franchise).<br /><br />Though <i>Layton</i> is a pretty extreme example. Games like <i>Monkey Island</i> and <i>Grim Fandango</i> show how well games can be blended with story. Most of the time. Sometimes, they jump the shark. By stretching a chicken with a rubber pulley over a manhole and using it as a spring or something like that.<br /><br />With RPG's, I usually focus less on gameplay and game design, I think. Sure, awesome fighting systems like those in the <i>Tales</i> series (pure action!) or <i>Grandia</i> (that feeling when you time everything perfectly!), but I can still enjoy games like <i>Dragon Quest</i> or <i>Suikoden</i>, even though those games are quite 'traditional' in game design (and certainly have their flaws, like item management systems clearly not meant to be easy to use). Those games, I personally enjoy more for their stories. <br /><br />And to go back to the basics of gameplay: I'll ignore <i>Super Mario Bros.</i> as I am not that big a fan of it, but a games like <i>Ghost 'n Goblins</i> has pretty much the same 'story'. Pretty much non-existent. And heck, the gameplay might be considered a bit flawed because of the enourmous disadvantages you get (two-hit system, weird jumping system, the movement speed of the enemies), but I did really enjoy the game in the end. After being killed hundreds of times. There is something in the gameplay design there that really pulled me in. As if I was given very crude tools to accomplish something and that while I had to struggle a lot, I was able to show a little bit of progress every time.<br /><br />Until you lose your concentration and fall in the same hole 20 times or something like that.<br /><br />Aaaaand to finish this rather unorganized post on games, <i>Trick X Logic</i> is very weird as a <i>game</i>. It's probably system-wise the game the most close to actually reading a story, as it doesn't give you the freedom to change the story like Chunsoft's <i>sound novels</i>. I would be quite interested in hearing comments about the game (system) from (non-Japanese) detective fiction readers, as it is quite unique.Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-67288622456649508292012-08-03T18:49:12.219+02:002012-08-03T18:49:12.219+02:00It really depends on the genre or format. I genera...It really depends on the genre or format. I generally like visual novels even though any sort of gameplay is non-existent, because it's just perfect for narrating multiple routes/endings and just a very complicated, intriguing plot you can't easily fit into a book or even a series of books.<br /><br />But when it comes to RPGs, while still appreciating a good story, what draws me in apart from the characters, the world, the music etc. is the gameplay, especially the combat system. That's why I've always been a fan of the <i>Tales of</i> series. The battles are just plain fun and incomparable to any other game.<br /><br />Concerning mystery/detective games, I have to admit I only played <i>Sigma Harmonics</i>, which actually was a rather neat combination of puzzle solving and RPG that few talk about. Since I'll be taking my PSP with me anyway, I guess I'll play/read <i>Trick X Logic</i> sometime in Japan instead of here, even though it's been among the stuff in my room for what... 2 years? Other than that not much experience except <i>Umineko</i> which isn't orthodox and being a visual novel lacking any gameplay. I'll also be sure to get the <i>Kamaitachi</i> titles for the PSP.<br /><br />But in any case, I can't play something which actually has a game system and a certain grade of difficulty when there's no plot at all. I need something that enthralls me and urges me to continue with that game instead of switching to something different. Usually gameplay alone won't excite me sufficiently.mousoukyokuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00755066580829504834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-13058863613936491872012-08-03T17:50:18.844+02:002012-08-03T17:50:18.844+02:00That's true for me sometimes. Still, I feel go...That's true for me sometimes. Still, I feel good stories are better off isolated. I played the first two <i>Layton</i> games and the stories and animation were really fun. <i>Layton</i> should have been a <i>Conan</i>-like mystery anime, or a visual novel with no gimmicks. The gameplay came up short—I wouldn't want to replay it. I wouldn't play it to begin with, if it weren't necessary to advance the plot.<br /><br />I'm a fiend for puzzles, like all us mystery fans... yet most of the ones in <i>Layton</i> aren't clever or unique, they're just randomly thrown in. A good story shouldn't be an excuse to be lazy with the gameplay. With something unique, you ought to put it in an ideal, undiluted form, to create the best experience. <i>Animal Crossing</i> is a better game than anime, though with <i>Layton</i> it's probably the other way around.<br /><br />This also relates to mysteries and their ideal length, like Mousoukyoku mentioned on his blog, it depends on the mystery.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-79304139620651707242012-08-02T11:37:58.937+02:002012-08-02T11:37:58.937+02:00I usually prefer gameplay over the rest, but it...I usually prefer gameplay over the rest, but it's slightly different with text-heavy adventures like <i>Kamaitachi no Yoru</i> (or to take an example available in English at the moment: 999): these games basically force you read a lot (and go through a lot of game over screens). In these examples, I wouldn't have been tempted to go through all the storylines / possible endings / maybe even finish the game if the story wasn't good at all (even if the game system would be the same).Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8031063966272508587.post-91641597619987772572012-08-01T15:45:57.137+02:002012-08-01T15:45:57.137+02:00Man, that Kindaichi game sounds amazing. Great sto...Man, that Kindaichi game sounds amazing. Great story and gameplay ideas. Gameplay is always the most important in video games.<br /><br /><i>Kamaitachi</i> impressed me with its story and gameplay, at least when I saw it on Game Center CX. These two Kindaichi and Conan games also show the importance of gameplay in relation to story. Bad gameplay takes the player out of the experience and hinders an otherwise fantastic story. Good gameplay creates an experience of its own... even when there is no story.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of the first Dragon Quest. The story is almost non-existent, yet the design of the game drew me in. I couldn't stop playing. It's better than the sequel's excessive sailing ruining the fun combat (e.g. Wind Waker).<br /><br />I prefer games without a story, like Animal Crossing, where you just chill and forget you're playing a game. A great story is nice, but it needs good gameplay like Chrono Trigger. It becomes disappointing when a good story is tied to lackluster gameplay, like the Conan game you wrote about. The story can't shine the way it could in a book or anime. I'd rather a game have no story to live up to, relying on the gameplay to draw you in. The best games and mysteries immerse you: not always with the greatest of stories, but with the greatest of ease.Pikkonhttp://layonthecrime.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com