This thread is in response to a review for ActRaiser on the SNES. You are encouraged to view the review in a new window before reading this thread.
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Author: overdrive (Mod)
Posted: April 30, 2012 (11:48 AM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I played ActRaiser in the mid 90s or so and loved it to where I was thinking about playing it again. I'm not so sure I want to now. Good review that really shows how a game can age poorly. You're right about the sim parts. Completely different than expected for an action game, but they were thread-bare as hell.
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Author: zippdementia
Posted: April 30, 2012 (12:23 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
In playing it again, the music still struck me as the strongest part. Most of my modern-day emotional stirring came from that part of the game. And the action isn't bad... but like I state in the review, it isn't stand-out enough to recommend it as great. And it is totally dominated by the lengthy simulation scenes. Threadbare is a word I could have used in the review, definitely.
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Author: honestgamer
Posted: April 30, 2012 (01:46 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I haven't had many positive experiences with emulation, but ActRaiser was an exception. When I was attending college and living in the dorms (so... a long time ago, when my wife was still my girlfriend), I downloaded the game and played through it in one night using the default keyboard setup. It was awkward but I was addicted and cleared the whole game. The only other truly positive emulation experience that springs to mind is when I downloaded Paperboy for NES and beat the whole game without losing a single Paperboy (again controlling things with the keyboard).
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality |
Author: Masters (Mod)
Posted: April 30, 2012 (01:48 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Nice review, Zipp. I remember ActRaiser for being a mostly easy, basic hack and slasher with amazing music and lame simulation/interruptions. Seems like you feel the same way. At least they learned from their lesson with ActRaiser 2, which was just super hard ass platforming and nothing more!
I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined! |
Author: zippdementia
Posted: April 30, 2012 (03:47 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Well, it looks like I just lost the Penguin contest ;)
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: overdrive (Mod)
Posted: April 30, 2012 (04:33 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
AR2 isn't BAD, but if you're looking for anything more than really tough platforming, you won't find it. It is really pretty, though, so it's kinda worth playing through on emulation just to see it. I had fun writing descriptive paragraphs about levels. Just not so much with other aspects of the game.
I'm not afraid to die because I am invincible |
Author: zippdementia
Posted: April 30, 2012 (04:43 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Yes. Soul Blazer really is. And that one still holds up for me. Maybe not as fun now that I've played it enough times to memorize all the lines of text. But still awesome.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: Masters (Mod)
Posted: April 30, 2012 (07:11 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Rob's got it right. AR2 is pretty and really punishing, but not a great game by any stretch.
I don't have to prove I'm refined - that's what makes me refined! |
Author: zippdementia
Posted: April 30, 2012 (08:02 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I would be curious, Jason, to hear what still enthralls you about the simulation aspect of the game. I don't know if you read the full review yet or were just responding to my score, but I didn't make anything up in the review or exaggerate the linearity or lack of depth in the simulation segments. I also clearly point out that this opinion comes from a long-time fan of the game who has become aware of its defects as age struck the game hard.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: honestgamer
Posted: April 30, 2012 (08:28 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I liked the simplicity of the simulation mode, Zipp. It was a solid interface that worked well on consoles (no small feat) and it didn't require so much attention to detail as to be overly complex. I haven't yet read your review, except for a few paragraphs I skimmed. I'll be going over it later, of course, and I can comment on it at that time, as appropriate.
"Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." - John F. Kennedy on reality |
Author: Aggie
Posted: April 30, 2012 (08:34 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I think ActRaiser is the quintessential "sum of all its parts" game. I played it for the first time past 2000, so no nostalgia here. I could recognize that the action and simulation segments wouldn't be remarkable if either was on its own, but with everything combined, it works. It's the pacing that makes the game addictive. As soon as you begin to grow weary of one aspect of the gameplay, the other makes its appearance. It keeps the experience far fresher than in most games, and the simplicity of the sim parts make for a nice vegging out game. And call me crazy, but I find the tale of Teddy pretty moving.
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Author: zippdementia
Posted: April 30, 2012 (09:02 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
Thanks for clarifying, Jason. It sounds like we actually come at the game from the same angle and just walk away with different opinions. I'll be really curious to know what you think of the way I present the argument.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: yamishuryou
Posted: May 01, 2012 (03:04 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
I see Actraiser as having been practice for Soul Blazer which was practice for Illusion of Gaia which was practice for Terranigma.
At 9:55:00 PM MST on April 5th, 2005, Venter finally defeated Phantom! |
Author: zippdementia
Posted: May 01, 2012 (03:07 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
My thoughts exactly, though I cannot speak to Terranigma, as (like you say) it was never released in the states. And don't mention emulators. I'm on a Mac.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic." |
Author: yamishuryou
Posted: May 01, 2012 (03:10 PM) Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums... |
It has a far better translation than Illusion of Gaia.
At 9:55:00 PM MST on April 5th, 2005, Venter finally defeated Phantom! |
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