Media Videogame Thread

I also am very glad I bit the bullet and bought a New 3DS XL a few months ago. I've been liking it a lot, super convenient way to play GBA/DS/3DS (my favorite run of consoles) and a ton of retro stuff too.

I think the Vita and Steam Deck give it competition on overall libraries though. The Vita library itself isn't too impressive and you lose out on the DS/3DS libraries (outside of iffy emulators), but in exchange you get the PS1 and PSP libraries and apparently even some Steam support. And Steam Deck supposedly can do pretty much anything

ant4456 said:
IMO the 3DS has a huge library but it also doesn't have the big hitters. It's the best 8/10 library ever, but when I look at it I find it's mostly games that are a good time but not like, anything deeper.
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Inclined to agree with this honestly, the DS has maybe my favorite game library ever since it balances some great killer apps with a godly treasure trove of interesting exclusives. The 3DS's ppopular games don't reach the heights of the DS's (even if they're probably better on average?) and the 3rd party lineup, while very good, pales in comparison to the insanity of the DS, where it seems like I'm constantly learning about some weird new game I've never heard of.

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On an aside, I did recently get a craving to use my 4th and 5th gen consoles more since I feel they strike a great balance between being meaty and satisfying while also being very well-paced and easy to get into than modern high-budget games. Ended up going to some retro game stores to get some stuff. Shopping online is easier (and usually cheaper), but I highly recommend shopping from your local store if you can find ones with reasonable prices!

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Pilotwings: My brother recommended it and it's a really cheap cartridge. It's quite fun and is somehow both easy-going and also hard as HELLLLLL. I imagine Pilotwings 64 and 3DS are easier, so i definitely want to grab those.

Donkey Kong Country: I played DKC2 last year, and DKC1 is a pretty cheap cartridge so this also seemed like a no-brainer. I've heard complaints that this game is very overrated and that DKC2 is way better, but from what I've played, I like them about the same. By most accounts DKC2 is the better game: more content and unlockables, more level gimmicks, better level variety (including verticality), and better music. However, I went into DKC1 knowing Rare meticulously designed the levels so that you can flow through them with stopping, and leveraging that makes the game a ton of fun to blast through.

Xenosaga 2: I still need to play my copy of Xenosaga 1 I bought in high school lol...the store I went to had it available for less than even online prices, so i felt i had to just grab it

Phantasy Star IV: I've been looking for another old, not overly long, but satisfying 16-bit JRPG to fill the hole left in my heart after finishing Final Fantasy VI (review coming eventually!!!). I was hoping to find Actraiser or Illusion of Gaia since they're relatively cheap and well-regarded. The store didn't have either, but they *did* have this cart for a decent price. I had heard a lot about PSIV being one of the best Genesis RPGs (a console not known for RPGs!) and one that even goes toe-to-toe with the SNES's RPGs, but not a whole lot of reasoning as to why. It's still too early for me to say if PSIV is an all-timer, but one thing I really admire is this game's pacing. This game moves FAST. I am a big lover of fast-paced games, and this took me aback...it might even be a bit *too* fast! The opening hour of Final Fantasy VI, as iconic and cinematic as it is, is almost entirely set in a single town. PSIV on the other hand? In less than an hour, I had been in three towns, done two small dungeons (each with a boss), visited two other major story locations, and sprinted across the overworld while doing so. I'm not sure if it'll be as fulfilling as FFVI, but I really welcome its incredibly fast pace.
 
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ant4456 said:
IMO the 3DS has a huge library but it also doesn't have the big hitters. It's the best 8/10 library ever, but when I look at it I find it's mostly games that are a good time but not like, anything deeper.

Not that those don't exist or that none of the 3DS games are some of my favorites, (Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon my beloved), it's just that the library is vast, great, but also not nutritionally dense IMO
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the 3ds's main selling point was being a ds with 3d capabilities but nowadays it's known for being a hilariously easy console to mod. Hell, if i had free time (and a 3ds) i would probably try porting some odd PC games onto there.
 
I will admit the 3DS library had pretty good snacks, but the games weren't exactly filling. The closest I could think of is that trilogy of that Level-5 series with the "yolk guys," but something about that IP put a sour taste in my mouth for a while. I might try playing through YW3 again, but I won't play through it on Smogon for... reasons. Admittedly, the 3DS, PSP, and Vita are some of the few handhelds to need a softmod as opposed to a flashcart like the Everdrives to play GBC and GBA mods and to avoid entertaining scalpers. Essentially, the four families of Nintendo handhelds are more than Pokemon machines, but not by much. I'd argue the other OEM retro handhelds: the Game Gear, Lynx, WonderSwan, Neo Geo Pocket, and especially PSP and Vita are more than just monster machines, though. If you want a powerful PC in a handheld with good specs, and hope it won't catch fire: get a Steam Deck or make your own.
 
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Mova said:
I will admit the 3DS library had pretty good snacks, but the games weren't exactly filling. The closest I could think of is that trilogy of that Level-5 series with the "yolk guys," but something about that IP put a sour taste in my mouth for a while. I might try playing through YW3 again, but I won't play through it on Smogon for... reasons. Admittedly, the 3DS, PSP, and Vita are some of the few handhelds to need a softmod as opposed to a flashcart like the Everdrives to play GBC and GBA mods and to avoid entertaining scalpers. Essentially, the four families of Nintendo handhelds are more than Pokemon machines, but not by much. I'd argue the other OEM retro handhelds: the Game Gear, Lynx, WonderSwan, Neo Geo Pocket, and especially PSP and Vita are more than just monster machines, though. If you want a powerful PC in a handheld with good specs, and hope it won't catch fire: get a Steam Deck or make your own.
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I mean, at least the GBA has the best castlevania game
 
I've been getting back into Madden 10 for nostalgia. Yes, 10. On the Wii! With Larry Fitzgerald on the cover! I used to have trouble because I was too good for All Pro difficulty and too bad for All Madden, but maybe the issue was just... All Madden CPUs abusing my generous disabling of penalties. I would've swore up and down they mobbed my guys with pass interference to scam out incompletions and picks, and wouldn't you know it, I turn penalties off and win 38-17. Coincidence? ...maybe, yeah.

GB 38, MIN 17

Funny stats:
Giveaways: 4 MIN (all picks), 0 GB. Can you remember the Minnesota QB from this time? That's right, it's... Tarvaris Jackson??? Apparently Brett Farve retired midway through 2010 and the Christian Ponder era didn't start until the next year, so he was a stopgap. You may remember Adrian Peterson better, or maybe (rookie!) Percy Harvin.

Total penalty yards: 8 MIN, 0 GB. Yeah the penalties being on might have been a coincidence. Unless it changed how they did coverage, I guess.

For GB, Aaron Rodgers threw for 246 yards, 60% completion, and 4 TDs. He hasn't thrown 246 yards since... 2022? He missed lass season hurt, of course, but this still includes 9 other complete starts. Never beating the washed allegations.

adjectivenoun nfc north moment
 
What are we, some Three Epic Battlers in a Fantasy world?


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Epic Battle Fantasy 3 (2010)
System: PC Flash Game (play it here!)
Developer: Matt Roszak (with music by Phyrnna)
Completion Notes: Beat the game on Epic (highest difficulty), got about 50 of the medals

It's weird to think about, but Epic Battle Fantasy 3 is actually a childhood game for me. I first played through it some time around 2011 (middle school for me) and I'm pretty sure it's the first non-Pokemon RPG I beat. I've been on a Flash Game Nostalgia kick recently, with me finally playing Abobo's Big Adventure, so it made sense for me to revisit this one. I wasn't sure what to expect now that I'm older, wiser, and have much more JRPG experience, but I was pretty pleasantly surprised. Despite EBF3 looking like a mess from a bird's-eye view, the game comes together into something really fun.

There are a LOT of things going on with EBF3's gameplay. You've got dozens of skills you can learn (and level up further!),. You've got tons of equipment where each piece is a sidegrade with different buffs and elemental affinities, but they can be upgraded through crafting materials. You've got enemies with very clear weaknesses and immunities. You've got plenty of permanent stat boosting items. You've got simple quests that are all about finding items and giving them to an NPC. And you've got a LOT of treasure throughout the overworld. A LOT.

There's two reasons why I think having a growth system that is...a whole lot of stuff works well. Firstly, each individual mechanic is very simple on its own. Upgrading equipment is just about having the right items. Getting skills is done by spending ability points that you get from winning battles. Chests are hidden all over the map. The battle system is a very simple turn-based approach where the only "special" mechanic is Final Fantasy limit breaks and the weakeness is just that, a weakness system, no extra gimmicks like Press Turn. Each individual piece of the gameplay is easy to understand and they don't really clash each other. It's because of this that, secondly, adding them all together makes the game feel so much more fulfilling and makes you realize there's always something you can be doing to improve. This game gave me a lot of trouble as a kid, and while I found Epic mode to be tough but manageable, there were plenty of instances where I hit an enemy spawn that seemed too overwhelming. But it's fine, there's always something you can be doing to get stronger that isn't necessarily just grinding for enemies, be it remembering to upgrade your equipment, buying items, or upgrading your skills. I will concede that there were a few occasions where I did an extra battle or two just to hit a level up, since the level cap in this game is only 30, and levels do have a massive effect on your stats.

When I was a kid, I played EBF3 pretty simply like a Pokemon game (or, perhaps, a Final Fantasy game), but I found myself constantly getting roughed up by enemies even on Normal. As an adult with a lot more JRPG experience the first half of the game was smooth sailing even on Epic mode, but the late-game enemies, namely by eternal nemeses the Monoliths, hit VERY hard and have some bulk to them. Epic mode serves to highlight that, weirdly, EBF3 isn't really like either of those games in terms of combat...surprisingly, it's actually closer to a Shin Megami Tensei game?

While there is no Press Turn, One More, or Extra Turn system, enemies still have very clear weaknesses and immunities and elements they attack with. Therefore, you're incentivized to upgrade spells and run equipment to counter what you're up against. There is no penalty from running away from a battle after you've scanned an enemy, so you've got time to figure out what your gameplan is. On that note, there are no random encounters or even moving enemies on the overworld, all encounters are at fixed positions with some blocking paths (much like Final Fantasy Mystic Quest). Also, much like SMT, buffing is extremely powerful in this game. Being a flashy fangame from the early 10s, the enemies in this game love tossing out ridiculously powerful attacks. Protect and Barrier are extremely strong buffs, but also critical for survival in the late-game. Dispel and Bind come in clutch to stop enemies from doing the same, Kyun is a great limit break (jiggling aside.....) to reset a bad situation with a mass heal/buff/enemy debuff, and Beers and Milk allow you to pump up your Attack and Magic on the fly. Funnily enough, unlike Pokemon, EBF3 is surprisingly smartly balanced with its buffs: Buffs and Debuffs can only go up to 70%, and they decrease by 5% every turn. They of course still reset on death, and you will be dying a lot of times on Epic even with these Buffs, but you have to roll with the punches and see what you can do.

Still, despite all this praise, and despite how exhilarating and the challenging these fights are...at the end of the day, some losses can feel a bit bullshit rather than feeling like you actually misplayed. A lot of enemies are also just way too bulky, making fights drag dangerously long. The final boss in particular, while having some smart design in its changing weaknesses and periodic enemy respawns and ultimately being a very satisfying challenge to overcome, honestly felt too much like I was rolling the dice to get a good attack pattern and weakness lineup. It is also a VERY long fight despite so many powerful attacks being flung around; it's only one phase, but I'd wager it took me, like, 15-20 minutes not counting failed attempts. This game doesn't really make it clear how long enemy waves are or what sorts of enemies the bosses can call in, so it's easy to find yourself screwed because the new of enemies that spawned in are far beyond your power level. It's for this reason that on my winning attempt against the final boss, I exploiting the 5-enemy cap and didn't bother taking out his lower minions, because they were a lot more manageable than the motherfucking piece of shit childhood-ruining Cosmic Monolith he can randomly spawn when at low HP. Then again, I did play on the highest difficulty (which boosts enemy attack and defense by like 60% lol) so like...I can't fault the game too hard when the hardest setting is in fact kinda ridiculous at times, it just kinda sucks since the difficulty does spike a lot in the second half. Also...SMT is no stranger to bosses that you often beat by exploiting weird aspects of a boss's AI lol. But do keep in mind that I am buffing a lot; if you play on Normal and dont buff your stats, you can expect to run into just as much difficulty as I did here

I will lastly note that because of how late in the game you will be upgrading your equipment for stat resistances and because you only get one of each equipment piece (this game's progression is an exponential curve, you will very suddenly go from 40 to 100 and get all the resources you need to fully upgrade your party right at the end of the game), you can't really defensively equip your entire party for certain elements. You do have an option to spend a character's turn in-battle to swap their equipment, but when the game suggests you to swap off to equipment that resists electricity...you can't really do that because you just don't have sufficient equipment for that :/ Against the final boss, I honestly just went with equipment sets that gave me strong overall stats and I didn't bother avoiding particular weaknesses, since the final bosses can swap weaknesses on the fly and spending a turn just to swap your own equipment is far too much of a momentum-killer when every turn in that fight is very important.

The aesthetics and writing in this game are...very early-2010s core lol. The animation is still pretty impressive after all this time even if the actual image quality can't account for modern HD displays. The soundtrack was really fun as a kid and I still think it's still composed well, but I will say the constant leitmotifs are a lot more noticeable now and the actual arrangements often use some very bleh MIDI instruments. Thankfully, my two fav tracks from when I was young, Nebula and Divine Madness, are still excellent. As for the writing...well, it is very much a late 00s early 10s parody game. The story is paper-thin, it pretty much amounts to the three party members being pissed off they lost to the game's eldritch demon villain, so they decide to make the long trek back and kick its ass, not really caring about the fact that it'll also save the world.

Along the way, you do get the vibe that our main characters are intentionally written to just be terrible people lol. There are not as many meta jokes as you would expect, like "oh boy I gotta collect all these items for you", the trio is moreso just really annoyed and rude with everyone they encounter, being very willing to pillage and destroy for their own wealth. As you would expect, the game makes plenty of attempts at humor throughout, some aging with all the grace of our soldier party member doing a ROAAAADA ROOOLLLLLAAAAAA impression with a giant tank (man I forgot this game out before Jojo even got its 2012 anime, so most people's exposure to it, myself included, was just shitposting and MUGEN edits based on the late 90s Capcom fighting game that got localized for some reason...while I'm on this tangent, there's also a lot of other references throughout EBF3, namely Gurren Lagann, which I don't think I was familiar with at all at the time I played this game). I personally was able to handle all of this stuff just fine, and I imagine Matt was at least aware when writing that these protagonists are clearly awful and apathetic people, since me realizing that makes the (honestly pretty rare) casual racism and (frequent) casual misogyny a bit more "tolerable"...still bad of course!! So I don't not blame anyone who can't get past this game's writing (the game's story is, again, very minimal, so it's not too hard to ignore a lot of the text). 2010 was a different time, it scares me to think there are users on Smogon, possibly even reading this, who weren't even born yet when this game came out :psygrump: I haven't played EBF5 yet (which came out in like late 2018, a very different time from 2010) but I do hope Matt is a lot more mature now.

I am glad my childhood has not been ruined because, despite the aged writing, this gameplay is still very fun. Despite their frustration, I am especially glad the last two bosses still kicked my ass and were satisfying to conquer, even if they still weren't quite as hard as they were when I was a kid (I still found them easier than the final bosses of the two Devil Survivor games, the only MegaTen games I've played). This playthrough took me maybe 15 hours? A quick Normal mode playthrough would've probably taken me like 5 hours tops. For anyone that's played this series when they were young, give this a shot if you haven't played it or revisit some time. Other than that, I'd mostly recommend it to my fellow older zoomers / millenials who grew up during the Flash Game or 90s/00s JRPG zeitgeist and want something silly, low investment, and short. The game's free on Newgrounds, so even if you don't fall into any of these categories but are morbidly curious about this game, just give it a shot you lil bastard <3

7/10 ("This is a good video game")​
 
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Well if everyone else is doing it I may as well post me and my little brother's SNES collection

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So the story is that back in 2009/2010, my brother and I would not shut the hell up about Earthbound (we were big fans of Chuggaaconroy...well, at least I was), so as an end-of-the-school year gift my dad surprised us with a SNES alongside Legend of Zelda Link to the Past, Kirby Super Star, and Earthbound. My brother played the game a ton, but I didn't get around to playing through it in full until 2019. The actual gameplay kinda stinks, but everything else about the game is excellent. Not worth buying an authentic copy for, but if you have Switch Online, set aside some time to play it! My brother and I didn't play much of Super Star or Link to the Past since we already had played the crap out of Super Star Ultra by this point and we had Link to the Past on Wii Virtual Console. I did eventually get around to playing Link to the Past...didn't really care for it, but oh well lol.

For a while, most of the purchases for the console were done by my brother via Ebay (which for some reason he was using as a pre-teen / early high schooler ?_?). He ended up getting Aladdin and Goof Troop since they were recommended by quite possibly my favorite Youtuber, Happy Video Game Nerd (now known as Stop Skeletons From Fighting). Both are pretty fun and very cheap games; if you're looking to expand your SNES collection, you should absolutely get these two! He then later bought Star Fox, Lemmings, and F-Zero. I haven't played Lemmings (but I know my brother did a ton), and I think F-Zero and Star Fox are fun enough for what they are (also pretty cheap cartridges). He bought Gradius III and Tiny Toon Adventures more recently since he's a big fan of Konami games; Gradius III is pretty fun from what I've tried (albeit really suffers from Gradius syndrome of needing to beat the game deathless :/) and, you guessed it, quite cheap.

As for my purchases, the Japanese game is Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. I don't own a region converter and thus haven't actually played this cartridge lol. I was at PAX East 2016 and saw this random Japanese game sticking out like a sore thumb for $20, and I snatched it just for the hell of it. Probably not a wise economic decision, but it worked out because I later played Genealogy's fan translation in 2018 and absolutely LOVED it. It's easily my favorite Fire Emblem game out of the few I've played and one of my favorite games on the SNES, so I'm glad to have a CIB copy of it :)

Final Fantasy III (which is actually Final Fantasy VI) I decided to buy off Ebay right as COVID was kicking up, but before all the retro game prices truly went to shit. I didn't get around to playing through it in full until a few months but...this game is incredible. Like, seriously, I've still been thinking about this game even after it's been so long since I've played. I can't recommend it enough. Honestly, I think the SNES cartridge is well worth the $70 it goes for just to play it lol, but hey, the Pixel Remaster on Steam and modern consoles is a great option too (much cheaper and more accessible).

Donkey Country 1, Donkey Kong Country 2, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest, Pilotwings, and Yoshi's Island were all purchased at one of my local retro game stores (if you are near the Boston area, I highly recommend checking out Replay'd, they've got a nice balance of reasonable prices and a decent variety of games !_!). Mystic Quest was kinda shit, but I've really liked all of the others, and everything besides Yoshi's Island is less than $20, so hey, more games that are worth getting! Thunder Spirits I got from a different retro store and significantly overpaid for it LOL. I mostly bought it since one of my favorite streamers Protonjon loves the game and considers it the best gateway shmup. And yeah, it's quite easy and not overly complex, but fun enough (definitely not worth the amount I spent oh my god lol).

For those of you who have cartridges lying around, I absolutely recommend getting a console to play them !_! (ideally an original SNES, but there's plenty of aftermarket consoles for playing them too). I think it's the ideal way to experience these games over computer emulation or even stuff like Nintendo Switch Online or Everdrives; beyond the appeal of just having a tangible physical copy, having limited options and picking games from your limited library makes each individual game a lot more special imo versus sifting through hundreds of games trying to find something that clicks.

(god i wrote so much i just really enjoy yapping about old video games I guess)
 
Been running through all the Final Fantasy 7 Remakes (obv off the Zack Fair avi - never got to play em since havent had a PS since 3 but when Rebirth dropped I was like "Time to do it" lol) - got Visions of Mana up next after I finish Rebirth; anyone play it?
I know it's my kinda game just wondering peoples thoughts on it.
 
(changed avi obv - in regards to last post) but still on FF7:Rebirth and gotta admit this game is really incredibly vast and does a good job of endearing you to your fellow characters, i played the OG (i was a lil too young when it dropped but still that ps1/n64/pre ps2 stage) and did with 8, 9(, and then 10 on 2) as well and part of me almost wishes i waited till they drop the final of this trilogy so i dont gotta wait lol.
Also from my first play of the OG game Barret was kinda my least used (cus Tifa, Cloud, and even after Aerith died I'm a Vincent stan, same with Yuffie lol) - now I got him as leader in Rebirth; forget you Cloud, you getting smacked around too much. LOL
(still early, heading to Junon, but the Overcharge (off rip) >> Bonus Rounds >> do a lil damage >> Maximum Fury/(if pressured) Focused Shot is almost demon time for Barret lol

As much as ive spoke about Final Fantasy I really need to time splurge the same into my GOAT FRANCHISE (esp onces i've missed): Dragon Quest after. (Got like 4 to handle on switch [obv more if i include the early games Switch has too, was too young then, gunna wait for the updated game of 3 first coming out soon - got some from the (3)DS remakes realm i missed to (8 I mentioned being GOAT tier) --- i wasnt paying those prices for OGs lol)
<<<<< this guy is Square Enix believer, supporter, and lover lol.

Unrelated: Fun fact most I ever paid for a game was after someone i know had a issue with substances sold some of my old ds/gameboy games having to pay 150$ for Heart Gold.

They got a family building, fixed their life now but I still fully intend to hit them with "You at least owe me a free dinner, car wash, and brake repair cus I know it was you, you know what *I* couldve made? But i'd never that's my childhood and you stole it."
That was OG RUN copies of blue and red and you probably sold it for beans to find your means back then. Hell my blue had all 151 (yes Mew) and least 20 mons legit leveled to 100, no rare candy glitch cus i was so young with nothing to do lol.
Funny side note: first Mon i got to 100 when my friend showed me the glitch as a kid was Dewgong LOL.
 
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BP's TOP VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER AS OF 2024 (THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BUT PROBABLY NOT)

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Command & Conquer RED ALERT Retaliation

The first RTS game I played when I was 4 and 5 was on my dad's PlayStation. This game fucks and makes war seem awesome. Each country has a unique buff and nerf to make building and playing them unique and interesting. They remastered this and released on STEAM a few years back and I still play it. The OST is also epic and cool and it makes me want to build a lot of infantrymen and run them into flamethrower towers. FUCK EA FOR RUINING THIS FRANCHISE.

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Twisted Metal: Black

I should not have been playing this game at such a ripe young age and yet I did. The game's storytelling is fantastic and grim. Saying that the game is edgy does it a massive disservice and it doesn't even make any sense lol. The game isn't edgy its genuinely terrifying, sad, and twisted (see what I did there). The game controls amazingly, there's insane replay value, and there's online support iirc. Now that I'm older I can confidently say there is not a single-car combat game in existence that could rival TMB.

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Fallout: New Vegas

Just watch one of the millions of youtube videos that tell you why this game is good. There's nothing I could say that hasn't already been said.

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Sly 2: Band Of Thieves

Finally, a game that was developmentally appropriate for prepubescent BP. This is by far the best game in the Sly Cooper trilogy (the 4th game isn't canon shut the fuck up). The characters, story, and writing are simply amazing. I find that even in my later years I still sometimes boot up my PS4 and replay this. Sly 1 and 3 are both great games in their own right but the Sly 2 is just the best in the franchise.

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DQ 9: Sentinels of Starry Skies

The only Dragon Quest game I've ever played. I also played like 3 hours of DQ 3 but didn't like it. This automatically makes DQ9 better than the rest of the series. Games got a thrilling story, Character Creation, epic bosses, Akira Toriyama, fucking treasure grottos, and, at the time, cool online shit. They need to remake this dragon quest before I get too old and stop giving a shit.
 
this has been an incredible last couple months for (J)RPGs, im playing FF7 Rebirth as i said prior and the backlog already crazy, next up is Metaphor: Refantazio, Visions of Mana, Romancing Saga 2 remake, or the new Zelda game --- this all before stuff like the Dragon Quest Remake and such.
I still got backlogs on my 3ds I gotta handle, nonetheless modern era lol.:woop::woo:
 
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FE Engage sucks...
Cannot even stomach this game it is so boring.
This games main defenses is its excellent map design. But that doesn't save the cringeworthy and mundane story. You cannot expect me to get invested in a game that has good gameplay but story in a world that is so empty of meaning. Makes me think, "Why am I even playing, why do I even care for these characters?"
The story is basically a fetch quest of "Get all the rings back"! During your journey, you go on a continent tour around Elyos. The world is just... very shallow. The only characters you really get to have are like the nobles and the retainers of those nobles. That's boring! In all the other games you can get nobles from other countries, but randos off the street, and even some turncoats who turn to you! Does engage have them? NO! The closest you get to rando civilian units to my knowledge is like... Jean and Anna. And anna is the recurring FE mascot so she kinda doesn't count. The characters.
FE chars are like THE IMPORTANT thing in fire emblem so this was a huge letdown.
Not only that, what also is a letdown is the character designs. There are some fine ones, like Framme, Clanne, Yunaka, and Vander, but the majority of them have such impractical and complicated designs that they just make my eyeballs hurt everytime I look at them. Blegh, especially, Alear and Celine.
It also doesn't help that they have no personality except for worshipping the mary sue ass divine dragon Alear. I swear it happens like every chapter.
In conclusion, the characters, and story combined cement my thoughts on this game. Is it the worst FE? Yeah, out of the ones I played. If the Fates games are even worse I might reconsider.
 
Adeleine said:
This is something that people disagree on a lot; for a lot of people, the mechanics are the important thing for FE, so engage was good even though everyone (I've seen) agrees the story is bad.
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What I found particularly interesting comparing my experience with Engage and Three Houses is that I ended up getting more invested in Engage's plot because the gameplay was better. They both have their contrived moments, Engage almost certainly more so, but I was always in a better mood and more willing to humor the story when they came up in Engage because the segment before wasn't a slog. Meanwhile, my immersion broke as to why the timeskip happened in 3H and never recovered.
 
I loved Engage personally, yeah the story isn’t great but I play games more for the gameplay than the story, and the gameplay was some of the best in the series.

Tempted to replay the whole Fire Emblem series, but once I’ve finished DQ11 will be taking a break from JRPGs for a while.
 
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