quote:
Originally posted by dummygirl:
I can see now why sci-fi conventions are listed with anime conventions. I have hardly any experience with it. The only sci-fi I have is Legend of Galactic Heroes, Dune, and Parasyte, unless mecha counts. And I haven't played any rpgs since the Sierra games I had as a kid. I was never into the console games, either. Can you give me a comparison on how good these games are to some anime/manga?
...How good are console games compared to anime/mange? It's hard to say, because they're not really comparable. IMO, RPG's have a lot more value than anime, simply because they're cheaper and I spend more time with them. Xenosaga took me somewhere around 80-100 hours to complete, and it cost me $50. A typical 26 episode anime series costs around $150, and if I watch it twice (my usual limit), that would add up to around 25 hours. Thus I paid around $.50 an hour to play Xenosaga, while I would pay $6 an hour to watch an anime series. Of course, that comparison doesn't really take into account the enjoyment involved, which is the most important factor of course, but that's how I think of it anyway. I'd also like to add that longer isn't necessarily better, though cheaper is always good. [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/wink.gif[/img]
But if you haven't tried Japanese RPG's, and you're looking to "branch out" from anime/manga, then I would definitely give them a try. The Lunar series (PS1) is good if you want a simple yet moving story with lots of anime cut-scenes. Growlanser: Generations (PS2) is being released in a few days; it includes two games for the price of one that are supposed to combine a strong focus on story with a solid tactical element. I could comment more when I get my hands on it. All of the above titles have a retro-gamey feel, and fall squarely in the fantasy genre. Check out Xenosaga (PS2) and Star Ocean III (PS2) for something more modern. Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits (PS2) is another modern RPG with a good fantasy-based story and tactical elements, though it isn't anime-style. The Grandia series is also excellent, and is similar in style to Lunar. The first in the series (PS1/Sega Saturn) uses 2D anime sprites, while the second (Dreamcast/PS2/PC) relies on 3D models. They're both available on various platforms, though stay away from the PS2 version of Grandia II--I heard the port was terrible.
If you want to stick strictly to b-games, there's also Thousand Arms (PS1). The combat is rather repetitive, but the girls are quite cute (considering your screenname, I'm not sure if this is a factor for you [img]http://princess.cybrmall.net/ubb/wink.gif[/img]), and the dating element is actually central to building up your weapons. The story isn't the greatest, though it's serviceable I suppose.