Shining Force - EXA versus Neo

"Kendrick Kerwin Chua" <kendrick DeleteThis @nospam.io> wrote in message
news:H_idnVj5ifCqg9vbnZ2dnUVZ_rbinZ2d@io.com...
>
> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet? I couldn't
> get into Neo for some reason, but I'm really enjoying EXA. And now I'm
> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
>
> Not sure what the intangible difference is, so I thought I'd get you with
> four guys and ask. It'd be five if we counted Air Raid, but without a news
> clipping to pass around he's got nothing to say.
>
> -KKC, who should give the PS2 some rest now, after eight continuous hours
> of play...
> --
> -- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
> los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
> la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
> con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -


So how is Shining Force EXA? Is looks similar to Grandia. Is it something
worth picking up?

dave

In article <752a9$4647aa2e$4b75f16b$14945@ALLTEL.NET>,
dave <alofusblountmaybe DeleteThis @alltel.net> wrote:
>"Kendrick Kerwin Chua" <kendrick DeleteThis @nospam.io> wrote in message
>news:H_idnVj5ifCqg9vbnZ2dnUVZ_rbinZ2d@io.com...
>>
>> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet? I couldn't
>> get into Neo for some reason, but I'm really enjoying EXA. And now I'm
>> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
>> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
>> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
<snip>
>
>So how is Shining Force EXA? Is looks similar to Grandia. Is it something
>worth picking up?

Not quite like Grandia, more like Diablo. On the surface, it looks like a
grind-fest with an overabundance of inventory management and customization.
But if you manage to get past the first chapter you'll find the best
Shining game of the action-RPG variety, with a decent amount of challenge
and some nice surprises. If you're looking for a traditional PS-style
party RPG or a tactical Shining game, this isn't it. It's an action-RPG,
but it's one of the better ones I've played and it's held my interest all
weekend.

One of the challenges of pen-and-paper RPG games is when your party is
split up, and your one game master has to alternate between two sets of
characters. This mechanism is used pretty cleverly in Shining Force EXA to
keep the gameplay from getting stale or repetitive. You always have two
parties, one in the field and one at your home base. If your party in the
field takes too long to accomplish its goal, then your party at home gets
attacked by a wandering random encounter (which is typically a rampaging
horde of bomb-throwing, beer swilling orcs numbering in the hundreds or
so.) If you lose the base you also lose the game, so you're always racing
the clock or paying the price for dawdling. I prefer to let those
encounters happen so that I can level up in a nice, controlled way.

You can switch the characters in each party at will, and sometimes you get
a little early warning for those attacks. In those instances, you can make
use of a super duper teleporter to warp home and change out your personnel,
so that the right combination of fighters are ready.

I like it so far, a lot more than I did Shining Force Neo. Maybe I'm not
spoiled by having played the first game through, but I'm told that EXA
addresses a lot of the complaints about Neo. Once I'm done, I may go back
and give the first game another chance.

-KKC, who also got the Bemani game this weekend.
--
-- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -

"Kendrick Kerwin Chua" <kendrick.TakeThisOut@nospam.io> wrote in message
news:87KdnRD6678TLtrbnZ2dnUVZ_g-dnZ2d@io.com...
> In article <752a9$4647aa2e$4b75f16b$14945@ALLTEL.NET>,
> dave <alofusblountmaybe.TakeThisOut@alltel.net> wrote:
>>"Kendrick Kerwin Chua" <kendrick.TakeThisOut@nospam.io> wrote in message
>>news:H_idnVj5ifCqg9vbnZ2dnUVZ_rbinZ2d@io.com...
>>>
>>> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet? I
>>> couldn't
>>> get into Neo for some reason, but I'm really enjoying EXA. And now I'm
>>> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and
>>> environments
>>> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand
>>> new
>>> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
> <snip>
>>
>>So how is Shining Force EXA? Is looks similar to Grandia. Is it
>>something
>>worth picking up?
>
> Not quite like Grandia, more like Diablo. On the surface, it looks like a
> grind-fest with an overabundance of inventory management and
> customization.
> But if you manage to get past the first chapter you'll find the best
> Shining game of the action-RPG variety, with a decent amount of challenge
> and some nice surprises. If you're looking for a traditional PS-style
> party RPG or a tactical Shining game, this isn't it. It's an action-RPG,
> but it's one of the better ones I've played and it's held my interest all
> weekend.
>
> One of the challenges of pen-and-paper RPG games is when your party is
> split up, and your one game master has to alternate between two sets of
> characters. This mechanism is used pretty cleverly in Shining Force EXA to
> keep the gameplay from getting stale or repetitive. You always have two
> parties, one in the field and one at your home base. If your party in the
> field takes too long to accomplish its goal, then your party at home gets
> attacked by a wandering random encounter (which is typically a rampaging
> horde of bomb-throwing, beer swilling orcs numbering in the hundreds or
> so.) If you lose the base you also lose the game, so you're always racing
> the clock or paying the price for dawdling. I prefer to let those
> encounters happen so that I can level up in a nice, controlled way.
>
> You can switch the characters in each party at will, and sometimes you get
> a little early warning for those attacks. In those instances, you can make
> use of a super duper teleporter to warp home and change out your
> personnel,
> so that the right combination of fighters are ready.
>
> I like it so far, a lot more than I did Shining Force Neo. Maybe I'm not
> spoiled by having played the first game through, but I'm told that EXA
> addresses a lot of the complaints about Neo. Once I'm done, I may go back
> and give the first game another chance.
>
> -KKC, who also got the Bemani game this weekend.
> --
> -- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
> los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
> la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
> con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -

Thanks, Maybe I'll give it a try.

dave

On May 12, 4:06 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr... RemoveThis @nospam.io> wrote:
> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet?

I finished both 100%

I couldn't
> get into Neo for some reason, but I'm really enjoying EXA. And now I'm

they're pretty much the same, except for the charge/special attack and
the two character system in EXA

> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.

not sure why, but it might be some subtle thing that hit your
subconscious

> Not sure what the intangible difference is, so I thought I'd get you with
> four guys and ask. It'd be five if we counted Air Raid, but without a news
> clipping to pass around he's got nothing to say.
>
> -KKC, who should give the PS2 some rest now, after eight continuous hours
> of play...

it is definitely a very addictive type of game

In article <1179403449.161211.273490.TakeThisOut@w5g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
Eiji Hayashi <linm.TakeThisOut@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>On May 12, 4:06 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....TakeThisOut@nospam.io> wrote:
>> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet?
>
>I finished both 100%
>
>> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
>> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
>> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
>
>not sure why, but it might be some subtle thing that hit your
>subconscious

Well, the complicated answer is that the exact same game is being
presented with a superior structure for characterization and therefore
cultivates more emotional attachment. The simple answer is that EXA has
pretty girls and pushes your buttons.

I forgot to mention that Shining Force EXA and Phantasy Star Universe
appear to have almost the same cast of voice actors. Toma and Cyrille
therefore sound exactly like Ethan Waber and Karen Erra. This may horrify
you, or not.

-KKC, who will go back and play Neo once EXA is finished, just to say that
he did.
--
-- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -

On May 17, 8:21 am, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....TakeThisOut@nospam.io> wrote:
> In article <1179403449.161211.273....TakeThisOut@w5g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
> Eiji Hayashi <l....TakeThisOut@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>
> >On May 12, 4:06 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....TakeThisOut@nospam.io> wrote:
> >> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet?
>
> >I finished both 100%
>
> >> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
> >> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
> >> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
>
> >not sure why, but it might be some subtle thing that hit your
> >subconscious
>
> Well, the complicated answer is that the exact same game is being
> presented with a superior structure for characterization and therefore
> cultivates more emotional attachment. The simple answer is that EXA has
> pretty girls and pushes your buttons.

ahh.. I see

> I forgot to mention that Shining Force EXA and Phantasy Star Universe
> appear to have almost the same cast of voice actors. Toma and Cyrille
> therefore sound exactly like Ethan Waber and Karen Erra. This may horrify
> you, or not.

interesting observation.. though since I don't play PSU anymore that's
probably why I havn't noticed.

On May 17, 8:21 am, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr... RemoveThis @nospam.io> wrote:
> In article <1179403449.161211.273... RemoveThis @w5g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
> Eiji Hayashi <l... RemoveThis @mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>
> >On May 12, 4:06 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr... RemoveThis @nospam.io> wrote:
> >> Anybody play both Shining Force EXA and Shining Force Neo yet?
>
> >I finished both 100%
>
> >> reading that the one game reuses a lot of the backgrounds and environments
> >> from the other. This is strange to me, because EXA feels like a brand new
> >> game and Neo feels like a Diablo retread.
>
> >not sure why, but it might be some subtle thing that hit your
> >subconscious
>
> Well, the complicated answer is that the exact same game is being
> presented with a superior structure for characterization and therefore
> cultivates more emotional attachment. The simple answer is that EXA has
> pretty girls and pushes your buttons.
>
> I forgot to mention that Shining Force EXA and Phantasy Star Universe
> appear to have almost the same cast of voice actors. Toma and Cyrille
> therefore sound exactly like Ethan Waber and Karen Erra. This may horrify
> you, or not.


How're you coming on EXA? BTW.. are you fan of Tears? cause the sequel
just came out.. Shining Wind.

In article <1180395976.201294.235670.TakeThisOut@p47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com>,
Eiji Hayashi <linm.TakeThisOut@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>
>How're you coming on EXA? BTW.. are you fan of Tears? cause the sequel
>just came out.. Shining Wind.

I'm on chapter 11 now, I think? Five or six more chapters to go, from the
way the story feels. I'm just screwing around at this point, doing the
side quests and trying to map as much of the countryside as I have access
to. I've been levelling up the fortress and the cannon as much as I can so
I can blow up the landscape at will.

Did Shining Wind get an American release then? I don't see it on RPGamer's
schedule, but they've been known to omit stuff that they don't consider
part of the RPG genre.

-KKC, who is also deep into Turbo Duo repair. Exile, baby.
--
-- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -

On May 28, 8:56 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....RemoveThis@nospam.io> wrote:
> I'm on chapter 11 now, I think? Five or six more chapters to go, from the
> way the story feels. I'm just screwing around at this point, doing the
> side quests and trying to map as much of the countryside as I have access
> to. I've been levelling up the fortress and the cannon as much as I can so
> I can blow up the landscape at will.

if you like to power level, upgrade your training dungeon.. because
the training dungeon can get you some nasty levels and items as it's
just as hard as the real game. In fact, the last five levels of the
dungeon is harder than the final boss. I usually play the training
dungeon as much as far as I can make it before it becomes impossible
(like bosses that kill you in one hit and you're barely shaving him
with your most powerful attack), and then I go back to the regular
game and finish off that chapter. I'm usually so strong then that I
can blow through the stage.

> Did Shining Wind get an American release then? I don't see it on RPGamer's
> schedule, but they've been known to omit stuff that they don't consider
> part of the RPG genre.

I don't think there's a release date yet, but there's a good reason
they'll localize it since they did Tears

In article <1180486634.557675.258060.DeleteThis@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
Eiji Hayashi <linm.DeleteThis@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>On May 28, 8:56 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....DeleteThis@nospam.io> wrote:
>> I'm on chapter 11 now, I think? Five or six more chapters to go, from the
>> way the story feels. I'm just screwing around at this point, doing the
>> side quests and trying to map as much of the countryside as I have access
>> to. I've been levelling up the fortress and the cannon as much as I can so
>> I can blow up the landscape at will.
>
>if you like to power level, upgrade your training dungeon.. because

Been in there, it was nice. Cyrille was about six or seven levels behind
Toma a few chapters back, and that made the fortress battles harder than
they should have been. Dropped a few core metal orbs into the dungeon and
got her caught up real quick.

>the training dungeon can get you some nasty levels and items as it's
>just as hard as the real game. In fact, the last five levels of the
>dungeon is harder than the final boss. I usually play the training
>dungeon as much as far as I can make it before it becomes impossible
>(like bosses that kill you in one hit and you're barely shaving him
>with your most powerful attack), and then I go back to the regular
>game and finish off that chapter. I'm usually so strong then that I
>can blow through the stage.

Seeing as how you've finished the game, can you explore and run through
the training dungeon once you beat the final boss? I imagine this is like
other Sega games where the game world allows you to come back in and keep
playing even after you win, but I don't want to keep working towards the
last chapter unless that's true.

>> Did Shining Wind get an American release then? I don't see it on RPGamer's
>> schedule, but they've been known to omit stuff that they don't consider
>> part of the RPG genre.
>
>I don't think there's a release date yet, but there's a good reason
>they'll localize it since they did Tears

I'm not so sure. If Sony is up to its old tricks, then they might put the
kibosh on further PS2 releases if they think it'll ramp up interest in the
PS3. It nearly happened with the transition away from the original
Playstation, except that the last round of games was so good that they had
to let them through. Here's hoping they see the light, or at least loosen
up the release rules a little.

-KKC, wonders why it's so quiet around here lately. RGVS is the Kendrick
and Eiji show, with permanent guest host Bel.
--
-- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -

On May 30, 2:05 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr... RemoveThis @nospam.io> wrote:
> In article <1180486634.557675.258... RemoveThis @g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
> Eiji Hayashi <l... RemoveThis @mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>
> Seeing as how you've finished the game, can you explore and run through
> the training dungeon once you beat the final boss? I imagine this is like
> other Sega games where the game world allows you to come back in and keep
> playing even after you win, but I don't want to keep working towards the
> last chapter unless that's true.

actually what happens is after you beat the game. It'll save a final
savegame which is right before the final chapter, so you can replay
the last mission again with the other route (you'll see what I mean
when you get there). You'll also have access to all the stages so you
can go wherever you want. Like I said the last ten stages or so of the
training dungeon is tougher than the final stage of the game.

> I'm not so sure. If Sony is up to its old tricks, then they might put the
> kibosh on further PS2 releases if they think it'll ramp up interest in the
> PS3. It nearly happened with the transition away from the original
> Playstation, except that the last round of games was so good that they had
> to let them through. Here's hoping they see the light, or at least loosen
> up the release rules a little.

I don't think they will in this case because the PS2 is a major
cashcow for them right now and I don't think they want to kill the cow
when their next-gen machine is doing so poorly.

> -KKC, wonders why it's so quiet around here lately. RGVS is the Kendrick
> and Eiji show, with permanent guest host Bel.

well I wouldn't go that far. I'm very rarely posting these days. My
postings here as well as in message boards have slowed significantly.
It's not really due to a lack of content. I'm still playing alot of
games (currently working my way through Odin Sphere), but we're kinda
stuck in the generation rut where new releases for last-gen consoles
have slowed or stopped altogether while new-gen content really hasn't
caught up yet.

In article <1180569579.557955.273580.DeleteThis@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com>,
Eiji Hayashi <linm.DeleteThis@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>On May 30, 2:05 pm, Kendrick Kerwin Chua <kendr....DeleteThis@nospam.io> wrote:
>> In article <1180486634.557675.258....DeleteThis@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com>,
>> Eiji Hayashi <l....DeleteThis@mcmaster.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Seeing as how you've finished the game, can you explore and run through
>> the training dungeon once you beat the final boss? I imagine this is like
>
>actually what happens is after you beat the game. It'll save a final
>savegame which is right before the final chapter, so you can replay
>the last mission again with the other route (you'll see what I mean

Okay, that's familiar. A lot of the Shining games are like that, and I
think Yakuza and Otogi do that too.

>when you get there). You'll also have access to all the stages so you
>can go wherever you want. Like I said the last ten stages or so of the
>training dungeon is tougher than the final stage of the game.
>
>> I'm not so sure. If Sony is up to its old tricks, then they might put the
>> kibosh on further PS2 releases if they think it'll ramp up interest in the
>> PS3. It nearly happened with the transition away from the original
>> Playstation, except that the last round of games was so good that they had
>> to let them through. Here's hoping they see the light, or at least loosen
>> up the release rules a little.
>
>I don't think they will in this case because the PS2 is a major
>cashcow for them right now and I don't think they want to kill the cow
>when their next-gen machine is doing so poorly.

Well, I'm thinking that they might pull a Microsoft and try to drum up
interest in the PS3 by making the PS2 titles scarce. Which would have the
effect of driving consumers towards Nintendo products. :/

>> -KKC, wonders why it's so quiet around here lately. RGVS is the Kendrick
>> and Eiji show, with permanent guest host Bel.
>
>well I wouldn't go that far. I'm very rarely posting these days. My
>postings here as well as in message boards have slowed significantly.

I'm looking back at the last 100 posts, and it's you and me and Bel, with
a little azmun and Scott. Dos man and that other guy pipe up occasionally,
but otherwise the group is a desert. I mean, RGVS doesn't even get
advertising spam.

>It's not really due to a lack of content. I'm still playing alot of
>games (currently working my way through Odin Sphere), but we're kinda
>stuck in the generation rut where new releases for last-gen consoles
>have slowed or stopped altogether while new-gen content really hasn't
>caught up yet.

I've got plenty to post about, but no spare time. I barely have time to
play games, but I fit it in when I can. I have to catch up with the last
month's worth of RPG releases, but a little travelling and some work
expenses come first.

-KKC, fixing laptops for fun. Not quite yet for profit though.
--
-- ...Durante la batalla, espias rebeldes lograron robar - kendrick
los planos secretos del arma mas extrema del Imperio, - @io.com
la ESTRELLA DE LA MUERTE, una estacion espacial blindada -
con suficiente potencia para destruir un planeta entero. -