Disaster Report 2!

Sure, the first never got much love, and it certainly had problems, but I still liked it - so I'm happy as a clam to see a sequel. I just hope that the development team actually learned something from the first game, and fixed some of their mistakes. (Questionable control, characters who need to drink water every five minutes or they die from dehydration, feeling the need to dumb down the storyline into typical videogame fare in the last 1/4th of the game, etc.)

According to the Magic Box, the second game "takes place in an underground city in the winter time of year 2010, where the torrential rain and mass water flowed into the city." I'm not quite sure how it is raining in an underground city, and some of the shots have skylines in them, but whatever the case is, this time the disaster is water instead of earthquake. The game features two major characters, a guy and a girl, and gameplay is traded off between the two character's storylines.

Game is set for release on Feb. 21st in Japan. I'm not sure how the first one did sales wise over here, so it is anybody's guess if this will come our way.

Magic Box link

I never did pick up the first and I always wanted to. I need to pick it up if I can find it. It's cool to see that it is getting a sequel.

Monotomous stealth missions? Maybe...

http://www.the-magicbox.com/0512/irem9.jpg

ugh.

Hopefully that stays over there

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Originally Posted by Joust Williams

Hopefully that stays over there

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You're more than welcome to not post in this thread.

I heard that the last title was pretty much a love/hate game that people could only really appreciate if they can get over some of the games major flaws. Is this headed to European shoreS?

The problem with the first was, before you could decide if you liked the game or not, you had to decide if you could get past its flaws or not. A lot of people don't have the patience / willingness / whatever to keep trying a game that initially seems like crap, so it lost a lot of people there.

If you weren't willing to accept the flaws and look past them, and if you weren't interested in the idea that the game presented, then it came off as being a crap game. I don't think it was, though - I think it was a fun and interesting games that REALLY could have benefitted from more development time, or developers who cared about the game more and had more ambitious plans for it.

As far as Western release, I'm not sure anything has been said yet about an English version. If anybody hears anything, by all means post about it.

I liked the first one, although not to the point of playing through it multiple times to get all the endings. I didn't mind its faults, and water was plentiful enough that it was never an issue. It wasn't perfect, but it was good fun for the $10 I paid.

I'd love to see the sequel over here. Hopefully Agetec sold enough to make it worth their time.

James

Yeah, that's what I think I paid - $10, and it was certainly worth that. Of course, waiting that long to buy it doesn't help Agetec any in the effort of bringing over the second one. *heh*

Hello, US release-

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/750/750696p1.html

I'm pretty sure that's the same game. It's not like there are a ton of alternatives in the natural disaster genre.

James

Yup, that's the game. Just got announced for US release, which is awesome. I really hope Agetec is smart enough to make this game a budget price, and even though I shouldn't, I'll probably pick it up day one if it hits at $20. Anything more than that, though, and I think I'll be waiting.

Yeah, I paid $10 for the original as well. Despite its problems it was worth every penny. I'll take a quirky and original game that's rough around the edges over a slick, polished, soulless franchise game any day.

And I'm glad to hear that the sequel is coming out here. Like Shidoshi, I'm hoping it's released as a budget title.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

I'll take a quirky and original game that's rough around the edges over a slick, polished, soulless franchise game any day.

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Leave Metal Gear out of this.

Wasn't there one where you're aboard a sinking ship? I thought that was the sequel to Disaster Report (that we never got). Is this the third one then? Or am I mixed up.

From IGN:

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Agetec Cooking Up Raw Danger

A survival game without the zombies.

December 12, 2006 - Today Agetec announced that it will be releasing Raw Danger for PlayStation 2 next February, 2007. The game looks like it will appeal to fans of disaster movies like Towering Inferno and Volcano.

Raw Danger drops players into a city surrounded by mountains, ocean, and rivers, and then drops torrential rains on top of them. All order has collapsed and it's time to hightail it outta town. Bridges are being washed away, buildings are collapsing, and flash floods stand in the way of your safety.

"While no natural disaster is a game, Raw Danger does explore the more fantastic elements of a major event," said Mark Johnson, Vice President of Production and Marketing at Agetec. "The experience of trying to survive through a natural disaster can be incredibly engrossing."

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official website: http://www.zettai-zetsumei.com/zz2/

another tidbit from the first disaster report: 'Disaster Report is one of the few games to support the Rez Vibrator for PlayStation 2.' lol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disaster_Report

I picked up the first Disaster Report for $6 a while back, and I absolutely loved the game. Admittedly, the game has a ton of flaws but it offered some bits of rewarding exploration. I'd like to see what they can do with a sequel to this game.

yeah, the first one was very special. One of the few games I actually completed. I could have sworn I saw DR2 slated for a european budget release, but now I can't find anything about it... Damned if the Yanks get it first!

Preview: http://ps2.ign.com/articles/751/751526p1.html

So it is out in the USA and Europe as "Raw Danger".
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/...mL._SS400_.jpg
Anyone play it yet? So far I can only find the game at amazon.co.uk and they are charging 50 us$...

also, LOL at US cover:
http://www.agetec.com/images/games/raw_danger/RD300.jpg

Holy shit. He's right.

The official Agetec-shop sells if for 39.95$ - I wonder how EBgames can slash that price.

You have fucking gotta be kidding me with that US cover. The logo sucks, but otherwise that PAL cover is pretty cool and distinctive--relatively speaking at the least. I will never understand how these people get paid.

It is easy to see where he got his inspiration:
http://www.agetec.com/images/games/d...ort_Cover3.jpg

at least the cover for the first game was respectable in pal territories:
http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/image...BL._SS500_.jpg

Pretty amazing they managed to out-horribleize themselves. The girl in the top one always reminded me of an Olson twin.

So does this one have massive slow down like the first?

So if you've read anything about the changes that were made to the game, one of the things Agetec did was swap the "black hair" setting characters had for a "blonde hair" setting, to give the game a bit more of a Western feel.

The problem? Well, being a Japanese game set in Japan with a lot of typical Japanese characters, pretty much every character model in the game, not suprisingly, had black hair. Now... the game looks like an ad for the Aryan Nation, with hordes of blonde-haired white folk running around.

The price on Agetec's site is crazy, because everywhere else has it listed at $14.99. Best Buy should have it in stock in a few days, so I'm going to pick it up then.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

Now... the game looks like an ad for the Aryan Nation, with hordes of blonde-haired white folk running around.

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Sold!

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Originally Posted by Yoshi

Sold!

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You just want to see them all drown as their civilization crumbles around their ears. :lol:

James

A number of story-related changes were made, apparently. They really hacked this game around to get it to fit into a Teen rating.

RAW DANGER!!!!

Man, it just doesn't get any fucking worse than that shit.

Any idea if they hacked up the Euro version? I don't need this game if it's been edited. That 7+ on the cover doesn't fill me with confidence.

James

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Originally Posted by James

Any idea if they hacked up the Euro version? I don't need this game if it's been edited. That 7+ on the cover doesn't fill me with confidence.

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Yep. The hack reports are coming from people with the euro version, and I somehow doubt the US one is less slashed.

Note to self- kill everyone. The 90s are over, we shouldn't have to put up with this shit any more.

-edit- Found the listing of the changes, here they are for those who want a spoilered peek-

In the original Japanese release, you went into the girls bathroom and his pants were on the floor, then when you checked the only closed cubical, he came out, put his pants on and chased you. He doesn't do that anymore. When you check the cubical it comments something like "This is a bathroom, there is noone here". Instead, he appears when you leave the room. And yes, he now says about how "Your grades are terrible, we must study right now!"

They also removed the things he held originally. During the second incounter, he says something about "I'll save you but then we must study!". The student teacher comments on how there was nothing we could do to save him, where in the original, she said about how she couldn't believe a fellow teacher would be like that.

In the fifth scenario where you play the doctor with amnesia, the normal end is changed. In the japanese version, before you can kill the virus, you are shot and thrown into the water. However, he struggles back to the switch and kills the virus. Then the mayor ran over and shot you while yelling. He keeps shooting you for about 15 shots and each shot sprays more blood until the character is in a huge pile of blood. Then his men pull him to the helicopter and they fly off. Now, after you hit the switch, he yells, and it cuts to the helicopter flying off, skipping the entire scene where the mayor unloads his ammo into you. However, you do see a quick glimpse of our character in the huge pile of blood, though without the other scene, it makes it seem like he just bled to death.

Another odd thing from the schoolgirl scenario. When you see the doctor from scenario 5 in the school, there are a list of options. I never knew what they said in the Japanese release, but I knew they affected how he remembered himself. The first line is usually "pervert" in reference to the teacher, as the girl is getting the men mixed up due to the white coats. However, despite the pedo teacher being heavily edited, the "pervert" line is still there, which makes no sense now.

Agetec is a small publisher. Can they really afford this kind of incompetence? The Aryan nation of blondes plus editing things without thinking about the consequences to the story, alienating the people who want to be fans, aren't going to help move more copies of this game. Raw Danger was never going to be a huge seller, even at $15-$20. Are the half-dozen extra sales from a T rating really worth looking inompetent for?

James

Yeah, from what little I've read, in the original Japanese version there was a part where you play as a female student, chased by a teacher who wants to have sex with you before you all drown. Now, you play as a female student, chased by a teacher who wants to make you understand the importance of studying before you all drown.

That... that is so hilariously bad that it's awesome.

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Originally Posted by Ammadeau

Yep. The hack reports are coming from people with the euro version, and I somehow doubt the US one is less slashed.

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Url plz? where are you reading this? neogaf?
I don't really care about minor changes. I really enjoyed the first game.

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Originally Posted by shidoshi

Yeah, from what little I've read, in the original Japanese version there was a part where you play as a female student, chased by a teacher who wants to have sex with you before you all drown. Now, you play as a female student, chased by a teacher who wants to make you understand the importance of studying before you all drown.

That... that is so hilariously bad that it's awesome.

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Wow, that is pretty awesome. Obviously a throwback to classic video game retardism.

The game actually sounds pretty good too. The New York Times liked it: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/14/te...=5070&emc=eta1

Anyone pick this up? It's been getting pretty good reviews.

Sigh, this game was never released in europe, although I know from the piracy-scene that a pal version exists. Edit. oh, it's coming out in Australia the 16th. I'll order it from there.

Fuck it, it's only $15. If it's anywhere close to Disater Report's quality (and I hear it is) I'll be happy.

Let us know how it is. I'm looking foreward to your impressions.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

Fuck it, it's only $15. If it's anywhere close to Disater Report's quality (and I hear it is) I'll be happy.

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Buy it. It's got technical faults all over the place, but it's still a brilliant game with a campy localization. It also doesn't have the whole thing go to shit in the end like DR did with the whole conpsiracy garbage. As an added bonus, in the first and longest story, you can choose to be a total dick. I reviewed it for GotNext a short while back.

Got it. So far, it's on par with Diaster Report, maybe ever a little better. Very original and well made, aside from the technical problems Ammadeau mentioned.

I take back what I said about Raw Danger being "on par with Disaster Report." Once you get past the first 15 minutes or so when you're just serving food and drinks to party guests, this game becomes totally fucking awesome. The constant flash floods make for a far more intense experience than earthquakes did in the last game. You get the same effects on floors and structures as you did in the last game, in addition to having to fight against all the water flowing everywhere as well. It's really brilliant. For $15, this game is a must-buy.

Plus, the fact that game concentrates more on your relationship with your fellow suriviors, in addition to being able to make totally asshole responses to them if the mood strikes, really adds to the game's personality.

And I can see what everyone's saying about most the characters having had their hair color changed to blond for the U.S. release. It works on some of them, but the Mayor clearly has Japanese facial features and the blond hair just looks bizarre.

The graphics aren't awe-inspiring, but the scope of everything more than makes up for it. The controls could be a tad better, especially when pushing objects or crawling, but you get used to it.

I really hope they continue this series and explore all sorts of natural disasters. A mass-scale fire would be cool.

The first scenario is the best, quality stuff right up to the ending, though you might be a little disappointed with the stories of the other characters. They're pretty hit or miss. It might sound sexist, but the female characters have the shit scenarios, while all the guys are pretty cool. The controls are total shit for the cabbie section, but somehow I liked it, probably because you're pealing out instead of making your way on foot. I do like how these scenarios interact, and you can actually change them by choosing not to help a guy before knowing he'll be playable later on.

Irem need to get on the PS3 (or 360) and pull off a disaster game that's not crippled by tech too weak for their ambitions.

I finally picked this up today - was in a local game shop, and they had it new for $13. So, I hope to get a chance maybe sometime this week to give it a spin.

All this talking has made me realize I never got around to opening my copy. I'm just about done with the game I'm playing, so Raw Danger is next.

Jmaes

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Originally Posted by Ammadeau

I do like how these scenarios interact, and you can actually change them by choosing not to help a guy before knowing he'll be playable later on.

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I'm curious...

There's a girl at the dinner party in the beginning who you can help look for her lost contact lens. You can either find it and return it, or be a dick and step on it and break it. Is the game dynamic in the sense that it will factor the contact lens into some scenario with that girl later on, or was that scene just for fun? I'm really just curious how much of an effect your choices have on the overall outcome of the game.

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Originally Posted by Dolemite

I'm curious...

There's a girl at the dinner party in the beginning who you can help look for her lost contact lens. You can either find it and return it, or be a dick and step on it and break it. Is the game dynamic in the sense that it will factor the contact lens into some scenario with that girl later on, or was that scene just for fun? I'm really just curious how much of an effect your choices have on the overall outcome of the game.

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I think because that takes place before you get your companion it doesn't have an effect, though I chose to help her. I know if you're a dick to your companion, it will change the ending. Also, in the first story you can alter the storylines of two other characters. The changes aren't huge, but they're a nice touch. It's probably documented on gamefaqs, though you'd probably want to finish the game first to avoid being spoiled.

Finally got the french PAL version. The only thing in french was the manual, the in-game text and speech is in english. Also, wow to the framerate. Still a lovely, and at times, intense game. I'm playing the game as a complete asshole, only thinking of my own needs and survival.