Popful Mail

[NeoZeedeater]

Falcom's Action/RPG Popful Mail was originally released for the PC-88 computer in 1991 and ported to the PC Engine, Sega CD and Super Famicom a few years later.

The Sega CD version was the only one to see a domestic release. Sega had planned to alter the game to have Sonic characters and have Amy as the main character. Thankfully, Sega never followed through with their butchering plans and Working Designs released the game instead.

I have yet to play Popful Mail and I'm wondering if it's worth buying. I'm not a big Falcom fan but this game interests me. Anyone played it?

[Shooting Love]

hey, just dropping in

but I can say that PopfulMail was very enjoyable at the time.
The play mechanics are solid and the graphics are colorful and well animated.

Action RPGs were always my favorite genre, so a bias exists..
PopfulMail was good enough to warrant a couple plays through, especially since it was one of working designs first games to offer outtakes for quick complete times.
The play was mostly linear (or course) but the characters and voice acting were sufficient to keep me coming back till I'd felt I'd seen and known it all. Heck what am I saying, it was the classic jump and slash, (or shoot; in Maw's case) that keeps Popful Mail lodged as one of the top SegaCD games (behind SonicCD and SoulStar).

if you're a fan of MonsterWorldIV (and who isn't?) than a play through PopfulMail would be wholly appretiated

[NeoZeedeater]

Thanks. I'm a big fan of Monster World-style games so it would probably be my kind of game.

[Sqoon]

The game has everything, including the best looking heroine of the 16-bit era, except good difficulty balance; I recall that some enemies could dish out and withstand too much damage. Those floating bees in particular. Not awful (well, maybe it is) but considering how many other great action/RPGs there were at the time, I haven't touched it in a while.

[Mfkzt]

I've always loved action RPGs and platformers, but Popful Mail didn't do much for me. From what I remember, the level and character designs were kind of ho-hum, and the animation was stiff. I got it around the same time I got Snatcher, which might partially explain why it didn't get much play. It certainly isn't a terrible game.

[GohanX]

I don't know how much the game costs these days, but as long as it isn't extremely overpriced, I definately say it's worth a buy.

[Frogacuda]

I wouldn't say the game is similar to Monster World as much as entirely cloned, completely and unapologetically. It's not as good as monster world either, but it's still alot of fun. If you can forgive the unoriginality, and you've already played the real Monster World games, give it a spin. The Sega CD one's particularly nice. All in all the game's a blast.

[skelly]

It's pretty average, especially because of the unbalanced difficulty. I could never will myself to finish it. The case looks nice on your shelf, though. :P

[Yoshi]

Originally posted by NeoZeedeater
Thankfully, Sega never followed through with their butchering plans and Working Designs released the game instead.

Taken out of context, that is the most wrong thing I have ever read.

[James]

Yoshi, we got it. You don't like WD. We're clear on the concept, ok? I've got better reason than you to dislike them and I can keep my ranting to myself.

Anyway, Popful Mail is great. Sure it's a Monster World clone but it's a really fun one, and the world needs more (lots more) Monster World clones. I beat the game a total of once and had a great time with it. I'm happy to have played it, and still own it today.

I will say that it's going to take a lot more than some outtakes to make me rush through a game, though. There isn't a reward in any game I've ever played that's been good enough to make me want to speed through a game in full gear. It's not how I play, and I've no interest in learning how to play. I like nooks and crannies, poking around in odd places, and jumping around from ledge to ledge decimating monsters for the fun of it. Once that wears off, I generally am completely done with the game.

James