Azure Dreams

[jiji]

It's interesting how the standard roguelike conventions rub so many console RPG fans the wrong way, when they're really elements of a separate genre. (Witness the critical beating Torneko 2 for PSX took in the US.) Starting at zero every time you go in lends the genre a kind of arcade-ish feel and a lot of suspense. And at least in Moria-ish games like Azure Dreams and Torneko, there's a tangible sense of overall progress despite your repeated dungeon restarts, unlike in Nethack. That's not to say Nethack is worse because of it though. In all roguelikes, there's a lot more emphasis on thinking on your feet and making the right choices for survival than in console RPGs.

[Lordmrw]

I liked it and thought about making a thread about it a few months ago when I beat it. The dating elements are non-existent in my opinion, as it boils down to sort of playing rock, paper, scissors until you get all of the girls to like you. In the beginning I relied on selling the weapons and items I found to get money, but as soon as I got the race track, my money problems were over. Focusing on the tower gets repetitive quickly, as for the most part your going in for red and blue sands and to level up your familiar. Over and over. The ending was anti-climactic too, which didn't help.