Dual Hearts - Official?

[jiji]

Has anybody played Dual Hearts? My interest in the game has only recently been kindled...before I sort of passed it off as another round of generic mediocrity from Matrix (Alundra 2? Ugh!). But I've read a few posts about it from people who enjoyed it, and it sounds pretty decent from reviews and videos. So, what's the good word?

(Of course, my interest in this has been helped mostly by my newfound craving for a good action-rpg...with the Zelda series exhausted and me dreading Landstalker for its frustrating nature, I'm not sure where to turn. So, I'm fixing my aim on DH. )

[James]

It's an action RPG that I've got no overwhelming urge to finish. Seeing as I absolutely love action RPGs, this should tell you something.

It's not hideous but merely average, the killing blow for me is the utterly unlikeable main character. It's like they stole a page from FFVII/VIII and decided that a totally unsympathetic main character was the way to go, then put a layer of unlikeable on top for good measure.

You can find it for $20 at Best Buy. For that price you might as well, and I'm glad I have it. Might even finish it one day if Animal Crossing lets me play other games eventually. But no rush...

James

[StriderKyo]

It's got a happy, colourful world, which is usually enough for some people on the internet to start praising it.

It's cute, it plays okay (but not great) and visually it's nothing special, which is a shame since they could have done alot with the "entering people's dreams" theme. If you love action rpgs, then you may enjoy it, but I'd recommend it for genre fans only. If you're sick of Zelda, it's really the only thing going in the category over here right now.

[jiji]

I'm not sick of Zelda...it's just that I've played every game in the series (I had a bit of a marathon a couple of months ago) and I'm not really looking to replay any of them just yet. Funds are a bit tight right now, so I'm thinking I'll probably play Landstalker now and sit tight until next month.

Oh, and I just remembered that I still haven't played Threads of Fate. I think that takes priority over Dual Hearts, and it's cheaper besides.

[Clash!]

I found it rather fun all the way through. Its not the same level as Zelda but thats ok. Some levels were really really cool.

[Kidnemo]

Originally posted by StriderKyo
It's got a happy, colourful world, which is usually enough for some people on the internet to start praising it.

It's cute, it plays okay (but not great) and visually it's nothing special, which is a shame since they could have done alot with the "entering people's dreams" theme. If you love action rpgs, then you may enjoy it, but I'd recommend it for genre fans only. If you're sick of Zelda, it's really the only thing going in the category over here right now.

Pretty much.

I played through the demo, I love RPG/Action-RPGs and I've even seen it for $20 new and I didn't buy it.

That should tell you something.

So much wasted potential...

[RedCoKid]

The gameplay is decent, but it's really the amiable characters that make Dual Hearts something special. I rented it first then liked it enough to buy it. It turned out to be one of my 5 best games of 2002.

[Sqoon]

1. I made an official thread when the game first came out and got the same type of replies (some say good, most say bad).

2. Matrix also made the original Alundra. Incredibly, both Alundras were directed by the same person so I assume that he has never worked with 3D gameplay before.

3. Here's my review. The actual review I'm not too fond of; we had gotten a rare advance review copy and I was trying as quickly as possible to finish it before the release date.

4. Essentially, it's not as good as Alundra, definitely better than Alundra 2, and has the vibrant charm of Landstalker. The gameplay is servicable but it's the characters and translation that really keep the game alive and unlike most action/RPGs, the ending was so worth it.

[Frogacuda]

I wasn't blown away by the game but I really did like it.

[Opaque]

This has got to be the oldest thread I have ever bumped.

Anyway, I just started this up again for the first time in months, I don't seem to be e a making any significant progress, there just doesn't seem to be any feeling of accomplishment. However Sqoon said the ending was worth it. So does the story really pick up later in the game? Are some of the later weapons and abilities worth the effort? Do I have any reason to continue on?