Primal - Official Thread

[Despair]

Well, Since I'm one of the rare breed of people to be not affected by Wind Waker madness this week , I picked up Primal today. I was looking forward this game, ever since I first heard of it, and recent playable demo was entertaining enough to warrant a purchase.

Here is GameSpot review of the game, and it more positive than negative, and while they note few flaws, they reccomend it.

Read it for yourself:

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/primal/review.html

I will post some impressions later tonight, once I get to spend some play time with it.

[BioMechanic]

I could care less about Link-age either. Not because of the character design (which doesn't bother me), but because it....just.....doesn't interest me. I'm happy for Zelda fans, since it appears to be exceedingly well-done, but it's just not for me.

Anyways, to Primal: Despair, I'm looking forward to reading your comments. The reviews I've read make comparisons to Soul Reaver, which I liked immensely. It also interests me because members of Primal's SCEE dev team worked on MediEvil, one of my favorite PSX games.

I just hope the combat isn't as clunky as the reviews make it out to be, but as long as the atmosphere and the character interaction/puzzle-solving are well-done, that would make up for it. The game seems to be exploration-based, which is a plus in my book too.

.....awaiting thy report, Dark One.......

[EvilMog]

my 2 cents-

The demo made me go to sleep therefore I wont rent or buy this one. Sorry.

[spacecowboy]

Yeah the new Zelda doesn't do anything for me either. Love the old Zelda's though.

The commerical for Primal looked pretty cool, but the game just doesn't look that interesting.

SC

[Doug Branches]

I got a Primal demo free in the mail today.

Unfortunately, between Advance Wars and WW, they couldn't have picked a worse time to try and get my attention on a new game.

[Regus]

I got a distinct Soul Reaver vibe from the game's commercial, which is always a good thing. If you do write a review Despair, I expect it to be a point by point comparison between the two games! Anything else, and there shall be dire consiquences!

[TaiMaiShu]

Neh...I rented it a few days ago. Not really bad, but not really good either, just kind of average.

[Despair]

Well, I'm back and this time with some impressions of the game

Sorry Reg, but I dont think I will be able to give the detailed comparison between Primal and Soul Reaver, since my play experience with SR is almost non existant. But I will try to point out as many things Primal has to offer, as I can.

Well, The game looks good, there are no arguments here. Greatly detailed models of Jen, Scree and monster residents of Demon realm. Environment wise it also very stylish, and full of details. Very good use of lighting fx, textures, motion capture. Models of Jen and Scree is highly detailed, from Jen motions to Scree stone skin. Developers put alot of work into making the game look good and it shows. As you gain ability to use your demonic heritage to transform yourself into 4 type of demon warriors, your look changes accodingly to the breed type. I only seen one so far, but its already a pretty cool sight. As you slay your foes, their bodies dont dissapear, but stay laying on the ground where they met their end, which is a cool touch.

Sound and voice acting is also of high quality. Almost silent but haunting music plays in the baground as you explore the demon worlds, but as you encounter monsters it changes into high temp rock battle music, which suits the action fairly well. Both Jen and Scree have distinct personalities, and their dialogs are witty, with some humor throw in.

Controls are fairly easy to use, as you control Jen or Scree with Left Analog stick, X is use/search button, Triangle is used to ask Scree a question, O is to turn Scree into Stone(which he does automatically when being attacked). R1 is used to reposition camera behind the character, or during combat to Block. You attack with L2 or R2 buttons, and based on how much pressure you put on the button, the weaker or stronger attack is performed. You can also use Taunt option to make enemies loose their guard, but I havent used that yet. Forthe stronger enemies, you also need to perform a Finishing move, which is done bu pressing L2 + R2. At the beginning of the game you can only fight in Jen human form, but as you proceede further, you will gain Demon abilities to use in battle or exploration. Some of them quite usefull, such as you can jump much higher, and can reach places you couldnt in the human form. Jumping and clmbing done automatically, once you approach the area, your character performs the action by itself. You use D pad 4 directions for Demon Transformations. If you have some Magic Energy and gained the morph ability, just press the direction on the Dpad, and you will be transformed into your beast of choice. It also done in pretty cool slow/mo Matrix style. You stay in Demon Form as long as you Magic Energy meter hasnt run out(usually by being hurt by the enemies), and once its empty you will be transformed back to your human form, but still can continue fighting.

Now few words about Jen and Scree interaction. You can switch between them at any time(ala RE0), and in many instances you will be using both characters in order to solve puzzles, find new ways, open doors, etc. It also somewhat simular to the partner system used in ICO, but this time around you control characters. Jen is used for Combat(since Scree cant fight), to squeeze into tight areas, to walk on narrow edges, while Scree can climb on any stone surface, pick up, push and carry heavy objects, control magical statues and also has advantage since enemies dont find him being a good snack Later in the game Scree shows off another of his abilities, to be able to collect soul energy from the bodies of slayed monsters, and transfer this energy to Jen, to replenish her life/magic bar.

Storyline so far is pretty intriguing, and tells a story of 4 demon worlds that exist along with Mortalis(Human World). There is a balance between Chaos and Order, with 2 of Demon Worlds supporting Chaos and 2 supporting Order. Nexus is a magic Neutral World that collects all the energy that flows from all the worlds and thus keeping the universe in balance. But recently forces of Chaos working on disrupting the flow of Order energy, and corrupting the Balance. 20 years ago, Chaos sorcerer brought 2 children from the world of Humans into Demon world. After performing a magic ritual, children gained magical strenght, but before Chaos could use them in their vile plans, one of the Champions of Order stole the children, and hid, back in the Human World. Now 20 years later, Jen and her boyfriend being attack by demonic being. Jen gets wounded and faints, and as she wakes up in hospital bed, and looks on almost dead body of herself, Scree appears and tells her about the path she has to take to save both the world and her loved one.

First world you see its Nexus, which is the center of the Human/Demon universe, and its a pretty Grand Place. Weird mix of ancient and industrial, with dark and dusty palaces comined with wierd machinery that keep the world going. You dont get to spend too much time in the Nexus though, as you procede to enter first Demon world.

And what the world it is. A place where eternal night took the hold of, and winter is the only season. The place is filled with dark shining light of the moon, with snowflakes flying in the wind, and ancient ruins standing quietly in the darkness. But the world is not empty, there are vicious beasts roamning through the night, and also some of the Ferai(local Demon residents) arent too friendly towards you, especially if you try to enter their sacred areas

Unfortunately for me, I didnt checked my memory card, and ended up finding out that I dont have enough spaceto save my proggress So I will have to start everything all over. But no biggie, and this time it should be much faster and easier since I know now what to do and where to go.

So far I like the game. Its more of the Adventure game than Action, since you spend most of the playtime exploring the ruins, forests, caves of the Demon world, but it isnt completely devoid of any action either, since there are enemies and beasts in the world, and you will be meeting with them on your quest. There are few irks in the game, since onse in a while camera might try to reposition itself(mostly in tight qurters), and at first fighting with L2 and R2 buttons is unusual, but you get used to it pretty fast.

I will post more impressions on the game, later on

[Thief Silver]

I'll read these impressions in a bit, since I do usually admire your taste in games, though I DO need to get Shadow Hearts still.

[BioMechanic]

Originally posted by Despair
my play experience with SR is almost non existant.

That surprises me - it's got Big D written all over it. Just wasn't your thing? It really is a fantastic game...I should say "they" - both the original and the (short but sweet) sequel.

Great details, as always - keep em coming. My interest level is increasing.