Crimson Tears

[AaronChance]

You know, I always fear when I see so much fanservice put on top of games like this.

They're presenting the secrets before they really let you know about the game, in order to use them as selling points. It discourages me, because they know that using Ryu outfits, Chun, Morrigan, etc. will be a draw for people who would otherwise pass on a mediocre title. People such as myself

Please, PLEASE let this game be fun and have depth. The gameplay I'm seeing right now looks like the same old dream-factory system, a system which needs to be abandoned. It's stagnant now.

Here's hoping for a new element that brings this game above mediocre.

The alternate outfits were only discovered well after the Japanese release, so it's really not a before thing. I passed on it, but apparently the game is like PSO the Brawler. What I really don't like about it is that weapons break (sometimes quickly) and you have some kind of overheating meter constantly going up that you've got to bring down with items. And apparently it's really, really, really repetitive.

The Morrigan and Lilith costumes look really cool though.

[Master of 7s]

The alternate outfits were only discovered well after the Japanese release, so it's really not a before thing. I passed on it, but apparently the game is like PSO the Brawler. What I really don't like about it is that weapons break (sometimes quickly) and you have some kind of overheating meter constantly going up that you've got to bring down with items. And apparently it's really, really, really repetitive.

The Morrigan and Lilith costumes look really cool though.

Ugh! Not my cup of tea.

Sales -1

DAMN YOU ITAGAKIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!

[Grave]

Haters. I started playing this game tonight, after owning it since, uh, last September or October I think. I like it, but I dig Dream Factory and I enjoy dungeon hacks. That said, I don't think anybody else but me would like it, but...

One thing baffles me: giving slightly Anglicized names to the two female characters (Asuka = Amber, Kaede = Kadie) but leaving Tokio the same. Whatever. I'd bet this game is fairly cheap now, and if you enjoy this kind of game where you need to ration items and be careful about how you play, you might enjoy it.

But... maybe not.

[AaronChance]

I want to buy this game solely for the cosplay outfits. I keep checking for a price drop whenever I'm in the mood to buy games. Now that it's dropped to $20 though, I have way too many games to justify it. I'll glance at it again in another three months.

[TobalRox]

I want to buy this game solely for the cosplay outfits. I keep checking for a price drop whenever I'm in the mood to buy games. Now that it's dropped to $20 though, I have way too many games to justify it. I'll glance at it again in another three months.

I'm in the same boat..> I almost picked it up when I saw the drop to $20, but I'm so behind in games, I couldn't rationalize getting it. I guarentee it'll still be on the shelf when I'm interested, possibly at an even cheaper price.

[Rooster]

Damn. It's been a while since I rolled in around here (not that I was ever around much to begin with) and it just so happens that someone dug this thread up. My broke ass has been playing this on and off for the past few months, and I gotta say, if you can put up with the rampant repetition, it's not a terrible way to waste some time. LOTS of time. Like 20-30 hours to finish the main game, and even that won't get you everything. Combine Diablo's random dungeon generation, hordes of identical enemies (in varying strengths and colors), and the ability to revisit cleared areas with respawned enemies with PSO's text based inventory and "bank" system, weaker RPG elements (Level, Strength and HP increases only) but deeper fighting engine (high and low attacks that flow into combos up to 12 or 14 inputs long and differ for each weapon type, counterattacks, dodges and invincible super moves that all differ for each character) all with an anime inspired story and art style that is at least decent and you'll have some idea of what to expect. Somehow, I get the feeling my grammar in that last sentance was WRONG. Basically, there's a ton to do here if you can put up with doing it. You have to "unlock" all of those combo strings for each weapon, for each character and then upgrade all the supermoves on top of that. By the end of it, if you haven't been just mashing the buttons, you'll be dodging around a huge group of enemies in a small room while they shoot and drop kick each other as you pull off some massive hit string in excess of 60 or 70 blows till they're all dead. Not as cool as when you finally "get it" in Gunvalkyre, but along those lines. The cutscenes are actually really well done (better quality than even most of the anime features I've seen, at least visually; that's where all those screens posted above are from) and the story isn't completely retarded (for wanna-be Ghost in the Shell anime philosophy) but noone will remember it. If you didn't like playing Diablo or PSO for hours (by yourself, no less) stay away. Like I said, not a bad way to waste some time, but you'll do just that.

Oh, and they put you through some SHIT to get those extra costumes, so they probably advertised with them just so people would know they're in there. I'm talking about getting to the end of the 100 floor EX dungeon in 10 floor increments AFTER beating the main game, where all the enemies' levels are maxed and there are random detrimental status effects, like one hit kills (for you and them).

[Grave]

I'm talking about getting to the end of the 100 floor EX dungeon in 10 floor increments AFTER beating the main game, where all the enemies' levels are maxed and there are random detrimental status effects, like one hit kills (for you and them).

I like the sound of that. This game doesn't jive with a lot of people's desire to play a mission/level once and never revisit it. I've played for close to 3 hours now, I think, and I haven't finished the second level yet. I've been around a lot of it, and I've replayed the first countless times, just grabbing items and upgrading combos, etc. Playing with new weapons, and paying to renovate the town. I got the upgraded arms dealer and can't wait to try some of his equipment. I'll probably finish the 2nd level tonight if I play it, or tomorrow if not. Not feeling too great so I'll get to it tomorrow I think. Having a blast every time I boot it up, though.

Not as cool as when you finally "get it" in Gunvalkyre, but along those lines.

Yeah, I think like you. We dig games everybody else shat on.

[Rooster]

Yeah, I think like you. We dig games everybody else shat on.

Seems like I remember a few guys around here kinda liking Gunvalkre when that came out...
Anyway, if you can dig PSO, Diablo, Gunvalkyre, PN03, or Otogi, you MIGHT find reason to get down on this. I know all of those are vastly different, but this game reminds me of certain aspects of all of those, at least at times. I could see most getting way sick of it before they ever get a chance to see it through to the end, but it's not without its merrits. Just definately not for everyone. Like I said, I'm broke, and this sucker is showing me some serious value (llength-wise) so I appreciate that. The occasional surprise they throw in is kinda nice too. I once got caught near the end of an area with all my leveled up blades bordering on busted. No way was I gonna do it all over again so I opted for hand to hand (forgetting that I'd been leveling that skill up the whole time). Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling when I started spin kicking motherfuckers across the room, throwin haymakers left and right. Sadly, the grappling didn't make the cut, unless I completely missed something.

[TobalRox]

I liked PSO, Diablo, Gunvalkyre, and Otogi... never tried PN03. So I'll check this out as soon as I clear through some of my pile. I'm currently working on Clock Tower 3 (another game many shit all over, but I'm enjoying).