Skies of Arcadia question...

neojedi

neojedi

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If so many ppl have this listed as a a fav in the 2nd top 50 thread in this forum, then why has no one mentioned that the upgraded GC version is on the shelves?

Given the quality of the original and the kind of work that Sega has been doing lately, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the best new game out there. And all you hear about is DMC2 and The Getaway... :rolleyes:
 
rarehero

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i was gonna pick it up but i ran out of funds
mysteriously (NEOGEO stuff)
but i plan on getting it later.
less random battle = very much absolutely better
plus they added some different bosses and stuff
should be fun.
 
B

Bluevoodu

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the visuals were enhanced a bit... as were some other elements....

This is a definite must buy... or at least play your friend's game for many hours. It is quite addicted and fun to play.

I don't own it.. but I have played it on the GCN for awhile.

Good game.... real good. Buy it!

†B†V†
 
F

FeelGood

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I bought this on Friday and it was the last copy at Gamestop (the display copy), so I guess it must be selling well.

It's really a great game, and I love watching Aika after the battles. wink

There are still a ton of random battles, which pisses me off, but now that my Aika can cast her Lambda special attack off the first turn, fights are a lot shorter.

After putting in over 13 hours of gameplay in this game, and the combined 20+ in the RE games before, I'm beginning to think that the Wavebird is extremely efficient on battery usage. I mean, I'm still running off the factory batteries.
 
B

Bluevoodu

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EvilWasabi:
I bought this on Friday and it was the last copy at Gamestop (the display copy), so I guess it must be selling well.

It's really a great game, and I love watching Aika after the battles. wink

There are still a ton of random battles, which pisses me off, but now that my Aika can cast her Lambda special attack off the first turn, fights are a lot shorter.

After putting in over 13 hours of gameplay in this game, and the combined 20+ in the RE games before, I'm beginning to think that the Wavebird is extremely efficient on battery usage. I mean, I'm still running off the factory batteries.
Click to expand...
EW... do you have any interference on the wavebird signal? IE... the controller starts cutting out and then back in... you can see the green light flicker on the receiver?

I seem to get this a lot for some reason.

†B†V†
 
Average Joe

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The original DC version is a great game, easily one of the better RPG's to come out in a while.

Only problem is that for me, it really isn't one of those games you can play more than once. Even with the extra features, I just don't feel like putting in the hours needed to fully enjoy it. Plus I'm playing a couple games right now that are eating up all my time.

Perhaps I would have picked it up if Sega had lowered the random enemy encounters, but I read they hadn't, which is very annoying.

Still, it's a great game that no RPG fan should go without playing.
 
H

Highlander67

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I have the Dreamcast version and have over 25 hours into it. Not sure If I want to dedicate my time on this version. I never completed the other version. What changes have been made to this version besides Graphics and less random battles?

Does anybody have any hard facts about what is improved?
 
X

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Well I have the Dc version and bought the Gamecube version not only to replay it, but in hopes that if I support it I will get a sequel. So go out and support this game now.
 
B

Bluevoodu

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X:
Well I have the Dc version and bought the Gamecube version not only to replay it, but in hopes that if I support it I will get a sequel. So go out and support this game now.
Click to expand...
I second that.
Get more RPG's to the cube then... especially w/ high sales #'s.

†B†V†
 
Lagduf

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I would love to see a sequel to this game. I own the game on dreamcast but i never beat it (im right before the last boss) i forget why i stopped playing it. The frequency of the random battles in that game really make me mad. I think a sequel would be great...Sso i hope this new GC version sells well. I would pick it up but i already own it on DC...and i need to spend my oney on my supergun and a few other titles...
 
K

Kao_Pai

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Highlander67:
Does anybody have any hard facts about what is improved?
Click to expand...
Without spoiling too much for people, here's what I've seen that's new and improved so far:

Fewer random battles, but it seems like only in some parts. For instance when you make the crossing to ixa'taka across that windy area there are still loads of battles. Once you're actually in ixa'taka, there are far fewer battles. In the Yafutoma dungeon, even with the White Map equipped, there are a lot of random battles. But on the other hand, you can fly from Crescent Isle to Nasrad without being attacked. I think the occurance of battles is overall more balanced now, after all you still need to level up somewhere.

Pinta's quest has been replaced with a "moonfish" quest. Basically, you have the ability to see moonfish in certain towns and dungeons. You catch the moonfish and feed them to a weird little bird owned by a man and a girl that hang around near Sailor's Island. The bird regurgitates special items for each moonfish you give it. As you give more moonfish to the bird-thing, the man tells you parts of a story that involve the origins of Ramirez and why he's such a jerk.

There are now bounties on certain pirates, offered by the Sailor's Guild. The first couple of pirates on the list are one's you know from the original SOA. The rest are new and tough, but all have an exploitable weakness.

There is now an assasin that really hates Vyse. She sends you a "black spot" letter that you receive through the Sailor's Guild whenever she wants to challenge you. Each time you beat her, you learn more about what's bugging her.

As far as the graphics are concerned, the models and textures are exactly the same as the dc version. In a few spots, I feel that the quality is actually worse now. For example, underwater scenes in Yafutoma look much worse than the dc ever did. Certain cloud patterns in various areas just look plain awful. I think what might be the cause of this was that the Dreamcast used some nice dithering trickery to make stuff look nice, but it isn't implemented in the Gamecube version. These deficencies don't make me want to stop playing, of course. I bought the game because I love SOA and wanted the new content.

Those are my observations and I'm about 18 hours in. I haven't run across the "doppleganger crew" yet, I don't know if I missed them somewhere or just haven't gotten to them yet.
 
X

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Has someone else noticed a problem with sound effects and the music? Something is not right with it. Even my wife noticed it and she is not that picky.
 
H

Highlander67

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Kao_Pai:
Highlander67:
Does anybody have any hard facts about what is improved?
Click to expand...
Without spoiling too much for people, here's what I've seen that's new and improved so far:

Fewer random battles, but it seems like only in some parts. For instance when you make the crossing to ixa'taka across that windy area there are still loads of battles. Once you're actually in ixa'taka, there are far fewer battles. In the Yafutoma dungeon, even with the White Map equipped, there are a lot of random battles. But on the other hand, you can fly from Crescent Isle to Nasrad without being attacked. I think the occurance of battles is overall more balanced now, after all you still need to level up somewhere.

Pinta's quest has been replaced with a "moonfish" quest. Basically, you have the ability to see moonfish in certain towns and dungeons. You catch the moonfish and feed them to a weird little bird owned by a man and a girl that hang around near Sailor's Island. The bird regurgitates special items for each moonfish you give it. As you give more moonfish to the bird-thing, the man tells you parts of a story that involve the origins of Ramirez and why he's such a jerk.

There are now bounties on certain pirates, offered by the Sailor's Guild. The first couple of pirates on the list are one's you know from the original SOA. The rest are new and tough, but all have an exploitable weakness.

There is now an assasin that really hates Vyse. She sends you a "black spot" letter that you receive through the Sailor's Guild whenever she wants to challenge you. Each time you beat her, you learn more about what's bugging her.

As far as the graphics are concerned, the models and textures are exactly the same as the dc version. In a few spots, I feel that the quality is actually worse now. For example, underwater scenes in Yafutoma look much worse than the dc ever did. Certain cloud patterns in various areas just look plain awful. I think what might be the cause of this was that the Dreamcast used some nice dithering trickery to make stuff look nice, but it isn't implemented in the Gamecube version. These deficencies don't make me want to stop playing, of course. I bought the game because I love SOA and wanted the new content.

Those are my observations and I'm about 18 hours in. I haven't run across the "doppleganger crew" yet, I don't know if I missed them somewhere or just haven't gotten to them yet.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info man. I appreciate that. Is the music in the town (I can't think of the name) with the wooden walks and it's on top of trees in a sort of ancient town have the same music in it? THat was my fav in the game. Has that changed at all?
 
K

Kao_Pai

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Yes, the music is the same there, and that's one of my favorite tunes as well.

Like X mentioned in an earlier post, there is a little something odd about the sound effects. They sound pretty much the same, but certain elements of the effects are more drawn out. I can't really put my finger on what's different, it's very subtle in most places.
 
F

FeelGood

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Bluevoodu:
EvilWasabi:
I bought this on Friday and it was the last copy at Gamestop (the display copy), so I guess it must be selling well.

It's really a great game, and I love watching Aika after the battles. wink

There are still a ton of random battles, which pisses me off, but now that my Aika can cast her Lambda special attack off the first turn, fights are a lot shorter.

After putting in over 13 hours of gameplay in this game, and the combined 20+ in the RE games before, I'm beginning to think that the Wavebird is extremely efficient on battery usage. I mean, I'm still running off the factory batteries.
Click to expand...
EW... do you have any interference on the wavebird signal? IE... the controller starts cutting out and then back in... you can see the green light flicker on the receiver?

I seem to get this a lot for some reason.

†B†V†
Click to expand...
I never ge that problem... knock on wood.
 
slerch666

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I bought SoAL the day it came out. I've only gotten 10 hours into it, but it's just as good as I remember it.

On a side not, I wish they would have fixed some of the DC's graphical shortcomings (watch about an inch to 1.5 inch in front of Vyse and watch how th etextures "magically" appear).

Other than that, it's damn good.
 
slerch666

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EvilWasabi:
There are still a ton of random battles, which pisses me off, but now that my Aika can cast her Lambda special attack off the first turn, fights are a lot shorter.
Click to expand...
That's pretty interesting, as when I play RPGs I like to power my people up to ridiculous levels before completing a dungeon. I ran around at the end of the sewers, before the coleseum, for close to 5 minutes, in and out of the sewers and fought maybe 4 times. It's nice that there are less, but it's a pain in the ass at the same time. I actually felt there should have been a few more random battles, but that's just me.
 
F

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slerch666:
EvilWasabi:
There are still a ton of random battles, which pisses me off, but now that my Aika can cast her Lambda special attack off the first turn, fights are a lot shorter.
Click to expand...
That's pretty interesting, as when I play RPGs I like to power my people up to ridiculous levels before completing a dungeon. I ran around at the end of the sewers, before the coleseum, for close to 5 minutes, in and out of the sewers and fought maybe 4 times. It's nice that there are less, but it's a pain in the ass at the same time. I actually felt there should have been a few more random battles, but that's just me.
Click to expand...
perhaps the game tries to bring you up to the right level for your area by throwing more battles at you when you need them...

That would be very interesting.
 
H

Highlander67

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Kao_Pai:
Yes, the music is the same there, and that's one of my favorite tunes as well.

Like X mentioned in an earlier post, there is a little something odd about the sound effects. They sound pretty much the same, but certain elements of the effects are more drawn out. I can't really put my finger on what's different, it's very subtle in most places.
Click to expand...
Thanks again for the info. Yeah I used to love to play that game on the DC. Never won it, I got to the second disc where you return the scroll to your homeland to fly higher. From there I was stuck on where to go. I think this time I may have to read up on a faq or two to get past that part. But I do indeed love that game. So the music/sound fx has a weird thing to it huh? Hmm I'll have to check that out.

Not ruining the end of the game for me, does the ending warrent a part 2 in the series?
 
slerch666

slerch666

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EvilWasabi:
perhaps the game tries to bring you up to the right level for your area by throwing more battles at you when you need them...

That would be very interesting.
Click to expand...
I guess that's possible... it seems that the higher my level, the less I fight. I'm 10 hours into it, on my way to Ixa'taca (spelling).

And as far as the sound effect thing, I totally agree. It actually seems more liek the effects get cut off too soon or something.

And to however commented about the music in the "city with the wooden walls and trees", I believe you are speaking of Ixa'taca (spelling?). If so, I totally agree! I actually spent $80 on the sound track back when it was EXTREMELY tough to come by, and long before Ever Anime (then SonMay) ripped it off with a piece of shit bootleg.

<small>[ February 03, 2003, 06:08 PM: Message edited by: slerch666 ]</small>
 
N

Nick Goracke

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neojedi:

Given the quality of the original and the kind of work that Sega has been doing lately, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the best new game out there.
Click to expand...
Not to be overly negative, but I've heard more than a few people complain that the GC version locks up occasionaly, the music quality isn't as good, some stuff has been censored, and the battle frequency hasn't been lowered very much... Considering this, I don't know that I'd recommend it over the DC version...

As for the game, I just wish the gameplay wasn't so plain. The story (while cliched) was good, and there was a lot of emphasis put into creating an interesting world... but man, the battles/customization didn't live up to the rest. It could've easily been a top 50 game otherwise...
 
Hippee

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Skies of Arcadia ruled on the DC. 40 hours of beautiful awesomness except for all of the stupidass random battles every 1.29 seconds.

Does the GC version have Pinta's quest (the VMU minigame) on it somehow?
 
Hippee

Hippee

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Nevermind...

Skies of Arcadia ROCKS

buttrock buttrock buttrock buttrock buttrock
 
K

Kidnemo

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My impressions reposted from another board:


Well, I played eight hours or so of SoAL over the weekend. And here are some of initial impressions:

Graphics - Seem a bit worse. The clouds seem to be the worst offender so far, they look like low-res textures which had me yearning for the DC version. It's not horrible by a longshot, but I need to try the original game to compare further.

Sound - I gotta agree with Mezz, the sound appears to have take a little hit. I'll pop in the DC version later on this week to compare. It's still good, but something doesn't seem quite right.

Battles - They seem less frequent, especially while exploring dungeons. The airship random battles are toned down a bit, but still not to a level I'd like them at. When you get the item that lets you avoid the battles, I think they'll be about perfect.

The load times/time it takes to get into a battle (ie. camera rotating around the party for one) seems much better though, which is a very good thing.

The exp/magic points to seem to be increased versus what you got in the DC version after each battle.

New stuff - Very, very, very cool. The wanted list is pretty sweet, and gives players who want to take their time and experience everything some tough battles to fight.

Moonfish are okay, basically you just walk around the enviorments trying to find them. I have gotten some really good items from turning them in. Gives the completionist something to do...but kinda feels like its something added just to artificially increase the length of the game. Easily the worst new addition.

The new character = totally sweet. Great new music for that segment and the character seems very fleshed out. Being an optional encounter, the battle was actually pretty tough. Easily the second most difficult battle I've did in the first 8 hours. This is the new GC addition that has me the most excited right now.

Wanted list - Sweetness. I'm already tracking down the second guy and he killed me on my first try last night. Difficult side quests = a good thing.

That's about it in a nutshell. Overall I'd say I'm very happy with what they've done. All the new stuff is great, but I was still left hoping that they'd tone down the random battles just a bit more.

For people that loved the DC orginal, they'll be once again get sucked into playing through Legends. I'd also like to add that people who hated the DC version because of the frequency of random battles - the fixes in SoAL could be enough to warrant checking it out again.
 
slerch666

slerch666

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Nick Goracke:
Not to be overly negative, but I've heard more than a few people complain that the GC version locks up occasionaly, the music quality isn't as good, some stuff has been censored, and the battle frequency hasn't been lowered very much... Considering this, I don't know that I'd recommend it over the DC version...

As for the game, I just wish the gameplay wasn't so plain. The story (while cliched) was good, and there was a lot of emphasis put into creating an interesting world... but man, the battles/customization didn't live up to the rest. It could've easily been a top 50 game otherwise...
Click to expand...
I don't know, it is one of my all time favorite RPGs. I played for 55+ hours on the DC and I actually got depressed when it was over 'cause I wanted MORE so badly.

I haven't had my GCN Skies lock up yet, but I've only been playing for 10 hours so far.

And the battles ARE a LOT less frequent (and if you look at my post above, sometimes it doesn't seem frequent enough for MY tastes, but I'm just weird).

Wann know something even sicker? You know that guy in the DC version that tells you your stats? When I talked to him before going to win, I had only run from ONE battle. I think I ran from one after I talked to him as well (damn those bodily functions!!). So all the complaints about ALL the random battles and I played 99.99% of them!
 
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