Resonance of Fate - coming out today!

[demi]

I dont believe a Level 4 guy should take a quarter of my scratch damage in one turn @ Level 10.

And I dont think you understood what I meant about leveling up. I know the benefit OBVIOUSLY. I am saying, why do I have to juggle crap? I think this could have been done much better.

[Bebpo]

Also, everyone has unique skills.  Or at least learns the main skills in a different order.
For example for MG, each character will have a different skill at lvl.4 that activates after 4 charges. 
So by leveling people in everything you get a variety of skills to choose from.

You don't have to level evenly.  My levels aren't always straight across the board and when I fight a tough battle I give weapons to who excels with them. 

I like mixing up the weapons because it keeps it interesting.  Makes you adjust your playstyle a bit.


Lower level enemies shouldn't do a ton of scratch damage.  But then you should be able to kill them right away so it won't matter.  Don't even go for scratch damage on them.  Just use a HG person to shoot shoot shoot.

Also 25% is nothing, in some of the arena battles (11-1)  I start off with a character running across the field getting in position for a tri-attack.  Once he stops, 3-4 enemies hit him and do 95% scratch damage to him.  Scary shit!  But who cares, if they don't do 100% and you've setup your characters right, you'll finish all the enemies easily after that.  Battles should not take more than 3-6 turns.  The game is about speed and damage.  Take out the leader or all the enemies ASAP and don't worry about your damage taken or healing.

It also gets easier when you have more bezel shards.  Then even if you get hit for 100%+ scratch, you won't go into critical condition.  Also get PREPARED FOR CRITICAL CONDITION if you think it's coming.  SMG a guy to death in blue and LEAVE HIM ALIVE.  Then when you hit CC, shoot him with a HG and recover!

[Bebpo]

Shoot, forgot the most important thing in the game: start customizing NOW!!! The game is like XIII where your offensive stats are from weapon upgrades. Except here there's no crystarium so it's ALL from your guns. your hp comes from level, but EVERYTHING else is from nodding. Acceleration and clip size makes all the difference in damage giving

[demi]

Yeah I'm aware of that. I have all guns customized... how does MG experience work? Does it still add up when the bar is filled? Or does it only work on green->blue conversion

[Bebpo]

You get nothing after their HP is depleted.  You'll notice this because the first attack with an SMG will knock your xp up a ton and then nothing.

[demi]

I'm glad they dont let you run from the red action hexes. Good thing I saved after all that work uncovering the hexes... wait

[Bebpo]

oh, I should have warned you.  duckroll warned me to save before trying any of them.

sorry

[Bebpo]

which one are you at?  It should be winnable.

[demi]

I beat it... it was the Forest of Idols one. Do all of them drop Bezel pieces? But I'm glad I learned the hard way!

[Bebpo]

Usually 1 per chapter does.  The others drop quest items or something cool.

[Bebpo]

I'm going to flip flop slightly on this.  I really like it, but I definitely don't think it's the best rpg this gen.  I'm 25 hours in, not even 50% through and I'd give it about an 8-9 so far.  The combat is excellent.  The tough battles require great strategy and the action is extremely satisfying thanks to the fantastic sound work and battle presentation.  The non-battle gameplay is well structured and fun.  It's a really addicting game.

But it's very repetitive.  Every chapter feels like the same thing of main mission, sub-mission, danger hexes, arena.  It's super awesome and new and addicting at first, but by 20 hours in it feels very repetitive to me.  The battles still require new strategies and there are new areas/enemies/story every chapter, but the flow doesn't feel as interesting as a traditional "exploring" rpg.  In this respect, RoF is a lot like Persona 3/4.  Great rpg, but a lot of repetition and missing the traveling and exploring a world aspect of a traditional rpg.


Also I'm doing the money glitch now and saving up $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.  Which is kind of nice as not only can you buy everything, but you don't need to worry about losing arena battles or retry money for the rest of the game.

[demi]

Told you

[Bebpo]

Yeah I gotta play that Last Remnant soon.

[Smooth Groove]

I'm going to flip flop slightly on this.  I really like it, but I definitely don't think it's the best rpg this gen.  I'm 25 hours in, not even 50% through and I'd give it about an 8-9 so far. 

How would you rank FF13?  I'm only going with one of those two since JRPGS take so damn long to complete. 

[Bebpo]

I'd pass on FFXIII unless you're a big FF fan.  XIII is worth playing for jrpg fans, but it's the weakest FF game and an 8/10 at best.  Resonance is the better game imo.

[demi]

The money "exploit" is hilarious. How does that get through?

[Mr. Gundam]

Yeah I gotta play that Last Remnant soon.

I was reading this week's Famitsu the other night and noticed that the PS3 version of TLR is #8 on the most wanted list...

[Ichirou]

But it's been cancelled for a while.

[Mr. Gundam]

But it's been cancelled for a while.

Yeah, that's what makes it even better. The game is long dead on the PS3, but it's never left the Famitsu most wanted list.

[demi]

TLR

[Bebpo]

The money "exploit" is hilarious. How does that get through?

Either they left it in on purpose, so people can get money quick and try out all the parts
or they are lololol tri-ace

It's not like money does much tbh.  All the 2 million I made from the money exploit, I've spent like 1/2 million and it's main use is being able to spend 1000 rubies on retry whenever I want in battle without caring about the money.

[demi]

Welp, I lost interest in this game. Forced grinding for Hexes... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Bebpo]

Welp, I lost interest in this game. Forced grinding for Hexes... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

huh

What part are you talking about?  The game always gives you hexes you need for the main story.  I haven't had to grind at all.  The only grinding I did was to try to link the xp * 3.0 terminal to the arena but I got really bored of it after a few hours of grinding and not getting enough drops so I gave up.  Haven't grinded before or since.

[demi]

I'm talking about the white hexes. I can't reach the elevator to the story dungeon, and even the next dungeon without grinding for white hexes. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

[Third]

Totally forgot about this game. Wow, better than FFXIII?
I didn't really like the demo, though. Gameplay looked too weird and repetitive.

[Bebpo]

I'm talking about the white hexes. I can't reach the elevator to the story dungeon, and even the next dungeon without grinding for white hexes. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

You get like hundreds of white hexes.  1-5 every random battle.  How can you be out?  Even if you are, it can't take more than a handful of battles to get more. 

[demi]

Well then something's broken cause I get like 2 white hexes in a fight if I'm lucky. Only humans drop them. So if you want white hexes, enjoy the grind

[Mr. Gundam]

Big Kmart is selling the game for $37.99 until May 10th.

[Bebpo]

General tips/advice for anyone starting or thinking about starting this:

-never retry with hero gauge filled.  No point.  Don't worry about using normal retries
-customize asap
-you can move the gun body in customize screen with the right stick when you are placing a piece
-the 2nd stat is more important than the first because later on you'll want to charge more bullets for skills
-2 handed guns give 2x damage; especially important for MGs
-HG stun by gauge breaking is very useful.  Do a hero action and stun several enemies in 1 run.
-Tri-attack is super useful for taking out 1 big enemy or many enemies at once.  Play as the MG guy, charge -> shoot -> turn to direct damage. 
-To get the most time to attack during a hero action run until near the end of the your hero action and then jump; you get extra time as you rise and fall
-don't worry about money.  When you can make Compact Scope B go buy the parts from the wandering girl salesman (iron & glass shards) make them and sell them for higher price/repeat
-don't grind.  Go to the arena and get the strongman bangle, equip it to turn off all random encounters.
-don't worry about levels.  If you need them you can catch up at the arena.  At somepoint when you have 80+ light green L shaped hexes or 80+ light blue straight hexes, link xp x 1.5 and terminal effect x 2 to the arena and equip multiple xp trainer accessories.  Then if you are low level do 20-3 and catch up levels on gold slime (but don't kill them, quit mission before then) or 45-3 (unlocks in the last chapter).  You can easily max your HG/MG at lvl.100 in 60 mins on 45-3.
-use the environment.  Hide behind stuff in tough battles and run back and forth between
-shooting on the ground is more efficient but if there's armor jumping will get around it if there is an opening somewhere in the armor
-if you ever get really stuck use the armor piercing rounds with your MG guy and then juggle & smack down with HG to kill.  You can always buy more AP rounds at the arena
-once you get to dakota vein, run in and look for the 2nd MG so you can dual wield MG asap for high scratch damage
-in general don't do an optional dungeon right away.  A subquest or two later on will ask you to do it anyhow.
-use HG to break gauges of an enemy with a ton of HP.  This way as you chip the HP down you get hero actions back and don't run out.

[demi]

Nope, each chapter is exactly the same

[iconoclast]

No more the same than any other RPG. The battles get more complex and more challenging, you unlock more advanced customization parts, etc. There is more than 'some' strategy involved as well... RoF is pretty easily the most tactical traditional RPG this gen (meaning, not counting SRPGs).

The worst thing about the game is the repetition. You'll fight many of the exact same fights plenty of times, especially if you do all the sidequests. And then there's the arena...

[Himu]

No more the same than any other RPG. The battles get more complex and more challenging, you unlock more advanced customization parts, etc. There is more than 'some' strategy involved as well... RoF is pretty easily the most tactical traditional RPG this gen (meaning, not counting SRPGs).

The worst thing about the game is the repetition. You'll fight many of the exact same fights plenty of times, especially if you do all the sidequests. And then there's the arena...

Doesn't sound any worse than FF13.

[iconoclast]

Yeah you have to land the arrow in the yellow bar for the bonus shots. Once you knock an enemy into the air, just keep shooting him as many times as you can, because each time a bullet hits him the length of the yellow bar increases. I wouldn't worry about it too much at the start of the game; once you get a second SMG and start dual-wielding you'll be able to get bonus shots like nothing.

[Bebpo]

how quickly you come to enjoy RoF comes down to how quickly you grasp the battle system. 

the downside being after you've mastered the battle system, the game becomes easy until neverland.

[demi]

nailed it. Tri-Ace cant compete with the masters

[iconoclast]

There is zero required grinding to beat the story.

[iconoclast]

The game should have mentioned that you get extra bezel pieces from random hexes as you uncover them and from the red danger hex battles (or maybe it did and I forgot), but I didn't grind until I started the arena and Neverland (right before the final boss). You just need to level your weapons evenly, so as long as you have something like a lvl 30 MG, lvl 30 HG, and lvl 20 grenades on each character you should be fine. Though I guess you can paint yourself into a corner if you don't level up evenly, or don't customize your guns properly (ie. go for charge acceleration)

Also, don't underestimate the handguns. Gauge breaking an enemy's health bar not only lets you regain multiple bezel pieces once you break it, it also stuns them.

[Bebpo]

I'm not complaining about the difficulty as much as the BS moments that infests this game; "yes, let's throw 5 mobs with rocket launchers and 4 dogs at the party and see how long their 4-bezel gauge will last teehee."

Jinfash, you can get through the entire game without being hit once for the most part.  You need to just equate getting hit = game over and plan your strategies around that. 

Levels mostly do not matter and you never need to grind once.
All you need is good strategy to make it through any fight.  Use the environment, use stun attacks, use tri-attacks.  Don't be hit.

and yeah, level evenly.  People usually get in trouble when they stick with 1 weapon per person the entire game.

[demi]

The story goes absolutely nowhere. People complaining about FF13 story need to get a reality check on this...

[Bebpo]

Jinfash, you can get through the entire game without being hit once for the most part.  You need to just equate getting hit = game over and plan your strategies around that. 

I find this hard to believe Bebpo, you'll ALWAYS get hit after executing any attack (regular or hero action), that's just how the system works. That is unless you're playing against weak-ass enemies or grind until you're over-leveled.

I agree that you can get hit a lot less if you put some time into making a strategy and use the environment but the operating word is still "less."

Consider the boss fight of chapter 5, the Yeti. I had to rely on pure luck to get him burned, and hope to god that doesn't freeze my MG and other characters, even after equipping them with two ice-resisting accessories. I had to restart the battle a few times, each time approaching the enemy differently, but the attempt that worked was when I got lucky and inflicted burn. That's how the game feels at times, total BS.

I'm at the end of chapter 5 and I've logged over 17 hours (did almost everything I could along the way), I enjoyed the game for the most part, but I can't believe there's still 13 more chapters to go. The story is boring and distinguished mentally-challenged so far (yes, way worse than 13 if we're still comparing), and It's your same old war-against-god JRPG tripe, the incoherent type too.

I really wanna complete the game, but I feel like I've seen everything, and I don't feel the story is compelling at all.

I don't remember the yeti, but if it's just 1 enemy, you need to have your HG stun and run into place for a tri-attack, have you MG guy run into place for a tri attack while spraying splash damage.  Then activate the tri-attack with the person left and have the HG change over the splash damage, then switch to the MG guy and splash again and turn and if you can't kill him you should end with the HG guy and put him into a stun.  Then repeat.  Pay close attention to the environment and honestly if you're not finding the game easy and blowing through it real fast then you probably aren't customizing your guns enough.  That's the life or death in RoF.  If you keep up on the customizing, the game is easy and you blow through it quickly.  I finished the entire zzzzzzzz arena, the game with all quests, and the bonus dungeon in like 58 hours total.  It's not a long game.  But if you struggle it can take way longer than it should.

There are almost no games I use the "you're not playing it right" card, but I really think anyone who doesn't like RoF just didn't "get it" and the game is a frustrating crappy game if it doesn't click. 
Here's some picture from when I was playing.  Maybe they'll help:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

[Joe Molotov]

So which C-level RPG is the best: Resonance of Fate, Nier, or White Knight Chronicles?

[Himu]

So which C-level RPG is the best: Resonance of Fate, Nier, or White Knight Chronicles?

Some people are saying RoF and Nier are b level. People like Jin seem to be in a minority.

[Bebpo]

So which C-level RPG is the best: Resonance of Fate, Nier, or White Knight Chronicles?

WKC is total shit
RoF is ok, good, great depending on if it clicks with you
I haven't played Nier but I hear it's quite good

Just don't buy WKC.  Plus why would you ever buy it when WKC2 is coming out and comes with the first game for free on the disc?

[Himu]

I never checked the reviews of this game, kinda bought it because of the bore's hype (here and on FB), but now that I did I think they reflect exactly my thoughts.

72 average is very fitting, imo.

FF > this

1UP 58
Resonance of Fate features some pretty substantial (and fussy) systems made for endless fiddling and tinkering -- which is why it's a shame that the learning curve is so ludicrously steep.

Edge Magazine 6
For all the spectacle of Resonance's gunfights, the game feels restrictive. It's a strategy game in which your tactical options are limited to one or two reliable strategies, and an RPG in which character development is chained to similar lines.

Game Informer 68
Resonance of Fate may appeal to the JRPG connoisseur who is looking for an interesting and challenging new take on combat. Others most likely will be thrown off by the silliness, steep learning curve, required grinding, and other pains – especially when there are so many recent well-rounded RPGs out there.

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US) 70
Yes, the game may have some uncreative genre trappings, but the great combat and interesting map structure are fresh and even the established parts are still what fans look for in RPGs. [May 2010, p.80]

IGN 70
Resonance of Fate is for the hardcore JRPG fan. It can be difficult and confusing, and requires a lot of grinding and heavy lifting to make it through to the close.

It's not because this game doesn't have a FF tag attached to it, but because has legitimate flaws, making it inferior to FF13. That is a fact.

Using game reviews to discredit a jrpg is stupid as any jrpg fan knows that the "critics" know jack shit about the genre.

but you do raise some fair points

makes me cautious to buy at full price. I'd honeslty just rather get Nier

[iconoclast]

In terms of overall package (story, music, gameplay, graphics, etc etc), Nier is my #3 RPG this gen (behind Valkyria and Vesperia). I'd put Resonance of Fate just behind it. The gameplay in RoF is fantastic but it doesn't have too much else going for it. Decent music, decent graphics, scatterbrain story. Nier delivers on all fronts, but the combat is its weakest link. It's fun, but it's very shallow and simplistic.

I haven't played WKC and don't intend to. Looks way too slow for my tastes.

[Himu]

In terms of overall package (story, music, gameplay, graphics, etc etc), Nier is my #3 RPG this gen (behind Valkyria and Vesperia). I'd put Resonance of Fate just behind it. The gameplay in RoF is fantastic but it doesn't have too much else going for it. Decent music, decent graphics, scatterbrain story. Nier delivers on all fronts, but the combat is its weakest link. It's fun, but it's very shallow and simplistic.

I haven't played WKC and don't intend to. Looks way too slow for my tastes.

Oh wow, we're very similar Icon. I like Demon's Souls a lot but it's not that type of game you turn on and just have fun. I have to be in the mood for Demon's Souls. Blue Dragon is swell too and I find myself liking it more than Lost Odyssey. FF13 wasn't my thing, and I've yet to play Nier, Monster Hunter Tri and The Last Remnant. Honestly though, Xenoblade is the one jrpg I want to play. It screams must have to me.

[iconoclast]

Well, Demon's Souls would be my number 1 RPG this gen, but I don't really consider it an RPG. It's more of an action game imo. At least, when I think of an action RPG I think of Tales, Star Ocean, Devil Summoner, etc. which Demon's Souls is nothing like. But maybe that's just me.

The Last Remnant is great, but I really hate the forced grinding. It drags it down a few notches in my book. I like LO, BD, and FFXIII pretty equally, but all for different reasons. BD and FFXIII have good combat, but they drop the ball pretty hard in other areas, while LO has boring combat but everything else is at least pretty decent.

[Himu]

I think while BD lacks a grand story, the job system and sheer amount of quests and the sense of adventure make up for that. I can't say the same for FF13.

And LO was pretty fantastic to me as well, gameplay-wise.

As for Demon's Souls, the rpg part of the game (stats, customization) is huge for me, so I consider it an action rpg.

[Ichirou]

Lost Odyssey was mediocrity personified...I really don't get the love.  It's a below-average 16-bit RPG with current-gen trappings.  Generic story, somewhat broken gameplay, boring characters.

Played about four hours of Blue Dragon and got bored with it.  I'll probably get back to it eventually.

Tales of Vesperia is the only JRPG I've played this gen that's been worth a damn.

[demi]

Lost Odyssey was mediocrity personified...I really don't get the love.  It's a below-average 16-bit RPG with current-gen trappings.  Generic story, somewhat broken gameplay, boring characters.

By this comparison it stands above 3/4 of JRPG on 360....

[Van Cruncheon]

LAST REMNANT PC = best jrpg this gen

[Van Cruncheon]

Well, Demon's Souls would be my number 1 RPG this gen, but I don't really consider it an RPG. It's more of an action game imo. At least, when I think of an action RPG I think of Tales, Star Ocean, Devil Summoner, etc. which Demon's Souls is nothing like. But maybe that's just me.

The Last Remnant is great, but I really hate the forced grinding. It drags it down a few notches in my book. I like LO, BD, and FFXIII pretty equally, but all for different reasons. BD and FFXIII have good combat, but they drop the ball pretty hard in other areas, while LO has boring combat but everything else is at least pretty decent.

you do NOT wanna grind in last remnant. lower battle rank = easier fights. WELCOME TO THE KAWAZU ZONE.

[Ichirou]

Lost Odyssey was mediocrity personified...I really don't get the love.  It's a below-average 16-bit RPG with current-gen trappings.  Generic story, somewhat broken gameplay, boring characters.

By this comparison it stands above 3/4 of JRPG on 360....

360 JRPG fans am suiciding?

[Smooth Groove]

Nah, Xbots got Mass Effect 2. 

[demi]

Well, Demon's Souls would be my number 1 RPG this gen, but I don't really consider it an RPG. It's more of an action game imo. At least, when I think of an action RPG I think of Tales, Star Ocean, Devil Summoner, etc. which Demon's Souls is nothing like. But maybe that's just me.

The Last Remnant is great, but I really hate the forced grinding. It drags it down a few notches in my book. I like LO, BD, and FFXIII pretty equally, but all for different reasons. BD and FFXIII have good combat, but they drop the ball pretty hard in other areas, while LO has boring combat but everything else is at least pretty decent.

you do NOT wanna grind in last remnant. lower battle rank = easier fights. WELCOME TO THE KAWAZU ZONE.

Won't fly with Absolute Conquerer. And you can grind while not raising battle rank. Ancient Ruins ftw

[iconoclast]

Well, Demon's Souls would be my number 1 RPG this gen, but I don't really consider it an RPG. It's more of an action game imo. At least, when I think of an action RPG I think of Tales, Star Ocean, Devil Summoner, etc. which Demon's Souls is nothing like. But maybe that's just me.

The Last Remnant is great, but I really hate the forced grinding. It drags it down a few notches in my book. I like LO, BD, and FFXIII pretty equally, but all for different reasons. BD and FFXIII have good combat, but they drop the ball pretty hard in other areas, while LO has boring combat but everything else is at least pretty decent.

you do NOT wanna grind in last remnant. lower battle rank = easier fights. WELCOME TO THE KAWAZU ZONE.

Yeah, like demi said, you don't grind until the ancient ruins. You go through the majority of the game only fighting bosses and quest mobs in order to keep your BR low, and then once you gain access to the ancient ruins it's time to griiiiiiiiiiind.

[Joe Molotov]

I played this game for about 10 minutes and FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

First, some dude tells me to go to the guild. I go to the guild and pick the first mission on the board.

Second, some dude tells me to go get doohickeys to fix the bridge by fighting guys in back alleys, or go to the Arena and learn how to fight.

Third, I go to the arena and do the first 7 tutorials, which is all that it'll let me do for some reason and it feeds me all this crap about resonance points and tri-attacks and bezels and I'm like ooooooooooooookay, I kinda see what's going on, let me get out in the real world and see how this works for real.

Fourth, I go to the back alley, and then some dudes just bend me over and go in dry. When I was in the tutorial, I had like 10 bezels and my gauge took like 1 second to charge and the enemies didn't move around very much. Now I have three bezels, my gauge takes like 10 seconds to charge, and guys are running all over the place and beating the living snot out of me before I can even get an attack off. 

It's too late at night for this crap, I'm going to have to give it and approach it fresh tomorrow.

[Bebpo]

This is THE first RPG that I've gotten so bored of its story that I started skipping them. Yes, the first.

What.  The cutscenes are great!  They're just little fun character skits of comedy and sometimes character development.  The main story is kinda hidden though.  After you watch the ending you will go wtf I assure you.  But there is actually a plot to the game and a lot of it makes sense, but it's purposely vague just to fuck with you.

I played this game for about 10 minutes and FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

First, some dude tells me to go to the guild. I go to the guild and pick the first mission on the board.

Second, some dude tells me to go get doohickeys to fix the bridge by fighting guys in back alleys, or go to the Arena and learn how to fight.

Third, I go to the arena and do the first 7 tutorials, which is all that it'll let me do for some reason and it feeds me all this crap about resonance points and tri-attacks and bezels and I'm like ooooooooooooookay, I kinda see what's going on, let me get out in the real world and see how this works for real.

Fourth, I go to the back alley, and then some dudes just bend me over and go in dry. When I was in the tutorial, I had like 10 bezels and my gauge took like 1 second to charge and the enemies didn't move around very much. Now I have three bezels, my gauge takes like 10 seconds to charge, and guys are running all over the place and beating the living snot out of me before I can even get an attack off. 

It's too late at night for this crap, I'm going to have to give it and approach it fresh tomorrow.

This is normal.  If you have any questions at all tomorrow, just ask and me and iconoclast will try to help.

[demi]

Read the Wiki entry for a synopsis and be amazed at how much information is NOT told to you at all in the game

[demi]

Pretend SO4 doesnt exist... just move on. ROF has the benefit of being better than that shit pile