Grail_Quest

Grail_Quest

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Re: Poll: What's The Best Indiana Jones Game? Rate Your Favourites For Our Upcoming Ranking

Grail_Quest

Fate of Atlantis is a legendary and universally beloved point and click adventure from the height of the genres popularity. Definitely #1.

Although, Infernal Machine (N64) was an extremely solid action platformer that gave N64 fans a taste of what Playstation owners had been enjoying in Tomb Raider. It helped fill the void and deserves to be at or toward the top of this list.

Re: Every Dragon Quest Game Ranked

Grail_Quest

Ironically, 2 will always be my favorite. DQ1 was my introduction to RPG's at a young age. I played it as a 10 year old, pretty much at launch. So moving on to 2, where you actually met up with other characters who joined your party *gasp! well that was a big deal. I love how the overworld theme changed when you had the whole party together. It was like, "OK, here we go. NOW, we can actually start the game for real!" Pretty innovative design, since it really had never been done before. There was an air of mystery about the game, the kind you really only get when you play them as a kid. Simple things that I would take for granted today, were magical, like the little dog that follows you around until you hold up the magic mirror and turn her into the princess. Another special moment was toward the end of the game, when you return to the continent from the first game and the DQ1 music started playing. Amazing! Games just don't hit like they used to. I think I've played too many. Lol

Re: Feature: 50 Years Of Landmark Video Games, One Per Year, All Playable On Nintendo Switch

Grail_Quest

I've been along for the ride since Super Mario Bros. brought the arcades (and unlimited wonder and adventure) into our living rooms in 1985. It's been a fun ride watching gaming grow up, move away from home and evolve into the sophisticated state we find it in today. But just like a growing child, every era was special and precious in its own way and I've loved each one. Just like gaming, I'm going a little gray, but I think I still have a good 20-30 years of gaming in me. So let's-a go! Get N or get out, and always Play it Loud!

Re: Review: Colossal Cave - An Obtuse, Outdated, Unfriendly Reimagining Of A Fascinating Text

Grail_Quest

As one of the biggest Sierra adventure game fanatics around, this was probably my most anticipated game of the past year. I bought it on day one, and sadly.... did not like it. This, despite loving text adventures, including the original Colossal Cave (which I played as 'Jewels of Darkness'), and Kinq's Quest being my most beloved gaming franchise. The game was ugly, desperately suffering from bland art design. The UI was clunky and unpolished. The game design was rather.... boring. The narrator was great, though and despite its flaws, I did thrill to be playing a new game by Ken and Roberta Williams. That will not be enough to carry the enthusiasm of the average gamer, however. My hope is that the Williams simply use it as a training ground for breaking back into game creation, and that what they learned from the process will be used to strengthen future game endeavors. My fear though, is that a negative reception to the game will stifle their desire to pursue those future endeavors before they start.

Re: Bayonetta's OG Voice Actor Asks Fans To "Boycott" Third Game After PlatinumGames Wage Fallout

Grail_Quest

Someone making $90,000/year doing back breaking or mentally straining work, would have to put in 150 hours to bring home $4,000. Would this lady have sunk 150 hours into recording Bayonetta's lines in this likely short action game? If so, then $4,000 seems fair. But I doubt it, and if she put in less, than she should stop complaining. Maybe she should dabble in a different line of work for a while to gain a better perspective on how the world works.

Re: Review: Return To Monkey Island - An Impeccable Encore For An Adventure Gaming Icon

Grail_Quest

Some thoughts after playing the game for a bit:

Pro:

  • The music is incredible. It was a pure triumph that they were able to successfully recruit McConnell, Land and Bajakian to return for the score. Hits all the right notes (literally), and takes you right back to the glory days of Lucas Arts adventures.
  • Voice acting is superb. Armato is still the quintessential Guybrush. As important in bringing the character to life as Hayter to Snake or Martinet to Mario. It is amazing he is able to re-wear the character so well each time, with so many years in between games.
  • Writing. Just as clever and witty as Monkey Island ever was. For decades, fans have wondered how Gilbert would write himself out of the predicament that was the ending to part two. I was not expecting the answer to reveal itself as early as it did, or to be as elegant as it was. It actually made me say "whoa!"

Con:

  • Gameplay. As a looong time adventure gamer (point and click is my favorite genre, and old school Sierra will always be my most beloved gaming company), I really don't like the interface. Specifically, I hate how restrictive it is. Part of the fun of these games is often hearing or reading the characters response to things you try and do within the game world. I used to love clicking the eye, or mouth (or in the case of Space Quest, the Taste) icon over objects in the game just to see what the character would say, even if (and often especially if) I knew it wasn't what the developers wanted me to do next, or attempt to use items on objects that I knew didn't belong together. The best adventure games anticipate that players will want to fully explore the game world and reward that sense of curiosity. (Most of the games that Ron Gilbert created at Humongous Entertainment like Putt-Putt and Fatty Bear were great at this!) But here, you aren't allowed to play in the sandbox of the game world that way. Most attempts at this type of discovery are simply blocked with a "Nope" 🚫 symbol and interaction is not possible. This was probably done to cut costs by reducing the complexity of the script, but it is still a shame.
  • Graphics. This has become a controversial topic, and pretty much comes down to player taste, but I always preferred Disney artists over Hanna Barbera and comparing this 2D to Monkey Island 3 is like comparing Yogi-Bear to Beauty and the Beast. I really wish they could have secured the lush, whimsical talents of Bill Tiller to bring this world to life like he did in part 3. Even friends and family members who happen by while I've been playing have commented on their distaste for the art style. It's the first thing that stands out and is pretty jarring. However, I will say, I don't really mind it in motion as much as I thought I would based on screenshots. Still... not in love with it.

As a long time MI and adventure game fan, I'd give this an 8/10 so far, but that number may change as I get nearer the end.

Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Return To Monkey Island

Grail_Quest

Just bought it. New Monkey Island releases have ever been special moments on my gaming journey since falling in love with the first one on Sega CD so long ago. Just sitting here listening to the peaceful title music play on and on, and it's like coming home.

Original writer, composers, voice actors (well from Curse on)... I'll be taking my time with this one. Have to savor every moment, it may be a while before we get another one.

Re: Talking Point: What On Earth Is Going On With Square Enix?

Grail_Quest

My friends, don't look now (and I don't want to jinx it), but we are living through a renaissance of the golden age of JRPG's.

Chrono Cross Remastered
SaGa everything (FF Legend, Romancing 1-3, Frontier 1 + 2, Scarlet Grace)
Live A Live
Front Mission 1-3 Remakes
Xenogears lives on through Xenoblade
Dragon Warrior (Quest) is thriving
Final Fantasy is ubiquitous
Suikoden 1 & 2 Remasters AND the spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicles
Wild Arms spiritual successor Armed Fantasia currently kickstarting
New Star Ocean on the way
New Valkyrie Profile
Tactics freaking Ogre
FF Tactics remake rumored

Are you freaking kidding me!?!? Somebody get Lunar, Grandia, Lufia and Breath of Fire on the phone and tell them to join the party!! This is it my friends, there may never be a time like this again, it's what so many of us old JRPG fans have been waiting for. I will be buying them all and cherishing every one.

Game on!!!

Re: The Hardest Games On Nintendo Switch

Grail_Quest

I've beaten Metroid Dread and Mario 3D World from this list. The final unlockable level in 3D World, Champions Road, was indeed insanely hard and probably stands as my most difficult gaming achievement. It became all the more mind melting when I dove back in 3 more times to complete it with every character. 300+ deaths to complete the accomplishment, and it's moments like those that make me really wish Nintendo had achievements/trophies as it would have been nice to commemorate that moment with something more substantial than just my hazy, and rage fogged memories.