Like time travel jRPGs that aren't Chrono Cross?

Kim · 02-27-2011, 05:12 AM

Then you should play Radiant Historia!

The world is coming to an end, and only a guy who looks like Vash the Stampede with his hair down can save the day, by traveling back and forth through time, visiting alternate timelines, and changing the hell out of events till everything is made better forever!

That's the plot, and some of the gameplay. You can revisit points as many times as you like, and you need to to advance the plot or do sidequests, but it doesn't make you do it so often that it becomes frustrating.

The plot itself seems to move at a pace more akin to old school jRPGs, and some aspects of the plot are reminiscent of SNES jRPGs as well, specifically the evil queen. Does this mean it has a weak plot? Not necessarily. While I haven't seen anything that makes the plot "OMG amazing" it does it's job well. It establishes plot points, hints and things, and I'm genuinely interested to see where the plot will go.

The best part of all this, however, is the combat. Enemies are arranged on a 3x3 grid. The closer they are to your characters the more damage they do. You have a ton of abilities for attacking them on the grid, individually or in groups, but specifically for moving them around. This is important because you can squeeze enemies together onto a single tile. Once it stops being your turn, they even themselves out, but while they're on one tile attacking one does damage to all of them. Furthermore, you can trade turns at will, with teammates or with the enemy. Trading turns with an enemy means they get an attack in, and any attacks against the character that traded turns do extra damage until that character takes a real action. This is to balance it out.

Yes, you take more damage, but it's nice to arrange two turns for all three party members, use those turns to shove all the enemies into a corner, launch the entire group of enemies into the air, and then attack them all before they fall and hit the ground, dying instantly. That is just pure awesome badassery and I love it. When I originally heard about these mechanics, I wasn't really sold on them, but actually playing it now I'm using them every battle, and the battles are actually challenging enough that I need to use these mechanics, without the game being slow or frustrating.

Seriously, you all need to get this game.

Anyone else playing? Have any awesome moments you'd like to share?

Drownball-Champ · 02-27-2011, 11:56 AM

What if I like time travel jRPGs that are Chrono Cross?

Is the game voiced? Does JYB voice Vash the Stampede?

I'll probably wait for a price drop. Pokemon is the only game I'm currently planning to buy and after that is Tales of Graces. Though if I get bored waiting for Graces, I'll keep this in mind. Atlus hasn't let me down yet.

Nique · 03-01-2011, 10:32 PM

I'm really digging Atlus games lately, I imagine this one will live up to my hopes and dreams.

Not really the same type of game but, NonCon, how did you feel about Odinsphere? I just picked it up and it is hella pretty looking and fun.

Kim · 03-01-2011, 10:35 PM

Odinsphere was pretty rad, but I never beat it. Had rented it, and burned myself out on it and wanted to get to another game. Can't really comment in detail, since it's been so long, though.

02-27-2011, 05:12 AM	#1
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	Like time travel jRPGs that aren't Chrono Cross? Then you should play Radiant Historia! The world is coming to an end, and only a guy who looks like Vash the Stampede with his hair down can save the day, by traveling back and forth through time, visiting alternate timelines, and changing the hell out of events till everything is made better forever! That's the plot, and some of the gameplay. You can revisit points as many times as you like, and you need to to advance the plot or do sidequests, but it doesn't make you do it so often that it becomes frustrating. The plot itself seems to move at a pace more akin to old school jRPGs, and some aspects of the plot are reminiscent of SNES jRPGs as well, specifically the evil queen. Does this mean it has a weak plot? Not necessarily. While I haven't seen anything that makes the plot "OMG amazing" it does it's job well. It establishes plot points, hints and things, and I'm genuinely interested to see where the plot will go. The best part of all this, however, is the combat. Enemies are arranged on a 3x3 grid. The closer they are to your characters the more damage they do. You have a ton of abilities for attacking them on the grid, individually or in groups, but specifically for moving them around. This is important because you can squeeze enemies together onto a single tile. Once it stops being your turn, they even themselves out, but while they're on one tile attacking one does damage to all of them. Furthermore, you can trade turns at will, with teammates or with the enemy. Trading turns with an enemy means they get an attack in, and any attacks against the character that traded turns do extra damage until that character takes a real action. This is to balance it out. Yes, you take more damage, but it's nice to arrange two turns for all three party members, use those turns to shove all the enemies into a corner, launch the entire group of enemies into the air, and then attack them all before they fall and hit the ground, dying instantly. That is just pure awesome badassery and I love it. When I originally heard about these mechanics, I wasn't really sold on them, but actually playing it now I'm using them every battle, and the battles are actually challenging enough that I need to use these mechanics, without the game being slow or frustrating. Seriously, you all need to get this game. Anyone else playing? Have any awesome moments you'd like to share? __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

03-01-2011, 10:35 PM	#4
Kim adorable Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 12,950	Odinsphere was pretty rad, but I never beat it. Had rented it, and burned myself out on it and wanted to get to another game. Can't really comment in detail, since it's been so long, though. __________________ this post is about how to successfully H the Kimmy

02-27-2011, 11:56 AM	#2
Drownball-Champ Sent to the cornfield Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 220	What if I like time travel jRPGs that are Chrono Cross? Is the game voiced? Does JYB voice Vash the Stampede? I'll probably wait for a price drop. Pokemon is the only game I'm currently planning to buy and after that is Tales of Graces. Though if I get bored waiting for Graces, I'll keep this in mind. Atlus hasn't let me down yet.