Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

B-tier production values in almost every way - visuals, physics, story, voiceovers - but it's just great fun to play. There really is a ton of different ways to get stuff done, and the controls are mostly very slick (puts Dishonored 2 to shame). Particularly like that's it's not fussy about things and not bothered about realism where it would get in the way of your mucking about. Top stealthing.

I fucked up the final part though and didn't keep a save point from before the last mission. Oh well. I'll have to live with the ending I got.

Edit: Turns out I was able to go back and get a better ending. Yay.

Except

Final Fantasy VII

Not the first time, like, but the first since the late 90s. Been playing on and off for a few months now. Always had it down as one of my top games ever (just behind Dark Souls and Mario 64 in fact) and have been wondering for years how well it would hold up today. The answer is really well.

The graphics are the main obstacle, both the low resolution of the pre-rendered backgrounds and the very low polygon models you control for most of the game (the in-battle characters are still pretty good). But it's easy enough to get over that, since the detail in the backgrounds is often rather lovely, and because the first act is so strong it pulls you in anyway.

There is some poor dialogue, of course, and some of the plot points are stupidly contrived (Cait Sith's role for one), but overall it's still a great story and still the best bunch of player characters in any game. Even the delivery of the story could teach modern games a thing or two, especially that first 6 hours up to where the gang leaves Midgar and Cloud tells the story of Sephiroth. It's perfectly paced, introduces everything and everyone perfectly, and sets up the rest of the game. Despite going into a more familiar RPG structure after, that narrative foundation is already there.

The materia system is also still superb. I don't think there's been another JRPG that achieves the level of customisation in such a logical way. The combat is actually easier than I remember overall, so you don't need to get into the depths of it, but it's there if you need and if you want to do the optional end of game stuff. 

Not that I did much of it. Finished in just over 30 hours at level 61, compared to my original save that went well over the 99 hour mark. The added options of the remaster helped a bit - allowing you to speed up the gameplay in those long summoning animations.

The other thing that needs a mention is the soundtrack, which holds it all together and produces some of the big emotional moments. I don't think the visuals and text alone would have anything like the same impact without it. Probably still the best in-game soundtrack ever.

So yeah, still one of my favourite games, and my favourite RPG. Wonderful stuff.

Remake? Not sure it's necessary really, but I guess it would be good to see the gang again. Might be a bit weird with more realistic graphics though, given the comic nature of some of the scenes. Whatever they do, they should keep the materia pretty much as is.

I once wrote a big long thing about the soundtrack, it really does fit the game perfectly. The limitations of the hardware meant the melodies needed to be simple and strong, and it keeps everything fairly minimalist for a grandiose RPG. Remaking the music without losing what made it special, the tone and pace, and the weird comic nature of some of the scenes as you've pointed out, are the main obstacles for the remake.

It's almost as good as 6 and 12.

Andy wrote:

I keep trying to get into it on Vita. I may have to try again.

Is that possible?

Bob wrote:

Andy wrote:

I keep trying to get into it on Vita. I may have to try again.

Is that possible?

Loads of PS1 games on there, Bob. Check the store.

Dear Esther: Landmark Edition (PC)

So people said I'd get bored and not like it... but I actually didn't find it too bad.  Under an hour to finish, and it had me pretty intrigued throughout (despite the lack of substance).  Forking in paths was pretty superficial, but the aesthetics were generally strong (audio and video) so it was a pleasant enough ride. The caves and moon in particular, and the impression of dampness - and the fleeting madness of the on-wall scribbles.

So yeah, in a fit of generosity I'm giving it a [7] - it did what it wanted to do, and (as I understand it) paved the way for better versions, which i'll move on to presently...

As much as I dislikked Rapture I like the way Thechineseroom makes locations feel very Albion. It's quite nice as a Brit. I'd like a weekend open air trip camping trip to that island.

Orly? Will have to play base and check out DLC. Always wanted to play it. In fact... I've had it sitting on my iPad since release...!

Different to Memories of Celceta or same game? I don't follow Ys so wouldn't know which is which. Once had 3 on SNES but only played half an hour and still remember the catchy tune.

Just Wiki'd it. Apparently MoC is the third game that is Ys IV! But I don't think any of number IVs are related. Weird.

Gone Home (PS4)

Eh?  Nah.  No thanks.  

I don't get why people rate this.  Feels like it's trying to be a game but is a shit one, and trying to be a story and is only a mediocre one.  At least Dear Esther tried one thing and delivered on it, this was all just a bit meh and trite almost.  No trite is a bit harsh, but I guess it was trying to be clever with misdirection etc. and the "cleverness" of that was hardly overwhelming.

Didn't to me feel like it was doing much new, and the old stuff it was doing hardly sets the world alight.  A harsh [5].

I was not disarmed

And yes DE was pretentious, but I enjoyed the aesthetic journey despite that.  It got away with it.  I stand by more scores.

Postal 2.