First days of Culdcept Saga

[Kuroi Kenshi]

I'm trying to make sure I'm understanding the translation. (My Japanese is lacking in general as it is).

Has anyone experimented w/ ƒrƒA yet? I saw her attack my land with non-support creature. I used no items at all and she still received +30/+30. I almost want to say I've seen her use an item on me and still gain +30/+30. What is the nature behind her bonus or is this just another bug? I'll chalk it up to my misunderstanding for now. ;D

[TopCat]

According to her listed power, she could use an item and still gain +30/+30 if the enemy monster uses Cover in battle. But yeah, I don't know how she got that bonus if she attacked your land and you didn't use Cover. Makes me wonder if either: 1) Her ability is misprinted, or 2) it's a bug and she always gets ST/HP+30 in battle until they fix it. I forgot to experiment yesterday, though I'd imagine if it was a bug it'd be listed on some site.

[TopCat]

I found quite an interesting combo today. If you use Possession's TA it self-destructs. Since it is killed you can use Necromancer to get the card back.

[Kuroi Kenshi]

I felt the need to share this with everyone and unless I'm missing something, I can't save the replay in story mode as I lost the battle.

I was on my way around the board for a victory on the hermit stage (エツメル山). I was toe to toe with total magic against リララ most of the game but after having a few high level lands I bled ディナール dry of magic a couple times. This easily allowed me to pull a couple thousand ahead of my only true threat. One roll shy of getting to the castle I landed on a shrine with random effects. This one happened to be teleporting to a random territory and wouldn't you know it. I randomly teleported to her ONLY level 5 land (2,225?) Gremlin that was previously zapped with a Magic Bolt and had only received a partial heal (16HP). I laughed at the coincidence and was in high hopes I could take the land. Neither player in this FFA had used an item the entire game, even when given the chance to easily destroy my Level 5 lands. I scoffed at this lack of AI. Well it turns out Gladiator could not take the Gremlin. She decided of all things to use Morning Star (+30/+10). Not her Prismatic Wand which she stole from me with Capture Round 1 (Why she kept it all game without using it on multiple occassions is beyond me). My poor Gladiator hit for 75, leaving her Level 5 Gremlin laughing it's way into my 2,000+ G with 1. . .I'm sorry 1HP remaining. The best part was the fact she just happened to be at a break on the stage where she could cut right to move straight back to the castle instead of going around the board and touching the towers. Of course, her turn was next and I was out of luck with her high roll.

I laughed myself silly after that. I hope you guys got a good laugh, too. The moral of the story? Don't look down on the AI or it will cheat you out of a win.

Edit: I think I'll go earn some cards now.

[Lizardman]

Can anyone give a quick review of the game so far for those of us who are waiting for the U.S. release? What are your favorite new features(Avatar parts, online battles, new abilities, new cards, sealed deck mode, etc.)? What do you like/dislike about the game(besides bugs and performance)? How are the new music/sounds, maps, and opponents? Thanks.

[TopCat]

Overall, I really like the game. The game itself is superior to the PS2 version. The card balance and focus seems much better, and the gameplay flexibility is excellent with the new creature and spell abilities. They add something that now feels was missing from the old versions; fills in a much needed gameplay gap that makes the product much more robust.

The package the game comes in is somewhat weak. Bugs aside, it feels like there was no QA done to give the game the layer of polish it really needs. Small details detract from the overall experience. No online alliance games vs CPU, and no exiting from multiplayer games directly to the title screen come to mind immediately.

The story mode is pointless drivel. I honestly regret finishing the game. The story, as anyone would imagine, is transparent. However, it does articulate the origin story of Culdcept very well. The battles are hackneyed and predictable almost to the point of agitation. And it is just far too long. I must've thought I was on the last stage three different times, only to be forced to keep trudging ever forward. Certainly that was the largest detractor to story mode. It needed to be maybe 75% as long as it is. The choices seem kind of pointless as well, since you are forced to go through them all at some point anyway.

The AI can be quite infuriating, particularly because it is either painfully stupid or brutally ruthless. For instance, it'll draw the counter card to negate your last play on the proceeding turn very consistently. The 10% chance it has to miss a high level land it'll consistently get it's desired roll. Then it'll hit an intersection and choose to walk into your lv5 Kelpie with Fistfight. And few things can be as frustrating as rolling 4 and under for over 30 rounds of a 50 round game.

While I have yet to play multi on many on the maps, I found the majority of the later game maps to range from above average to excellent. The later game scores are also very well done and complement their maps marvelously. The fountain is also a very welcome addition (if you stop on a fountain you can choose to draw six new cards from your book).

Multiplayer is very strong. Being able to set book size can really add some depth to the game when playing with friends. Granted, smaller books are almost always better, it's still nice to have that variety. There are also all sorts of options for customizing the multiplayer experience, from limiting the numbers of various cards/card types allowed in a book to to changing land types on the maps, etc. I messed with the premade book gametype once and it seemed neat. I believe you get to choose one of five books based on a particular element. I skimmed through the neutral book and, upon my cursory examination, seemed solid enough. In the multiplayer lobby you can edit/choose your book and change your avatar parts which is very welcome and convenient.

Oh, I forgot to mention the avatar parts. They are generally very nice. I'm not particular about the huge anklets the one major body armor-type has going for it, but the others are much smoother looking. It's nice to play one map as a cowboy with a ten gallon hat and poncho, the next as king with a crown, and another as a ninja or mummy. Excellent variety ensures that you need not look too similar to any other cepter. I would've liked a turtle shell (could've been a Tarasque shell) as a back part or maybe a couple of other part types, but overall it's quality. On the other hand, being limited to the one male cepter, five hair styles, seven hair colors, and two skin tones I'm not exceedingly happy with. I may understand the reasons, but that doesn't make it acceptable.

[Lizardman]

Excellent review TopCat, it sounds like this game will keep me busy for a long time. The fountain sounds really neat, can't wait to try out all the new cards and abilities.

[Kuroi Kenshi]

I'm not sure if Topcat ever touched on this. You can't trade cards online, however, offline in local mode you can still trade the same way you could in Culdcept II. (ie. only 4 cards at once, only cards you don't have, and only 1 of the card you don't have). If anyone has found some sub-menu or anything that allows for trade online, please share. I don't think they'll ever have it for online as a lot of things are avoided online for risk of ways around the system, cheats, or bugs.

[Ignis]

I managed to find some time to finally play the game a little bit. (the first three story battles, all won)

The first thing that struck me, aside from the HD graphics, is how Kenji Ito somehow managed to improve the already impressive soundtrack from PS2 Culdcept. The music pieces are great in Saga and, though they loop quite often, never annoy me a bit. (Soundtrack preordered.)

Regarding the battles, well... I had a lot of fun, just as if I met an old friend I hadn't seen for a long time. Great feeling. I want to go for more

And finally, on to the new card designs... "Awesome" would be an appropriate word. And, much to my delight, Omiya hired Yoshio Sugiura (of Hundred Swords fame) to design some cards.

Sorry again for my broken English.

Some time in the near future I'll try online battles =P
I'm looking forward to that ^^

[Kuroi Kenshi]

Your english is anything but broken. Very well spoken - Er, typed. I agree with the art being amazing and the soundtrack being great. How much does the new OST run? I would have picked up the older OST's but they are a little too expensive for my blood. Maybe I'll find a good deal down the road at a used shop there.

You should go to the Xbox 360 Friends forum and check out the Culdcept Saga thread. You can leave your Xbox Live Gamertag and we can all get some games going in the future.

Cheers

Edit: Bia has struck again. I will do some testing tonight if no one has any extra clarifications. She should gain +30/+30 if the person she is in battle with uses support. I used a Sulfurous Balloon to attack a level 3 land occupied by Bia. It was next to my level 5 land occupied by Volcanic Dragon. No items were used at all during the battle. She still received a +30/+30. I was thinking two factors could apply here.

1) I'm a moron and didn't realize that Hustle was cast upon her.

2) Territories with your own creatures that add +10 strike when next to you in battle, count as this "support" wording on the card.

I was so very tired it could have been Hustle. I went to bed after that, so I'll test when I get home from work.

[Ignis]

Thanks ^^

The soundtrack costs $30 on PlayAsia. (Quite expensive, but it boasts 4 discs, so it's basically $7,50 a disc =P )

I'll follow your advice when I come home from holiday vacation as I still haven't activated my Xbox Live Gold membership code. Then I'll be really eager to fight it out with fellow cepters.

[happywulf]

I was quite sad when I heard that the original artist had died, quite young too. Thats probly why theres the other new art in there too by someone else.

[ckazz]

'No online alliance games vs CPU'

Is this true even post-patch, did I (hopefully) miss that? Though I'm looking forward to the option to online VS, I also hoped some team trouncing of the CPU would be an option.

'You can't trade cards online'

Ugh two pretty big ones MIA =b
This also true post-patch?

[TopCat]

Yes, both remain true. The patch didn't affect any basic game options, just how well the game actually runs.

[Kuroi Kenshi]

I wonder if any of the lag for certain stages were touched upon. It's not a big deal, but I know I wouldn't want to play anymore long games on the Water Trial stage. I haven't been on in a few so I'll have to check on that.