MoonPrince (thuey@UCDAVIS.EDU)
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 12:41:46 -0700
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 12:41:46 -0700 From: MoonPrince <thuey@UCDAVIS.EDU> Subject: Re: Sakura 2 dissapointment
> There is one part of Sakura Taisen 2 that I was dissapointed with
> which was how they did the Koubu's special moves. Instead of
<snip>
> moves, I was really let down by the 2nd game. I'm wondering if
> anyone else feels this way.
It's a shame that when I mailed my Sakura vs Sakura 2 thoughts to this ML,
only 4 people were on it. But I guess I can reiterate the things I didn't
like about ST2.
1. Like you said, the special moves were kinda stupid. I didn't like them
nearly as much as the ST ones which all seemed pretty individual. The ST2
supers all looked the same after awhile. I don't think it's "ugly" per se
but to me it was just boring.
2. Probably the #1 reason why I don't like ST2 better than ST, even though
ST2's better in the gaming aspects: Load time. The supers' load time was
so bad that I avoided using it at all and only when I knew I couldn't beat
an opponent any other way would I use them. I swear you do not realize
how bad ST2 load times are until you go back and play Sakura Taisen. Not
only the supers but everything is at least a little slower than ST(like
switching from first person view to 3rd when you roam around Teigeki,
stuff like that).
3. I guess not many would agree with me on this but even though ST2's
anime FMV is some of the best FMV out there(a virtually perfect blend of
CG and anime), I also think that the FMV became its weakness as well.
SPOILER BELOW IF YOU HAVEN'T BEATEN SAKURA TAISEN(Not really a spoiler for
2)
S
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Ok, you remember in the next to last battle with Aoi Satan, you defeat
Ayame and then he whole Michael thing happens and then you get this cool
FMV file that shows the Hanagumi getting transported to where Aoi Satan
was? That FMV file was different than all the others in the game. It
stood out. It was full screen. In fact, it wasn't even accessable in the
One Long Day option.
How about the last battle? The second you defeat Aoi Satan, flower petals
start floating on the screen, followed by some system generated effects of
sticking 2d pics of the Hanagumi on the screen while they say a few words,
finally leading into another full screen FMV file. It impresses the heck
out of me everytime I beat ST and see it again.
In Sakura Taisen 2 however, everything is just FMV. It's just like every
other game out there. You do something special. FMV. You beat it. FMV.
And while ST2 is very fun to play through and through, it doesn't
repeatedly impress me every time like Sakura Taisen does.
It's VERY impressive for me to see system generated effects, which is why
Grandia is my favorite RPG. It has some FMV(pretty choppy too...) but
most of the cut scenes are system generated- both in the cut scenes and
the individual animations the characters would get during special parts.
It's like a breath of air from FMV FMV and more FMV. I'm not against FMV,
but it's like everyone's using it for the sake of using it.
Does anyone else agree with this?
-mp