DRX (ruiz@IX.NETCOM.COM)
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 14:44:29 -0600
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 14:44:29 -0600 From: DRX <ruiz@IX.NETCOM.COM> Subject: Re: Sakura 2 dissapointment
MoonPrince wrote:
> > 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.
Zzzzzzzzz......Towards the end, everything looks the same:/ I do like the
second version of the special attacks the best. The character faces head on
and then announces the attack...those had the best personal touches. I
particularly like Soletta's, Oogami's, and Sumire's.
>
>
> 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).
The number one reason ST2 battles are so long and drawn out! Well, maybe. I
don't like using the special attacks very much unless I have a good multi
hitter or something. Combined attacks are another story and the random helper
attacks are also a nice no load touch. I still need to go through and watch
both versions of each combined attack:/ Why couldn't they have been added in
the long day mode?
>
>
> 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.
Love the animation, very nicely done and not too grainy. The cg on the other
hand, I thing destroys this lovely game. After all the work that was done on
the static backgrounds (and the action ones), the animation is fine and
something you would expect. The cg however still has that ugly
metallic/plasticy look that better suits a futuristic cyberpunk type theme,
not ST:(
>
>
> SPOILER BELOW IF YOU HAVEN'T BEATEN SAKURA TAISEN(Not really a spoiler for
> 2)
>
> S
> P
> O
> I
> L
> E
> R
>
> S
> P
> A
> C
> E
>
> 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.
Both of those were cool, I think those are the only two viewable on the
pc/saturn cinepak software.
>
>
> 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.
Here is the real problem with fmv, it's too common. Yes it does work for the
intro and ending, and a few major events but gets over used for simple stuff
like Soletta walking through the door (oooh, aaah). It would be better to have
fewer, longer fmv segments in the game to break things up a bit like the next
episode fmv.
>
>
> 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.
>
Here's to hoping ST3 takes the MGS approach and uses in game graphics for some
cut scenes. All the old PC-Engine cd games were a real treat, very little
animation but had just the right touches to make the intermission fresh each
time.
>
> Does anyone else agree with this?
>
> -mp
-- "Success = opportunity + preparation" -Taoism/The Way Danny Ruiz/DRX Homepage http://pw2.netcom.com/~ruiz/ IRC/kazuma/ICQ/20235173/AOL IM/DRX1975 Preview Editor for http://www.seganet.com/