Blue Dragon any good?

[ilya]

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The problem here is that one of the primary components of your complaint with the game was just wrong. Go look up even the most critical reviews and you'll see praise for the graphics. They really are beautiful.


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Why would I read reviews to tell me what to think about the graphics when I can just look at them myself? I am glad that many reviewers enjoyed them, but in my judgment the graphics are not beautiful. I think it is strange that you should say my opinion is "wrong" simply because many reviewers claim to disagree with it.

As for it being overhyped -- this game has been a Game Informer cover story, which I believe to be more exposure than it deserved. But I will happily admit that many games are overhyped much worse than this one.

[Dire]

More than it deserved? Man you haven't even played it. How would you be able to tell with any level of confidence if it's a horrible letdown or the best game ever made? Same thing for the graphics. Yes - you get a general feel from screenshots and video clips played on a little monitor, but wow... to judge them based 100% on that is just not very reasonable.

And the reason I mention the reviews is because they're from people that have actually played the game. Something that really helps in judging it. Not to mention they generally have a decently objective view in regards to graphics at least.

[Thanir]

I'm actually surprised MS hasn't tried to hype this game more here in the States. This was a major game for the Japanese market when it first came out, and MS hyped the heck out of it there. Now that they are releasing it here I have barely heard much.

I figured since MS invested so much into the game, and had a lukewarm reception in Japan, that they would try to cram this RPG (which there arent a ton of for the 360) down our throats.

[Dire]

As of April, Blue Dragon had sold over 200k copies in Japan with something near a 50% attach rate. It also received great reviews including a 37/40 from Famitsu. That's way more than luke warm, especially when you're talking about the 360 and Japan. Gotta remember it's also a new IP.

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Do you think Blue Dragon could become as popular as Final Fantasy?

Sakaguchi: I don't know. I see a gradualism in the success that the Final Fantasy series has attained. The very first instalment sold 350,000 units and then has built on as the series of instalments has reach the marketplace.

Blue Dragon has sold through more than 200,000 units in Japan and again will continue to build momentum as we get into things like BD2 and BD3 - and that's what we're hoping; to really build on the franchise. Maybe it'll take ten years (laughs)


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[Phoenix1010]

That Wiki section needs to be taken down. Reviewers aren't panning it because there's some bias against Microsoft's system, they just expect more from a new IP on any next generation system. Dragonquest got grandfathered in, any new RPG needs to have deep characters and an engaging story to get more than a lukewarm reception from an American audience. FFVII is still and will always be the template for America's vision of RPGs.

I'd probably still get it but the two things that the harshest reviewers keyed in on are the two things that are my biggest issues with RPGs: Story and time. I want a plot that's going to keep my attention and characters I'm going to care about in my RPG, otherwise I'm going to lose interest. And I just don't have the time anymore to slog through filler sequences, and I've read that the first 20 hours are tedious and boring.

FWIW I bought and enjoyed Draqongquest VIII, but I never finished it because it dragged on too long and the plot never grabbed me. I'd rather not risk that happening with this one.

[Dire]

Ok. Just finished playing for the evening. First impressions:

The character development (skill/magic/etc development) and battle system rock. The turn based combat mixed with timing based charge attacks and unlimited possibilities for character development make the fights and leveling up your characters very fun and very rewarding. The music and graphics are also top notch. The music is Nobuo Uematsu and it shows in all the right ways. As far as the visuals - they look just simply beautiful. They do abuse the heck out of depth of field effects, but it looks nice so more power to 'em. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Seems the main complaint in the reviews is the story/compelling characters, or lack thereof. Can't say anything about the story yet as it is still very rapidly advancing and is pretty entertaining. As far as the lack of compelling characters - unless something changes, this is definitely a legitimate criticism. Your characters so far are pretty generic: the brave rebellious protagonist, his more intelligent friend always being convinced to go along with the protagonist's schemes and "the girl". Remains to be seen if they do much with the characters or not - but as is, you're tossed into the heat of the moment so quickly that you really don't learn much about the characters.

So far this game seriously delivers.

[Dire]

Also... this game does not start off slow at all. You are in combat within 2 minutes, the story is rapidly advancing and and you're already tweaking out your characters and playing with new skills / dragon combinations within an hour.

[ilya]

Dire,

Let's just agree to disagree this time, alright? I don't really fancy an endless pointless argument right now, especially when we both know I'm right.

[Dire]

That comment takes childishness and immaturity to a whole new level, even more so than bashing games you've never played. We can end this, as I will be ignoring you now.