Since I just recently wrapped up a rewatch of Cardcaptor Sakura, I have several weeks worth of new anime episodes to watch. I won’t be touching any of the new season’s shows until I’ve taken care of that. Don’t want to get too far behind.
Also, don’t expect any thoughts or comments on Clannad for the next few weeks. Typically, when TBS decides to delay 16:9 broadcasts of shows in order to reward their subscription satellite customers, it doesn’t bother me all that much. I may not like watching the pan and scan 4:3 broadcasts, but if it’s my only choice, it’s my only choice. With Clannad, however, I feel like I have a choice, and since the idea of watching a Kyoto Animation show in anything but its intended aspect ratio pretty much offends me, I’m going to wait. It’s only three weeks.
On an entirely different note, I’ll probably be finishing this within the next week or so (yes, I’ve been taking my sweet time), so I’m looking for a new RPG to keep me busy through the long, cold winter. Any suggestions? Keep in mind that I like my RPGs light and fun, not dark and angsty. I’m not much of a Final Fantasy fan, either. Odin Sphere, perhaps? One of the earlier Atelier Iris games? Should I just surrender to my inner Harvest Moon fanboy and spend the next several months growing turnips?
If you’re looking for a fun and unique RPG, I have only one recommendation: OKAMI. yes, you play a wolf, but for any Japanophile or Japanese native, THIS IS AN AWESOME GAME. Seriously, the whole game looks like one giant ukiyo-e painting.
Plus, it’s a barrel of fun to obliterate your enemies with calligraphy. ^_^ POWER SLASH! *brush stroke* BOOM! Hee hee.
I feel the same way about Clannad as well. Hopefully the 3 weeks will give subbers enough lead time to release the 16:9 episodes as soon as they come out. And if they go with the HD formats, I’d be even more thrilled. I did watch the first episode and all I could think about was how beautiful the animation would look in hi-def.
I wouldn’t necessarily call Odin Sphere light, but it is definitely fun. Except for the lag during boss fights.
Odin Sphere is epic fun. play it.
just cry when u go up against the queen of the dead and it feels like ure ps2 is gona die on u.
I’ve got such a backlog of anime that I may hold off on Clannad all together until 16:9 subs start popping up. I’m not wild about watching this one in 4:3.
As for RPGs, Persona 3 is a lot of fun. It’ll keep you busy through the winter, without a doubt. The whole split of “battle to save the world” and “attend school and make friends with everyone” approach has kept me entertained. It’s a really long game, as it’s taking me about 15-20 longer to finish than I originally wanted, but I’m loving this game. It’s a bit dark and artsy in its presentation, but it’s actually pretty light all in all. There’s a lot of great humor in this one.
The first Atelier Iris game was my favorite in the series. It’s such a blast, but depending on how many hours you have on Atelier Iris 3, the first one may be a bit short to spend all winter with. I’d also throw out Disgaea 2 as a recommendation. I simply didn’t play a lot of RPGs this year because Disgaea 2 kept me entertained for about a year and whenever I want to start another one, I went back to Disgaea 2. I kind of want to go back to it now, but I owe it to Persona 3 to actually finish it.
Check out Ar Tonelico if you want a light hearted JRPG. If thats not your thing then consider picking up Disgaea 1 or 2. It will keep you busy all winter. ^^
Well, I think Odin Sphere will totally rock even more when I play more than 3 hours of it. Good game, nice splits, interesting story. Persona 3 distracted me from it since I bought them at the same time and couldn’t put it down :D I haven’t gotten an Atelier Iris game yet though I have been tempted, so if that is the game of choice, let us know how it is!
I also got the newest Growlanser (I kind of love my older style RPG’s) and don’t know if any have played the others, but I was sadly disappointed at the beginning (there are like 4 intros - ok 3 1/2 and you will only understand if you play) but it definitely picks up and I am loving the continued fairy theme. Ok, some guys will like it, but as a girl I gotta say getting to find outfits for my fairy and enter her in contests is way too cute and I love it - but it has benefits as you “train” her more you can get discounts when buying from merchants and she can learn all sorts of interesting traits. Stick with the game, as I think this is one that will be underappreciated, so I gotta get others to play it. I really have to stick with one game, but work and college restraints make it hard :( Life.
Lots of good suggestions. In fact, I think I’d like to play everything that’s been suggested thus far.
At the moment, however, I’m leaning toward Persona 3… I had initially dismissed the game, as it didn’t look like something that would interest me. That’s what I get for only giving it a cursory look. Upon closer examination, it does indeed look like something I’d enjoy.
Need to finish Atelier Iris first, though.
I’d second Persona 3. It’s the only game mentioned in this thread that would interest me.
just watched kimikiss… has potential, but on the whole the first ep was pretty boring, especially in the 2nd half -_-
persona 3 isnt a bad game, its got good production quality and all that, but it just doesnt feel as epic as i would like it. guess im spoiled on final fantasy
Taking your specification of “light and fun, not dark and angsty RPG” into account, I would probably lean towards the new Nippon Ichi SRPG, Soul Nomad. Harvest Moon ain’t a bad idea though :) Persona 3 and Odin Sphere both lean more towards serious business, so I’m not sure they would qualify. As L-chan mentioned, Okami was a great game, but it’s not an RPG by any means. I tried Ar Tonelico and the previous Atelier Iris games, but after you’ve played AI3, these precursors feel positively clunky and outdated.
Hmm… Soul Nomad actually looks interesting. I finally finished AI3 a few days ago (the final boss was a pain… not because he was difficult, but because it took a freakin’ hour to finish him off), and was all prepared to go looking for a copy of Persona 3 this weekend, but I might have to reconsider. I’d still like to play Persona 3, but Soul Nomad looks a lot more like the sort of game I’m craving at the moment. Thanks for the tip, Ender.
CCS rocks. I’m rewatching it too. There are so many episodes that by the time you finish watching it, you’ve forgotten enough episodes to rewatch some again.