Blue Dragon Love

[Johan]

I am absolutely loving this game. I can understand why some people get a bit perturbed; there are some weaknesses:

1. The camera can be an issue; I've had to fight it at times, but it's not that common an issue.
2. The dialogue/voices at times, especially initially, seemed to almost have uncomfortable delays between characters speaking. I don't notice it as much now that I'm on disc two, so I've either gotten used to it, or it has improved. The voices of Shu and Marumaro can also be a tad annoying at times. Shu has definitely improved since the first disc as the story has progressed...not as whiny
3. Some of the environmental music isn't up to what I would expect from Uematsu, which is too bad for such an industry legend.
4. At times, it can be difficult to interact with objects that are interactive; you have to wiggle a bit to get lined up just right, and some objects/characters actually seem to block interaction with interactive stuff...which sucks.

There's so much to love, though.
1. Art - I am enjoying the brighter colors and broader palette in Blue Dragon. Far too many games this generation exist in a narrow band of gray and brown. I'm tired of that.
2. Loot - It's not overwhelming, but there's enough in there to keep me happily engaged in upgrading my gear, stealing stuff, searching for "nothings" and the like.
3. Story - I'm enjoying it. Sure, it's somewhat typical in a "save [insert people/place here]" kind of way, but I'm interested in seeing how it pans out. That's good for me!
4. Shadow Classes - I find the skills obtainable by getting to the top of each class to be immensely satisfying in a "I can kick ass with this skill" kind of way. Choosing which to equip with which character is also pretty fun.
5. Combat - I LOVE that the combat is not randomly generated/encountered; the player can actually choose to engage skills that either repel or attract enemies on the field, or even a skill that defeats weaker enemies instantly on the field prior to entering the combat screen (at a cost of MP, of course...nothing is free). The skills/classes that can be engaged in combat are fun, and the animations are, excepting a few I'm not too fond of, well done.

It's a fun game. In fact, I'm engrossed in it (I just spent three hours playing after my kids went to bed). I would highly recommend it, as it's quite cheap now ($20 here and there).

[Spigot]

Must... Resist...

Urge to comment... Rising...

I am curious... Have you had a chance to play either Eternal Sonata or Lost Odyssey? While there are a few interesting new elements in Blue Dragon (I will agree that I love some of the Field abilities and wish more JRPGs would implement them), there was far, far more about the game that I didn't like or that just bored me than I did like.

For $20, it's a fine purchase if you have nothing else to play OR if you're new to JRPGs... For the $60 that I paid for it, it was utter dross.

Give me a truly innovative game like Persona 3 or something that just has that old-time Final Fantasy feel like Lost Odyssey any day. If I want to play a modern interpretation of the Dragon Quest style of gameplay (which is what Blue Dragon is at its heart of hearts), I'll just play Dragon Quest VIII, which looks and plays much better than Blue Dragon.

Everyone should know by now that of all the games ever made, none will get me spewing bile faster than Blue Dragon.

[Typical Michael]

I got this game over the summer, and started it, I liked it. But then school started, and I havent had much time for gaming. I graduate in Dec. though, and then I will probably do nothing but play games for a few months.

[Johan]

Everyone should know by now that of all the games ever made, none will get me spewing bile faster than Blue Dragon.

I was actually trying to help you do so; your doctor called and said you had a build-up and needed to purge! :)

On a serious note, I have Lost Odyssey, Eternal Sonata, and Tales of Vesperia in my "queue" to buy them when they have dropped to $20-30 (really, closer to $20 for my budget).

I'm not deep in JRPG experience, either; I'm just enjoying the game a lot. Perfect it ain't; fun, for me, it is! :)

[bean]

Get Tales of Vesparia as a splurge purchase if you can afford it.

[Spigot]

My biggest problem was that the game took FOREVER to get moving, plot-wise. It wasn't until near the end of the first disc that I actually started to care about the story and wanted to see what happened next... and that took about 15 hours or so to get to.

The second disc was actually pretty solid but after the beginning of the third disc, it went right back down to dullsville for me. I never did finish it but I just reached a point where I didn't care. When I spend 45-odd hours with a game and can't remember the name of the main characters and don't particularly care if they live, die or have their entire family slaughtered, it's just bad storytelling.

And this is coming from someone who tends to enjoy JRPGs for their hackneyed, cliched stories.

Plus the art, compared to the sheer dazzle of the stuff in Eternal Sonata, is nothing to write home about. I know a lot of people talk about how it's so nice to have a bright colour palette and cartoony graphics in Blue Dragon, but Eternal Sonata did it so very, very much better and even Lost Odyssey has a pretty vibrant palette, though some people aren't sold on the character design (which I admit, took some getting used to).

These days we have games like Tales Of Vesperia, which is also gorgeous to look at (and fun to play) and Infinite Undiscovery, which is one of most unique JRPGs I've played in a LONG time, though it does go a bit overboard and tends to throw in everything, including the kitchen sink, into its myriad game mechanics.

Don't worry. I won't spend the rest of the thread hating on everyone who has a screw loose and actually, legitimately likes Blue Dragon. I just think there are much, much better options out there, even in the limited realm of next-gen JRPGs.

[Johan]

Don't worry. I won't spend the rest of the thread hating on everyone who has a screw loose and actually, legitimately likes Blue Dragon. I just think there are much, much better options out there, even in the limited realm of next-gen JRPGs.

I appreciate the input! Agreement isn't necessary. I'm sure when I'm able to afford some of the other options out there, I'll see Blue Dragon in a different light. For now, I'm just having fun grinding up my levels with a field barrier, instantly blasting the baddies!

[Spigot]

I appreciate the input! Agreement isn't necessary. I'm sure when I'm able to afford some of the other options out there, I'll see Blue Dragon in a different light. For now, I'm just having fun grinding up my levels with a field barrier, instantly blasting the baddies!Heh. Enjoy!

I think that Blue Dragon is a great entry game into JRPGs for those who haven't played a lot of them. It has a lot of old-school stuff in there coupled with some cool new additions.

Come talk to me when you are ready to take the training wheels off and delve into some truly awesome JRPGs :)

Was that passive-aggressive enough?

[Johan]

Come talk to me when you are ready to take the training wheels off and delve into some truly awesome JRPGs :)

Son of a BISCUIT! :D

When the price is right, LO, ES, and ToV are mine. Until then, I'll enjoy my appetizer!

[Wraith]

I picked up Blue Dragon when it dropped to $20, but it's probably going to have to wait until I finish off Eternal Sonata (don't have that much left to go, I think), and maybe Lost Odyssey (just started in on it Friday).

Tales of Vesperia and Infinite Undiscovery are in my "wait for a price drop" queue.

And Last Remnant's coming next month. And Valkyria Chronicles, if we're including PS3 titles here. Getting both of these.

[EWolfmanD]

I would suggest getting Tales of Vesperia before Eternal Sonata because I was actually pretty disappointed in Eternal Sonata after looking forward to it so much. Then again, Eternal Sonata will be cheaper sooner, and you may want to save ToV (which I consider superior) to play afterwards.

Wraith, I hope you were just saying that Valkyria Chronicles is coming out soon and not that you were waiting for the price to drop for it. I haven't even looked up anything about Last Remnant yet because I can't take my eyes away from Valkyria Chronicles. I'll probably end up getting both on release and hope I can complete them before Persona 4 comes out. Well, beat Valkyria Chronicles at least, or Persona 4 will just have to wait.

Also, as soon as I read Johan's post, I knew Spigot would show up. :D

[Wraith]

Wraith, I hope you were just saying that Valkyria Chronicles is coming out soon and not that you were waiting for the price to drop for it. I haven't even looked up anything about Last Remnant yet because I can't take my eyes away from Valkyria Chronicles. I'll probably end up getting both on release and hope I can complete them before Persona 4 comes out. Well, beat Valkyria Chronicles at least, or Persona 4 will just have to wait.Edited for clarification. Yeah, I've had it preordered since...March maybe? Last Remnant I may just ask for for Christmas and see how it goes. But I'll probably end up getting it before IU and ToV.

[EWolfmanD]

Edited for clarification. Yeah, I've had it preordered since...March maybe? Last Remnant I may just ask for for Christmas and see how it goes. But I'll probably end up getting it before IU and ToV.

I knew what you meant. I just wanted to say something about you having to get Valkyria Chronicles on release since you're the president of the fanclub, but then I didn't. :p

For some reason, I never really see Last Remnant mentioned. I guess it's because so many JRPGs have come out recently and more are coming soon. I do vaguely remember seeing the trailer for it, so now I'll have to look up info for it since you mentioned it.

And to get the thread back on topic, I started Blue Dragon but didn't get too far into it. I was sorta ambivalent about it, and then my 360 stopped reading the disc during a boss battle and I decided to just move on to something else. Plus I decided that I would end up putting a ton of time into it if I really wanted to play it and that I didn't actually have the time for it then. Perhaps I'll get back to it someday, but I have no idea when that will be.

[Spigot]

Yay for the Valkyria Chronicles love. It is easily the game I'm looking forward to the most. I saw that it got a fantastic write-up on one of the sites last week (I think).

Cannot wait for it. As much as I loved MGS4, Valkyria Chronicles is the game I bought my PS3 for (well, that and the long awaited White Knight Story, whenever it rears its pretty little head). And of course there is Persona 4 dropping in December.

I'll wait on Last Remnant until I polish off a few of the other JRPGs I have. I've barely touched IU or ToV...

Back on track, I'm not sure how far along Johan is in Blue Dragon, but there is some cool stuff at the end of Disc 1 (are you at the big city yet? That's when it picked up for me) and there's a very cool sequence in a village that I liked. But that's it.

[Blue]

I enjoyed Blue Dragon for what it was. When I played it there wasn't a whole lot out there that I either wanted or hadn't played so it acted as a good time filler for me. I agree that it takes a while to get moving and the voice acting made me want to headbutt something, but outside of that, it was enjoyable. While not the best game ever, I dug their version of the job system and thought the graphics were well done. Even the story wasn't awful and was at least a decent departure from the traditional sword and sorcery route most titles of the genre take.

Now mind you I enjoyed Lost Odyssey more and am liking what I've played of Tales overall (though I keep getting sucked out of it for whatever reason), but Blue Dragon treated me well when there wasn't anything else out there tickling my fancy. Glad you're digging it.

[bean]

Blue Dragon's fatal flaw for me was that I couldn't take the antagonist seriously. Yes, it is an RPG designed for kids, but the main bad guy was so preposterous.

[Johan]

Blue Dragon's fatal flaw for me was that I couldn't take the antagonist seriously. Yes, it is an RPG designed for kids, but the main bad guy was so preposterous.

All video games are essentially preposterous (even the most realistic games have absolutely preposterous elements within them), with the only variation being degree and transparency of the unbelievable within it. In fact, immersion in any art (be it film, sculpture, painting, music, interactive art like games, whatever) requires some suspension of disbelief on the part of the viewer/participant in order to take part in it and enjoy it.

Also, I'm not a kid and I find it fun. Haters be damned! :)

[bean]

Also, I'm not a kid and I find it fun. Haters be damned! :)
I'm not really a hater. The ridiculous antagonist just ruined the game for me. I am glad other people like it.

[LordDon]

My daughters enjoyed the cartoon so I downloaded the demo for them and they just can't get enough of it. I may have to pick it up for their birthday.

The little I've watched them play took me back to Chrono Trigger and Xenogears, only a little more kiddie but MUCH easier on the eyes. I may have to start my own game on it whenever I can squeeze some time in.

[Spigot]

Never compare Blue Dragon to Chrono Trigger, even aesthetically. Yes, I know Toriyama did the character design in both, but NEVER COMPARE THOSE TWO GAMES AGAIN!

[Kelegacy]

I'm still plugging away at the game occasionally, but it's a great little game. Don't let Spigot get you down on it. I think it's my favorite JRPG on the 360 so far (though I haven't played Tales or Infinite Undiscovery). The art and world really is pretty.

For a traditional JRPG, you can't go wrong here.

[National Kato]

As with many JRPGs, the terminal fault of Blue Dragon was the un-skippable attack animations. The first few times you see the Shadow creatures attack, it's fun...but by the 50th or 60th, it's just making you wait.

[Abyssion]

I really like Blue Dragon, though I haven't actually beat it yet. I am at the save point right before the last boss. I like how fast the battles go in it, even when going through multiple encounters.
When next to Lost Odyssey I think LO's battle system goes slower than BD's. Which is weird considering they share so much in common. But now I've got Vesperia for my quick battle fix.

[Spigot]

As with many JRPGs, the terminal fault of Blue Dragon was the un-skippable attack animations. The first few times you see the Shadow creatures attack, it's fun...but by the 50th or 60th, it's just making you wait.
Agreed... and it's EXACTLY THE SAME EVERY TIME...

At least LO mixed it up a little bit. Sure, it's no sub-4 second battle like in Tales, but neither LO or BD are especially rapid when it comes to the fights.

I will warn people that Infinite Undiscovery is... weird. It's good, but weird. It's like they took every mechanic ever used in a JRPG ever and found a way to work it in.

[EWolfmanD]

I liked IU, but it's definitely weird. I really have no idea how to explain the game.

Regarding Blue Dragon, I'm mainly amused at seeing Spigot trying to get people to not play a game for once instead of trying to get them to play some odd game that most people ignored. Although I guess you could say that he is trying to get people to play some neglected game that he feels is more worthy. Even after giving him that escape route, I think I'll just remain amused. :p

[AbinSur]

I just wanted to add that I enjoyed Blue Dragon. It's not the greatest game, but it was fun, and I was a little sad when I was done with it.

I really loved Lost Odyssey.

[Spigot]

I liked IU, but it's definitely weird. I really have no idea how to explain the game.Agreed. I haven't played a lot of IU but it's such a hodge-podge of game design elements that it's hard to pin it down.

Regarding Blue Dragon, I'm mainly amused at seeing Spigot trying to get people to not play a game for once instead of trying to get them to play some odd game that most people ignored.Heh. It's not that I don't think people should play Blue Dragon. It's not the worst game ever made or anything, despite the near apoplectic rage it sends me spiraling into most of the time.

It's just that there are so many better JRPGs out there! I just don't understand why people keep talking the game up like it's some kind of fantastic JRPG. If it had come out this year when there are a lot of other, better JRPGs available for the 360, it would probably barely make a ripple. Alas, it came out last year when there weren't really any alternatives so it got chatted up like it was the second coming of Jesus.

And I blame a lot of my ire on the people who were yammering about how nice the graphics were on Blue Dragon last year around this time despite them being a pale, pale shadow of the glory and splendour that is the visual palette that Eternal Sonata draws from. And I also got mad at some people who were raving about Blue Dragon but not wanting anything to do with Dragon Quest VIII, which just pissed me off :)

I will say that the demo did the game a real disservice. The BD demo was one of the worst demos I've ever played and I went out on a limb to get the retail version and it was a marked improvement over the craptacular demo.

And while I do try to overlook the sins of the past when it comes to development houses, the same team that made Blue Dragon made Blinx. BLINX! Don't encourage them!

[Jaded Fool]

Only other JRPG I've played lately was Lost Odyssey so I can't really compare to the big favourites everyone seem to has, but I loved Blue Dragon just as much as LO. JRPGs got me into gaming pretty much, and BD works really well as almost a sort of tribute to the classics.

Overworld map, getting new vehicles to travel in, gaining and mixing / matching abilities, loved it. Now I just need to grab the extra content from Live and have another crack one day.

Didn't do anything new, but it was polished and fun.

[Spigot]

Bah, you're all insane :)

I should know by now that Blue Dragon threads are like bug zappers to me. I know I shouldn't go near them but I just can't resist them and the results are always deadly...

[bean]

A bit off topic, but this is to Spigot only.

Spigot - Have you played Tales of Vesparia yet? It is brilliant.

[Spigot]

A bit off topic, but this is to Spigot only.

Spigot - Have you played Tales of Vesparia yet? It is brilliant.I have played a tiny, tiny bit of it and I really like what I saw. Gorgeous graphics, traditional Tales insta-battles and what looks to be a pretty interesting little story. It didn't help that my 360 died the day I was about to start playing it and I only got it back around a week ago. I didn't want to sink much time into something knowing I was going to be out of town for a week, but yeah. It looks very nice.

[Purple Santa]

Bah, you're all insane :)

I should know by now that Blue Dragon threads are like bug zappers to me. I know I shouldn't go near them but I just can't resist them and the results are always deadly...

Yes, but it's so enjoyable to watch you go batshit :). It's not usually something you do...but BD seems to push you that way...entertaining you are :).

I've played bits of BD, LO and ES...each has their points for being JRPGs...if you like them you should play them. Are they all created equal? Nope...despite Spigot being a tad...ahem...loquacious on the issue...I'd say BD is a good starting point for JRPG's...and if you find it cheap like Johan did...it's worth it to buy it. If I had the time to play them all, I'd do it...just to much of a time sink for me...

@Johan: I enjoyed reading your perspective on BD...have someone send you free copies of new games so we can see some reviews from you :cool:

Edit: Infinite Undiscovery is a weird game...but it intrigued me enough though that I might come back to play that...but if I do that, then I have to go back to LO too...

[Johan]

I have to toss another negative into my list for this game. I do NOT like it when an RPG takes skills you have learned, or party members you have joined with, and removes them without any choice on the gamer's part. I'm not a fan of that kind of progression to a story at all. Don't let me open up all kinds of great skills and then yank them from me, even if only for a little while. I DON'T LIKE THAT!

*I just finished disc two*

[Spigot]

It gets a little better at the beginning of Disc 3, but then the monotony sinks back in.

Disc 2 was a decent game. It's just that the 15 hours or so that I had to go through to get to the decent game and the sheer dullness after the beginning of Disc 3 killed the good will I had built up for the game during Disc 2...