Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki Bundle announced

[Este]

Oh, I didn't catch the part about the Falcom official stage.... I guess I need to slow down reading through stuff.

[Mutagene]

Hey, I posted a screenshot of the office stage earlier. Giant shrooms on the tables!

[schlagwerk]

My biggest complaint about the control scheme is that attack and guard are opposite each other. Charged attacks are a big deal and not being able to charge and guard at the same time really gimps your ability.
Jump and dash being apart isn't too bad, but it does prevent you from doing a very low to the ground air dash. And that's more character dependent based on the usefulness of their air attack. ...I actually haven't tried seeing if there's any kinda jump canceling dashes, either.

EDIT: Wait, you can Energy Burst (massive knockback at the cost of some HP) by pressing all the face buttons together? Yeah, I'll never be able to perform that when needed...

[Mutagene]

The easiest way to fix your first issue is to map guard to L. Skills are aligned to the face buttons in the same formation at all times, even with totally different controls, so it's not a big hit at all.

I don't think there's a jump-cancel dash, considering I have jump mapped to R2 on my gamepad and am able to airdash instantly. You can do low-altitude airdashes, though.

[schlagwerk]

I always try to use default controls in games, but the Guard positioning seems like the largest oversight.
I might map Guard to R like in PSP2 and Monster Hunter (I think) and Skill to L.

If I had CFW to hook my PSP up to my computer and use a different controller, I'd so play on arcade stick w/ a 6 button layout.

[Mutagene]

I'm going to try to get a 360 stick sometime soon. Any recommendations for one that isn't too expensive? The Hori EX2 fits the bill, but it'd be awkward using the RB and LB as triggers when they're so far away from the main buttons, Haha, old chap!

[schlagwerk]

Aug 9, 2010 16:12:39 GMT -5 Mutagene said:

I'm going to try to get a 360 stick sometime soon. Any recommendations for one that isn't too expensive? The Hori EX2 fits the bill, but it'd be awkward using the RB and LB as triggers when they're so far away from the main buttons, Haha, old chap!

I used to use an EX2, but that's really a crap stick that you'll eventually replace in the long run. Nothing on the market right now tops Madcatz's Tournament Edition sticks. Best to just keep an eye out for online deals and pick one up for $100 when you can. I waited and got an R2 for that price and have seen them on sale again for that much since then.

[schlagwerk]

kotaku.com/5611629/tales-of-japans-weekly-sales
Ys vs Sora no Kiseki has already dropped off the top 30 list.
...and the fact that Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (The Best) (MHP Unite in the West) is STILL in the top 30 of sales continues to amuse me. Seriously.. it's a budget re-release and yet is always on that chart. Who the hell is left in Japan who doesn't already own that game?!
I wish they'd show units sold/total sold for the titles in places 20-30

[Tigershard]

I caved and ordered Ys vs. Sora no Kiseki yesterday. I was holding off hoping that XSeed will eventually announce it, but that will probably be a long ways down the line considering all the work they have to do for Sora no Kiseki. Will probably depend on how well all 6 announced games sell as well.

[Alyindar]

How approachable is this game for someone who doesn't know Japanese? Is the game very text heavy like the Legend of Heroes games, or mostly focused on gameplay with short dialog sequences? I'm really interested in playing it, but if I'm going to be taunted by story I don't understand I'd rather not torture myself anymore. (Ys Origin and Zwei II have me frustrated enough!)

[narugami]

There are a few sentences of dialogue before and after each fight in Story Mode, but that's about it. Arcade Mode doesn't even have that. If you use a FAQ or wiki for the names of techniques and items in Mona's shop you should be ok.

[Este]

Yeah, I remember only being confused when it came to equipping accessories, just because the list of accessories is huge. They're nicely sorted by effect though, like claw-looking accessories add status effects, rings give stat bonuses, orbs charge SP or HP while you're moving... stuff like that.

Yeah, you won't get much of the story, but it's a fighting game, so I imagine the story isn't too involved in the first place. :)

Also welcome to both of you!

[yotaka]

Yeah, the story is really minimalist and aside from some character-specific dialogue it doesn't change much depending on who you're playing as. It pretty much boils down to 'Everyone but you was summoned to Xanadu believing that serving evil is good. You beat the confusion out of the other sixteen and then beat up Galsis'. There are quite a few references, allusions and jokes in the dialogue but nothing that will leave you completely confused as to what's going on. For an easy example, on Adol's story route when you recruit Tita she'll stare at Adol for a few seconds before stammering that nothing's wrong. It's a reference to how Adol's hair reminds her of Agate. Nothing huge and there's no real character development aside from Geis and Aisha bouncing off each other more than they do in Ys Seven and the early introduction to Lloyd of Zero no Kiseki.

Of course, the story exists in a weird vacuum anyways. Dialogue clearly establishes that the events of Ys Seven and SnK 3rd have happened but there's certain conversations that never happen but really should. Say, Adol and Dogi not reacting to Chester's presence despite him being dead for years or anyone from SnK reacting to Lowe's presence.

As for gameplay, if you've played Ys Seven you've already got most of the basics and it's not hard to figure the rest out. Weapon and Armor are simple one-way purchases of better stuff but you definitely will want to find a guide for the Support Characers and accessories. They're critical to your success. Here's the accessories, though the list doesn't capture all the references in the items. For example, the 'Bandit's Mask' should be the 'Phantom Thief's Mask', a reference to Bleublanc of Sora no Kiseki. Still, it's enough to tell you what you need to use them properly. The wiki mentions a couple of the playable and support characters but most of the pages are blank. If you've got questions you can ask them here.

[Alyindar]

Thanks for the replies! I'll have to put this one on my next order.

[Este]

I was sort of in the mood to get a couple more songs from the game onto my mp3 player, but I noticed a couple of the tracks aren't on the CD. Not sure of the names, but Joshua's stage theme comes to mind. Anyone know how I can get these?

Am I gonna have to record them myself?

[yotaka]

Joshua's stage BGM is Dive Into Your Fate (Instrumental Version) from the FC and SC Super Arrange Version soundtrack. Unlike some of the music in the game, it's still possible to get ahold of that one without paying an arm and a leg. Any other songs whose identity you're curious about?

[Este]

Pretty much any of the stage themes that aren't on the included soundtrack.

Let me think, there's Joshua, Oliver, Tia, Klose. A couple others are out there, but I know where to get those songs/already have them.

[yotaka]

Olivier's BGM is Cry For Your Eternity (The 3rd OST), Tita's is Fighting Right On (ditto) and Klose's is Challenger Invited (FC OST)

[Este]

I wonder if these are on the Japanese iTunes store.... it'd be quicker and cheaper to buy through them.

[Este]

I've been playing Ys Alternate Saga a lot lately with the hopes of unlocking everything, but after unlocking Lloyd and the Falcom Office stage, I've realized I have everything except the Ernst support. Anyone know how to get it? It may come from reaching Legend of Hero class, but I'd have to double my BP, something I don't want to do.