I'm a sucker for these games, so I'll be picking this one up on release day 

After spending probably too much time with Blue Dragon, I think 20-30 hour RPG will be a nice change of pace.

My picks are:

Shadowrun for the Sega Genesis




and Star Control 2

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Finished it! Had a good time... I'll give more thoughts later through. Just wanted to let you know that I did manage to finish with about 90 achievement points... You don't even get any for beating the game :-p. Despite that I enjoyed it though. Not sure I have the drive to load a save point and play another 20 hours with no real point other than to try to get some of the achievements. In the end I think my characters were in the low 50s for level and I had about 43 hours (+ a couple from redos). Overall I'd give it a 8.0 or so. Enjoyed it, and I played through, but I wasn't blown away.

Jesus, finally finished it.  29 out of of 43 achievements for a total of 525 points      Total Time: 78 hours       My party was around in the low 70's. 

Nice, solid game.  Now I can move on....

Damn, I want in on this game..... 

Just a quick update, I'm still on disc 2 (near the end) and I'm already clocking in around 50+ hours, party is around level 42-44 playing on Hard mode.  If anyone just started playing hard mode, you  really need to start to specialize you party right away...like a balanced mmo party.  For example I have 2 tanks in the front row and the last 3 are healer, damage caster, and ninja/support. 

Even though I own a PS3 and 360, I hope that Microsoft doesn't ignore the RPG market like it "mostly" did with the original XBOX.  I know there are some great upcoming RPG/titles coming out, but beyond that, I don't know of any.  I hope some new RPG franchises makes its way to the box.

Well for me I'm on disc 2 (maybe halfway through) and I have logged in about 40 hours give or take and hour or so.  I'm playing on the hard difficulty and I do have to grind just a little bit.

Well about 4 hours in on hard, and it's just that.  The boss fights right now are really hard.  I'm working my way through them, but it almost has me wanting to start over on normal before i get too far.  Anyone else playing on hard have any impressions on the combat.  I will admit I am having to really pay attention to my skills inorder to win.

Well, I'm almost 16 hours in on hard difficulty, and the boss battles, hell even the normal mobs are hard hard hard! I die so much during boss fights (I have to buy a lot of revives).  So if that kind of play style isn't your cup of tea, maybe a restart is in order.  Oh and yeah, I'm still having a great time.

At first I thought combat was going to be lame, but the more levels I get, and the more skills I unlock, the more fun it becomes.  There is actually quite a bit of strategy involved, which is great.  Now if only the game were more difficult, so the strategy actually meant something.

Edit:  Took out my complaining about how the game is way too easy.  I'll just restart it when the patch comes out in the US.  Love the game other than that.

I'm about 14 hours in with my characters around level 25-26 on hard difficulty and I'm having a great time.  Sometimes during the boss battles and the harder mobs it gets really challenging, but not impossible, with the hard download. 

as i am half way through the game i will wait and hope it appears on our shores....the shuffle dungeon is 400points so i wont be able to download that from a foriegn account anyhow

I was able to buy the dungeon and item pack with a redeem code.  The dungeon description says 30 new items, 10 new bosses, but I need to be at least level 50! So I guess I won't be able to try out the new content in a while. 

I hope people disappointed with the easy difficulty downloads the Hong Kong content. 

So you definitely recommend experienced RPGers play on hard right? havent started yet.

Yes, in my opinion experienced RPGer's start on hard.  Especially in my case where I'm used to Persona 3 type difficulty. 

Oh and to sign up a Hong Kong account:

Sign out of current account

Select Join Xbox Live

Enter new gamertag, select new region (HONG KONG!)

going to need to input another email address, fake home address, fake phone number etc etc...

after all that just go to the games download section tab in the Hong Kong account, Find blue dragon, download the difficulty pack

as i am half way through the game i will wait and hope it appears on our shores....the shuffle dungeon is 400points so i wont be able to download that from a foriegn account anyhow

I was able to buy the dungeon and item pack with a redeem code.  The dungeon description says 30 new items, 10 new bosses, but I need to be at least level 50! So I guess I won't be able to try out the new content in a while. 

I hope people disappointed with the easy difficulty downloads the Hong Kong content. 

Are we going to get the difficulty level patch here in the US? (I don't want to mess with creating foreign accounts just to get a patch.)

Also can you change the difficulty in mid game?

There is no doubt that we will get the dungeon and difficulty downloads, the question is when.  There isn't an option to change difficulty mid-game, only the voiced language options.

I'm glad I created a hong kong account to get the downloads, it is relatively painless. And just for giggles I bought the new dungeon and item/treasure pack and they work in the U.S. version.

Well just for the hell of it, I played an hour on normal difficulty and another hour on hard difficulty so take my early difficulty impressions with a grain of salt.  As it stands for me right now, playing in normal difficulty is really way too easy just like some/most of the reviews have stated.  I can spam the attack button during battles and not worry about getting hit much or killed.  I never had to use any healing items.  So if some people out there just play RPG's for the story, this is your difficulty.

Hard mode,  now this is the one for me and hits that challenging sweet spot.  During my brief paying period, I've already had to change formations, used many attack/status/healing items, and actually pay attention during my battles in order to survive.

Thats it so far, now back to Blue Dragon. 

P.S. English Voice Talent seems solid as well so far, even though I prefer Japanese with subtitles.

Well I just picked up Blue Dragon and I don't know if its because I downloaded all the extra content from the Hong Kong account, but I have all the difficulty options which are:

Normal
Hard
Impossible.

Anyways, I'm going to start in Hard mode.

NIiiiiiice!! Thats what i wanted to hear-Kato, can you please come back after an hour or two of play and report on hard mode so we have an idea what to start with? reports are still that the game is just too easy in normal.

Yeah sure thing. I'm only 15 minutes in and I'll report back later on the difficulty modes.

This is a maybe for me since all I have been using my PS3 for is backward compatibility.  I still have to get my friends list up and running.

PS3 network ID: USMC_Kato

Well I just picked up Blue Dragon and I don't know if its because I downloaded all the extra content from the Hong Kong account, but I have all the difficulty options which are:

Normal
Hard
Impossible.

Anyways, I'm going to start in Hard mode.

Well I'm picking up my pre-order of Blue Dragon today and I created a Hong Kong account to see if the difficulty download option will work with my U.S. copy.  The available downloads for the Hong Kong account are the Ultra Hard Mode, Shuffle Dungeon for 400 points, and some sort of equipment/item pack worth 200 points.

is it only ultra hard mode?....hmm,i want the game harder,but i dont wanna be kicking the cat when i die every 5 minutes


and i wonder what the item pack thing is

Actually the download is called "Ultra Hard Mode" but in fact it is 3 difficulty levels which are "New Game Plus", "Hard Game Mode", and "Impossible Game Mode".

New Game Plus: Start a new game using a saved game file near the end of the game (while carrying over stats)

Hard game mode: An option when starting a new game thats twice as hard as normal mode

Impossible Game Mode: Ultimate Difficulty that should be played at level 50 or higher.

The item pack thingy is called "6 Treasures - Package of 6 handy items".  Not sure if these items are to be bought, found, quested for.

running mine on a PS3 as well.

just got to the 50th floor.  i'm at 17 hours in now.   at this pace it'll take me over 100 hours to reach the top!!

I must be falling behind, I'm at 18 hours and I only just killed the floor 36 boss. The date is June 6.  I better step it up.

Well I'm picking up my pre-order of Blue Dragon today and I created a Hong Kong account to see if the difficulty download option will work with my U.S. copy.  The available downloads for the Hong Kong account are the Ultra Hard Mode, Shuffle Dungeon for 400 points, and some sort of equipment/item pack worth 200 points.

Donated! I hope all three of you guys make it over.

I should've pre-ordered this game in hindsight.  I live in San Jose, CA and I couldn't find a copy within 15 miles!! I got lucky today since an employee at Gamestop sold me a pre-ordered copy that no one picked up.

Count me in!!! I promise not to grenade my co-op mates....

I guess that's another reason I don't like the "fight at the end" concept.  The expert doing the fight doesn't really want to get hurt or injured in what is essentially a meaningless fight, and isn't going to kick the living shit out of either of the hosts.

I agree with you on that point, however in the Escrima (spelling?) episode, I thought the Escrima champ was fighting pretty hard against the host.

 My brothers and I always wanted laser tag or photon (almost the same thing) back in the late 80's.

Yes! I finally have a PS3!

All I have is Resistance though.....

Network Name: USMC_Kato

I'll have to ask Kato where the porn is

 

Porn? There is no porn..... 

All done! But I have this sad feeling now....

Finishing a great series is always a little depressing for me.  Whether its a great movie series, books, and especially videogames does this to me.

My launch XBOX 360 has finally died so back to BB it goes.  Fortunately I have another 360, unfortunately this is the one that my wife usually plays on....

Good communication goes a long way.  We were playing Streets 3v3 against Harkonis and we won almost every time.  I forget who was playing "Commander" but he had 0 kills but was key to our victory.

My suggestion would be to avoid conquest mode with 3v3.  With 3 capture points it mostly becomes a 1v1 match with little teamwork.

Yeah that was Jarrodhk doing the recon and commander work while Skystride and I were doing the shooting.  Great teamwork on that game.  Thats what I love so much about R6.  Even as good as Harkonis is, with a little teamwork we can take him down! 

Harkonis: No need to Handicap yourself man.  It's great playing with you or against you because either way I get better every time we play.

PapaSmurf: Usually when we play I end up on your team, but when I play on the opposite team you seem to have my number just like Harkonis  Oh well its all in good fun.

Hopefully we will get more traffic when the Red pack goes freebie. 

And when we play game mode "Assassination", and Harkonis ends up being the VIP with a glock, I will have my revenge.....oh yes.....

 

I was pronouncing the 3 as an E and it was the only semi-pronounciblilile way I could think of 

AHA! There you are Harkonis ! 

Now let me sight in so I could get a clean headshot, ......okay just a little bit more.....


Harkonis [AK-47] USMC Kato

 

I'm just teasin since he hasn't been able to play in so long

Hey buddy it was nice playing with you again.  Hopefully we'll have a big turnout tomorrow evening.  See you all soon!

And Harkonis.......I'll have you in my sights again...oh yes.... 

Okay I guess its time to dust off my copy of R6 Vegas.  I'll be online Tuesday night to re-learn how to NOT throw grenades at my teamates.

Anyone up for Gears of War this Friday night?

Hey DarkEL! I enlisted in '93 and got out in '04 after two tours in the great beach with no water.  Jesus, you were in Crypto? Smart guy. I came in open contract and landed the 0331 heavy gunner.  Got injured during my last tour and promptly fell in love with video games during rehab and the rest is history.

Ex-Marines are usually classified as dead marines.  So that would make me a former Marine.....but one of the Marine Corps' motto is, "Once a Marine, always a Marine" so.....

Eh whatever, Semper Fi!!!

Wow, I haven't played Gears in months! I almost forgot how damn fun it is.  Thanks for the invite and I hope more people from GT start up some Gears Multiplayer action.

I have a little cash to burn so I'm going to pick this up tonight.  At the very least co-op should be entertaining.... 

Friend request coming your way Fayide.  It was pretty fun killing some bots with Jarradhk last night. Hope to see you guys soon again. 

Nice gaming with you Dreamshadow! Sorry I had to bail for some food and I totally missed your second invite.  Let me know when you're going to start another shadowrun session and I'll be there!