Some things in regards to PXZ (or, "Just because I liked it doesn't mean I think it's good.")
Before I actually left for Las Vegas on July 10, I managed to beat Project X Zone. I've been meaning to write up something about it.
This is because Project X Zone is a game I really have mixed feelings over. I had a hard time playing Namco X Capcom because after the crossover novelty wore off, the game itself ends up being dragged on by its repetitive nature and the design of it all (having to watch every enemy animation in regards to your units being attacked plus all the setting up for it). It's why I have a hard time going through Namco X Capcom from start to finish. This was also a big reason why I wasn't one of those people bugging Harada to localize Project X Zone (even then, I probably wouldn't do it anyway). Yet, I got myself dragged into this game because of some Tales of Vesperia characters and Sakura Wars characters.
This time, I actually liked it...to a degree. Before I continue, I want to make sure it's clear that just because I like something doesn't mean I honestly think it's good.
The pacing is much better. The game just takes the enemy units attacking your units and just does the damage rather than having every animation for each enemy unit showing the damage they do. It's much faster.
However, the repetitive nature still remains. It starts out fun doing all those combos but the more the game goes on, it shows just how shallow the gameplay is. The story is also nothing to really write home about and is there for fluff. The game gets by with its star power. It relies on in-jokes (like how I actually got the joke about Valkyrie going by "No. 17") and pretty much knowing the characters (like Erica Fontaine referencing there's a criminal among here ranks and I knew she was talking about Lobelia Carlini). If I didn't know who a majority of these character were already, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I didn't really see this as a game that makes me care to want to know them and I put that on the overall game being meh. It's also the reason why I reference Tatsunoko Vs Capcom as a game that made me care about the character I didn't know, i.e. Tatsunoko's cast. The game itself was actually good and the gameplay also made the Tatsunoko characters look cool (to the point that Ken the Eagle and Hurricane Polymar were my mains in the game). This, on the other hand, not so much. (There's also the other hand. I will throw out, "I can't believe I watched Yumeria." The fact I dealt with similar stuff with my obsession with Sakura Wars and watching Ah! My Goddess wasn't enough to make me think otherwise of it.).
So, back to what I said in regards to, "Just because I liked the game doesn't mean I think it's a good game." I did enjoy Project X Zone to a certain degree. I did enjoy seeing the Sakura Wars characters together with the Tales of Vesperia character. I did enjoy some of the dialogue. But I will admit that this game gets by on star power and that really isn't enough for me. I don't really consider this the best tribute to these characters and series (I would make a certain comment here but I'm going to refrain from saying it). This is a game that one playthrough is really enough for me. I'm just going to let it sit among the rest of my collection.
Overall, Project X Zone is a game that's hard for me to full out recommend (it's more like borderline not recommend in that regard). The overall game does give off a "meh" feel to it. If someone's going to play it, all I can say is, "Trend with caution." Your enjoyment will be more determined on how much you already care about these characters but who knows if that's going to be enough.
(In regards to character tribute, I still would rather have seen Sakura Shinguji in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed but I know hell will have to freeze over before that would have happened)
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Entry originally posted at http://clessaileron.dreamwidth.org/20098.html.
This is because Project X Zone is a game I really have mixed feelings over. I had a hard time playing Namco X Capcom because after the crossover novelty wore off, the game itself ends up being dragged on by its repetitive nature and the design of it all (having to watch every enemy animation in regards to your units being attacked plus all the setting up for it). It's why I have a hard time going through Namco X Capcom from start to finish. This was also a big reason why I wasn't one of those people bugging Harada to localize Project X Zone (even then, I probably wouldn't do it anyway). Yet, I got myself dragged into this game because of some Tales of Vesperia characters and Sakura Wars characters.
This time, I actually liked it...to a degree. Before I continue, I want to make sure it's clear that just because I like something doesn't mean I honestly think it's good.
The pacing is much better. The game just takes the enemy units attacking your units and just does the damage rather than having every animation for each enemy unit showing the damage they do. It's much faster.
However, the repetitive nature still remains. It starts out fun doing all those combos but the more the game goes on, it shows just how shallow the gameplay is. The story is also nothing to really write home about and is there for fluff. The game gets by with its star power. It relies on in-jokes (like how I actually got the joke about Valkyrie going by "No. 17") and pretty much knowing the characters (like Erica Fontaine referencing there's a criminal among here ranks and I knew she was talking about Lobelia Carlini). If I didn't know who a majority of these character were already, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much. I didn't really see this as a game that makes me care to want to know them and I put that on the overall game being meh. It's also the reason why I reference Tatsunoko Vs Capcom as a game that made me care about the character I didn't know, i.e. Tatsunoko's cast. The game itself was actually good and the gameplay also made the Tatsunoko characters look cool (to the point that Ken the Eagle and Hurricane Polymar were my mains in the game). This, on the other hand, not so much. (There's also the other hand. I will throw out, "I can't believe I watched Yumeria." The fact I dealt with similar stuff with my obsession with Sakura Wars and watching Ah! My Goddess wasn't enough to make me think otherwise of it.).
So, back to what I said in regards to, "Just because I liked the game doesn't mean I think it's a good game." I did enjoy Project X Zone to a certain degree. I did enjoy seeing the Sakura Wars characters together with the Tales of Vesperia character. I did enjoy some of the dialogue. But I will admit that this game gets by on star power and that really isn't enough for me. I don't really consider this the best tribute to these characters and series (I would make a certain comment here but I'm going to refrain from saying it). This is a game that one playthrough is really enough for me. I'm just going to let it sit among the rest of my collection.
Overall, Project X Zone is a game that's hard for me to full out recommend (it's more like borderline not recommend in that regard). The overall game does give off a "meh" feel to it. If someone's going to play it, all I can say is, "Trend with caution." Your enjoyment will be more determined on how much you already care about these characters but who knows if that's going to be enough.
(In regards to character tribute, I still would rather have seen Sakura Shinguji in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed but I know hell will have to freeze over before that would have happened)
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Entry originally posted at http://clessaileron.dreamwidth.org/20098.html.