Well I decided to get this and get BG2 in 2 or so months. Just downloaded it, first impression was annoying. I knew this game was locked to portrait, I don't like it, but I can't complain about it as I knew.. But! What I didn't know was that there are borders at the side of the screen! What kind of lame idea was that? The screen width is already restricted because it's portrait and they go make it even worse by adding black borders? Seriously that is mind boggling. Just ridiculous. I'll probably come to love the game in time, but right now I'm just cheesed off a bit. I see no reason for ugly black bars.
That is the presentation on the iPad. I was somewhat disappointed as well to not only have the portrait orientation, but then to have it even a diminished portrait. That being said - ultimately it is about gameplay, and DQ8 is one of the best. The UI really makes up for a lot of the limited field of vision with the ability to quickly look around, and also for longer distances with the "auto-run" and then just tapping the screen from side to side. If this were an action RPG the whole presentation would be a huge fail, but with the static nature and also the steadiness that you are always running into monsters, the limited field of vision is not a problem for me. They did a pretty good (not great) job of being able to rotate the camera around back of you when you are against a wall. With about 16 hours in, I am very happy playing this version vs. playing my PS2 version on the TV. I just hope that the casinos work the same - if they evened out the odds on the tables, that could be extremely painful.
Yeah. Edit: I've been playing for almost two hours this afternoon and well tbh I have mixed feelings. The rpg is obviously a wonderful one and that really shows, although I still dislike the silly portrait mode, that's not the main issue for me. I'm finding it's the framerate that's spoiling my enjoyment of this game, although the CRAPPY ui isn't helping. Seriously who did the ui? On the PS2 the inventory screen looks nice, this however is just terrible. :/ I wrongly assumed that the framerate wouldn't be an issue as I'm on an iPad Air, it is.. And it's a real problem at times
Hmmm... I like the UI - I think it makes things much easier, and am able to play the game easily with one finger rather than having to move with one finger, and look around with the other. Inventory screen is not great just because it is small, but it is easy to move around, and you can sort the bag several different ways to find your stuff. I guess different strokes.....
The inventory screen is another thing that was completely redone for the English PS2 release. It also contributed to longer loading times, like most of the changes made. I find the UI really easy to work with, but I play on a phone. I could see how it would be a bit more of a bear on a bigger device.
After playing more I've got used to the UI, it's not as pretty as the PS2 version (especially the inventory screen) but it's functional. ..just about. However my main problem atm is the camera controls, I can totally see how this was designed to be played one handed on an iPhone but on my ipad the camera control is pretty awkward to use and I'm finding myself struggling to aim it easily when exploring towns and rooms.
I ended up abusing the button to center the camera behind the character a *lot*. Camera controls are unfortunately one problem touchscreen gaming has yet to find a good solution for.
Wasted 18 on this. I've never played it back on the PS2 so I had high expectations. But boy this is a nightmare. The framerate is a joke on my MiniR and therefore the controls are unresponsive and clunky. The black borders on each side are ridiculous. I can't complain about the portrait mode cause well I already knew that this is the only way to play. It's just no fun at all for me. Very dissapointed...one of the laziest ports ever, imo. I'll probably miss out on one of the best JRPG's ever but I can't help myself. Unplayable for me.
If you are really unhappy with it, I suggest you login to iTunes and use the 'report a problem' with it and ask for a refund. £13.99 is too much to lose if you're not going to ever play it.
Drop Rates?? I have fought over 2000 monsters, and other than the occasional medicinal herb and antidote, the only drop I have had is 1 (one) wing of bat. I remember that drops were not an expectation in the PS2 version, but I remember getting a number of different items by this point in the game (Hunting Grounds outside Arcadia). To have only 1 thing drop other than the common medicinal herb and antidote seems like an unreasonably low drop rate. I know about steal sickles, but I have set up my Yangus for Fists and Axes and so would have to almost start over... What are other people getting for drops?
I've got a bunch of stuff. Defeated almost 1200 monsters. Herbs, antidotes, bulbs, holy water, medals and coins, powder, cowpat, wings, armor, and some accessories. Maybe just bad luck for you this go around?
Very little, as usual. DQ8 is kind of infamous for having stupidly low drop rates on anything but herbs/antidotes/etc.
I've been playing this for hours and hours. And immensely enjoying it. Yes there are control and camera issues but they are minor and I become so absorbed in the game that I don't even notice them. Even on portrait on the ipad it still can't stop my immense enjoyment. Love the colours and graphics and I'm on iPad Air too but don't notice any framerate issues. My gameplay is plenty smooth for me to really enjoy the game. I e complete the East map and now got myself a ship and travelling around the western towns and peninsula. For me this is a classic and worth every cent and more. It's all I've been playing for days.
Possible Money making glitch As one may have noted when doing alchemy and trying to make money by selling large quantities of a particular item (generally 10 is about the most you can get reasonable return on), the price falls more and more with each increase in item number - and then stays there. Well, I found that strong medicine (medicinal herb + medicinal herb) stays at a sell point of $88. - So for 100 strong medicine ($1600), you get a return of $8800. This might just be a glitch in my game, but may be a glitch in general - feel free to try it, especially when you hit Argonia and are trying to buy all the great stuff at the bazaar...
I don't think that it's a glitch, because it's even hinted ingame, I only tried that money making method when I talked to an old man NPC and he talked about making strong medicine and selling them for profit, and "if you sell too many of them, rare items won't be rare anymore". Prices begin to drop if you try to sell 15 or more at once
I'm still trying to get a certain item from the first dungeon, I'm level 7 and the boss takes me out easily. Guess I need to grind more levels?
You mean the crystal ball from that mermaid boss? I was about level 7 when I fought him, just use Hero as a full time healer while Yangus attacks him, may take a while but he'll be taken down soon
