I don´t see how this would affect Across Age more than any other of the numerous great free games on the App Store, anyway - how is SEED, do you enjoy it? Always interested to measure quality with actual user-feedback.
Seed is pretty controversial right now, and not only because of the DLC issue (a tempest in a teapot, IMHO). Here's my take: Con: looks and plays like a cellphone port. Frame rate could be better, graphics could be more detailed. Many "get me X of this" quests. Pros: Huge, well designed game world, interesting story, memorable characters, decent combat system. Overall, the story reminds me a bit of Nausicaa (without all the airships and robots). I like it better than Zenonia, but some people hate it intensely.
Okay cool. Linearity doesn't neccessarily mean a bad game, since most of the Final Fantasies are very linear, albeit with secrets like bosses and such. I pretty much agree with all of this, and I would add poor translation to the cons. I hear it has a nice story, but it's difficult to get a grasp of it without a decent translation. As a note to Future777, can you make sure that the script/translation is good? A well written script is one of the key factors of a good storyline. Also, on my iPhone 2G, there are slowdowns in some areas which are especially busy. Does Across Age have decent framerate for 2G devices? Seed's combat is far more enjoyable than Inotia 2's, imo. Inotia 2 has a more turn based system where you just tap the attack button and it's automated, where in Seed (with the melee weapons) you have a 3-attack combo, similar to Zenonia which adds more action-y stuff to the combat. For some reason, I've been playing Seed more than Inotia 2. They are both great games though and Across Age will probably be as well, when it's released.
well forgive me if im rude, but i really think seed sucks, the animations are cruel, not that well done, the overal graphics are in my opinion not done, and the story? well more of the same, seen it, been there, done that. if they kept the game a little longer so they could really polish things up it would be a great game, now ive allready deleted it. the thing i do liked was that you are not bound to one class, but you level them the way you want, thats a real thumbs up
Seed is ok, but controls reaaly irk me. You can only go up down left and right and the control pad takes time to get used to. Also, you're constantly fighting enemies stronger than you, which results in way too many deaths. The music loops with a pause between every part,but is likeabale on the whole. I personally like the graphics in seed. Btw, seed is a cellphone port overall, ok, but for free it's pretty awesome. I don't think I'll need a new rpg in a while(unless across age comes out soon!) @ future777 seed is a full rpg that did cost 3 dollars at first, but was released to make more money out of dlc. Basically, if you put dlc in across age and made it free, this is what you'd end up with, though I expect across age would be better, as it won't be a cellphone port
Thanks everyone for your analysis and impressions. Time to post a new AA screenshot in return (production screenshot #13) Yes, it runs smooth on 2G devices.
Looks like a game I was waiting for. Lately relased SEED looks promising only at the beginning. After about 3, 4 hours of ganeplay it starts to bore, especially with numerous similar quests type of 'Find and bring', which I hate persoonally. I miss there also lack of real tutorial, where we could learn how to combine or refine items, learn about it's grades and moreover. Future777, thank You for a tip, it had risen flames buring inside me when I am looking at this game. Its hard to be RPG lover
Aw, release date says February 2010, I was hoping it would be January at least. Ah well, I can wait a bit longer if it means more time to work on the game 8D
@future777 I know this will sound controversial, but I personaly prefer seed. The single reason is due to the fighting system. In seed, toucan use your weapon in any area that has enemies, even if there aren't enemies around. Also, when you attack, you do a three shot combo, which feels more fun for me. You can also avoid enemy attack while attacking badguys by doing combos then running. Those are my reasons(to all the others, I persoonally prefer seed graphics to those of inotia)
I really hope that Across Age has a decent control scheme. Because I have just tried Zenonia Lite again and the controls and the interface are just amazingly terrible. Which is a pity as othewise it looks nice. I'd really like to try something truly similar to all those famous JRPGs, action or otherwise that I keep hearing about. Yep, never had a console or a handheld until my iTouch . Oh, and those big-breasted strippers are a staple of JRPGs, I gather? They certainly seem to be in every JRPG inspired game in the appstore.
Doesn´t sound controversial - Inotia has its Pro´s; Seed has..so in the end it´s all about personal taste. Thanks for your impressions, jak56. I´m sure you´ll enjoy Across Age, too. thanks, Jarek - you´re welcome Yes, but AFAIK the main reason is the uncertain approval process length.
Across Age has a touch-interface, not like in Zenonia where you had to select all your stuff with the virtual D-Pad and Buttons. Across Age´s d-pad also has diagonal movement - overall works well for me. You could say so, yes. But there´s only one of them in AA.
Well, they are a staple of Japanese and Korean gaming in general. And, on a wider scale, Japanese/Korean modern/contemporary art. Then again, are you complaining?
Sounding like a broken record... This looks better and better and I love him carrying blocks and such like Zelda style. As far as the Seed thing goes, they banked on people buying the game and then wanting to buy DLC in addition. None of the other RPGs released at that time did. Their sales suffered but not from the pricing or DLC stuff according to a release I got from Chillingo. The bad reviews and complaints really hurt them - since it was "just another" cell phone port that looked like a cell phone port. Now in a very controversial move they make it free to encourage DLC since as Chillingo admitted, the IAP will help provide support for further development of both the game and the series. Controls, story, quests aside in Seed, the thing that gets me are the horrible loading times. I might as well be playing on a PSP. Go into a building - get a loading screen; leave the building - loading screen; change areas - loading screen; you get the point. Got to the point I didn't want to go IN any building to prevent seeing the loading screen! Across Age however looks like a complete game on its own with its own merits and in a different class than any of the other RPGs that are out there. Its based on some of my favorite RPG series and I love how they play so of course that is why I am looking forward to this game. Its unfair to throw Seed is free, now what, at a game of this caliber. This game will stand alone as an outstanding entry into a very small niche of the app store. There is no way someone comparing the two will say - gee get Seed instead since its free! And remember with this game being released in say... late Jan; sometime Feb of '10, all the hoopla and controversy of Seed will have died away and this will be the new boss of the genre. Just like some people like puzzles vs adventure games; or rpgs vs time management games; people are going to like one type or RPG over another. I happen to like several different types as I am sure many of the rest of you do as well. But the point is that you can't compare and that each game will stand or fall on its own merits. Sure you can compare them to see which one you might want to get, which has features that appeal more to you; but I can wager that many will get several different types of RPGs. You can just as well say Ravensword is 6.99 now what? Or Inotia is 7.99 now what? Its totally unfair to jump to the lowest common denominator when comparing apples to oranges. @Future777 - keep up the great work and keep those previews coming at us! Its totally satisfying to get my fix of Across Age for the time being until release, and surely will be hitting the buy button as soon as I can. You guys definitely seem to have it all together so I am sure that you know what's best for your game and marketing strategy!
I don't think it's that bad. It makes loading screens much more attractive Do You plan to add something like Market in SEED to Your 'AA'? I hope You won't because such solution limits application to only shortened branch of customers, IMO. It's better to find the rarest itm from the weakest monster than buy it in shop for 0,99$. By the way... for a long time I was waiting if one of the developers (at least one) could catch an idea to make story, theoritically the most important part of RPG game, more complicated. I mean here implementing element of choice. In conversations, just like it was in Gothic or Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, where one dialogue option affected whole gameplay. It would be extremely cool. Please, explain it to me, if You can, is it realy that hard to do? This is known disadvantage of AppStore. Sometimes good games are required to wait very long time to be approved, while crappy casual applications are accessed after day or two. New England Gamer - You are wise man, I agree with You.
It's not the between-areas loading screen that annoys me (they only take literally less than 5 seconds), it's the initial loading screen to load your game from the main menu, which takes a while. At least the art is awesome 8D I'll mimic that and ask if there's any DLC? I don't really like DLC, imo I'm still waiting for an iPhone RPG that has a really good, complicated breathtaking story. I'm not saying I expect AA to have it, but I'm hoping that one comes out
So do I. I am eagerly waiting for Blizzard's or Obsydian Entertainment entry into mobile games brand (if ever). They we could experience ports of KotOR, NWN, Dragon Age, Diablo... iPhone 3GS, even iPod Touch 2G could handle Diablo II without any problems (check out Underworlds), it's odd to me, that there is no-one brave enough to make that big step forward... Dungeon Hunter was interesting, but boring, I hope AA to be more revolutionary.
