Yes, really. They don't fuck around, which is unfortunate since this game is taking itself way too seriously.

Microsoft's marketing division really knows how to speak to... the baby boomer generation. Expect to see them advertise the shit out of this in AARP magazine.

I still thought the commercial was pretty cool. If the game turns out to be decent, I might actually want to find a roommate with a 360.

Yeah, fuck buying one of those things!

It looks like this game sucks something terrible. Some of the reviews say the story is good but don't really elaborate on that much. Anybody played it yet?

The reviews I read say the game is good. The character development is great. The battle system is fun, even if it is very standard by this point. It has its flaws, loading times for one. So, all in all, it's a good RPG. I guess that means everyone will think it sucks and not play it.

The reviews on 1up and Kotaku weren't glowing. Both of them mentioned that the story was the high point but the turn based combat, constant loading cutscenes, random encounters, and poor design all brought the game down. For me, any combat system that relies on timed button combinations to pull off moves isn't worth playing. That was the one aspect of Xenogears that I hated.

If anything, Final Fantasy XII taught us that Jesus loves us and that RPGs can have a crappy storyline if the gameplay is really, really good. But is the opposite still true - that a good storyline can make up for hackneyed push-button gameplay?

That is why I play RPG's, because I like to hear a good story first. Interesting worlds and destinations 2nd. The other stuff is just peripheral.

Double post!

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/30354.html

I think this reviews makes it seem like a great game. Exactly what many RPG fans want.

It is pretty damn good from my experience so far. I sat down to try it out after picking it up that day and ended up playing for 6 hours without realising it.

Sure the loading times and random battles (after having not played a game with them for so long) are a little annoying, but you get used to them and pretty much everything else in the game is great so far. It made me remember why I fell in love with turn based RPGs in the first place.

I can't say that gameplay, art direction, and graphics don't matter to me more when it comes to RPGs. Storylines are great and all but if I'm not having fun playing it and it doesn't have any visual appeal, I'm not going to stick around for 100+ hours.

It's easy to forget a crappy storyline if you have lots of fights and missions, but it's a lot more difficult to forgive shitty gameplay.

Your comment reminds me of Shadow Hearts: Covenant -- a well-rounded story populated with likable characters (save for the stale but totally hottt main character) and endearing situations, though a game plagued with dumb character designs, merely decent visuals, and a boring battle system. That the game took place during World War I was so awesome, though its downsides ultimately didn't make up for it in my opinion.

Yeah, the fighting system sucked in that one. The mini game where you find the gay pornography for the dress makers was a little weird too.

But that was so awesome!!!!!!! How many games have you searching the whole world for gay porn to feed the insatiable, lewd hunger of a pair of queer tailors so as to barter the porn for new costumes???

...ONE!

Seriously, guys? Seriously?

Shadow Hearts: Covenant is one of my favorite games. As for the battle system, Dean, did you have terrible timing or something? I will always applaud a battle system that does away with mashing on attack commands and keeps things interesting.

Also,

Matt said:
populated with likable characters [...] though a game plagued with dumb character designs

Eh?

Yes, that's right. You can like a character that looks really dumb for his development and personality. I like you, don't I??

You should get your eyeballs checked, then, because I am both famously personable and blessed with a gorgeous Arabian facade.