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[wicked ryoko]

Tales of the Abyss is awsome.  Currently I'm in Jade's hometown (forgot it's name atm) and I'm actually fighting those treants till I get $160,000 for that ultra powerful sword for either Luke or Guy.  See... If I get it, I won't need a new sword for him until after...  you beat Van for the first time

[Kajitani-Eizan]

ehh, why bother? you should be able to score a katana from din's shop really easily, iirc. that or the horribly easy to get arena weapon. or the last fencer from din's shop, which looks totally sweet.

[Goshi]

Ugh. I'm about to give up on the D3 postgame. The overpoweredness of the skills just gets worse and worse. I'm tired of using an exploit to gain levels, I'd rather be fighting balanced enemies of decent levels, while powering up items and getting specialists in the item world.

Hows it any different from Makai Kingdom where in the main storyline where Sorcerers and Witches can kill anything and everything in one hit with their spells?

Incidentally, its also better to level up an entire party in Makai Kingdom instead of one character. I can't imagine trying to fight Yoshitsuna going solo. Then again levelling up in Makai Kingdom is faster than all the other games, IMO.

[Cless]

It's been so long but I recall keeping a party in MK because it was easier to keep a party leveled. The lack of item leveling and specialist gathering made that easier. In Disgaea the process of leveling of items and gaining specialists is so slow that it's only really feasible to make one mega character. And it usually works out so well.

The problem is just how freaking much power the skills gain with every level. The power scales like this:

Default: 100%
Level 1: 120%
Level 2: 150%
Level 3: 190%
Level 4: 240%
Level 5: 300%
Level 6: 370%
Level 7: 450%
Level 8: 540%
Level 9: 640%

That's WAY. TOO. MUCH. SP costs of course go through the roof, but when the enemies are only going to be around for a few turns, the SP costs for them are moot. So they can just kick your ass as they please while you have to be very conservative  to get through ten levels of the item world because the best item you can buy only heals 450 SP.

[Goshi]

Incidentally, its also better to level up an entire party in Makai Kingdom instead of one character.

Whoops forgot Phantom Brave as well due to the way the confine system works. Levels didn't really matter so much in PB though. All you really needed was a high level weapon with uber stats and skills.

Default: 100%
Level 1: 120%
Level 2: 150%
Level 3: 190%
Level 4: 240%
Level 5: 300%
Level 6: 370%
Level 7: 450%
Level 8: 540%
Level 9: 640%

Wow.... just... wow.

you have to be very conservative  to get through ten levels of the item world because the best item you can buy only heals 450 SP.

I thought the main strategy in item world is to have a unit with flying type movement go through the gate to the next floor and only do actual fighting when it comes to the Item General/King/God. Unless they removed gates now ==;

[Cless]

I thought the main strategy in item world is to have a unit with flying type movement go through the gate to the next floor and only do actual fighting when it comes to the Item General/King/God. Unless they removed gates now ==;

That's what you do when you only want to power up items or get specialists. I liked to use the item world as a place to level. Grinding on one story map gets so dull after awhile.

[Cless]

Moving onto...



I haven't even gotten my second party member yet and Yuri is already better than every other main character in the series stitched together. Could be the best RPG main since uh... the Yuri in Shadow Hearts 1+2. Damn. Yuris are awesome. We need more main characters named Yuri, it seems! Let's see if he manages to stack up to Lenneth, IMO the best lead character of all time.

Really liking most of what I've heard of the soundtrack too. I love the cold atmosphere this castle tune conveys. Let's hope Tamura stays off the ticket for good. It's showing a lot of promise that it could be the best Tales soundtrack involving Sakuraba since all the way back to Phantasia.

[wicked ryoko]

Oooh someone that's played the first Shadow Hearts!  Very nice.  I don't know many that have.  But Yuri in that game was really awsome, and although getting to him was a bit annoying, I liked having Haley in my party.

[ForceCube]

Oooh someone that's played the first Shadow Hearts!  Very nice.  I don't know many that have.  But Yuri in that game was really awsome, and although getting to him was a bit annoying, I liked having Haley in my party.

Just so you know, the first Shadow Hearts is one of my all-time favorite RPGs, and one of the few on the PS2 I actually played because I wanted to and not because I was bored as hell.

I admit I would have liked Covenant better, though, if it didn't have that PS2 RPG feeling to it (voiced dialogue, 3D backgrounds, having to watch the cutscenes instead of just reading the dialogue and advancing it with X... guess I'm too old for modern RPGs ) and if it didn't pick up from the ending where Alice dies on the first game. I love Alice.

And I haven't even tried FTNW yet... but with everyone and their mother saying it's the worst in the series, I'm almost sure I'll love it.

[wicked ryoko]

Shadow Hearts was a game I found in the rental store, thought, "What the hay!" and played.  Bought it as soon as I could after that.  Also it's too bad about the second game with Alice,  especially since you can actually save her life.  I managed to do that once.

[Kevassa]

Just so you know, the first Shadow Hearts is one of my all-time favorite RPGs, and one of the few on the PS2 I actually played because I wanted to and not because I was bored as hell.

I admit I would have liked Covenant better, though, if it didn't have that PS2 RPG feeling to it (voiced dialogue, 3D backgrounds, having to watch the cutscenes instead of just reading the dialogue and advancing it with X... guess I'm too old for modern RPGs ) and if it didn't pick up from the ending where Alice dies on the first game. I love Alice.

And I haven't even tried FTNW yet... but with everyone and their mother saying it's the worst in the series, I'm almost sure I'll love it.

I thought PS2 games overall were like that too, but they are enjoyable (some of them) if you take the time to see what makes it unique and enjoyable! 

[Cless]

Eh, I thought SH1 was merely the appetizer before the feast that was Covenant. I though was Covenant better in nearly every single way.

Vesperia continues to be awesome incarnate. I was worried that it would be really hard to top Abyss, but am very happy to see that they've managed it. But I'm now scared that after this they'll never create a main character 1/4 as awesome as Yuri Lowell ever again.

Estelle is Ms. Naive, but pulls it off so much better than Colette. Her naivete moments are cute and funny, not so annoying and seemingly forced. Well, except maybe her "I'm sorry if I hurt you!" line at the start of a lot of battles, but...

[Kevassa]

Eh, I thought SH1 was merely the appetizer before the feast that was Covenant. I though was Covenant better in nearly every single way.

Vesperia continues to be awesome incarnate. I was worried that it would be really hard to top Abyss, but am very happy to see that they've managed it. But I'm now scared that after this they'll never create a main character 1/4 as awesome as Yuri Lowell ever again.

Estelle is Ms. Naive, but pulls it off so much better than Colette. Her naivete moments are cute and funny, not so annoying and seemingly forced. Well, except maybe her "I'm sorry if I hurt you!" line at the start of a lot of battles, but...

One question, is ToV slower than abyss? Ive seen some vids and the game doesnt seem as fast...

[Cless]

I'm not sure if it's slower than Abyss. But if it is, then it's more like Rebirth in that regard. Slower, but more intense than usual. Sometimes you have to fight like 7 or 8 enemies at once... and not just small ones. Free run isn't nearly as abusable so it's a lot harder to use it to easily avoid attacks. This game is surprisingly difficult.

[Goshi]

Well my copy finally arrived so I'm now playing Disgaea 3. Story is a lot more interesting than D2's so far though the gameplay feels just like D2 only with a few enhancements. Currently up to Chapter 3 though I'm working on unlocking all the classes so I can get my final party settled.

[Kevassa]

I'm not sure if it's slower than Abyss. But if it is, then it's more like Rebirth in that regard. Slower, but more intense than usual. Sometimes you have to fight like 7 or 8 enemies at once... and not just small ones. Free run isn't nearly as abusable so it's a lot harder to use it to easily avoid attacks. This game is surprisingly difficult.

So far sounds like its hard  And its true that rebirth was slower but a lot more intense.
In that case, then I will give this a shot! A huge playthrough playing as repede (woof!) But first Im gonna buy the console xP Since now its cheaper I should be able to buy it