The Gamer's Quarter

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

I submit this plea because I am helpless without you all.

Phantom Brave is apparently only $20. The price is right.

So, keeping in mind that:

1) I have no history with Nippon Ichi Software
2) I have no real history with strategy RPG's or turn-based strategy games
3) I appreciate great character design, but not enough that it compensates for boring gameplay (see: psychonauts)
4) I am naturally receptive towards new experiences. (That sounds really pompous, but you'll have to just go with it.)
5) I don't have a whole lot of time to invest that I know of.

Do I pounce?

P.S. Please don't use this thread to try to convince me to buy other NIS games.
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wourme · . Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 362 Location: Maridia

Phantom Brave is the only NIS game that I found tolerable, personally. And I liked it a lot.

I think you're okay on items 1-5, except maybe on time--I don't remember the game being especially short. I didn't do many randomized dungeons and I think it still took me a while. But then, a tactical RPG is naturally broken into reasonable parts that you can take on at your own pace.

Ethoscapade · . Joined: 30 Oct 2005 Posts: 276

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

No. You won't like it.

It has the best story of the Nippon Ichi games I've played, but the strategy system is very broken and frustrating to play.

Edit: since I was thinking this post needs more context, here's some more blathering:

Given your list of #2, #3 and #5, I'd say to pass. If you had prior experience with SRPGs, you could probably pick up the Phantom Brave system fairly easily, but it is very bizarre (everyone but marona needs to be summoned and can only stay out for ~5 turns) and not the right place to dive into the genre. #3 is definitely true, the characters are great, but if you couldn't handle Psychonauts you probably wouldn't like this. Also #5, as the game took me a good year to beat playing off and on including a number of grind sessions.

I know you said not to sell you on other games, but honestly if you wanted to get into the SRPG genre, there's a few other games I'd recommend before Phantom Brave, specifically Final Fantasy Tactics, La Pucelle or Disgaea.
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