RPG Mania 2023 - The Octo-Path to Redemption - Congrats to SWWDevereux! (Completed)

[SWWDevereux]

9 hours ago, Psy-Tychist said:

For September the Seasonal Stacker will be Fun School Activities. 

 

The stacker is not for being at school or for going to class, but for doing activities that don't involve schoolwork. 

So is it a requirement that the characters must be attending school? And then the activity must be outside of regular school criteria like clubs, home study sessions or ...festivals? I feel like there's a slight over lap with the last stacker heheh. I was expecting something harvest related like games that feature farms or growing crops or something for Autumn.

 

I will not likely be getting around to playing one of my double points games: Trails to Azure so please can this be changed to Final Fantasy X?

 

Also on the subject of valid games, would Theatrythm: Final Bar Line count? It's a music rhythm game but features customisable parties with equipment, skills/loadouts, boss battles etc.

[acasser]

 

Platinum #4:  Persona 3 Portable

 

Double Points Game:  2 * [100 + 65 (trophies / 25B + 5S + 5G) - 11.40 (completion) ] + 50 (seasonal stacker / see spoiler) = 357.20

 

I've said this before a couple of times in RPG Manias past and I guess I haven't yet learned my lesson.  Score another victory for nostalgia over quality gaming.

 

For those of you who played the "original" but not this remake, it's based off the PSP version and not the PS2 version.  So the graphics are a big step down because of the baseline.  The music for the FeMC version sucks, but I'll write that off as "not to my taste" combined with happy memories of the original's soundtrack that I very much missed while grinding away.  And the storyline for the FeMC side?  Ye gods, it's awful.  It's obvious that this was a slipshod effort thrown together and round pegs shoved into square holes for whatever reason the Powers That Be at Atlus decided this was necessary.  The social links are clumsy and forced and large chunks of the game don't make a whole lot of sense in this revised format.

 

About the only good thing I'll say for P3P is that there were some gameplay improvements from the PS2 original.  And a little bit of extra challenge with the VIsion Quest doors and the Margaret fight.  But it's also obvious how far the series has come in the last two iterations (P4, P5), from the further improvements to the various systems in-game to the writing (plot / social links).  So I'm glad this one is over with, although I'll probably reprise these complaints when I get around to P4G in a few months.

 

Spoiler

Persona 3 features a "Film Festival" during the summer vacation period.  It also has the expected "school festival" on the calendar, only it gets rained out by a passing typhoon.  Which leads a number of male classmates to lament that the Archery Club was going to do a Maid Cafe and now they can't ogle/perv on one of your female teammates who was going to do dress-up for it.

 

[Psy-Tychist]

On 8/25/2023 at 11:49 PM, SWWDevereux said:

So is it a requirement that the characters must be attending school? And then the activity must be outside of regular school criteria like clubs, home study sessions or ...festivals? I feel like there's a slight over lap with the last stacker heheh. I was expecting something harvest related like games that feature farms or growing crops or something for Autumn.

 

I will not likely be getting around to playing one of my double points games: Trails to Azure so please can this be changed to Final Fantasy X?

 

Also on the subject of valid games, would Theatrythm: Final Bar Line count? It's a music rhythm game but features customisable parties with equipment, skills/loadouts, boss battles etc.

Well, I have to be a little bit different than what was expected.

 

No, the character doesn't have to be attending school, but the fun activities are things you would do at school or around it. 

 

I will amend you x2 game too. Theatrythm is a music game along the lines of Melody of Memory. The levelling up in the game actually does nothing to help beating enemies in the game and the skills just help to beat more enemies for missions. Sadly, it will not count even though it is cute as hell.

[SWWDevereux]

Completion #26

 

Bug Fables

 

What an absolutely incredible game. I've had this 'Paper Mario' game shelved for years as a low priority, I thought it'd be a fun little attempt at re-creating the magic from the first two Paper Mario titles but it manages to smash any expectations I had and sits proudly alongside The Thousand Year Door as an equal imo.

 

Crazy fun combat (with a Hard mode!!) < I always wanted Paper Mario to be more challenging and this game delivers that. Great story, characters, visuals, music, puzzles, side content... this game really is amazing, I know I'm late to the party but I can't recommend it enough.

 

100 + (6xG, 11xS, 12xB) = 170 - 26.96+ 50 speed run (50th/787) + 125 seasonal stacker (#4) = 318.04

 

Seasonal stacker:

 

 

 

 

Edited August 29, 2023 by SWWDevereux
Points error

[Slifer1945]

lots of progress here i have been looking at the rpg genre on this site and ps store and by watching my trophielist those are the games i have my eyes on to finish final fantasy 7 original tales of arise final fantasy 7 remake hogwarts legacy crysis core final fantasy 7reunion for now my next other games wil be torchlight 2 and 3 bioshock the whole collection dead island2 final fantasy 8 remastered those are the games that i going to finish 

[Laburnski]

Update #21 ( 267.93 )

 

Death end re;Quest 2

100 + 70 = 170 - 27.07 = 142.93 + 50 ( Speedrun ) + 75 ( Seasonal ) = 267.93

 

Seasonal ( Festival )

 

Spoiler

Very Wholesome festival

 

[YokA_sun]

16th update:

 

Remnant II: 100+(6x1+2x15+1x34=)70-16.49(rarity)+50(Speedrun)=203.51

Atlas Fallen: 100+(6x4+2x10+1x22=)66-23.53(rarity)+50(New game)=192.47

 

Remnant II is such a great experience the second best game for me this year so far. It got everything I expected from Diablo4 (yet D4 failed to deliver).  Remnant II was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it although I don't play much shooter games. Just be aware of the trophy glitch with the counter issue it took me extra playthrough to just grind for one trophy and it cost me new game  🙃 As long as you don't join others' multiplayer game you are fine (host is okay). 

 

And may I use the chance to remove Diablo 4 from my double points game and use Baldur's Gate 3? It takes me years to plat D4 if I will ever pick it up again. 

[viola9fantasy]

Update #2

 

 ROGUE GALAXY: 100 + 50 (5xG, 8xS, 4xB) = 150 - 5.55 (platinum rarity) - 10 (27% completion before event) = 134.45 *3 (Triple  Point Game) = 403.35 

 

Rogue Galaxy was a game that initially captured my heart and imagination. However, with the passage of time, its flaws have become more apparent. The plot's emotional elements felt forced, and the system innovations were more style than substance. While it still has its merits, I couldn't renew my love for it after all these years.

[Xylobe]

Checking in with 3 more completions!

 

Cat Quest II doesn't have any bonuses, so:

100 + (6*8) + (2*5) + (1*6) - 64.74 = 99.26 points

 

Monster Hunter Rise was my triple point pick, but doesn't get any other bonuses, so:

(100 + (6*2) + (2*9) + (1*38) - 7.02) * 3 = 482.94 points

 

Sea of Stars is eligible for the new game bonus, as well as the speedrun (I'm currently 3 of 119):

100 + (6*4) + (2*8) + (1*30) - 2.91 + 50 + 50 = 267.09 points

 

@Psy-Tychist Would it be possible for me to change one of my double point games? I've done so once already, but that was because Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak didn't end up having its own trophy list. My saves for Atelier Rorona Plus are bugged such that getting the plat isn't possible, and I'd sooner throw in the towel than start over. I'd like to swap it out for Rune Factory 4 Special if I can.

[reaperveteran86]

Update 10:

Jack Move (EU)

75 + 19 (1xG,4xS,5xB) - 41,35 (rarest trophy)= 52,65

A very short (+/-5 hours for the main story) cyberpunk rpg with turn based combat and a really good soundtrack.

Total Score: 1242,42

[Laburnski]

Update #22 ( 209.8 )

 

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

100 + 67 = 167 - 15.20 = 151.8 + 50 ( Speedrun ) = 201.8

 

DLC 1 = 2

 

DLC 2 = 2

 

DLC 3 = 2

 

DLC 4 = 2

 

Total = 209.8

[YokA_sun]

17th update:

 

The Caligula Effect: Overdose  100+(6x5+2x3+1x28=)64-19.51(rarity)+50(Speedrun 2/9)+50(seasonal #1)=244.49

 

 

Spoiler

Going to idol concert at school is fun. Befriending 500 students + reaching bond max is also "fun"? trophy NOT!

 

[SWWDevereux]

Completions #27 & #28

 

Final Fantasy

 

100 + (7xG, 6xS, 10xB) = 164 - 74.42 + 50 speed run (37th/5,510) + 175 series stacker (#7) = 314.58

 

 

Sea of Stars

 

100 + (4xG, 8xS, 30xB) = 170 - 4.61 + 50 new game + 50 speed run + 50 seasonal stacker = 315.39

 

Seasonal Stacker:

 

 

Spending time with friends in a hidden/secret base/hideout was one of the most fun things to do as a kid.

Keeping in touch via letters even when apart is another example of fun things to do with school pals.

Also, I thought it was funny that when Valere and Zale aren't training or studying, they spend all their free time... sewing clothes together. Very random and the game never talks about this activity again after the intro.

 

 

Edited February 1 by SWWDevereux
Fix points

[Slifer1945]

On 8/25/2023 at 3:23 PM, Psy-Tychist said:

As September will roll around, Summer is coming to an end and Autumn is beginning soon. As the holiday ends, the new school term starts again and students come back refreshed and eager to learn. Well, they would do if school was fun. So, let's make school fun again! For September the Seasonal Stacker will be Fun School Activities. 

 

The stacker is not for being at school or for going to class, but for doing activities that don't involve schoolwork. Writing a love letter, doing an after school night-time study session, organising a game night with your peers, the options are all there. Just think, if it was something fun you did while at school, it will most likely count.

 

I will be going back through submissions to check on validity as I know some games have the RPG tag but don't really have any proper RPG elements, but I am glad of all the fun games that everyone is playing.

those seasonal bonus is really fun that is more the competitieve way after being away from playing other genres wich is my fault i am playing tales of arise now what a wonderful game 

[Laburnski]

Update #23 ( 199.03 )

 

Langrisser I & II

100 + 70 = 170 - 20.97 = 149.03 + 50 ( Speedrun ) = 199.03

 

 

[SWWDevereux]

Completion #29 is a big one~

 

Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World

 

This is my call out game and BOY was it a real doozy. The most 'PS3' trophy list I've ever seen. 130+ hours across three playthroughs. Trophies for 100% skits viewed and 100% monsters captured with no in-game way of tracking what you've done. Had to keep manual lists for both as well as having to draw manual maps for the EX bonus dungeon which is a series of randomised mazes of hundreds of identical looking rooms 💀

 

Not only does the EX dungeon take 5+hours, the super boss at the end has a 5% chance of dropping an item which is required to activate a skit. The last save point is about an hour before the boss so if he doesn't drop it, reload and try again! There's a skit for capping out the monster inventory (232 monsters), skits for playing the worst fishing mini game of all time over 100 times, skits for every dang possible thing you can imagine 💀💀

 

Despite the awful trophy list, I have a love-hate relationship with this game. The OG Symphonia is my #1 favourite JRPG of all time and when I played this sequel back on the Wii, I loved the fan service and had a good time. I knew re-visiting it would sour that experience (and it has) but the nostalgia managed to get me through multiple months of painfully average gameplay. 

 

I probably would have left this game in the backlog forever if I didn't get it called out for this comp. I guess that's the nature of what we're here for 🤝

 

100 + (4xG, 10xS, 24xB) - 4.29 = 165.71 x 3 (call out) + 75 seasonal stacker (#2) = 572.13

 

Seasonal stacker:

 

Even adventurers saving the world need to keep up with their studies. Professor Sage will see to that.

When the books are down though, there's time for gossip and discussing your preferences for the ladies with your buds...

Prying into each other's fancies and teasing is also a sure thing for school friends.

Young love often comes with insecurities though.

And as OP said, love letters can also be a subject of passion in school life 

Gushing about the teacher's love life can be a fun pass time for the girls.

Lloyd's idea of 'fun' with his pals is a bit... different.

He hides jewelry he's crafted inside his cooking... one lucky person will get to keep the bracelet after breaking their teeth on it.

Colette is the best <3

[YokA_sun]

18th update:

 

Lost Judgment: 100+(6x5+2x6+1x44 with DLC=)86-15.87+50(Speedrun)+75(seasonal #2)+25(series #1)=320.13

 

Spoiler

Half the detective story revolves about school. seven club stories make it "the" school fun game aside from all the brutal action and gore.. 

 

 

 

[SWWDevereux]

Completion #30

 

Final Fantasy Type-0

 

Enjoyed this one, another FF game cleared out of the backlog. Combat was fun but is still unapologetically a clunky PSP game. I would love for Square to do another 'Persona' school system style rpg like this again.

100 + (2xG, 9xS, 38xB) = 168 - 15.28 + 50 speed run (1,535th/22,369) + 200 series stacker (#8) + 100 seasonal stacker (#3) = 502.72

 

Seasonal stacker:

 

A campfire in the woods is a classic activity to do with friends from school.

Generally though this game is all about spending time with your friends in between missions and classes.

Whether it be gossiping...

Discussing your latest venture...

Talking about little things that bother you...

Making/Breaking date plans...

Bitching about boys...

Or your parents.

There's also a cafe and bar available on campus for socialising, playing darts and other games etc.

[acasser]

Platinum #5:  Void Terrarium 2

 

100 + 64  (trophies / 14B + 9S + 6G) -  25.86 (completion) ] + 50 (speedrun / 13th fastest completion time) + 50 (seasonal stacker / see spoiler) = 238.14

 

A direct sequel to the original Void Terrarium.  The continuing adventures of Robbie and FactoryAI and Toriko, the latter being the last human alive whose ongoing story is endearing and poignant and will probably bring smiles and tears to those players who can be emotionally moved by video games.  (I'm a hard-hearted cynic and even I was moved.)  The gameplay didn't change much outside of a couple of tweaks that nerfed some of the exploitables in the first title; the story continues from one of the endings of the first game and digs much deeper into the background of the world and of Toriko in particular.

 

A little grindy at the end because of the difficulty jump for the final Danger Zone.  (Which is required because there's a fusion component that only appears on the bottom floor in there necessary for a recipe that has a trophy directly tied to it.)  But, hey.... aren't most RPGs grindy at some point, especially near the end when trophies are involved?

 

Spoiler

So you're back to taking care of Toriko, the last human and a rather young one at that.  Forget the "Tamogatchi" game that's taking care of her remotely while you dungeon dive because that would be stretching the "school" definition too far.  But you still have to maintain her terrarium living environment and you can decorate it with all sorts of stuff.  Given Toriko's (lack of) age and maturity, you're effectively taking care of a nursery school kid and a lot of the base / terrarium reflects that; you can decorate it with all sorts of stuff related to nursery school recreational activities, from painting sets to toy blocks and cars, et cetera, and Toriko will randomly play with stuff that you choose to decorate the place with at any given time.  Or she'll chase Robbie around the terrarium and play tag with him, or she'll disappear behind various environmental objects as if playing "hide and seek".

 

One of the in-game Toriko-related quests also involves making a ball for her.  Once you've done so and presented it to her, she'll alternately play "catch" or "fetch" with it should the ball be present in her environment and she's in the right mood.

 

Nursery school probably wasn't what @Psy-Tychist had at the front of his mind for this seasonal stacker, but I don't see why nursery school and its' typical activities wouldn't fall under the definition as stated a month ago.

 

[Beyondthegrave07]

Forgot to mention that I finished Danganropa V3 for another RPG game.  The game has a robust RPG side game that was fleshed out more with Danganropa Summer Camp S, but is required to get several trophies in Danganropa V3. Feels a lot like Mario Party meets classic Dragon Quest, but I really enjoyed it and didn't find it to be as grindy as others claimed.

 

Overall, the main part of the game is the trials and story mode, but this should definitely still count as a RPG. Spent as much time here as the story! 😄

 

So the score for this one is...

 

100 +(4G, 10S, 26B) 70 - 5.41 = 164.59

 

I've been killing the plats lately... unfortunately,  just not many RPGs.

[Laburnski]

Update #24 ( 250.19 )

 

Legend of Mana

100 + 69 = 169 - 12.81 = 156.19 + 50 ( Speedrun ) + 50 ( Seasonal ) = 250.19

 

Spoiler

This is a fun school activity, i know based on experience myself. Also beside the picture i posted these "good students" also do bizarre thing in library.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2023 by Laburnski

[Sendai-Horatio]

It's been awhile but I have completed more games:

 

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

 

100+70=170-32.82=137.18

 

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition

 

100+70=170-19.16=150.84

 

Horizon Forbidden West DLC Trophy Pack 1

 

3 points

 

Horizon Forbidden West DLC Trophy Pack 2

 

26 points

 

Horizon was very time intensive for the DLC. Needing to play through Ultra Hard and collecting enough Champion Tokens for the weapons took as long as a normal game itself would. Also I started Mirror's Edge Catalyst since it's online portion is being taken down in December. The genres and themes it lists here don't mention RPGs specifically, but "Open world" is one of them and the game has a leveling system, upgradable skills, and is very similar to what's featured in a Deus Ex game which is an RPG. I think Mirror's Edge Catalyst could easily fit as one.

 

 

[SWWDevereux]

Completion #31

 

Super Neptunia RPG

100 + (4xG, 13xS, 18xB) = 168 - 30.32 + 50 series stacker (#2) + 125 seasonal stacker (#4) = 312.68

 

Seasonal stacker:

 

 

I'm sure everyone can relate to this one.Playing video games with friends.

Or on your own. Staying up all night before class is a dangerous but necessary evil.

Games where you meet roids are a good choice.

Food parties are a gimme as well.

Nom.

 

 

Edited September 23, 2023 by SWWDevereux
Typo

[reaperveteran86]

Update 11:

Decay of Logos

100 + 68(5xG,15xS,8xB) - 7,17 (platinum rarity) = 160,83

My first 3D soulslike platinum (for 2D I have the Ender Lilies and Moonscars plats).

A indie soulslike with a more colorful artstyle then the original, with a lot of glitches (late loading textures, falling through the world) and a very flawed equipment system (you have only one slot for spare parts that is shared between weapons and armor pieces. The rest can be stored on your loyal elk - that don`t follow you in dungeons,has a AI that is kinda dumb and only can hold one weapon at a time - and in wells, that can hold as much equipment as you get but there are only 3 in the entire game).

For the positives: I really liked the world and how the single areas are connected with one another. It is also not that hard, as you get overleveld quite easily.

Total Score: 1403,25

[Laburnski]

Update #25 ( 329.47 )

 

Sea of Stars

100 + 70 = 170 - 15.53 = 154.47 + 50 ( New Game ) + 50 ( Speedrun ) + 75 ( Seasonal #2 ) = 329.47

 

Spoiler

https://forum.psnprofiles.com/topic/140872-rpg-mania-2023-the-octo-path-to-redemption/?do=findComment&comment=2839611