Mea Tulpa

LAPSE C...

Tatterdemalion is another of the best scenarios from the first year of BoE. But even in that era, I felt it lacked polish. It is creative and certainly worth playing, but I found it much harder to get into than other scenarios. It had some elements that were pretty cool by themselves, but as a whole, it just didn't come together. If it wasn't released so early on (and didn't win the first contest, something that still confuses me), it wouldn't have made such a big splash. Average

Well, define "viable." You can pick any of the classes, and if you focus your skill points into a couple of related skills, you will have a viable build, definitely for Normal and often for Torment as well. A properly constructed shaping build will produce a stronger character in terms of your party's combat ability, and you will have a much easier time on Torment. That does not make other builds "unworkable" though.

By far the most thoughtfully constructed scenario I've played, and one that I am drawn to replay time and again. The scenario's world is fleshed out with vigor, creativity, and elegant internal consistency -- it even connects to and expands on the world of Exile without chafing or continuity issues, a rare accomplishment. Gameplay, varied and well-balanced; dialogue, superb; plot, twisty and engaging; the ending, surprising and satisfying. There are a few bugs and the combat and custom graphics no longer stand out, although for its time (the first year of BoE) it was top-of-the-line in those regards too. BEST

It's not like a Wall Ogre, I hope.

In Pralgadian Empire, scarab consumes you.

Originally Posted By: Celtic Minstrel Originally Posted By: *Logan* Most RPGs usually keep a running count for you to show off. Maybe I've just not played enough RPGs, but I didn't think that keeping track of total time played was a common feature... It is a standard feature of console RPGs. It is relatively rare on PC RPGs.

They could also automatically activate status conditions, like bless or protection, while worn.

Historically, the simpler stories have fared a lot better here. Most SWers have short attention spans and lots of their own ideas. Constraining them with multiple pages of esoteric yet oddly particular background is not an enticement. I know you don't see it as constrainment, but that's because those are your ideas. And I'm not saying they're bad ideas, but they are very particular and aren't going to appeal to everyone. That kind of detailed setting would fare better in an AIMhack format where you take on the role of DM, I think.

Originally Posted By: Shakespeare And whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds, Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns, As if a double hunt were heard at once, Let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise

Whiny postmodern novelist.

CORRECT!

#6 is from the original Lufia, although it IS describing events that actually took place DURING Lufia II. The thing is, Secret of Evermore is way better than Secret of Mana could ever hope to be. (SoM / SD 2, anyway. SD 3 was pretty good.)

Wolfenstein was TOTALLY available on the SNES. Not #8, though.

11 -- No, but it IS an Enix game. It's a much better game than Illusion of Gaia, too. 15 -- Actually, there is no Podunk in Earthbound AKA Mother 2. Podunk is in Earthbound Zero AKA Mother. But yeah -- I very nearly put down "name the other game with Podunk" as a bonus question. P.S. Aren't you amazed that I made a list of SNES games and managed not to mention Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Kart, or Super Metroid? I know I'm amazed.

All of the quotes listed here are the FIRST LINE of a classic SUPER NINTENDO game. That means either the first line of the prologue, or if there is no mandatory prologue the first text you see when playing the game. If you have a guess at the answer to one or more questions, post them! I'll strike out the quotes as they are correctly guessed. There is only one rule: Do not use Google to find the answers. Seriously, this just takes the fun out of it for other people. NAME THAT CLASSIC SUPER NES GAME BY ITS FIRST LINE 1. THE YEAR IS 2050. And the megaplexes are monsters casting long shadows. (Shadowrun; found by Lilith) 2. BIG MAN is strong and has great endurance. His boomerang axe is powerful but slow. 3. A voice came from above. "My follower, since you will be able to speak with all living things, you should have a name." (Soul Blazer; found by Lilith) 4. Long ago, the War of the Magi reduced the world to a scorched wasteland, and magic simply ceased to exist. (Final Fantasy 6 AKA Final Fantasy III in the US; found by Nikki) 5. This is the story of Harley: genius, scientist, and all-around cool dude. Whether he is flying his jetpack or inventing an experimental shrinker machine, he is in total control. Until one day... 6. Without warning, the island suddenly appeared in the sky. Four foul and wicked beings claimed it for themselves. (Lufia: The Fortress of Doom; Lilith was close; found by Alorael) 7. Hiiiiiiii kids! Some pesky rats have infested my lovely fun house and I need your help to get rid of them! (Krusty's Super Fun House; found by Lilith; yes, oh god) 8. Every one hundred years the forces of good mysteriously start to weaken. Thus, the power of Dracula starts to revive itself. His power grows stronger and stronger every one hundred years. (Cabadath was close) (Super Castlevania; found by Alorael) 9. ......, I don't have enough strength ......, Give yourself to God Pray to God! Praise God! You must become God's strength ...... (Breath of Fire II; found by Lilith; MAN that was a great game) 10. Help me... Please help me... I am a prisoner in the dungeon of the castle. (The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past; found by Nikki) 11. About 4.6 billion years ago, the "Sun" had nine smaller stars and named the third one "Gaia" 12. We, the Lords of Waterdeep, have gathered to purge our city of an ancient evil. (Eye of the Beholder; found by Ephesos) 13. NOM ENGINEER WORK SYSTEM Model CPS-9204 Copyright © 2105, 2109, 2114 NOM Corporation All Rights Reserved (Mega Man X; found by Lilith; om nom nom) 14. Actually, he's already here.... 15. Podunk, U.S.A. Fall, 1965. An experiment is about to conclude... "My friends, prepare to be a part of history!" (Secret of Evermore; found by Alorael)

I think #5 may share part of its engine with the earlier Ys games.

I believe he just called Shakespeare a game player. You know, like he said: "...and all the men and women merely players."

HINTS 5. This is often considered a classic RPG, but I've never been able to get any enjoyment out of it, nor have I understood why anyone would call it an RPG. It's a platformer with a few statistics and a giant tree. 6. The opening scenes involve a zeppelin and a magical bag of candy. 8. "Somewhere, long ago, there was a very tomboyish princess..." 9. Think about it. Who would oppose a king of scorching? 10. This is the definition of a classic. 11. This one is fairly obscure. It was translated by the Spoony Bard. 12. The introduction to this game was greatly truncated from other versions. I've heard it suggested that the date in #3 was inspired by the original Terminator movie, which predates the game by five years. Very different story, though.

Actually, I think there may be a few other goofs with humility-tagged questions in the NES version, including one at the bottom of a @#$@# dungeon. And that's fair enough. I just love the horribly fake NES drums.

Please. The Deathmatch is FINALLY over. Let it rest in peace

How did they substantially change the gameplay, dialogue, and plot? I know some gameplay changes, but they weren't substantial, were they? Likewise, the dialogue system changed, but the dialogue itself didn't change substantially, did it? And I thought the plot was unaltered? Originally Posted By: Lilith man i ain't gotten in a proper console war since forever Why go to the next level when you can go light years beyond?

Originally Posted By: Lilith (Kinda disappointed you didn't extend this to include 8-bit games in general, but I guess Phantasy Star's opening line would be too much of a giveaway to anyone who's played it at all.) Originally Posted By: Nioca Now, hit me with quotes from the SNES or N64, on the other hand, and I'd probably nail two or three of them. An SNES opening lines version is already in the works. SMS games are just not well known enough. I was aiming for lines that might sound familiar, and then will make somebody say, "omg! yes" when they hear the answer. Quote: edit: this post basically exists as an excuse for me to namedrop phantasy star, the best 8-bit RPG (if you don't count the rare sega master system release of Ultima 4) There was also an NES release of Ultima 4, which featured enough graphics and music changes to substantially alter the atmosphere of the game. Personally, I love the NES version -- the soundtrack really made the game for me.

*facemechanicalpalm*

The quotes thread inspired me to pull out this old meme. All of the quotes listed here are the FIRST LINE of a classic NES game. That means either the first line of the prologue, or if there is no mandatory prologue the first text you see when playing the game. If you have a guess at the answer to one or more questions, post them! I'll strike out the quotes as they are correctly guessed. There is only one rule: Do not use Google to find the answers. Seriously, this just takes the fun out of it for other people. NAME THAT CLASSIC NES GAME'S FIRST LINE 1. Now it is the beginning of a fantastic story! (Bubble Bobble; found by Thuryl) 2. In the early 1900's, a dark shadow covered a small country town in rural America. At that time, a young married couple vanished mysteriously from their home. (Mother AKA Earthbound Zero; found by Alorael) 3. 1997, October 1, The END DAY (Crystalis; found by Matanbuchus) 4. First you draw a circle, Then you dot the eyes. (Kirby's Adventure; Thuryl was close, found by Alorael) 5. I've been on a long journey. I came back to my home town to find it is almost deserted. 6. 1905. New York. (Little Nemo the Dream Master; found by Alorael) 7. The world is veiled in darkness. The wind stops, the sea is wild, and the earth begins to rot. (Final Fantasy; found by Thuryl) 8. This is a story about royal soldiers of a small country called Burland. (Nikki was close) 9. For many years, King Scorch had plotted to take over the world. 10. Emergency Order (Metroid; found by Nikki) 11. The people of Greece have been suffering. Is the throne in danger? (The Ratt was close) 12. We have been waiting for you a long time. I can see into the future. I shall foretell your destiny. Listen carefully... (Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar; found by B.J. Earles) 13. It's dangerous to go alone! Take this. (The Legend of Zelda; found by Nioca) SUBMITTED BY DANTIUS 14. IN A.D. 2101 WAR WAS BEGINNING.