Wachenröder (バッケンローダー), launched 8/6/1998, developed by TNS, revealed by Sega
Recreation 100! That is the second to final Saturn recreation I might be enjoying. It takes place in a steampunk like world, an island that has been minimize off from the remainder of the world by some form of mist that retains individuals in.
The sport begins with a really darkish backstory for the primary character (Lucian); he’s born in a slum in one of many six districts of the island, the place there’s a heavy water therapy plant that fills the world with air pollution and magnesium. His little sister is certainly one of many who are suffering from a losing illness that forestalls them from having the ability to exit into the sunshine. Ultimately he decides to enter some form of match to earn cash for her drugs, however whereas he’s out registering for it, she dies. He vows vengeance on Sword Grasp Duran, the chief of the world. The sport then switches to 4 years later, when he’s wandering round aimlessly.
Lucian quickly meets Carol, a girl who can also be in search of Duran — however Duran is quickly overthrown and compelled to flee for treason, which brings a bounty hunter into the occasion as effectively who’s trying to get the cash for Duran. The plot proceeds from right here, involving the mysterious “forest dwellers” who appear to have uncommon know-how, the six “sword masters” who rule the areas, and the key of a catastrophe that sunk a close-by island.
The story is pretty good, and has voiced dialogue for a great a part of it. It’s a bit quick and the ending is cursory however total it’s entertaining. There are a whole lot of names within the recreation which are taken from actual stuff, like Titus Groan (the hero of the Gormenghast books), Fatboy Slim, and Franky Zappa.
The story is partly narrated by Verbet, a blind girl who additionally seems as a personality within the recreation, and partly simply common story sequences.
The sport is the standard participant/enemy flip. Every character begins with 99 motion factors, that can be utilized to maneuver, assault, and use particular strikes. Any AP left over will be transformed to “calm down”, which is essential for the general assault system.
It doesn’t appear to be I bought a screenshot of it, however all of the weapons are these chainsaw-style motor weapons. You’ll be able to select an influence between 1-5 for every assault, or use a particular assault, or a super-special assault. These all add warmth to your weapon, which you need to calm down — weapons will calm down mechanically between turns based mostly on the temperature and climate, however you may also redirect leftover AP to cooling down. In case your weapon will get too sizzling, you’ll overheat and will be unable to behave for just a few turns.
Numerous phases even have switches that it’s worthwhile to manipulate to boost and decrease boundaries, open gates, and such.
Some characters have weapons or bows that may make ranged assaults, however most are simply “sword” assaults.
The system is attention-grabbing and enjoyable to play with, however the recreation is extraordinarily simple — one of many best SRPGs I’ve performed. You often solely must tackle just a few enemies at a time, and you’ll defeat them with highly effective assaults after which calm down earlier than preventing the subsequent ones. There are solely a few phases that require any thought past simply fundamental move-attack, together with the ultimate stage which is barely difficult (however nonetheless not that onerous.)
You by no means improve your weapons in any means however you possibly can equip three gadgets to every character. The merchandise equip is a bit complicated as a result of you may have a number of slots (head/arm/foot/and many others) nevertheless it’s not at all times clear why sure gadgets can solely go in sure slots. There are outlets earlier than a few of the phases.
Total I might say this recreation is OK. The world is attention-grabbing and the environment of the sport is appropriately grim and gray, whereas nonetheless providing some attention-grabbing issues exterior of the standard “ruined metropolis” cyberpunk state of affairs. The story is serviceable and has some good elements, nevertheless it’s too quick and the ending is rushed (I ponder in the event that they needed to speed up the event as a result of the Saturn was in its waning interval). The system has some good concepts however the recreation is very easy that it feels such as you don’t usually must get significantly in-depth — particularly, the possibly attention-grabbing query of getting to commerce off assault energy vs. warmth usually makes no distinction as a result of you need to use highly effective assaults after which simply produce other characters struggle whilst you calm down. About midway by means of the sport you begin getting the Sword Masters in your occasion, and they’re way more highly effective than your different characters.
In a means that is just like another late-system video games I’ve performed (like Power Breaker) that appear to have been a bit rushed as a result of they wished to get the sport out earlier than the system was now not viable…though I don’t know if that was the case right here.
