I've recently replayed through this for the second time using an old PSP and I was struck by how it still stands up as a unique CRPG experience. The atmosphere/sound of it is second to none and it's a fantastic example of how historical research can bolster the believability of your setting-the setting of Lea Monde is apparently heavily based on Saint-Émilion in France and it's very visually rich, even with the graphics from 2000. Anime graphics really put me off a lot of computer RPG's and it's great to see something so fresh.
In addition to this, the combat system encourages a very deep, customisable method of play, and weapon crafting is worryingly addictive. For those that haven't played, essentially every weapon has the equivalent of a character sheet, with different elemental affinities for the blade as well as types of damage (blunt, piercing, slashing) and you can combine the blades to optimise them for use against certain enemies or situations. (see picture)
(http://i.imgur.com/qi7vr.jpg)
This is used with a quirky location based combat system that rewards timed button presses to "chain" attacks, extending the amount of damage done before enemies can take their turn. This is itself not without it's hazards as the more you gamble on extending the chains, the less chance you have to hit and the more damage and percentage of taking a crit you receive from your enemies.
If I had any criticisms it would be that there are rarely more than four enemies to contend with per "room", and that there's some annoying block pushing puzzles that my illogical mind can't handle (very few of them, less than 10 in a 30 hour + game)
Any other fans of this underrated game?
I loved it back in the day, but I bought it on the PSOne Classics for my PS3 and I just cannot get the timing of the system down now. Very frustrating.
Quote from: AndrewSFTSN;641741I've recently replayed through this for the second time using an old PSP and I was struck by how it still stands up as a unique CRPG experience. The atmosphere/sound of it is second to none and it's a fantastic example of how historical research can bolster the believability of your setting-the setting of Lea Monde is apparently heavily based on Saint-Émilion in France and it's very visually rich, even with the graphics from 2000. Anime graphics really put me off a lot of computer RPG's and it's great to see something so fresh.
I do love it's fantasy-Metal-Gear-Solid-esque art style. I don't think it would work with anything else; it was a brilliant example of working within the very strict limits of the hardware.
Gameplay-wise, I always really wanted to like it, but was just never able to sink enough time into it to properly "get" the combat and weapon systems. But still, one of the better RPG's of that generation.