A look back at: Pokemon Liquid Crystal

Guide on Pokemon Locations here

A remake of the Johto games, specifically Crystal, is what this is. But like any other remake, this one decides to add more to it. No Sevii Islands, but this time some Orange Islands added, which while nice, ends up unfinished in the end. There's actually quite a lot to Liquid Crystal that was quite surprising though.

I enjoyed seeing Hoenn-native Pokemon, even if they were 1% encounters in most places, made things much more interesting in that regard. The level curve in the game is a lot better than the traditional Johto games too. Enhancing the plot by not only involving Team Rocket, but adding a brand new team, actually TWO brand new teams, was interesting, as was the addition of at least two new rivals (though I personally don't understand the decision to have the Tales of Phantasia battle music as Zane's rival battle music). The creators also show up in the middle of the Kanto run, for some reason just to be roadblocks as well as back-to-back battles which can certainly catch a player off-guard with their full competitive sets. There's at least four criticisms I have though:

First, what's up with the randomized weather? I actually lament calling it randomized weather because it shouldn't be, as it's either normal weather or it's just rain, the only one that's utilized. All it really can do is change up your possible strategies, preventing you from using Fire types or letting Thunder be decent or something like that. But it is not all that great in the long run.

Second, there's a distinct lack of Electric types in the Johto part of the game. I can understand not including the Mareep line as a nod to the fact that the original Crystal you couldn't get any of the Mareep line there, but what about the rest of the Electric types? The best choices are Jolteon, Voltorb, (which is in the deepest part of the Hollow Cave, really out of the way), Electrike, and Magnemite. The latter two are on Route 38, and Electrike is only a 1% encounter (both are also available more easily later, but I mean, later as in around the Dragon's Den which in my opinion is way too late), meaning a Magneton or a Jolteon is the best Electric type for a playthrough until Kanto unless you want to really hunt to get a Manectric. For the rest, Pikachu and Electabuzz are rare on Route 10, Plusle and Minun are rare in very few locations, and that's more or less it.

Third, using the Johto TMs was a nice immersion, except that there are very few moves that are actually useful at all because most of those moves weren't all that great. This meant that moves like Brick Break weren't TMs, and the only way I can use that move is to get it from a Heracross (Pinsir is not catchable in this game according to my guide). Furthermore, what's with the elemental punches? I have several Pokemon that I feel should be able to use some of these moves (Heracross, Breloom, and Metagross for example) yet they can't learn Thunderpunch for instance? However, Claydol which anatomically has really short stubs can learn both Fire Punch and Ice Punch? And Glalie can learn Thunderpunch WITHOUT HAVING ARMS OR HANDS? It's really weird. It would actually be kinda nice if more TMs were available in later department stores too, that way you don't have to worry about the one-time only TMs being wasted on a Pokemon you wouldn't use anymore.

The last main criticism is probably the burnout I received as I was trekking through Orange Islands as well as the last part of Kanto. While it makes sense that the Johto rival becomes the new leader of Team Rocket, so much that Giovanni decides that you should stop his son, it was just a goose chase of "go through familiar location, beat up grunts, find leader who narrowly misses legendary bird" until you got to Groudon. And the credits rolled after your last battle with him which was awkward. Also, you couldn't battle Red until after you talked to the weird gentlemen at Mt. Silver who were after him AND rematched the Johto League, which just isn't as fun as it seems. I liked how you could certainly continue the game after beating Red to the Orange Islands, but Team Nexus at its present honestly feels a little lame. Just the aforementioned gentlemen, the Nexus leader Zane, and the grunts who all wear the same T-shirts as Zane and seem to all choose a very select number and species of Pokemon made up this team. Grinding through them is just exhausting, and some of the routes you find them in are a little more annoying than they should be just to pass through. The idea of devices that are akin to poison damage for Pokemon though is a cool device, and it's a shame the Nexus plot remains unfinished.

There sure is a ton to Liquid Crystal, that's for sure. The best things have to be the overall encounters, but at times it can feel a lot more taxing than usual. Hopefully my guide answers some questions as to which Pokemon are available too.

A look back at: Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny

 

I'll say right now that I'm personally not a fan of the atmosphere argument when it comes to reviews. The thing that bothers me about it has to be what really constitutes atmosphere. Is it usually the places you go to combined with the music? Is it the feeling of immersion? For Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny, I certainly felt that atmosphere far more than I have any other RPG game so far.

The plot, at least the main plot here, is a simple case of "get plotline sword, go to orc chief and kick his ass" ordeal. And then the game sets up for the second game which I may play down the line. The gameplay combines the navigation of Wizardry/M&M in the field with tactical RPG-like setups which was actually quite interesting, especially when something dies it has a weird animation and scream effect which can be funny. Though since nearly everything costed move points, battles got a bit clunky. Thankfully, it only deviates to super hard territory only a few times when you compare it to Wizardry and M&M. Music is serviceable. The character customization is a key highlight this game has, although with so much, it probably could get overwhelming. However, the big key I got from all this is how many actions, attributes, and character traits could potentially be important. The possible cowardice of going over a bridge over troubled water can play an impact. The desire to feed your party with not just the right amount of food/drinks, but the right ones in general so as you don't get drunk or something was very interesting. The fact you could get attacked while sleeping and having someone on guard duty being necessary was very interesting. Attacking enemies in general can result in many ways to succeed or fail. The many different ways to earn money like being a good musician, or thief, everyone wasn't just a person you talk to once and they repeat their lines over and over again.

I think that's what made this game so atmospheric. While there are some static moments, the ideas of realism are showing in this old game and that was something that made me like it a little more than usual. On the surface, much of it is plain and average, but the ideas that I saw, in sidequests and elsewhere, can have a good impact. So yeah, I am using the atmosphere argument here because this game really felt like a perfect example of such.

RPG Ranks: Up to 160.

Huh, I must've missed this. Thanks a lot, full-time work. Actually this may also be because I have had tons of work I have been doing with regards to a whole lot of other things, such as ROM hacks and platformers, and now lately I have been rummaging through a "multiple games in one" style NES game just to see what games they have and all. But damn, I have more or less neglected my RPG ranks. So much that I have not actually done a review since Vandal Hearts, my 160th review. And platformers have even eclipsed my RPGs, though that's entirely because they take much less time to go through than RPGs.

In any case, I'll be doing this much more differently. If you want to see some blurbs for all of them, start from here. I think in the event I reach 200, I will return to this formula once again, but this will include all the RPGs I played in list format, along with blurbs and images for all the new ones. So here it goes.

160. Deep Dungeon 3 (#114)
159. Golvellius: Valley of Doom (#21)
158. Hydlide: (#53)
157. Deep Dungeon (#112)
156. Startropics (#12)
155. The Guardian Legend (#15)
154. Deep Dungeon 2 (#113)
153. Minelvaton Saga: Ragon no Fukkatsu (#118)
152. Shining Wisdom (#52)
151. Popful Mail (#103)
150. Deep Dungeon 4 (#124)
149. Ys. (#96)
148. Secret of the Stars (#107)
147. Dragon Quest (#76)
146. Dual Orb II (#86)
145. Ys. III (#123)
144. Ys II (#102)
143. Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna (#144)
142. Majin Eiyuuden Wataru Gaiden (#19)
141. Dragon Quest II (#79)
140. Crusader of Centy (#8)
139. Orphen: Scion of Sorcery (#131) 
138. Magic Knight Rayearth (#48)
137. The 7th Saga (#77)
136. Final Fantasy Legend II (#46)
135. Final Fantasy Legend III (#54)
134. Faria: A World of Mystery and Danger! (#17)
133. Ranma 1/2: Treasure of the Red Cat Gang (#121)
132. Grandia III (#133)
131. Final Fantasy (#2)
130. Final Fantasy Legend (#43)
129. Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn (#143)
128. Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds (#142)
127. Lunar: Walking School (#44)
126. Silva Saga (#119)
125. Great Greed (#47)
124. Tenchi Muyo! Game Hen (#93)
123. Phantasy Star II (#16)
122. Silva Saga II (#122)
121. Lufia & The Fortress of Doom (#6)
120. Robotrek (#101)
119. Final Fantasy Adventure (#105)
118. Warsong (#56)
117. Final Fantasy II (#135)
116. Dragon Quest IV (#94)
115. Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya (#129)
114. Shining Force (#106)
113. Shining in the Darkness (#82)
112. Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom: (#146)
111. Wild ARMs 4 (#136)
110. Phantasy Star III (#71)
109. Romancing SaGa (#61)
108. Dragon Quest III (#89)
107. Princess Crown (#126)
106. Might and Magic Book One: The Secret of the Inner Sanctum (#153)

First new entry here and it's Might & Magic's first game. Like the Wizardry series in a ton of ways, and I decided that this first entry gets last place in its franchise because obviously, the sequels end up being way better. Still, you got the customization aspects in place which are great, and the gameplay imposes challenge. I just wish I played this on a better port. The DOS music didn't have music!

105. Wizardry VI: Bane of the Cosmic Forge (#147)
104. Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World (#154)

Here we are at the second entry of Might and Magic and it...didn't add too many new things. But did you need more new things at the moment? Perhaps it's all well and good, the gameplay still remains challenging and the customization is still the strong point. Sheltem will remain a thorn in the side of the heroes, and the plot going for some technological stuff certainly is confusing. Oh well, importing hirelings is one other interesting aspect.

103. Breath of Fire (#9)
102. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (#75)

101. Wizardry: Proving Grounds for the Mad Overlord (#141)
100. Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra (#157)

This was a game I came back to after my hiatus and conviction to a full-time job. The most shameful part was that I had to restart a playthrough of it. But hey, what's this, character class screenshots! More improvements! But keeping the same gameplay as before, something I had to get accustomed to once again. If it weren't for those interesting character shots, the actual game may have been worse than the previous ones, as this one was MUCH harder. The stories of Corak and Sheltem keep unraveling, and the characters from Terra that you use somehow have to give chase to these two.

99. Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen (#158)

I am indeed lumping all of these Might and Magic games together. But only because they all seem to be the same sort of brew. The pictures here and the gameplay is pretty much taken into the sequel game, and in the case of IV and V, they can be played on one CD together. This game really doesn't do too much new besides that.

98. Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen (#159)

Though I certainly shall say, making two Might and Magic games back to back certainly was interesting. You kill Xeen in the first one, and the aftermath follows soonafter on the same disc. I think a few Wizardry versions had this idea too. And in this case, my goodness, they throw Corak and Sheltem, what they truly are, dealing with a wedding at the very end, and somehow just ending this strangely odd trifecta of Might and Magic games. Until the next time, of course, man these CRPGs have the strangest series.

97. Phantasy Star (#3)

96. Dragon Quest V (#104)
95. Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (#84)
94. Earthbound ZERO (#88)
93. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon (#145)
92. Jade Cocoon (#58)
91. Wild ARMs (#22)
90. Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (#109)
89. SaGa Frontier 2 (#132)

88. Dragon Quest VI (#116)
87. Sailor Moon: Another Story (#37)

86. Star Ocean (#67)
85. Final Fantasy III (#55)

84. Tales of Eternia (#136)

83. Xenogears (#30)

82. Odin Sphere (#34)

81. Spectrobes (#152)

People barely if ever talk about the original Spectrobes. It's always Origins or Beyond the Portals and I think that might be attributed to, maybe the lackluster plot? But this Pokemon clone has a number of things that helped it, the interesting incubation system, the action-RPG-style combat, including your main character into battle is interesting even though he'll always be weaker than his Spectrobes, tons of excavation processes. I somehow ended up with a collector's edition which even included card inputting, which certainly was strange. Spectrobes certainly went a for a lot.

80. Illusion of Gaia (#51)

79. Langrisser II (#73)

78. The Legend of Dragoon (#60)

77. Final Fantasy IV (#4)

76. Kartia: The Word of Fate (#63)

75. Lufia: The Ruins of Lore (#139)

74. Final Fantasy V (#65)

73. Romancing SaGa 3 (#83)

72. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (#140)

71. Mystic Ark (#137)

70. Dragon Quest VII (#127)

69. Wild ARMs 2 (#24)

68. Vandal Hearts (#160)

As a huge fan of the "war is hell" plotline, this one was quite appealing. Though with isometric grid and traditional tactical RPG styles, I gotta be honest, it's just never going to be like Final Fantasy Tactics. But there's substantial development of most characters, interesting moments where you can control certain other teams, the proper representation of which class trumps which ones, and the glorious blood showers that occur when you kill enemies. Plus no permadeath. This was a load of fun.

67. Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land (#156)

One dungeon, one town, an endless winter, and tons of flashbacks. It's even more interesting as it's a Wizardry entry done by Atlus for a console instead of a computer. This is the Wizardry game with the best atmosphere, and the combat isn't nearly as tough as you might think. Alignment and proper customization however can ensure things go the way you want, but things can certainly be going horribly wrong. And it does manage to keep many Wizardry hallmarks all the same.

66. Dragon Quest VIII (#138)

65. Thousand Arms (#69) 

64. La Pucelle: Tactics (#117)
63. Threads of Fate (#1)

62. Tales of Destiny (#39)
61. Suikoden IV (#66)
60. Wild ARMs: Alter Code F (#29)
59. Sword of Mana (#14)
58. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (#62)
57. Legend of Legaia (#80)
56. Lufia: The Legend Returns (#36)
55. Star Ocean: The Second Story (#98)

54. Secret of Evermore (#10)
53. Secret of Mana (#110)
52. Seiken Densetsu 3 (#120)
51. Wizardry VII: Crusaders of the Dark Savant (#148)
50. Soul Blazer (#42)

49. Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete (#7)
48. Tales of Phantasia (#18)
47. Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete (#26)
46. Breath of Fire III (#13)

45. Brave Fencer Musashi (#59)
44. Breath of Fire IV (#28)

43. Paper Mario (#64)

42. Growlanser III: The Dual Darkness (#74)

41. Suikoden Tactics (#81)

40. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (#31)

39. Romancing SaGa 2 (#78)

38. Suikoden III (#38)

37. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (#128)

36. Suikoden V (#108)

35. Grandia (#32)

34. Growlanser II: The Sense of Justice (#57)

33. SaGa Frontier (#97)

32. Wizardry 8 (#149)

31. Pokemon Yellow (#151)

It's Red/Blue, but harder! That's all there is to it. A starter that cannot evolve and a bigger level curve. Plus some of the stuff that makes it feel like the anime was interesting enough. The strangest thing about this I would say is that some concepts, like the following Pikachu, weren't redone by Game Freak until much later, and it's kinda off and on which makes the whole thing more confusing. The only other issue is that this is really more of the same thing as Red/Blue, which I'm sure some people who criticized the series have picked up on.

30. Pokemon Red/Blue (#150)

29. Crystalis (#5)

28. Final Fantasy VIII (#85)

27. Final Fantasy IX (#115)

26. Earthbound (#99)

25. Skies of Arcadia (#90)

24. Treasure of the Rudras (#87)

23. Phantasy Star IV (#92)

22. Chrono Cross (#40)

21. Final Fantasy VII (#50)

20. Terranigma (#68)

19. Grandia II (#41)

18. Final Fantasy X (#155)

Square honestly outdid themselves here. While some criticisms could be made about the battle system being a little easier than Active Time, plus the main character criticisms and the laugh scene, you cannot deny just how much Final Fantasy X has. A plot that really is intriguing, the idea to break a certain cycle and to screw with destiny so that the past doesn't happen again, and plenty, and I mean PLENTY of ways to go about that, plus all the sidequests for weapons and such. The complicated leveling system can still be tweaked. There's just a ton going on with Final Fantasy X and in the two or so months of playing it I really did not feel disgusted at all. It was truly enjoyable.

17. Vagrant Story (#70)

16. Final Fantasy Tactics (#95)

15. Suikoden (#27)

14. Suikoden II (#33)

13. Breath of Fire II (#11) 

12. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (#130)

11. Bahamut Lagoon (#125)

10. MOTHER 3 (#111)

9. Live-A-Live (#49)

8. Wild ARMs 3 (#35)

7. Final Fantasy VI (#45)

6. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals (#23)

5. Phantom Brave (#91)

4. The World Ends With You (#100)

3. Chrono Trigger (#20)

2. Valkyrie Profile (#25)

1. Soul Nomad & The World Eaters (#72)

And with that, I have officially ranked all of my RPGs accordingly, again. Even though it is in a smaller list I had to do so because I was so busy before and never had the time to really do much else since then. I will continue to play more as time goes on, the new ones will probably not show up on this list anytime soon until I hit a target number. Regardless, peace out as I continue my gaming escapades.