A question on which one to get

[Towerbooks3192]

This game looks pretty solid and i was considering to get both Abyss/Babel, Sword City, or Elminage Gothic off steam. I am leaning towards getting sword city(vita) and Elminage over this because I seem to like the artstyle from Sword City and Elminage more. Is Abyss and Babel better in terms of mechanics, replayability and content?

[The Weak]

It depends on your preference.

Elminage is closer to Wizardry in terms of how it plays. Unlike your other options it has a ton of completely optional content, is a longer game in general, and is more challenging overall and the last Post Game dungeon is pretty brutal. While there are certain race/class combos that have a small edge over others, the classes have some balance so you can make almost anything work as long as you have some party synergy. The interface is a bit oldschool and it has a bit of a learning curve if you've never played a Wizardry-like game before, so some people don't like that, but if you want a more western style DRPG this is a good pick. The story is pretty sparse and has a more classic western fantasy feel. It also doesn't have achievements if that is something you care about, but that doesn't effect actual gameplay.

Sword City has a modern UI, the easiest to use between these games in my opinion, and is halfway between Wizardry and the Generation Xth games in terms of how it plays. All content is required with the exception of the Post Game dungeon. Character customization and some really overpowered abilities/combos makes it fairly easy if you plan ahead, but you can only change class 5 times per character per game cycle. As far as replayablility, it has three different endings, new game + (5 more class changes per character), and each game cycle gets a tad harder. The story is fairly unique, though it has some common JRPG elements.

Operation Abyss is two games in one and has a modern UI, but there is a ton of backtracking through the same dungeons. Some of the First Semester content is optional, but if you want to do all of Post Game you will have to finish almost all of the Second Semester's content, minus two optional encounters. The gameplay is the most simplistic of these games. It has no real character customization because you cannot cross class abilities/magic and cannot respec character stats. Class choices are not very balanced, so you can either make the game laughably easy or difficult-but-not-undoable. It also has level caps. If you are interested in story it is very school-life-anime, and while you do not have to play this one to play Babel the stories are connected. There is not much in the way of replayability.

Operation Babel has a modern UI that is only slightly tweaked from Operation Abyss, but it has far more dungeon variety than its precursor. Almost all content is required if you want to access all of Post Game. The gameplay is still simplistic, but it is a step above Abyss. You still can't respec character stats, but you can subclass, find equipment that has class abilities, and there are no level caps. You can switch classes/subclasses at will, so you do not have to plan too much beyond picking stats. Class choices are still not balanced, but customization alleviates that issue quite a bit and all of them are available from the start of the game. While the anime-ish story is connected to Operation Abyss you do not have to play that game to enjoy this one. Replayability is limited to going through it again with a different party.

[Towerbooks3192]

Originally posted by The Weak:

It depends on your preference.

Elminage is closer to Wizardry in terms of how it plays. Unlike your other options it has a ton of completely optional content, is a longer game in general, and is more challenging overall and the last Post Game dungeon is pretty brutal. While there are certain race/class combos that have a small edge over others, the classes have some balance so you can make almost anything work as long as you have some party synergy. The interface is a bit oldschool and it has a bit of a learning curve if you've never played a Wizardry-like game before, so some people don't like that, but if you want a more western style DRPG this is a good pick. The story is pretty sparse and has a more classic western fantasy feel. It also doesn't have achievements if that is something you care about, but that doesn't effect actual gameplay.

Sword City has a modern UI, the easiest to use between these games in my opinion, and is halfway between Wizardry and the Generation Xth games in terms of how it plays. All content is required with the exception of the Post Game dungeon. Character customization and some really overpowered abilities/combos makes it fairly easy if you plan ahead, but you can only change class 5 times per character per game cycle. As far as replayablility, it has three different endings, new game + (5 more class changes per character), and each game cycle gets a tad harder. The story is fairly unique, though it has some common JRPG elements.

Operation Abyss is two games in one and has a modern UI, but there is a ton of backtracking through the same dungeons. Some of the First Semester content is optional, but if you want to do all of Post Game you will have to finish almost all of the Second Semester's content, minus two optional encounters. The gameplay is the most simplistic of these games. It has no real character customization because you cannot cross class abilities/magic and cannot respec character stats. Class choices are not very balanced, so you can either make the game laughably easy or difficult-but-not-undoable. It also has level caps. If you are interested in story it is very school-life-anime, and while you do not have to play this one to play Babel the stories are connected. There is not much in the way of replayability.

Operation Babel has a modern UI that is only slightly tweaked from Operation Abyss, but it has far more dungeon variety than its precursor. Almost all content is required if you want to access all of Post Game. The gameplay is still simplistic, but it is a step above Abyss. You still can't respec character stats, but you can subclass, find equipment that has class abilities, and there are no level caps. You can switch classes/subclasses at will, so you do not have to plan too much beyond picking stats. Class choices are still not balanced, but customization alleviates that issue quite a bit and all of them are available from the start of the game. While the anime-ish story is connected to Operation Abyss you do not have to play that game to enjoy this one. Replayability is limited to going through it again with a different party.

Thank you so much for the very detailed reply. I am fairly new to wizardry after grabbing grimoire but I am no stranger to how brutal western games can also be since I have dabbled in nethack awhile back. I will definitely pick Stranger of Sword City then. I might get it on steam since unfortunately the remade version is unavailable in the Australian PSN.

[The Weak]

Grimoire is a pretty special case. If you can handle that game then you can probably handle any Wizardry-like game. Hope you enjoy Sword City.