I don't understand the praise.

[Sire]

I gave this game a good college try, 11 hours in I just got the third member of the team and the boat and I have to fight Shadar (who keeps wiping me, I'm probably underleveled at 24) but I've lost all interest. Am I missing something?

I feel like the game's most unique assets are the Studio Ghibli connection, but that only goes so deep. The combat is some of the worst I've ever experienced and getting anything done is such a slow and tedious process. Everything else just seems like standard JRPG fair from a cliche'd story to mundane side quests.

I've seen this game get such praise since it's release on the DS (I even own that just for the awesome book) but I'm not seeing why, but maybe something just hasn't clicked. I actually managed to finish the sequel and I thought that was terrible, but this is just another level.

[Solidus's Revenge]

It's ok not to like the game. Not everyone will.

As someone who does enjoy the game, I find the animation/graphics style to be pretty awesome. Overall, I think it plays a lot like a traditional JRPG (like Dragon Quest), and I generally enjoy those. Most everything you'd find in a game like that, you find in NNK: a bit of grinding, some fetch quests, save-world-story, etc. If you don't care for that stuff, then yeah, you won't like it.

But overall, for a game of its type/genre, it is a standout title. But yeah, some or a lot of that has to do with it being a Studio Ghibli collaboration.

[Sire]

I guess it just isn't for me then, shame because I really wanted to like this and was excited for the PC release but man... :(

I wonder what it was about the sequel that got me to finish it, though I have to admit that it was painful at the end and I was bored to tears.

[Silaf]

I liked this game but still prefer the second. Animations are wonderful but the story isen't as interesting as i've hoped. Still a really good game.

[Vyrtualis]

Originally posted by Sire:

I gave this game a good college try, 11 hours in I just got the third member of the team and the boat and I have to fight Shadar (who keeps wiping me, I'm probably underleveled at 24) but I've lost all interest. Am I missing something?

I feel like the game's most unique assets are the Studio Ghibli connection, but that only goes so deep. The combat is some of the worst I've ever experienced and getting anything done is such a slow and tedious process. Everything else just seems like standard JRPG fair from a cliche'd story to mundane side quests.

I've seen this game get such praise since it's release on the DS (I even own that just for the awesome book) but I'm not seeing why, but maybe something just hasn't clicked. I actually managed to finish the sequel and I thought that was terrible, but this is just another level.

I understand your frustration, but if you really want to give the game a good try, you have to play through to the end. The story is good, but it does require some suspension of disbelief and some imagination on your part. It's a fairy tale after all.

[Sire]

That makes sense, but my issue is 11 hours in, how much more do I need to dedicate for it to pick up? I got to the Shadar fight when you first get the boat and I feel like I'm nowhere near the end.

[Shaun]

The game was originally on PS3 and it's about 40 or more hours long, 11 hours is really nothing.

[Sire]

A quarter of the game/11 hours is nothing? I'm not sure I follow. How long should someone take when it comes to something clicking with them?

Also it was originally a DS game but only released in Japan, because they didn't want to translate and print an English copy of the book it came with.

[Sire]

I feel you on the charm, from the get-go the game fed me with the typical Studio Ghibli warm and fuzzies that made me want to continue, it's just the combat that, to me, slows the pacing to a near crawl since you seem to have to do a lot of it.


Out of curiosity, in my current game I'm between LVL 21-24 and Shadar wipes my team out; am I super under leveled or am I just fighting improperly and missing some sort of key element? I feel it's the former, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter.

[foofighter_ii]

you can drop down the difficulty and you will enjoy this game. I was in a similar situation: I reached the point where you need to fight against an almost impossible boss (a mechanical hog), so I dropped down the difficulty and kept going...

This game is beautiful (and from my perspective, better than the 2nd one)

[Sire]

Does dropping the difficulty make the game just a breeze when it comes to combat? I didn't even think about changing the difficulty since I didn't realize that was an option, I might go that route then! Thanks!

[foofighter_ii]

Originally posted by Sire:

Does dropping the difficulty make the game just a breeze when it comes to combat? I didn't even think about changing the difficulty since I didn't realize that was an option, I might go that route then! Thanks!

Yes, you can drop down the difficulty any time, and it makes the game more "enjoyable"

[Goilveig]

Originally posted by Sire:

I feel you on the charm, from the get-go the game fed me with the typical Studio Ghibli warm and fuzzies that made me want to continue, it's just the combat that, to me, slows the pacing to a near crawl since you seem to have to do a lot of it.


Out of curiosity, in my current game I'm between LVL 21-24 and Shadar wipes my team out; am I super under leveled or am I just fighting improperly and missing some sort of key element? I feel it's the former, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter.

24 is the level I was when I won the fight. Some things I did to prep:

Make sure you have equipped, evolved, equipped skills, and re-leveled the familiars you use (don't have to re-level them all the way to 24, but 18+ probably).

For Oliver, I mainly used Mite (although a magic attack familiar would probably be better, I wanted a good defender). Esther used the lemur for attack and her bird for support. On the bird, I made sure it had both heal spells equipped. (If you have a familiar with better heals, use it instead). Slaine just had his red ogre guy.

For equipment, Shadar uses the elements of fire, wind, and his most powerful spell is water. For you, you will definitely want to defend against his water/blizzard attack and prioritize anything that gives your familiar Fire or Wind resistance, but for your allies, prioritize Water, then Fire, then Wind. I know one of Esther's familiars (I think the bird) with equipment could get resistance to 2 of those elements which was really handy.

For tactics, I played Oliver / Mite and told the others to "Do what you want". I find that generally gives a good balance between doing damage without being too reckless. As Mite, I basically just did normal attacks and mainly focused on defending all the blizzards - these give chances for golden glims which deal massive damage. As Oliver, I would mainly assist Esther with heals and wait for Mite to recharge.

Minor spoiler, too, if you're disheartened because it looks like you're not even close to the end of the fight: You don't need to get through his whole HP bar, you only need to take out about 30-40% of his life and a cutscene will happen

[Plumpeach]

11 hours is plenty to know if you like a game or not.

[[NGNS-SWE] ⚡ Quezkatolen ⚡]

I see these kind of topics on every "classic" or beloved game.

I dont like witcher the combat sucks the story bla bla bla
I dont like final fantasy 7 its overrated and bla bla bla
Persona is for weebos bla bla bla

Dude its fine not to like the story, the character and the world - or even the combat. we cant change your personality, just move on from it then!

I always found zelda games to be overrated and weird (even though I loved zelda 64 as a kid) but I just ignore them now.

[Goilveig]

Originally posted by MonthOLDpickle:

11 hours is plenty to know if you like a game or not.

Well, sort of. Immediately after that fight they give you better combat AI options that really never should have been progression-gated, and that changes up fights a lot. I can see where early game it's a struggle in fights because you can't tell your allies to guard the strong attacks.