Rainbowsphere

OKAY! WHAT IS THIS… THIS… MADNESS?!

Okay, so basically all my urge to try Concerto Gate went to naught. I was trying to actually expect something big, or something cute, or something extraordinarily unique. Seems I was wrong, or I’m such a big SOB for complaining. So sue me.

Anyways, I got a closed beta key, the installer, some bottles of Gatorade, and 4 cylinders of Pringles. I was ready to indulge myself into EPIC BATTLE, when a 2D-3d hybrid environment came forth, with tactical active time turn-based gameplay. AND TALK ABOUT EON-OLD GRAPHICS DESIGN!

Chibi PS1 3D graphics on oldschool active time turn-based gameplay. So who gets to be owned first?

Where’s FRAGILE art? Where’s the cute little characters from his/her/its gallery, like the ones from his/her/its character select screen (see above pic of the above pic)? First, they all have the same height even though they’re depicted differently in the picture. Second, the 3D rendering was way off that I wasn’t even able to recognize a person unless he/she/it points out some prominent trademarks for her character (like crowns, ribbons, ears, and so forth, even though most of them look alike anyway, so screw that)! If only this looked like the 2d turn-based system of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (which if combined with animated FRAGILE art would produce EPIC WINNAGE), or maybe the active time gameplay of FFXI or FFIX, I would’ve considered. But… it was just… so wrong…

Concerto Gate Party System: Follow the Leader, AND YOU CAN’T MAKE A FUCKING MOVE UNLESS I FUCKING SAY SO, BITCH!

This is another thing I kinda irked from the game: the Party System. First flaw would be if you invite a person, you’ll become a member of the party instead of becoming its leader. Second, it’s strictly follow the leader. Your sprite is forced to follow, you can’t talk to anybody except Nurses and the party leader, and the party is ironically so loose after what I just said! Why? If your team runs away from an enemy (which is normal on turn-based games since FF), the party gets disbanded as each member escapes. A simple “Gate Out” (or insta-teleport to hometown, for free!) disbands the party as well.

Talk abou-WHAT?! WE GOT DISBANDE-OSHITAMBUSH!

Yes! Ambushes happen, either in favor of you or your enemies! Mages, Archers, and all those low HP people who would be helpless when this happens would be EATEN ALIVE (did I hear chicken?). It’s how Legend of Legaia did it, it’s how FF does it, and it’s worked out well so far. If only I can smash this game WITH THE FORCE OF AN ANGRY GOD, I already did it.

Tokamac = UNLIMITED HEAL AND MAGIC WORKS. Too bad you can’t take her out of the Heroes Hall, your first mission venue.

Also, the current closed beta economy’s so screwed, it’s BAD. Imagine Japan missing two or three harvest seasons, and you get the economy here. A meager earning of 100 gold per hour is equivalent to either a weapon repair cost, healing expenses, or three mini-potions. And you deplete these in under 15 minutes of grinding!

But let’s not underestimate the game yet. There’s only a fingerful of players playing, and it’s still closed beta, meaning there will be more changes after a few more days. I heard that jobs will be out for grabs once open beta hits on July 14th. With that being given, I think I’ll think on a different perspective. But for now, I’ll keep this shitty session of shitty insults to a minimum.

P.S.: Lupus-Sol is actually AN MONSTAR. I swear I’m telling the truth.