Quintessence - The Blighted Venom

[Sarkilas]

The main reason of why I enjoyed this, was not because of the gameplay, because I can say objectively that this game does indeed not offer too much quality of that, but it's getting at it.

I agree with you Blaredose, but only at some points. Many of the things you mention are subjective views. Let's look at it.

The battle system is glitchy. That would be very obvious. An action battle system entirely based on eventing? You couldn't really expect more, but I find it good anyhow. The glitches might be annoying, but there is a reason why you were encouraged to save often, but I guess that's all I have to say about that matter.

The fact that you want to get a lot of gameplay out of this game, makes me realize that you didn't even read the actual first post. It says there that gameplay was not widely focused on, and only a couple of chapters has yet been revamped with some extra gameplay features. What you would expect by reading the first topic, is a game with a lot of story elements, as in watching a movie with a few gameplay bits in between. That is why I enjoyed it. Personally I'm great fan of games that keep you addicted (well at least me) during cutscenes. The music, handling of cutscenes and all that made it very entertaining to watch, and in fact, as soon as I got into gameplay mode I was just sitting there restlessly, waiting for another cutscene piece.

Yes, of course, most RMXP games you will find have its flaws. But can you really escape the fact of all the Misao prices Quintessence actually won? I mean, if you find it that bad, then don't play it. It's like an FPS fan playing an RPG game which he hates and then goes to the official forums and tells everyone how bad it is.

 

[Despain]

The battle system is glitchy. That would be very obvious. An action battle system entirely based on eventing? You couldn't really expect more, but I find it good anyhow. The glitches might be annoying, but there is a reason why you were encouraged to save often, but I guess that's all I have to say about that matter.

This is the kind of crap that started all of this. Above all other forms of criticism, glitches are not subjective. If someone finds a glitch in the game, it's a different level of criticism. It's something that must be addressed, and it has nothing at all to do with the abilities of the creator.

There's ABSOLUTELY no need to "defend" against glitch-reporting. And saying "oh well that'swhy you can save lol" is just a bullshit excuse, and I'm sure that Reives wouldn't like that kind of crap.

 

[Despain]

also lol misaos

 

[Blaredose]

I dont have problems with story games, sir.

My pet peeve is (with this 'game') It basically promises gameplay and captivating puzzles overall.

Spoiler

http://quintessence-tbv.com/images/NRP2.jpg[/img]

I look at that picture post and think. "HURRAY! That looks fun." However, inside actual game play. *long drawn out dramatic cutscene* *gratuitous walk period for two minutes or so* *another long drawn out cutscene* *gratuitous walk period that allows glitchy battles* *another cutscene* *Infuriated enter button mashing and desire to hit X and never play again.* *end of 'game', which triggers....* *you guessed it, another cutscene*

At this time I'm annoyed because those minigames/gameplay screenshots?

Spoiler

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v385/Reivier/ss-12.jpg[/img]

Spoiler

http://www.quintessence-tbv.com/images/Qss2.jpg[/img]

They are not even implimented into this chapter. (I assume its in the next chapter.) If there are any captivating minigames/ awesome battles.. I'm sorry mario, your princess is in another chapter. So basically I have to sit through hours and hours of cutscenes (because, yes.. its a story oriented game) to reach the promised minigames/gameplay.

Sigh, blare, you're the one changing the subject by going through a lesson of grammar. Besides Q-tbv has won the Misao for best music, so it can't just be "okay". Also, you apparently did not pay attention to Reives last post. He re-did the intro, Chapter 1, and a bit of Chapter 2 for the purpose of adding game-play. Your "first impression" was solely based on your leap ahead to Chapter 9. If you had actually played the first 8, you might have got something. Most people know that Chapter 9 was not as great as his other previous chapters. In my opinion Chapter 7 and 8 were spectacular and outshine Chapter 9 easily.

Yes, the music is just okay..

Pardon me for not kissing the guys ass.. but I dont like the after taste. Yes, compared to amatuer RM games.. his music is awesome (as joe said..) but, I have played foreign RM games as well and his 'game' isn't the best. Sorry fanboys. I played chapter 8, and that was just a huge cutscene with a random whack a mole minigame.. not worth the hour of my life I wasted to get to it. Of course, if I dont say its the best game I've ever played I'm an disgruntled troll with 5 oclock after shave and a vendetta against all things art.

What was that famous saying?

You can please some of the people, some of the time.
Not all of the people, all of the time.

I'm not blinded by fanboy-ism enough to say its the best thing since sliced bread. This is basically an Aveyond complex here. If you are cocky enough to think that you have reached the ceiling and there is nothing you can do to improve, you'll be unaware that if you go outside of the box there is the sky, stars, sun, and moon.

 

[Zekallinos]

This is the kind of crap that started all of this.

(?)

If you refer to the discussion as being the "all of this", isn't it you who started with very high-level sarcasm without actually saying anything more useful. You did eventually point out interesting aspects, but then again, it sounds as if you have the very name of "Quintessence". But then again, you are above the rules.

Wait, I'll be right back.

Allrighty...*Opens 1984 at page 290 (random)*

What the hell two plus two equals five! George Orwell is a madman! He sucks!

*Closes book*

Why start not at the beginning anyway? What is this? This isn't a sudoku game where you can afford to start at level 13.57, it's a game with a story. What do you intend to do by not following it? Well in any case, it doesn't give you the right to complain since normally, the "five-hours-straight-cutscene" (that is in fact 30 minutes max) is supposed to be the following of a chain of events, some of which includes game play! *gasp*

Especially since that newly added game play is IN THE BEGINNING!?!?!? Are you purposely starting with what you deemed crappiest, the end?

And yeah it's a game, and that term is not fixed. So what if it's full of cutscenes? If you don't like it, just don't play it but some of us actually looks for something different sometimes.

(And please, don't accuse me of being a fanboy or whatever, there are just blatantly stupid things I see here)

(Oh and yeah, those glitches do need to be fixed, that's one undeniable thing though. But what's the point of posting your game here? Dunno about you, but I wouldn't be able to find all the glitches in my game by myself, nor can Reives for Quintessence. Which I may suggest, specify there are going to be alot of custcenes in font 9999 bold on the first post).

 

[Blaredose]

This is the kind of crap that started all of this.

Why start not at the beginning anyway? What is this?

I played the beginning a few months ago, and I hit the red X after 30 minutes with little game play, I am not sitting through that shit again. No. No. No.

 

[Zekallinos]

A few months ago? Perhaps before the release of C9 + Revamp, word having earned a place in the topic title?

 

[Blaredose]

A few months ago? Perhaps before the release of C9 + Revamp, word having earned a place in the topic title?

Why in the fck would I play a chapter I positively hated for a few minutes of "Added game play"

That's like hitting myself in the groin with a hammer for some hot chick to flash her bra at me. Do you know the feeling of sitting through something you really  don't want to see? It's an uneasy feeling in your gut and a feeling of restlessness that can only be solved by hitting the red X. In an hour long chapter there should be at least 45 minutes of gameplay not 45 minutes of cutscene.

If he released it as a visual novel like Akasha's Seal, and the rest. I would have no problems with it -because I'll know it wasn't intended to be a story with gameplay.. because there is -no gameplay in it-. So why would you make someone sit through an hour long lecture for free cookies and refreshments?


---------------------------------


By the way.

The 'oh so glorious' cutscenes? They're stiff. Poses implemented in some areas, and basically stiff armed graphics in the next. You would think that if this game was completely story oriented it'd focus on graphics more so than gameplay/progress.

 

[Zekallinos]

That tells you about "a few minutes"? Without even trying? Don't be a hypocrite. So why do you play it anyway then, if it is so painful?

So basically you are saying that Quintessence is better off with no gameplay at all? What should it be then, none or all?

I'll say it for the 5th thousand time. Are all of you really that close-minded enough to not accept the fact that there can be a "in-between" even if no word has been invented yet to describe it, as long as it is pulled well? Don't say it's not. Yeah, it's not pulled well for a movie or a "total-game", but it's a in-between. I'm not going to forums that discuss, for example, the romance genre, and just tell them they are suck.

I'm not saying this is above all rules, but common, you can't expect everything to be generic. This isn't commercial shooter-genre.

Am I that liberal?

 

[Blaredose]

Read my edit.

 

[Zekallinos]

Your opinion, no problem with that.

I guess your bored by this the same way romance book bore me (no, the game isn't solely about Serai,,,). Or sci-fi bores an old granny. I understand. I just nod and accept the difference.

And Quintessence has very good atmospheric fogs and color tones edit. More then Akasha or w/e anyway. Focus on graphic? Might as well make a flash movie then.

Again, we're getting nowhere. Let's just all walk our path with our own tastes, k  :thumb:?

 

[Reives]

Okay, I hope everyone's calmed down now, hah.

Now: Some like it, some hate it, some hate the fact that some like it, some like the fact that some h-. . . okay, but one thing is for sure and unarguable:
It can be improved a great length in many aspects, and should be aimed at doing so, through the rest of its track to completion. How? By taking in the feedback from all sides and physically plan and implement them.

I do not believe that any success in any field can come from burying one's head in the sand - I think it just doesn't happen.

Your posts are no exception Blare; they are certainly points that I have acknowledged over and over for the past year, and have acted upon. And if you do not want to see what changes were made (in the beginning, in this case) to get a preview for what was done in light of your own valid criticisms, that is fine. But you will then just have to take my word for it, that I certainly do pay much mind to yer point, and have acted on it. (The screenshots you quoted are within minutes of the beginning by the way, heheh - The irony is a little humorous if you know what I mean.)

One thing kinda made me chuckle though; something you said on the thread simply contradicts what you said in a PM to me a few days ago, right after asking me how much I charge to draw panoramas. I think you know what I am talking about.

But that's beyond the point, aye? Anyhow, notes taken, and have been taken, and will always be taken. And I think at this point, it is needless to say that everyone's comments have been much appreciated. :smile:

I have a query to the players who have come across multiple playing of the ending music video, though:

Should it be made skippable, past the first? As at the moment, it is played every Arc (which is usually 3 chapters), and is the same song (Drift) with some different pictures in light of the respective chapters. After further thought and input, it may be somewhat of an annoyance (I really like the song though). Yet as a maker I'd feel a bit bitter about making it skippable, and personally didn't feel that a 3 chapter interval was short enough to make it tut. Any suggestions?

 

[Akirau]

Should it be made skippable, past the first? As at the moment, it is played every Arc (which is usually 3 chapters), and is the same song (Drift) with some different pictures in light of the respective chapters. After further thought and input, it may be somewhat of an annoyance (I really like the song though). Yet as a maker I'd feel a bit bitter about making it skippable, and personally didn't feel that a 3 chapter interval was short enough to make it tut. Any suggestions?

I think that besides the first showing and the last showing (right before the game would end), the rest should be made optional. I also like the song, but it got annoying after the first 2 times I watched it. I think its just due to the fact that I'm an impatient person though.  :tongue:

 

[Reives]

Yeah, I think I know what you mean, and it seems to be the general consensus. I'll get some more opinion and decide what to do with it. (Would be a bit of a heartache to make it skippable though, hahah - but I suppose option is always good.)

 

[Blaredose]

I was being nice. I didnt want to say; Well, I played the game but... I hit X because it was boring.

However, it was true that I didn't play into it too much to see extensively the panoramas. (Because, I hit X because it was boring around 15+ minutes into it.) I came across your post in Resources and thought 'Hey, cool.. better than RTP'. Though to be honest when you said 'It's easy'. I figured I'd look around for ps tutorials instead of throwing money around.

I said cutscenes <-- (note the S) all cutscenes in the game should be skippable.

 

[Untra]

Reviewed by Unty

 

[YukoHana]

Personally I loved the cinematics in it.

 

[Reives]

@Blare:
Hahah, thought you'd say. But what's wrong with saying that back then? Not like you had any trouble saying the same thing when you are not asking me for prices to do things for ya, hm?

I know I know, just teasing. :tongue: But as I recall, I said that I said I was not not charging and can do a couple for free either way. PM me again if you want the photoshop psd files for some of the panoramas - they have different shades and stuff on different layers, so it's easy to see how things were done. The cutsceneS suggestion though - I'll have to decline for obvious reasons, as we obviously have different fundamental visions.

@Copro:
Thanks a lot for the 15-min review Copro, I'm flattered. I'll post a real response on the thread in the near future. Thanks a lot for your time!

 

[coyotecraft]

I still haven't played this yet. I think about downloading it but it seems like there's going to be another update or chapter soon, so I'll hold off. How many more chapters will there be?

I really don't know what to expect since there's not a whole lot of info in the main thread.
Theres nothing said about the story or gameplay that you can't deduce from the screenshots.
I read Coprophiliac's review, and that didn't tell me much either.

 

[Perihelion]

The updates on this are rather nice, Reives. The first chapter is infinitely more playable than before; the puzzles and minigames work very well. I particularly enjoyed the mechanic of switching between characters and totally want to steal it.

A couple things seemed weird to me, however.

Spoiler

The way Reives asks Dasha to send him back to before he met Lunair struck me as weird because when the game starts, he's already met her--he just doesn't know. I guess maybe he was asking to be oblivious to what was actually going on, but it seems strange to me. I haven't gotten that far yet, though, so maybe you addressed it somehow.

Spoiler

I found it odd that Vikon let the deer go but didn't bat an eye at slaughtering a cute little bunny for food.

Honestly, his conversion to vegetarianism is weird in general. And it's not so much that he did it at all--I mean, yeah, I'll buy that seeing the hunting process made him change his mind, and Vikon is silly anyway--but rather that vegetarianism in a typical European fantasy setting is anachronistic as hell. I'd buy not eating meat with monks or something, but not European peasants, and the term vegetarian is especially out of place because it only came into common use recently. I mean, okay, it's fantasy and so you can do whatever you want, but it's not realistic in that context anyway. People in their little settlement don't have the luxury of turning down food if what Mella says is true.

That said, it's not really that big a deal, but don't call it vegetarianism.