Riviera:The Promised Land

[Dopples]

Anyone else play this cult hit? I recently got the PSP port, and I must say, despite some balancing issues, annoying voices, and long load times, it's pretty much one of the best RPGs I've played in recent years. The battle system is pretty intense, in the sense that you have to regulate item use. Exploration isn't a chore like in other RPGs, and the backgrounds are BEAUTIFUL. The characters are pretty interesting as well, but they tend to fall under many anime stereotypes. Besides the negatives though, it's one of the best RPGs I've played in a LONG time.


Discuss.

 

[Marcus]

Wow. What RPGs do you normally play?

I thought it was pretty generic. I played the original GBA version and it was... average to say the least. I thought the battle system was pretty boring and sluggish.

It's an alright game. I don't really regret buying it because I didn't finish the GBA version but it's pretty meh. Most of my hate stems from the fact that I hate anime so if you like this kind of stuff then this is the game for you.

 

[Dopples]

It was a bit slow and unbalanced. But when I say exploration isn't a chore, I was talking about the simple "CHOOSE A DIRECTION" control system made it so I don't have to run into walls, continually pressing X to find something.

 

[Fafnir]

I have the GBA version. Great game, and unique gameplay. If you like Riviera, check out Yggdra Union, by the same dev, for the GBA. It's a TBS, and it's quite fun. Easily the best graphics on the GBA, and it'll also keep you thinking.

Anyway, back to Riviera, it handled the pacing quite well with the fact that there were no random encounter battles. It helped to allow Sting to keep battles fresh, instead of fighting the same guys over and over again.

 

[oceanray]

I didn't know there was a PSP version, but I thought the GBA version was a very nice break from most standard RPG fare. I did beat the game once, but despite there being quite a bit of replay value (all the extra features, the different romances, etc.) I haven't picked it up since. I did have quite an enjoyable gameplay experience, but it definitely got tedious after a while.

Definitely not for everyone, but a great game, especially when one considers how few original RPGs that aren't a total waste of plastic the GBA has.

 

[Dopples]

The PSP version isn't much different. There's just voice acting for every line, the water effects are shinier, and the sprites look like they were inked in with a pen. The VAs were OK, but a little....ew. Though I liked their choice for Ein, Fia, Cierra, and Malice. Most of the others sound god awful though. Similar to NIS' style of picking the strangest voice actors.

Though Ein=Luke from Tales of the Abyss was pretty badass.

 

[JakeyZombie]

I really enjoyed this game.

I'm a huge anime though, so my affection from it generally stems from that. They had a really good fantasy setting and pretty good characters all laid out. If I wasn't a fan of anime though, I'd probably call it pretty generic. The 'Look and Move' system got pretty annoying at times, and the battle system was often a bit sluggish. I played this on the GBA so I have no comment on the voices.

I finished it and got Cierra's ending.
The ending was kind of lame.
Haha.

 

[OdioOmnus]

I thought it was decent, but in my eyes everything seemed to scream "low budget". Repeating backdrops, your character could be standing on air, and quite limited player control. It had its moments but overall too many things about it annoyed me.