/vr/ - Retro Games

>>8303161
story is beyond boring but thats to expected from an jrpg from that time. gameplay itself is vanilla as it can be the only redeeming factor are the puzzles/music and dungeons in general. I think its overrated but thats just me.

Huge Lufiafag here so probably biased, but quick rundown

JRPG ass JRPG series. Lufia 2 is by far the best one and often the one people will talk about. Released as a prequel to 1, so its chronologically the first game in the series. The most standout feature is its heavy focus on Zelda-like puzzles in dungeons complete with items like bombs, arrows and hookshots. Huge variety and a lot of fun to explore.

The combat is pretty simple but it plays really well with snappy controls and animations. Especially like that monsters in dungeons are visible prior to combat so if you don't feel like fighting you can stun them using arrows and just walk past.

There's also a rougelike sidequest called the Ancient Cave in which your characters level and gear get reset to level 1, so you have to find new gear and level up as you work your way through the 100 floors. Whats cool is the dungeon contains random unique gear. If you find these, you can take them back with you to the main game.

Overall presentation is great as well with a fantastic OST that is genuinely one of the best on the console.

Story is very basic but has standout moments that hit surprisingly deep, and the core cast of characters is very likable.

Overall 2 is a top-tier JRPG on a console with a ton of good ones. If you only play one Lufia game, make it this one.

1 was the first game released and storywise acts as a sequel to 2. Unfortunately, its kind of a slog. Feels very much like a basic DQ clone with none of the cool stuff 2 introduced like puzzles or the ancient cave. Still has some standout story moments and a good OST, but you probably don't want to start with this one unless you really want to experience the games in release order.

There is also GBC game called The Legend returns, serving as the third main entry in the series and sequel to 1, chronologically making it the last entry in the series. A lot better than 1, but not really as tight as 2. Worth playing.

>>8303161
Well it's certainly not about the exploits of the hero Maxim and his quest to defeat the Sinistrals; after his death, this task is taken up by his descendants through several generations. That's just a god damn lie. zoom zoom.
I played them all and they were ok. My zoomer kid is a pokefag and really liked the pokemonish one. Ruins of lore IIRC.

>>8303161
you get to fuck a grill in the game

>>8303267
Like a barbecue?

We got cucked on DQ so this was the next best thing at the time.

>>8303229
I am starting with 1, and while I'm not hating it cause I can deal with boring games and I purposedly play JRPGs and stuff like that to chill between more intense games, I do think it's a slog. More than anything cause the settings and music run out even faster than in your average DQ and there's not much in the way of variety. Cool music graphics and dialogue though. The stupid bridge sidequest in the middle of that confusing island though. Bosses can be pretty cheap too, when that
tower wizard boss beat me I checked the RPGshrine of the game and the guide was like 10 levels ahead of me fucking hell lmao
Lufia 2 looks great from a gameplay standpoint and I didn't play it first cause
>unless you really want to experience the games in release order
yep lmao, I kinda can't wait, I really enjoy these 4th gen RPGs when they're quality, they help me relax and their music and settings stick with me for a long time.

>>8303267
You get to grill newt

>>8303180
this
extremely typical game but the puzzles are cool
I would add that near the end the story was alright

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYbZWq-fdc

The game ends with the hero becoming a legend.

>>8303341
those guide writers are almost always huge casuals. In the case of this game it does boil down to stats and some RNG, though I don't remember a super obnoxious grind from my teen days playthrough

>>8303161
1 is gay but 2 is one of the best rpg of all times along with FF6, Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fire 2, Paladin s Quest, Rudra no Hihou, Dragon Quest 3, Earthbound etc.

Lufia 2 has unique puzzles, capsule monsters (believe it or not lufia 2 came BEFORE pokemon did) Ancient Cave has a concept has first appeared here and it has outgrown the game. You can spend 50 hours playing this mini game while the main game is not as long.

As for the system you can use items abilities which adds to the usual magic + attacks.

It even has a new game + which was pretty rare on snes.

>>8305281
>best rpg of all times
>Breath of Fire 2, Paladin s Quest

Unbridled shitposting.

>>8305281
Even so Megami Tensei started the monster trainer meme

>>8305298
BOF 2 is beyond badass. The intro with the giant tower is the best rpg intro in history, in fact only Ys games have superior intros.

Not to mention you can get a fucking FLYING TOWN and you can customize who the hecks get into your town. Wanna eat good shit? Wanna gamble? Wanna have guys who show you the best fishing spots, best hunting spots, best shops?
Choose wisely on who gets in your town.

As for paladin quest it is the single most underrated rpg ever made.
Charming, cool, alien, words cannot describe how good the game is.

You can attack, use magic, CHOOSE YOUR MERCENARIES, the music is bar none the best on the system.
PQ is confiest game ever made.
Only trannies would disagree.

>>8303161
Mediocre series with a bullshit storyline that sometimes stops making sense (fuck you seena), cute graphics, nice music, some interesting things like the ancient cave or the matrix system
Overall the games range from terrible (ruins of lore) to mediocre (1 and 3) with the only great ones being 2 and maybe the remake of it
I guess that sums it all

>>8306185
Do not get me wrong the only good game in the series is Lufia 2 and the remake sucks.
But Lufia 2 is top tier.
This is like saying Chrono Trigger series sucks balls because Chrono Cross is not that great...
Who fucking cares the first game is one of the all time greatest.

>>8305456
>As for paladin quest it is the single most underrated rpg ever made.

Magic that consume HP is stupid. Would be interesting if it weren't for the fact that the magical attacks are barely better than regular attacks and healing items are scarce making using magic completely pointless.

>>8303161
It's the way a turn based RPG should be. Only random encounters are on the world map. I fucking love this game. Final boss was a let down though

>>8309972
>We never fought him
>We never found out what he wanted
>We never even get to meet him

You don't just place an obvious leader like this in the fucking intro of the game, hint that he is the big cheese and then do nothing with him in any of the games

>>8303161
Lydia 1 is a solid simple jrpg

Lydia 2 is a fucking God tier game

>>8303161
i definitely recommend it as a fan, but if jrpg play isnt your thing, im not sure the rest of it is worth it? a significant portion is the turnbased combat. some people might say "the story is ass", but most people have zero taste as well. it may be a bit "generic" for the time or whatever, but i felt like it was pretty solid. well defined characters, clear conflicts, emotional decisions from the characters, sacrifices/consequences, some comedic moments, some high adventure.

i absolutely cannot recommend the OST enough. i still listen to it on occasion to this day.

the puzzles have varying difficulty. sometimes exceedingly simple (walk in front of eye, and the door closes. so just push pillar in front of eye and go around the pillar), sometimes VERY difficult. a few secrets to find in some dungeons too. the puzzles are great honestly. also dungeon exploring has the monsters visible on screen, with their own behaviors. some are aggressive and approach you, some wander. you can stun them and avoid them, or you can try and abuse their AI to approach them from the side/back and try to get an extra turn at the start of a fight.

1 is a slog and has some awful mechanics like if you queue all characters to attack a monster at the start of your turn, anyone that still has to go after the monster dies, will just attack the open air and whiff. in lufia 2, they automatically attack something else on screen, which is a HUGE improvement. lufia 2 is great if you actually enjoy jprgs.

>>8310129
I honestly coud never figure the head of that sprite out.
Even the comic simply gave him a helmet instead.

Lufia 2 is up there with Chrono Trigger and FF6. Dungeons and puzzles are strong, IP attacks differentiated equipment and gave a needed additional layer in battles. Graphics and music are banging. Ancient Cave could have been its own game.

Although things kinda loses steam in the second half, I actually like the characters.What little back and forth we get is pretty nice. My only complaint in the story department is too often they reuse the new town, town has problem, go dungeon then off to next town where there is a problem formula. A little more perceived freedom would have helped things out.

>>8311183
>My only complaint in the story department is too often they reuse the new town, town has problem, go dungeon then off to next town where there is a problem formula
yeah, its a little formulaic, but it has very little backtracking to places you've already been. i can see that as being a pro for "constant progression along the journey", but sometimes the "hey, i know just the person that could help us out" and going back to somebody special in a previous town feels good.

>>8303161
It's great snes rpg. It was just as popular as ff at the time. Im going by the fact that it was rarely available at rental stores where i grew up. Not as much as ff or earthbound (ff 5, 6 and earthbound were never in) but it's a time capsule of a different era of jrpg wrapped up in a not as familiar gift wrap as the more popular rpgs of the time

>>8303351
Don't you mean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gyiPK-8hko

Lufia 2 is the definition of hidden gem 16bit jRPG

>>8311961
>>8303351

https://youtu.be/RBnYGYa6l3M

The fact Yasunori Shiono only worked on a few Lufia games and then nothing else is fucking baffling

Wonder why he stopped? With how good his Lufia 2 stuff is I thought he'd for sure would had been able to keep working on RPGs in the 90s

>Haha fucka you gaijin

>Neverland never got to make Lufia 3

It still hurts bros

>>8313084
wtf? i distinctly remember both of those puzzles.

>>8313089
that second picture looks like a kid iria or something.

>>8314994
Higher res from an E3 promo. Her name was Lily and was one of the playable characters.

>>8314994

Potato quality but she can also be seen in some concept art on the top left

>>8315501
looks like iria in plainer clothes, and younger.

>>8303161
Lufia 1 being ok and Lufia 2 being one of the best 16-bit jarpigs seems to be the consensus.

>>8303161
The graphics were substandard even by the time it came out. Doesn't matter to retro gaming, though, so hey.

The soundtrack is pretty ace.

A lot of people love the puzzles, but honestly, I found them a touch tedious. The towers especially.

Combat is okay, nothing special.

A shitton of optional content, but also immensely timeconsuming, most people don't have the patience for the multiple-repeat, backtrack EVERYWHERE half a dozen times dragon egg hunt or ancient cave.

The characters are pretty great. Antagonists and protagonists alike. Unfortunately, the best of them all disappears halfway through the game, and only pops up again at the very end, without joining the party. I've never felt so cucked before or after.

>>8316454
If there is one thing the remake nailed it was pretty much everything regarding Dekar. More scenes, more lines, and he joins you at the end of the game for the final battle because of fucking course he would, crazy fucker wouldn't miss a chance to brawl with a god