Exile: Wicked Phenomenon. Need help. Almost at the end... I think.

[greedostick]

Started playing Exile Wicked Phenomenon about a week ago. It hasn't been too hard... until the other day. I'm pretty close to the end. One level from the last level. Apparentely you get to level 1-16 in about 30,000 exp. And to get level 17 you need 65,000 experience. Kinda bullshit. Anyway, i'm at Baghdad, and there's this palace I have to go through to fight this Djinn fellow. This place sucks. I bought 16 Peyote (the max), but that isn't enough healing to make it through the level and past that guy. I'm contemplating whether to try and kill over 400 of these stupid harpee ladies and devil guys that give a mere 55 exp, to level up to 17. But I still don't know if that will be enough to beat this stage. And I don't want to even get into these stupid Dragons. I guess there invincible, and the only way to hurt them is to run into them and take damage, which makes me use up all my Peyote. Has anyone beat this stage? I could use some tips. Should I try and beat it now and level up later? Or is it pretty much mandatory to get to the final exp level to beat the stage? I guess quitting and chucking the disc is always a option. I feel at this point i'm better off playing some Ghost's n' Goblins. At least I can beat that game.

[Necromancer]

Switch to the much easier PCE version, or follow Rover's advice (clicky) for help with the US version.  Good luck.

[Joe Redifer]

Don't bother trying to get to level 17 or you will be PISSED!  I am the only one here who will remember to tell you the truth.  When you get to level 17, nothing happens.  No more strength, no more defense, no more anything.  It's exactly the same as level 16 in all respects, except that you can't earn any more experience.  Friggin' ridiculous.

[nat]

I remember that Djinn fellow probably being the hardest spot in the game, but I don't recall the stage itself posing too much of a problem. Unfortunately I can't remember the specifics to which you refer, but it's definitely beatable.

[greedostick]

Well, I tried to change my email address and had problems logging back in. Had to send a email to the owner of the website. But I am finally back! I only tried a few times since posting this. I just have problems when this Djinn guy rushes me. I can make it there with 12 peyote and this guy can kill you in 2 hits. If I try and mix the Peyote it's totally random and whenever I fight this guy it is just a waste to try and mix them. I am going to try a few more times tomorrow.

I can't believe you dont get any more defense or power when you get to the final level. I'm glad you told me that. Cause I may have thrrew the cd on the ground and jumped on it with my softball cleates. I just don't get it. I have beat some hard games. Ghosts n goblins, Ninja Gaiden on nes, and games way harder then this turd. But after thinking long and hard I realized I can beat those games because they actually take skill. There's no randomness to them. When you hit a enemy it actually hurts them every time. Exile II may be the cheapest piece of crap to ever grace a home console. After beating this game I am definately going to sell it, or wipe my ass with it.

[nat]

Exile II (US) is definitely *extremely* cheap when it comes to the ramped-up "difficulty"/amount of hits enemies can take. WD made a mockery out of the game trying to increase the difficulty over the ludicrously easy JP-region version. That said, I really don't remember Djinn posing that much of an problem. He was a roadblock for about a day, then I figured out his pattern and realized you just have to avoid being hit while you hit him 1,578,356,893,836 times and he'll go down.

[esteban]

I have beat some hard games. Ghosts n goblins, Ninja Gaiden on nes, and games way harder then this turd.

For me, I simply think it is simply the function of familiarity... Exile II was daunting until I played the crap out of it.

I reckon you've put more time in GnG and NG than Exile 2. Also, if you've played the game on different platforms, and played the sequels, these games (and the mechanics + "internal logic") become very "familiar"... Exile 2, in contrast,  exists in its own little bubble of frustration

If it makes you feel better, I only gave this game a second chance because folks here reported that they actually beat it. That gave me hope.

[Joe Redifer]

hit him 1,578,356,893,836 times and he'll go down.

This count is confirmed as accurate by Steve Harris of the US National Video Game Team.

[greedostick]

OK, I take all my previous statements back. I turned on my duo yesterday and loaded up exile 2. Before playing I sat there and decided I was going to think about it before I play, and thought about the patterns of the djinn and how I was going to play and not try to hit him, just avoid him. So I went there and just destroyed this guy and only got hit once. Then I made it to the last boss which was a joke. So I really only played that djinn stage about 10 times. That was the only part of the game that posed a problem. I have decided this game is not as hard as everyone says. It's just cheap when it comes to hit detection. I have destroyed this game and now I can move on.

[nodtveidt]

It's the cheapness and bad coldet that make the game hard. Exile II is one of those games that is hard for the wrong reasons. The bad coldet exists in the Japanese version too (no, this was NOT a WD f*ckup), the difference though is that the stats are more balanced in the Japanese version so you can breeze right through the game without any major level grinding.

EDIT: Btw, the Japanese version is called XZR 3. The original XZR did not appear on the PCE/TG16, and I guess it's a good thing...the weird tonic thing in Exile II is from the original XZR, where "Tonics" are called "Drugs" and can actually sometimes kill you outright. That was removed for XZR II (Exile), and then put back in for XZR 3 (Exile Wicked Phenomenon) but just not as bad as the original XZR.

[greedostick]

You're right! It is hard for all the wrong reasons. How come sometimes rumi's dagger can hit 3 times in a row, and other times it goes through the enemy 10 times? It all comes down to Exile WD being a poorly made game that feels rushed. I am quite disappointed.

What is this XZR you speak of? Are there 3 Exile games?

[nodtveidt]

XZR is the name of the original game in Japan and yes, there are three games in total. We only got XZR 2 and XZR 3 in the US as Exile and Exile Wicked Phenomenon, respectively.

[esteban]

What is this XZR you speak of? Are there 3 Exile games?

You probably read this already, but in case you haven't: Exile: What a long, strange trip...

Also, congrats on beating this damned game.