What PC-FX game are you currently playing?

[tpivette]

Ok, so I checked my photos and I do have the one in question (although only in one version of the uniform). I believe that occurs on 8/16, but I'm not 100% sure. Also, I don't think you can generate that scene while trying to win another girl over (as you mentioned trying to do while chasing Reika). I believe you have to go through a certain chain of events in Shouko's playthrough to unlock that scene. If I remember correctly, she breaks down while you are performing your stock room duties for the day (you have to make sure thats your job on this day) and thus the photo unlocks. I'm not positive though.

Ahhh, damn it. I was planning on playing Pandora's Tower tonight, but now I'm curious about this scene and want to see if I'm right.

[Aggie Tsubi]

Thanks, man, I really appreciate the info. I wonder if maybe it has something to do with the light going out in the stock room? I can't recall which week it was, but I remember Shiho asking the protagonist to work in the stock room a lot one week, and when I'd do so, I'd get one scene where the light flickers out, and then another on a following day where they go out again and the protagonist says something about how he should tell Shiho about it. I've never gotten anything past that, not even any dialogue related to it when going to Shiho. It just seems like an odd dangling plot thread.

[Aggie Tsubi]

Thanks again for the tips regarding my missing Shouko photo, tpivette. I finally got around to getting my last couple missing scenes (not counting all the alternate costume stuff). Between your info and my hunch about the scenes in which the lights go out, I got it. I picked it up on 8/11 myself, but I'm guessing it can happen any time that week after the first two days of the lights going out. Seems like having high affection with Shouko is what makes all the difference, since I got the first two scenes lots of times without Shouko appearing on the third day. Luckily enough, though, I was still able to get the scene while two-timing with Reika, haha. I guess both of them are too obsessed with the protagonist to care, although once I got the Shouko scene, I dropped her like a bag of rocks and focused on Reika.

Anyway, other than finishing up Pia Carrot, I recently bought and played a little Sparkling Feather. I've gotta admit that I'm a little disappointed that the game isn't a more traditional strategy RPG like Shining Force or Fire Emblem. Maybe I'm just being dumb here, but I honestly can't figure out what's going on with the battle system. There's just about a bajillion battle options, all in kanji, and it seems like there's no consistency between what I pick and what happens. Is there some level of AI going on here, preventing me from having full control? This game is either going to take some research or some more trial and error before I figure out what exactly is going on.

[tpivette]

Nice! I didn't think you could win Reika over while chasing another girl, but I guess that's not the case. The first time I played the game, I tried to be quite the player and persue all the girls at once, and in the end I payed for it... none of them wanted me haha. So after that I just focused on one at a time per playthrough to make sure I got all the unlocked photos with that particular girl.

Have you unlocked all the photos yet? I still have to get most of the alternate uniforms, and Shiho's final photos have eluded me (I didn't watch her ending after the credits).

Are there any other "Shining Force" style RPGs for the system? It's been awhile since I've messed with my FX, and maybe these games are the ticket to get me back into it. I've just been spending too much time with my PS3 and 3DS as of late.

[Aggie Tsubi]

Nah, it's too much of a pain to get every alternate costume scene, so I'm saving that for down the road, whenever I feel up for replaying the game some. I tried to get as many of the alternate scenes as I could while playing through all the girls, but the game is kind of annoying how it saves some of the alternate costume scenes for the very end of the game. Satomi and Shiho literally have uniform scenes as their endings, and Yukiko has two scenes in her uniform that come so late in the game that it may as well be her ending (well, that would be a terrible scene to end the game on ). So that's 6 more replays for me. The Shouko scene that I just got is the only one I could cut corners on since I hopefully could get the alternate versions while going after one of those other three girls. I've collected all the other alternate versions of scenes since they come much earlier in the game and don't require total focus on one girl. Hopefully there's nothing I'm missing out on by not unlocking every single picture, but I doubt it since getting the ending with every girl already unlocked the final girl (Rumi in the succubus outfit) in CG mode with the bonus pictures and "sex mode" (or whatever it should be called since the fan patch actually missed it so it's still in kanji).

As for PC-FX strategy RPGs, Farland Story FX is pretty traditional and straightforward. It's got side-scrolling attack cutscenes like in Fire Emblem, and you can upgrade your class at level 10 or 20 or something like in Shining Force. And it's got the usual grid-based movement and all. Power Dolls FX seems pretty traditional too, although more like Super Robot Taisen than Shining Force and the like. I still need to play that one more. Arubarea’s Maiden seems like a combination of Angelique and fairly traditional strategy RPG battles, but I haven't played a ton of that one either. The strategy RPG I personally am most looking forward to putting more time into is Der Langrisser FX, although that's not quite traditional. The Langrisser series has its own unique system where a single unit on the map usually represents a group of soldiers rather than a single individual. I've been meaning to buy and play Warsong on Genesis, which is the only Langrisser to get an official English localization (it's also the first Langrisser; Der is a remake of the second), so I can get a better feel for the system before I dive into Der Langrisser in Japanese (although it didn't seem that confusing from what I did play).

[PunkicCyborg]

Just got my PCFX working, playing some Pia Carrot!!!

[Aggie Tsubi]

Nice, enjoy!

After finishing up with Pia Carrot, I put away my PC-FX for a little while, since I don't like to stick with any one single system for too long. But after playing some stuff on other systems, I'm back to the PC-FX. I've picked up a few more games recently, so I now own over 40 PC-FX games. Anyway, I tried out First Kiss Story, Tengai Makyo, and Boundary Gate.

First Kiss Story doesn't seem quite as nice as Pia Carrot, but it still looks like a game I'd have fun with. I'm really looking forward to the fan patch, assuming that project is still on. Also, is that the voice actress of Shiho in Pia Carrot that I hear as the mom in First Kiss Story?

I didn't play Tengai Makyo for very long. I still find myself totally confused by how to play these FMV fighting games. Sooner or later, I'll have to go over the moves lists and figure them out. I know a lot of PC-FX players rave about the FMV in Tengai Makyo, but, honestly, I'm still more impressed by Battle Heat. Granted, part of that probably comes from the fact that Battle Heat has that cheesy, high-energy vocal intro that I love, while Tengai Makyo's instrumental intro music is a bit too low-key for the visuals, I think. Plus I like the art style of Battle Heat a bit more. In the end, they're both really impressive games, though.

But of these three new additions to my collection, Boundary Gate impressed me most of all. This game seems REALLY good. Such an awesome style to it, and I love how streamlined the interface is. Even with all the kanji menu options, I had it all figured out really quick. I'm not in the mood to start a dungeon crawler this very moment, but I definitely have to make this game a priority as far as PC-FX games I'd like to play through relatively soon go.

What I did decide to play right away is Chip-chan Kick. I've had it for quite a while, but I'm only now taking a serious go at it. Man, the bosses get pretty tough. I'm playing on the default settings, and I'm already getting my butt kicked on Stage 2's boss. I know the pattern, but it's tricky to execute everything perfectly.

[KiddoCabbusses]

I didn't play Tengai Makyo for very long. I still find myself totally confused by how to play these FMV fighting games. Sooner or later, I'll have to go over the moves lists and figure them out. I know a lot of PC-FX players rave about the FMV in Tengai Makyo, but, honestly, I'm still more impressed by Battle Heat. Granted, part of that probably comes from the fact that Battle Heat has that cheesy, high-energy vocal intro that I love, while Tengai Makyo's instrumental intro music is a bit too low-key for the visuals, I think. Plus I like the art style of Battle Heat a bit more. In the end, they're both really impressive games, though.

I wrote up a guide on how to play the Tengai Makyo game back on Rising Stuff. Unfortunately said guide disappeared along with it. But I still remember very well how to play. One important thing to warn you: Don't approach it like Battle Heat! Battle Heat attempts to simulate sprite-based fighter mechanics, but Tengai Makyo feels a good bit more like other console "FMV Fighters", it's controls are more simplified, and the mechanics are based less on quick actions/reactions and more on strategic timing on performing your most powerful attacks.

Your most powerful attacks are the magic attacks that use the blue charge (Default button mapping is 1, I believe? Right+I, Down+I and Left+I are the ones you'll most likely use for heavy damage. Hold until meter is full and release, more powerful attacks take more charge time), and generally what you'd want to do is try to read what your opponent's move is and respond with a more powerful attack before the animation for it finishes. Also, when you knock down an opponent, taunt - it's actually useful in this game because it restores the balls-meter (.... I still don't have a better name for that) which you'll want stored up to dodge enemy attacks while your character is unable to use the charge moves (exhausted face).

As for the visuals... I think to me, Battle Heat's visuals somehow look "cleaner" and have less compression artifacts than Tengai Makyo's. At times Battle Heat looks more like what the theoretical result of a Wolfteam/Game Arts anime engine would be if they suddenly had the budget to make it as fluid as possible. Although this illusion sometimes breaks when certain animations happen and the color palette changes abruptly for a few frames. In comparison Tengai Makyo looks much more like a string of FMVs combined together.

[esteban]

...

But of these three new additions to my collection, Boundary Gate impressed me most of all. This game seems REALLY good. Such an awesome style to it, and I love how streamlined the interface is. Even with all the kanji menu options, I had it all figured out really quick. I'm not in the mood to start a dungeon crawler this very moment, but I definitely have to make this game a priority as far as PC-FX games I'd like to play through relatively soon go.

What I did decide to play right away is Chip-chan Kick. I've had it for quite a while, but I'm only now taking a serious go at it. Man, the bosses get pretty tough. I'm playing on the default settings, and I'm already getting my butt kicked on Stage 2's boss. I know the pattern, but it's tricky to execute everything perfectly.

For years and years, I've heard good things about Boundary Gate from people I trust.

This would be one of the games I'd buy a PC-FX for...

But then I realize I have too many PCE games to play through! 

[Aggie Tsubi]

Well, if you want to forgo the PC-FX for now, you could just get Boundary Gate for PlayStation, although I've heard the PC-FX version is slightly better (but I don't really know why exactly).

Thanks for all the info on Tengai Makyo, Kiddo. It's a shame your Rising Stuff write-up was lost along with the site.

I already have Chip-chan Kick! licked. No big surprise there, considering it's a short arcade-style game. Once I got past stage 2's boss, only the boss of stage 4 was much of a roadblock. I was able to beat the bosses of stages 5 and 6 mostly by just relying on fast reflexes, rather than having to learn their patterns in detail. It seems like the developer was inspired by Dracula from the Castlevania series for the final boss, what with how he teleports around the room and flings bats and fireballs out of his cape.

For those of you who have played Chip-chan Kick! more than me, is there anything to be gained from beating the game on Hard mode as opposed to the default settings? Like something extra in the ending or an unlockable? I'll probably replay the game some just for fun before I put it away anyway.

[KiddoCabbusses]

I already have Chip-chan Kick! licked. No big surprise there, considering it's a short arcade-style game. Once I got past stage 2's boss, only the boss of stage 4 was much of a roadblock. I was able to beat the bosses of stages 5 and 6 mostly by just relying on fast reflexes, rather than having to learn their patterns in detail. It seems like the developer was inspired by Dracula from the Castlevania series for the final boss, what with how he teleports around the room and flings bats and fireballs out of his cape.

For those of you who have played Chip-chan Kick! more than me, is there anything to be gained from beating the game on Hard mode as opposed to the default settings? Like something extra in the ending or an unlockable? I'll probably replay the game some just for fun before I put it away anyway.

Could you give me some gameplay hints/strategies and/or record a playthrough? I didn't manage to get past stage 2 yet and I've just been trying to play to get the ending. Retro-arcade style games seem to whup me no matter how much I love them.

[SamIAm]

There's a full replay up on nico nico if you search.

[Aggie Tsubi]

These videos aren't mine, but they show the bosses getting beaten:


Those should help with the trickiest parts since I don't think the normal stages are as tough as the bosses. Plus there aren't any set patterns to the normal stages. Just keep an eye out for enemies that fire projectiles from above or directly across, make sure you're never sitting somewhere where an enemy can drop down on you or hop up to where you are, and it's often good to retreat after the first hit on enemies that take multiple hits to dizzy because they have a tendency to charge (like the pink elephants) or immediately shoot something out (like the blue golems). I usually try to pick off easy kills along the bottom or work my way to the top to try to take out multiple enemies at once. If you do the latter, you may get a power up. If you hear the sound of the EXTEND balloons coming (although it's the same sound as earning an extra life from points), it's good to be right near the bottom center of the screen where you can quickly grab all of them.

Getting back to the bosses, for the stage 2 boss, I stay at the bottom center of the screen pounding away as the boss sends out the enemies in bubbles, then right after the fourth comes out, I start retreating to the left, hop up the platforms as I dodge the cannon shots, and start throwing when I get near the top to stun the enemies up there and kick them away. As soon as the boss moves back to the right corner, I drop down and repeat the cycle.

If you want my boss strategies for any of the later bosses, just let me know.

Oh, and if you want, you could play on Easy. I played through the game on Easy myself last night, and you still get the full game and same ending and all. Seems like all that really changes is the unlimited continues and some enemies move slower, take fewer hits, and/or fire out fewer projectiles. Hard is the exact opposite. Even the very first boss is CRAZY on Hard. It fires out so many feathers so fast that it's like playing a bullet hell shmup. I blew through all my continues trying to beat the first boss, so yeah... I'm not going to be beating Chip-chan Kick! on Hard any time soon, if ever, haha.

[Aggie Tsubi]

Is nobody else but me playing PC-FX lately?

I tried out a couple more recent purchases of mine. First I tried out Konpeki no Kantai (AKA Deep Blue Fleet), but as expected from the types of games I refer to as "old man games", it was total kanji city and I could barely make heads or tails out of what was going on with my nearly nonexistent knowledge of Japanese. Oh well, I wasn't that interested in the game anyway because I find the source material kind of offensive (nationalist WWII-revisionism nonsense in which Japan did no wrong and the Americans are dumb and evil). But I'm trying to get as many PC-FX games as I can and this is one of the very cheapest PC-FX games, so that's why I picked it up.

I had a fun time trying out Angelique: Tenkuu no Requiem, though. It gives me some slight Lunar vibes for some reason, maybe because of how the battles look. Too bad it doesn't have the movement system of Lunar, though. But the game feels pretty solid and polished. Maybe a TINY bit low budget (what's new for PC-FX games), what with how the graphics are slightly sparse on the details (especially for a 32-bit RPG), but it's got that sort of refreshing simplicity of a classic RPG. Of course, it stands out from other RPGs being an Angelique game, so it has that whole Angelique look and feel. Seems like it somewhat banks on the player already being familiar with the Angelique franchise and its characters, but without being able to read all the dialogue, that doesn't make a big difference to me.

[esteban]

Is nobody else but me playing PC-FX lately?

STATUS: Indubitably.