Popful Mail Appreciation Thread!

[shawnji]

So I just finally got my copy of this the other day, and while I know most people prefer, or are more familiar with, the Mega CD version;  I love this version about 10 times more.

The cutscenes and character portraits, in particular, feel more true to the light-hearted tone than the wierdly serious-looking character designs in the Mega CD version.  I found the hijinxs so much more fun and amusing here because of the "Slayers-esque" art style.

The other thing I like, is that while the Mega CD version seems to move at a faster clip, you spend a lot more time whacking on the same enemy over and over again.  In comparison, the PCE version has moved along at pretty much a perfect clip for me.  The projectile attacks of Tatto and Gaw make Mail herself somewhat useless, but at the outset of the game, it's so much quicker to elimate enemies in comparison.

I don't know, I'm just way more pleased with this version than I was with the other.  There were a couple of bits that literally had me laughing out loud, which was rare in the other version just because the art didn't seem to match the tone.

Anyway, am I all alone on this, or do some of you guys feel the same?

[Black Tiger]

The Mega-CD version is very cool for what it is. Sega really un-Falcomed the crap out of it, but it is technically impressive outside of the poor color use and is fun to play through. The cinema art-style is also as un-Popful Mail as possible (like having Sunbow/Toei do a GI JOE-style version of the Smurfs), but the animation is amazing for the time. Also has a great Sega-CD chip-music soundtrack.

The Sega-CD version had much of the fun replaced with frustration by Working Designs. I had to skip the voice acting segments before I got the original version, because it is just so terrible.

The PC Engine version is an extremely polished port of the computer game. It's like Dragon Slayer IV without the trolling stage design and the way it is broken up into isolated areas works out great. The cinemas are very detailed with a nice variety of artwork, yet are extremely animated. Some of the CD bgms suffer from SNES-style "hurr-durr'ing" artifacts, but the compositions compliment the game.

I was disappointed to find that there is no MSX version, after I finally got an MSX2+ setup. I guess I'll only ever play the original through emulation. :/

[turboswimbz]

The cinema art-style is also as un-Popful Mail as possible (like having Sunbow/Toei do a GI JOE-style version of the Smurfs)\

THis is incredible accurate. . . although I never would have thought to describe it as such.  I've only ever plaed through the Mega CD version on real hardware.   I liked the game a lot, but after watching playthroughs the PC version I was a bit dissapointed, I'm hoping to find the PCE version one of thiese days to give that a try. 

[lukester]

Is Popful Mail playable with a guide? I know Legend of Xanadu, another PCE Falcom game, is pretty text heavy.

[EmperorIng]

There are places you need to backtrack to meet previous characters. I'm roughly 3 hours in and had to consult a guide a few times, especially in the mountain area.

[shawnji]

Is Popful Mail playable with a guide? I know Legend of Xanadu, another PCE Falcom game, is pretty text heavy.

I'm actually debating making a FAQ, as it's fairly straightforward if you can read the text, but otherwise I can see people getting really lost.  I'm not sure if a guide for the Sega CD version works just as well or not.

[jtucci31]

Is Popful Mail playable with a guide? I know Legend of Xanadu, another PCE Falcom game, is pretty text heavy.

It's possible! Don't think otherwise!

I'm actually debating making a FAQ, as it's fairly straightforward if you can read the text, but otherwise I can see people getting really lost.  I'm not sure if a guide for the Sega CD version works just as well or not.

I thought Black Tiger already did a FAQ of this game awhile ago. Either way, I don't see this game being too difficult to play.

Have you been playing with the Arcade Card or just the 3.0 card? I can't remember what the upgrades were in the ACD version.

[shawnji]

I thought Black Tiger already did a FAQ of this game awhile ago. Either way, I don't see this game being too difficult to play.

Have you been playing with the Arcade Card or just the 3.0 card? I can't remember what the upgrades were in the ACD version.

Oh, well in that case, I won't worry about it.  Also, I just beat it a few minutes ago.   Man, does that last boss ever have a lot of forms / life bars!

I was playing with the Arcade Card, but I couldn't tell you what's changed, as I've never tried it without it.

[EmperorIng]

From what I've read, the Arcade Card only affects load times. I play without out it and don't notice anything egregious.

[turboswimbz]

I thought Black Tiger already did a FAQ of this game awhile ago. Either way, I don't see this game being too difficult to play.

Have you been playing with the Arcade Card or just the 3.0 card? I can't remember what the upgrades were in the ACD version.

Oh, well in that case, I won't worry about it.  Also, I just beat it a few minutes ago.   Man, does that last boss ever have a lot of forms / life bars!

I was playing with the Arcade Card, but I couldn't tell you what's changed, as I've never tried it without it.

Load times are suppose to be less / non exisitant.  I can't recall anyone ever saying that there was other diffrences... but BT or Xele would have a better idea than I would.  I hate these threads, now I'm going to be going out of my way to find the PCE version.

[shawnji]

I hate these threads, now I'm going to be going out of my way to find the PCE version.

Sorry, not sorry?

Seriously, I think it's worth it.  This is now definitely one of my favorites on the system.  It's interesting that Mail was included in the new Falcom DLC for Dead or Alive 5.  Gives me hope for a sequel!

[DragonmasterDan]

Since people have commented on both the Sega/Mega CD version and PCE version already I thought I'd put this disclaimer out there. The Super Famicom version is an excercise in frustration.

[geise]

Since people have commented on both the Sega/Mega CD version and PCE version already I thought I'd put this disclaimer out there. The Super Famicom version is an excercise in frustration.

It sure as hell is.  I love the Sega CD version but prefer the pc-e version since I like the gameplay a lot more.

[SamIAm]

Like a lot of other games on the system, Popful Mail on the PCE-CD is a dressed up older PC game with the core gameplay pretty much left alone. That's not necessarily always a bad thing, but it is the big difference between it and the Sega/MegaCD versions. There's a distinctive "generational" shift between the two in terms of gameplay. Though the PCE-CD version is quite playable and fun, the Mega/SegaCD versions are more enjoyably complex and stimulating IMHO. The original game is just too simple and same-y for its own good.

The Japanese MegaCD version is the best overall. The difficulty hasn't been "Working Designed" yet, so the enemies die quickly and you can take far more hits. The bosses are also waaaay more reasonable. It's a great kick-back-and-cruise kind of game.

The English SegaCD version turned out excellently in the translation department. The writing and the performances alike are great, particularly for the time. The characters are even a little bit more memorable than they are in the original Japanese. All in all, it's a fine example of localizing a "zany" anime/manga style.

If I had all the time and skills in the world, I would love to make a hack that combines the Japanese difficulty with the English translation.

The SNES version is not very fun. This is ironic, because it was made by Falcom themselves. It's only the second console game they ever made in-house...the first being Legend of Xanadu.

The PCE-CD version has beautiful portrait and cutscene art, no doubt about it. The bright colors are also nice. However, gameplay aside, what I really missed most from the MegaCD version when I played it was certain backgrounds. So many of the different sub-areas of the MegaCD versions have unique backgrounds while the PCE-CD version keeps recycling things. When you fight the boss of the second area of the MegaCD version, you can see this beautiful giant structure through a desert haze, and you realize that's where you're going next. I love moments like that in games. It's like that bridge in Darm tower in Ys, when you can look down on the town where you came from. But in the PCE-CD version, it's the same ol' background you've seen through the whole area. There's a lot of that kind of thing.

[TR0N]

Like a lot of other games on the system, Popful Mail on the PCE-CD is a dressed up older PC game with the core gameplay pretty much left alone. That's not necessarily always a bad thing, but it is the big difference between it and the Sega/MegaCD versions. There's a distinctive "generational" shift between the two in terms of gameplay. Though the PCE-CD version is quite playable and fun, the Mega/SegaCD versions are more enjoyably complex and stimulating IMHO. The original game is just too simple and same-y for its own good.

The Japanese MegaCD version is the best overall. The difficulty hasn't been "Working Designed" yet, so the enemies die quickly and you can take far more hits. The bosses are also waaaay more reasonable. It's a great kick-back-and-cruise kind of game.

The English SegaCD version turned out excellently in the translation department. The writing and the performances alike were great, particularly for the time. The characters are even a little bit more memorable than they are in the original Japanese. All in all, it's a fine example of localizing a "zany" anime/manga style.

If I had all the time and skills in the world, I would love to make a hack that combines the Japanese difficulty with the English translation.

The SNES version is not very fun. This is ironic, because it was made by Falcom themselves. It's only the second console game they ever made in-house...the first being Legend of Xanadu.

The PCE-CD version has beautiful portrait and cutscene art, no doubt about it. The bright colors are also nice. However, gameplay aside, what I really missed most from the MegaCD version when I played it was certain backgrounds. So many of the different sub-areas of the MegaCD versions have unique backgrounds while the PCE-CD version keeps recycling things. When you fight the boss of the second area of the MegaCD version, you can see this beautiful giant structure through a desert haze, and you realize that's where you're going next. I love moments like that in games. It's like that bridge in Darm tower in Ys, when you can look down on the town where you came from. But in the PCE-CD version, it's the same ol' background you've seen through the whole area. There's a lot of that kind of thing.

I 2nd that.