RPG Maker Let's Play - Shadow Star (Part Two) - Game Critique

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Studio Blue

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Published on April 30, 2019 2:56:04 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUgsgAD926U

Game:

RPG Maker (1997)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 2:14:24

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DISCLAIMER: We get pretty critical during this Let’s Play and may come across as overtly negative. We apologize for this in advance; however, the developer has asked us to pick apart all aspects of his game. This Let’s Play is more for the developer’s benefit than for entertainment.

Hey everyone! In this RPG Maker Let’s Play, we return to the world of Shadow Star by Ghaleon. Thank you for your continued support, sir.

The presentation of this game, visually and aurally, continues to be top-rate with some of the best we’ve ever seen. The lore behind the world, the little we see, is also very well put together, and the tiny glimpse we get at the meta-plot leaves us wanting more. However, the devil is in the details, and this is where this section of Shadow Star (specifically the Tower of Ryloth) completely comes apart.

SIDE NOTE: We blunder clockwise along the shore-line looking for the Traveler’s pack instead of going straight to Gerald’s Cove. A reminder of sorts in the Quest Journal can fix that.

First, the mechanics: While the battle system itself is amazing to watch and works on a fundamental level, the balancing in the Tower of Ryloth is not good. The battles take way too long and are entirely too frequent. There is a difference between challenging and tedious; this game crosses that line within the first three fights. You will see the moment we stop fighting and start running because we are no longer having fun. The boss fight is neither exciting nor exhilarating (like the Goblin Mage) and instead was a boring Tank-and-Crank fest. This killed our enjoyment of the Tower, and subsequently, the game.

As for the story and the characters, from the moment the player meets the Tower of Ryloth’s boss to where we stop playing, everything falls to ruin. The characters become ridiculous caricatures of themselves, acting in ways that are so over-the-top or out-of-character that we no longer know what to expect or appreciate about them. Lance goes between hot-headed newbie and level-headed leader; Bryce goes between smooth-talking ladies’ man and spoiled man-child; and the parents, oh wow, the parents. They hit the “Love Lance, Fuck Bryce” switch so fast it made our heads spin. Also, Celestrea… writer’s convenience from start to finish.

Again, we apologize for being overly critical this time around, but this playthrough sincerely frustrated us, and here’s why: We see the amazing story and journey underneath the rubble, wanting to come out and show the world its awesomeness… and it’s driving us crazy. We want this game to be good. No, we want this game to be great, but it’s going to take some considerable work, and we believe that Ghaleon has more than enough talent and ability to make it happen.

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