Game:

Quest 64 (1998)

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Duration: 2:56:44

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Originally recorded: May 15, 2022
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So, let's discuss this game's mechanics this time around. Increasing one's stats in Quest 64 is unusual, but apparently not unprecedented. Rather than collecting experience points and leveling up, players must perform specific actions in order to increase each individual stat. Taking damage increases defense, walking around increases agility, performing magic slowly increases MP... that sort of thing. It's interesting, but apparently the second Final Fantasy on the Famicom already pioneered this gimmick. Dari also informs me that many tabletop RPGs use a similar system.

Likewise, in order to increase Brian's magical skills, players must either collect "spirits" found on the overworld or earn them by defeating enemies -- the latter being the closest thing the game has to traditional grinding. After a spirit is collected, players are given the choice to increase one of their four elements: water, earth, wind and fire. Boosting each element increases Brian's melee attack strength, the strength of the corresponding elemental spells and can even unlock brand-new ones if they reach a high enough level.

Finally, there's the combat. Players are allowed to move Brian freely (within a specific range) during combat and can choose to perform a spell, a melee attack or to simply end their turn. Likewise, players have a small modicum of control over Brian during the enemy's turn, allowing him the possibility to dodge attacks. The battlefield takes place exactly where the random encounter was triggered and Brian can escape by moving outside of the battle area or by using a specific spell.

While all of these mechanics are fascinating, the truth is that they're all implemented so haphazardly, that it really puts a damper on any enjoyment that can be derived from any of them. As such, Quest 64 is a game that is far more interesting to dissect than it is to actually experience outright. Grinding for increased stats somehow feels even more tedious than the traditional method. The in-game spirits can be difficult to find and even obtain, thanks to Brian's iffy interaction. And the constant random battles, coupled with the game's utterly abysmal camera, makes navigating the various "caves" and "forests" -- the game's equivalent of dungeons -- an absolute nightmare.

Of course, all of that came to a head in tonight's stream. While Quest 64 was essentially coasting ahead of Yoshi's Story at the conclusion of the first stream, it may well yet secure its spot as the worst game I stream this year after what happened tonight. While effectively trading close-range attacks was a winning strategy for the game's first boss, it appears that beating the second one will require a brand-new strategy... and a lot more grinding. Fortunately, two long-time fans of Quest 64 showed up to give me a few pointers and together we've come up with a strategy to get over this hurdle next time. I'll be grinding for defense, hopefully unlock the "Level 2 Healing" spell and maybe start focusing on either Earth or Wind magic to build up some all too crucial mid-range attacks. Here's hoping it doesn't take me too long to get past this.

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