Skyborn, one of the best RPG's of the year.

I don't know how many of you know about Big Fish games, but its a lot like Steam. You download their client, download games through them, and so on.

Well, I was searching for pictures of Led from Septerra core, and came across a statement saying this game was like having Led and two other characters from different games working in the same workshop.

So I looked into it, and it's an old school type RPG launched this year, back in march.

And oh my god, it is awesome. The combat is fun, and requires some though. (Nothing complicated yet, but I hope it improves some more)

The characters are all awesome. I have yet to meet someone I've disliked.

The music is also spot on at every turn so far, helping ad to to the mood.

I have been playing for a couple hours, and have yet to find anything I dislike about the game.

Edit: I'll post some screens of it later for you all to enjoy. :p

Screens!

(SPOILER)
Our Main Heroine and title screen.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ject/Title.png

Her saying awesome things.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ct/Claret4.png
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ct/Claret3.png
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ct/Claret2.png
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ct/Claret1.png
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...ct/Claret5.png

The Tool in question!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/.../Sullivan1.png

A complete dick!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...t/Dhacian1.png

Bitchin' Scenery!
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/.../Backdrop2.png
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/.../Backdrop1.png

This looks great. Will definitely check it out.

Not a fan of those huge character drawings when people talk but otherwise looks spiffy. Who doesn't love old school RPGs~? Any screens of the battle system?

I actually like the large models in the dialogue, they're very expressive without seeming cartoony.

And I looked up the game and saw a screen of combat. It has a first-person Dragon Quest style combat to it. :flirt: How wonderfully old-school!

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Originally Posted by Futan

Not a fan of those huge character drawings when people talk but otherwise looks spiffy. Who doesn't love old school RPGs~? Any screens of the battle system?

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I didn't get any, but I can soon. The battle system is interesting.

Your MP is run off a % rather then a growing number, certain abilitiies taking a percent. You recover 5% a round, plus any bonus's from gear.

Some attacks cause a longer delay in the turn order, so depending on attacks used, weight of equipment, and your natural speed you can go multiple times before the enemy, or them against you.

There is also 'Threat'. Basically a viewable Agro bar. The total threat of your party adds up to 100%. The more damage you do, the more threat you build and others lose. Healing increases yoru threat as well. The total threat is always 100%, and the highest threat becomes the focus of enemy attacks.

it was a really interesting way to incorporate MMO-ish agro in a turn based RPG.

The only fear I have is the game may not be to hard, even though I have it on the highest difficulty. But hey, it's brilliant in pretty much every way so far, so while I may not like the ease I'm excpeting, the game does way more then enough to make up for it.

Looks neato torpedo. I'm loving how indies are reviving the old-school JRPG. They've been so sparse in recent years.

I do want to say, since you can't see this in screenshots, the music is wonderful. It does an amazing job at setting a mood wherever you are.

Looks a little too "KAWAII ANIME DESU =^_^=" for my tastes.

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Originally Posted by DMKA

Looks a little too "KAWAII ANIME DESU =^_^=" for my tastes.

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...You have a Card Captor Sakura theme.

That is thousands of times more that then this game. :p

Also, there are some pretty smurfed up bits story wise. For example, the way the Skyborn try to find the Half breeds. When they have a suspect, the beat the trout out of them until they snap and use magic to defend themselves.

Looks like it's made with RPG Maker. Though that's just cool. Might check it out after Catherine and Xenoblade.

Looks pretty neat to me, just the kind of thing I enjoy.

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Originally Posted by Laddy

I actually like the large models in the dialogue, they're very expressive without seeming cartoony.

And I looked up the game and saw a screen of combat. It has a first-person Dragon Quest style combat to it. :flirt: How wonderfully old-school!

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I hate first person RPG combat. It's the reason I couldn't get more than three fights into Earthbound or Shining in the Darkness. Pity, the rest of the game looks awesome, but I'll have to avoid it because of that. That type of setup just really irks me.

Oh well, at least I was reminded of Septerra Core. Great game.

Oh wait... first person combat? Noooooooo!!!

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Originally Posted by Skyblade

I hate first person RPG combat. It's the reason I couldn't get more than three fights into Earthbound or Shining in the Darkness. Pity, the rest of the game looks awesome, but I'll have to avoid it because of that. That type of setup just really irks me.

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Yep, same here. I really can't stand first person RPG combat at all. =(

There are so many much better battle systems for RPGM XP too.

It looks like something I would have checked out before GW2 :p

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Originally Posted by Ultima Shadow

Oh wait... first person combat? Noooooooo!!!

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Originally Posted by Skyblade

I hate first person RPG combat. It's the reason I couldn't get more than three fights into Earthbound or Shining in the Darkness. Pity, the rest of the game looks awesome, but I'll have to avoid it because of that. That type of setup just really irks me.

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Yep, same here. I really can't stand first person RPG combat at all. =(

There are so many much better battle systems for RPGM XP too.

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Better? The smurf? The only difference is you don't see your character sprite in battle. At best that is a nitpick, how does it alter anything about combat? :p

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Originally Posted by Uncle Big Hands

Better? The smurf? The only difference is you don't see your character sprite in battle. At best that is a nitpick, how does it alter anything about combat? :p

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Well, I'm just assuming the game uses the standard RPGM battle system, which might not be the case. Most of the custom battle systems function differently (and better) than the original (such as the FFX and Ar'Tonelico ones), aside from there being on-screen character sprites. But I guess it could just use the front view part, while having other things customized I guess, in which case the front view itself would be the only issue. :greenie:

Anyhow... while it's only a matter of seeing or not seeing the sprites of your own characters, I personally think seeing your own characters in battle adds a whole lot. It's a simple visual detail, but to me it can mean the difference between battles being enjoyable or boring. :p

[QUOTE=Ultima Shadow;3181450]

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Originally Posted by Uncle Big Hands

It's a simple visual detail, but to me it can mean the difference between a battles being enjoyable or boring. :p

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Well that's about the pettiest thing I've ever heard in my life. :p

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Originally Posted by Uncle Big Hands

Well that's about the pettiest thing I've ever heard in my life. :p

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Oh, I guess it wouldn't hurt to remove the monster sprites too then? Ta-daah! 100% text-based battles! :p

Seriously though, I do feel the character sprites are almost as important as the monster sprites. :greenie:

I'm not exactly sure why it has this effect on me, but it is definitely a question of immersion.

It could be the sudden shift in perspective whenever you enter a battle (though that wouldn't explain SitD, which is always first person). Or maybe it's the poor UI. It could even be the focus of view through the square screen that constantly reminds me that I am looking through a screen. Maybe it ruins my connection to my avatar by trying to convince me that I am my avatar, rather than keeping my avatar as an expression or projection, a piece of myself.

All I know is, I can't stand it and it takes me right out of a game, regardless of how much I enjoy the rest of it.

I tend to hate FP viewpoints in general. Portal and Metroid Prime are the only FP games I've ever really loved.

First person battles have the benefit of the monster attacks being dynamic. I don't know if Skyborn does it, but Dragon Quest games had enemies leap forward to attack you, which is a lot more intimidating than them leaping sideways at your avatar.

When it comes to first-person RPG battles, I suppose I should mention that whenever I'd solo in FFXI, I'd go into first-person mode to make it feel like Dragon Quest. :kakapo:

Anyway, this game looks neat! Seems very RPG-maker-esque, though.

This actually looks like it'd have a decent story.