Secret of Mana

[Guitar Woman]

God damnit, this has to be the most shitty and overrated game in the universe. I had heard a lot of good things about this game and how great it was, but never got around to playing it. So I'm sitting here today with nothing to do, and I think "Hey, why don't I go check out Secret of Mana?" So I do. I go to coolrom.com and download it, then fire up ZSNES. I name my little guy Trance and start to play, ignoring how ugly and poorly animated the characters are, and then I get the sword. I try to fight a rabbite, and I discover that the combat system is weird and disorienting. Buuuuuuut since everyone keeps saying how great this game is, and how it's a SNES classic, I press on and try to get used to the gameplay. Then I get to the first boss and he kills me about 30 times with a homing attack that I can't avoid or stop, which he throws every 3 seconds, before I finally beat the buggy fucker into the dust. I think to myself, "Mabye I just need more practice. Yeah, that's it. I just started playing 3 minutes ago, so it's only natural for me to suck at this." Then I get to the second boss fight, and the same thing happens. I don't even have time to swing my sword at them before I die. I keep trying at it and build myself up to an absurdly high level (20), until, after 30 minutes and easily over 50 deaths, I realize the game just fucking sucks.

I demand an explanation of why everyone says Secret of Mana is good, because it really isn't. At all.

>:

[ItalianStereotype]

you're not very good at it :<

[James]

There's no way SoM is as bad as you make it seem.

Are you rushing in and mashing the attack button? That's the only reason I can think of for you doing so poorly. Because you have a meter that has to reach 100% again before your attack is really effective.

Just never play SoM2. I don't know what happened there. :(

[Guitar Woman]

Are you rushing in and mashing the attack button? That's the only reason I can think of for you doing so poorly. Because you have a meter that has to reach 100% again before your attack is really effective.
Yeah, I know that. I run up and attack an enemy and then run away, which isn't effective in boss fights because they all have long range attacks that are gay and fast and hard as shit to avoid.

Also, why are all the shopkeepers dancing? That's kind of weird. :o

[James]

Yeah, I know that. I run up and attack an enemy and then run away, which isn't effective in boss fights because they all have long range attacks that are gay and fast and hard as shit to avoid.

Also, why are all the shopkeepers dancing? That's kind of weird. :o

They all have Parkinson's, you jerk. >:

Just stock up on healing items early on, and make use of them so you don't die.

Have you gotten any other party members yet?

[Supafly345]

Secret of Evermore is much better IMO

[Guitar Woman]

They all have Parkinson's, you jerk. >:

lol :(

Have you gotten any other party members yet?
No, I'm only at the second boss. :(

[Jeff The Ninja]

Just stock up on as many items as you can, and play it defensive. You should have no problem as long as you have as many items as possible and use them all the time.

[timrpgland]

GW you make me cry

[Guitar Woman]

Why, because I don't like a terrible, overhyped piece of crap? I assume you also hate people for not liking FF7 :rolleyes

[timrpgland]

No, because you just suck at it. SoM isn't the BESTEST GREATEST game ever but it is a quite enjoyable RPG even 12 years later. Playing with 1 or 2 other friends is awesome and the gameplay is unique/enjoyable. You're just late to the game and it's ok that you don't know how to play SNES era games. I hate you for other reasons entirely.


edit: and you do realize the game wasn't really that hyped at all at the time

[Guitar Woman]

Hey fuck you jerk, I grew up playing SNES games. I know how to play SNES games. I just can't play this one, because it sucks.

Edit: It doesn't matter when the game was hyped, just that it was hyped when it is, in fact, awful.

[camacazio]

No, you're basically wrong on this. SoM is one of the greatest games. I can only conclude that you are a total fucking idiot. Also, I couldn't possibly explain why you'd have so much trouble playing it because it's such a god damn easy game.

[timrpgland]

It's ok that you suck. :(

[Emu]

Secret of Evermore is a lot better and a lot more underrated. If you can get past the main character's retarded puns, anyway. :(

[Guitar Woman]

Ok I'll try it as long as it plays better than Mana

[timrpgland]

Secret of Evermore is basically the same gameplay in a different setting and US made. It's also a enjoyable game but the coolest thing about Secret of Evermore is that Cecil runs a Inn in the game... they screwed him up though.

[Guitar Woman]

Should I tell you that I also hate Final Fantasy 4? Because I do. For different reasons than I hate SoM, though.

[camacazio]

I'll judge you harshly for that too, dick!

Edit: not really.

[timrpgland]

Should I tell you that I also hate Final Fantasy 4? Because I do. For different reasons than I hate SoM, though.

That's fine, I don't care but it makes me curious as to what SNES rpgs did you grow up with playing?

[Guitar Woman]

FF4 was actually my first RPG ever, and it made me dislike the genre so much that I stayed away from it until Quest 64.

I wouldn't hate the game so much if they didn't make the death scenes so fucking cheesy, and if Rosa didn't play into the "Olive Oyl" stereotype every second that she's on the screen.

OH HELP ME CECIL I'M SICK WITH A FEVER AND I NEED YOU TO GET THE SANDRUBY FOR ME SO I CAN JOIN YOUR PARTY AS A HORRIBLY CRAPPY WHITE MAGE, OH CECIL I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND AM BEING HELD AT THE TOP OF AN INCREDIBLY HIGH TOWER GUARDED BY AN UNSPEAKABLE AMOUNT OF ANNOYING CREATURES WITH WHOM FIGHTING BECOMES THE MOST FUCKING TEDIOUS THING IN ALL OF EXISTANCE AFTER 2 MINUTES, PLEASE SAVE ME SO WE CAN HAVE HARD SEX AFTER I HUMP YOUR LEG A MILLION TIMES IN FRONT OF ALL THE OTHER CHARACTERS BECAUSE I HAVE NO SHAME AT ALL, OH CECIL I JUST LOVE KISSING YOUR ASS, LET ME DO IT SOME MORE

[Vampywampy]

SoM is better when playing it with another person. ;<

Seiken Densetsu 3 is awesome too, but I prefer SoM.

[Guitar Woman]

I'm playing Evermore right now, and I have to say it's shitloads better than Mana. The difficulty has been toned way down to the point where it's still kind of hard but it's actually possible to progress through the game without wanting to run the programmers over with your car. I don't think I could play it without savestates, though ;<

Another thing I like about Evermore is the soundtrack. It's all cool and evil-sounding and stuff, unlike the semi-crappy music in SoM.

The only thing I don't like is how my little guy runs like a tard and has an ugly ducktail ;<

[the_dudefather]

first rpg i played was 'swords and serpents'. which sucked.

i got maniac mansion the same day so that wasnt so bad :)

[Emu]

Another thing I like about Evermore is the soundtrack. It's all cool and evil-sounding and stuff, unlike the semi-crappy music in SoM.


The soundtrack is the best part. The Halls of Collosia have the best music, I think. :eek

[James]

Guitar Woman hates games. :(

[Emu]

No, she just hates shit, like any decent American. >:

[Chojin]

I never liked Secret of Mana, but I don't remember it being hard. Go play battletoads and then tell us all about how hard rpgs are ;<

Oh and FF4 was one of my favorite games growing up but I can't play any of the final fantasies anymore ;< they're just awful to me now ;<

[Vampywampy]

Is this Battletoads? :<

[Supafly345]

Secret of Evermore, I'm telling you. Similar gameplay only much more fun.

[Vampywampy]

Wait, why hasn't anyone mentioned Seiken Densetsu 3? :<


It's better than Evermore. :<

[Guitar Woman]

Oh and FF4 was one of my favorite games growing up but I can't play any of the final fantasies anymore ;< they're just awful to me now ;<
1 and 6 are the only ones I can still tolerate because I haven't beat 1 yet and because 6 was just so awesome ;<

I'm such a dork when it comes to FF6, I printed out a bunch of sheet music and character art, I'm even considering getting a tatoo of that pic of Mog with a Martini ;<

[timrpgland]

I liked SD3 a lot. Better than SoM or SoE. I've only played it through once, however. Duran as the main character as a paladin, Lise as a Dragon Master and then Angela as a Magus . Ended up fighting the 2nd toughest boss (supposedly). That dragon thing. The music is awesome and the graphics were quite good. I just wish we got a real translatin but they did a good job with the translated rom from what I can tell. I liked the branching off classes the most. It had a decent difficulty but after a while the fighting got pretty boring.

[timrpgland]

Oh and FF4 was one of my favorite games growing up but I can't play any of the final fantasies anymore ;< they're just awful to me now ;<
Even 6? Because that game was great :(

I'm such a dork when it comes to FF6, I printed out a bunch of sheet music and everything ;<

I'm confused. I remember you battling about IX over VI...? If you like VI I'm going to have a tough time hating you but I'll do my best :(

[camacazio]

The final fantasy series in general isn't very good. It's 'the standard' but the more I started to play outside of it the more I realized that there's better stuff.

[Guitar Woman]

Oh and FF4 was one of my favorite games growing up but I can't play any of the final fantasies anymore ;< they're just awful to me now ;<
Even 6? Because that game was great :(

I'm such a dork when it comes to FF6, I printed out a bunch of sheet music and everything ;<

I'm confused. I remember you battling about IX over VI...? If you like VI I'm going to have a tough time hating you but I'll do my best :(
I used to like 9, but I replayed that one a while ago and realized how awful it is :(

edit: And yeah, the Final Fantasy series only has about 2 or 3 really good games in it.

[timrpgland]

The final fantasy series in general isn't very good. It's 'the standard' but the more I started to play outside of it the more I realized that there's better stuff.

I agree as a whole but a couple games in the series really stick out, IMO.

[camacazio]

Yeah. But play Phantasy Star 4--gave me a HUGE rpg boner.

[timrpgland]

I have and it was good. I have a tough time deciding between 3 & 4 though.

[camacazio]

I haven't played 3. I'm still trying to beat 2, about half way through, but that game takes such a horribly large amount of leveling up and item use.

[James]

I liked SD3 a lot. Better than SoM or SoE. I've only played it through once, however. Duran as the main character as a paladin, Lise as a Dragon Master and then Angela as a Magus . Ended up fighting the 2nd toughest boss (supposedly). That dragon thing. The music is awesome and the graphics were quite good. I just wish we got a real translatin but they did a good job with the translated rom from what I can tell. I liked the branching off classes the most. It had a decent difficulty but after a while the fighting got pretty boring.

I'm a good way's into SD3, and I've about given up on it. They took all the good stuff about Secret of Mana, and threw it out. The game plays so stiff, with poor ally AI. Combat is stiff and glitchy. Story is boring because you apparently can't write a compelling tale involving 6 characters when you're only playing as three of them at a time (on top of which, the game is intentionally short, encouraging you to play through with different party members which is retarded). Leveling up is a chore.

I pretty much think it's one of the worst games I've ever played. But because I made it so far, I still wanna finish it. Except that means I have to play it.

[timrpgland]

The AI of your allies is pretty bad and switching characters becomes tiresome in that kind of battle style. There's something about the game that kept me playing and I thought it was a very good experience.

Something has to be said about you thinking it's one of the worst games but somehow you are far into it. Either you are a completionist no matter what or SD3 has somehow sucked you in even while you hate it. :)

What characters did you select?

[James]

Well, when I started playing it, it definitely felt "off" compared to Secret of Mana. But I stuck it out. And the game is short, so it's not hard to get far very quickly.

But now I'm at the point where you have to kill the dragons, and the difficulty ramped up a lot, and you really need to level up to stand a chance. Enemies gang up on you and deal a lot of damage, so all my characters keep dying. So now I'm just grinding, and grinding is tedious, especially with gameplay that you weren't too fond of from the start. I didn't mind the game at first, but the further I got into it, the more it got to me. And I am a completionist, so I feel that I've come this far, I should see if I can finish it one of these days.

[Emu]

I played it with Kevin as a main character, and then I picked Carlie and the black mage slut. Kevin is fun as hell to play, especially when he becomes a Bashkar or whatever it is :eek

[SLjimbolian]

I had much more fun playing SD3 than SoM, which the whole game was just confusing for me.