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« on: February 26, 2006, 02:25:58 PM »
I really dig the game, but there ARE some things that could have been tweaked or added to make it better. Here's some of my impressions after a week and a half with the game.
The Great:
* Engaging, unique, open-ended and ADDICTIVE gameplay featuring emphases on exploration, unlocking new areas and being happily surprised at the wild discoveries you'll make.
* A wacky storyline and surprisingly well-developed, memorable/lovable characters that drive the plot forward however fast you want.
* Just doing random tasks never got old to me (scrubbing the floor, etc.), even after I had no need for Happy Points.
* Lots of sidequests lengthen the game and add to the charm - to be technical, there's just a cubic buttload of stuff to do.
* Chibi's just so darn cute.
The Iffy:
* Loses some balance towards the end regarding the money system and figuring out what to do next to proceed (an often-unhelpful help system).
* Could've used another room. This would have lengthened the "uncharted territory" part of the game, which is arguably the most rewarding. By about 1/4 of the way through, you'll have seen every room there is to see. Just think of all the missed opportunities at not including a bathroom!
* It's been said before in multiple reviews, but it's silly that there's no way to speed up the flow of text.
The Ugly:
* While the graphics ooze unique style and art direction and there is often a lot going on, character and environment poly counts are generally low (Chibi looks great, however), and are sometimes reminiscent of N64 graphics. Some chugging in busy areas (Jenny's room).
* Babble-speech is surprisingly low-quality considering you'll hear it often, which is in sharp contrast to the in-game music (which is generally fun, catchy and of good quality).
So, with that out of the way, keep in mind that I found the good qualities to far outweigh the bad. And the main gripe in reviews that I've seen, the system of being called back to homebase at the end of each half-day, didn't bother me at all. Chibi-Robo can be almost solely blamed for my sleep deprivation this past week, as it has what may be considered the "Magician's Scarf Addiction Factor" (each new bit of the game you solve leads you to something else, and onto another beyond that, etc., turning an "I'll only play for one day" jaunt into a two-plus-hour expedition).
Verdict:
Highly enjoyable despite any faults that happen to come along for the ride.
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