Topic: I LOVE Portrait of Ruin, but...

[NWR_pap64]

The co-op mode is weak as hell...

Seriously, this mode had a lot of gameplay potential, but Konami let it slip by.

I played it with SB during his holiday visit and we were surprised to learn that the only co-op mode is a two player Boss rush mode. Its fun and all, but after a while we wanted to do something else, and PoR doesn't offer that something else.

I LOVE the co-op aspect of the game. It makes for a lot of strategic elements and your partner can literally save your ass at the last minute. It would've been even better if a friend could join you and help you during the harder boss battles.

I'm guessing their concern was how to handle the two player's save files, since there will ALWAYS be one player that is very behind while the other is very far into the game.

I think what they should've done is that the players use the save file of the player hosting the game, then the second player plays as that character. For example, if SB is hosting the game we would be using his save file and continue through his progress.

This isn't easy to do, I realize that. But the co-op mode had a lot of potential and I am disappointed they didn't work on that further. Other than that, I think the game is fantastic!

[vudu]

I'd be willing to bet the next DS game will have a beefier co-op mode, including many of the features you just mentioned.

Co-op is difficult for a number of reasons (both technical and game play related).  Konami probably tacked it onto the end of this one in order to test the water and see what they could do with minimal effort.  They'll look at fan reaction and either improve upon it for the next outing or drop it all together.

[ViewtifulJoe]

POR sucks

[couchmonkey]

See, this is the problem with pumping out annual sequels: you get all these half-measures. It seems like I'm always either waiting for a big new innovation, or waiting for them to fix last year's half-implemented big new innovation.

If this had been true co-op Castlevania...well, it would have made no difference to me because I don't have anyone to play with. But it would have been a MORAL victory.

[IceCold]

Quote
f this had been true co-op Castlevania...well, it would have made no difference to me because I don't have anyone to play with.

Isn't it online co-op?

[matt oz]

The thing that bothered me most about PoR's co-op is that the button configuration returns to the default.  It took me a few seconds to figure that out, and then by the time I adjusted to the controls, I had already made us die.

[NWR_pap64]

One complain about the game I have is the online shop mode.

I personally think its neat as it lets you get LOTS of money as well as find rare items and weapons, but I don't like how its handled.

Here is how it works; you open your shop, then it connects to Nintendo Wifi, then it waits till it finds people to browse my shop. That can take a while. But here's what bugs me. After I spent minutes finding someone, I get some people to browse my shop. They look at my merchandise, decided that its too expensive and leave, and shop mode ends right there...Yeah, the minute a client leaves you have to disconnect and if you want to try again you must do the same process all over again...

While it isn't as tedious as in other games, I wish they would allow you to keep your shop open as long as you wanted and let people come in and out as they like. Would've been hard to do, yes, but it would've been more convenient than re-connecting every time a costumer left the shop.

[ViewtifulJoe]

well what do u expect from such a sucky game

[vudu]

I just finished Portrait of Ruin.  I've now beat it with all four characters at 1000% each (except Sisters mode; the highest you can get is 997.1%).  I'm awesome.  Old Axe Armor mode was hard.

However, I've yet to try online multiplayer.  I need someone to play with.  Pap?  Bloodworth?  Anyone?