Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana

[Moogy]

This is the best RPG in years. Anyone that doesn't get it sucks.

It's also 2D, which is a recipe for awesome.

[ToshX]

RE: Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana

2D games, although lacking graphics, seem superior to 3D games in gameplay, from my experiences. Just leave out the Playerworld crap and I'll reinforce this 95% of the time.
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I read up on the game, I've concluded it's just another RPG-like cliche piece of crap. This is the other 5%.

[Brainmaster07]

I'm going to see if I can't find it at blockbuster. I'll tell you what I think of it if I can.

[Moogy]

I doubt you'll find it for rent anywhere, because most rental places don't stock obscure Japanese 2D RPGs. Try GameFly, though.

[Omeganitros]

I saw a video of this once, it did look really cool.

[Moogy]

Yeah, I had it reserved for like 2 months.

Nippon Ichi + Preorder bonus = instant preorder.

Apparently it's selling like crazy, so we might have some hope of NIS localizing Atelier Iris: Eternal Mana 2, which just came out in Japan.

[ToshX]

Ugh, they made Disgaea and now they have 10 billion copied games of it(especially La Pucelle). They need to just make sequels, because Disgaea was awesome.

[Moogy]

La Pucelle was made before Disgaea. It was localized later, but it was made before. La Pucelle, Disgaea, and Phantom Brave (and Makai Kingdom, soon) are all made by NIS and are part of a string of great PS2 SRPGS. None of them are copies, as each has a distinct battle system. I would know, as I own all three (and I'm preordering Makai Kingdom soon).

La Pucelle = JP 2002, US 2004
Disgaea = JP 2003, US 2003
Phantom Brave = JP 2004, US 2004

Also, there's apparently a Disgaea anime in the works.

Also note that NIS did not make Atelier Iris - it just translated and published it. It was developed by Gust. It's also NIS America's first published game. Disgaea and Phantom Brave were both published by Atlus, notorious for having small production runs of games. Disgaea is actually the game that Atlus has produced the most copies of, due to having two production runs in the US. According to GameFAQs, NIS America is publishing Makai Kingdom as well. Note that La Pucelle was published/localized by Mastiff, who are responsible for localizing Technic Beat and PIU Exceed PS2 (soon).

And stuff.

[ToshX]

La Pucelle was made before Disgaea. It was localized later, but it was made before. La Pucelle, Disgaea, and Phantom Brave (and Makai Kingdom, soon) are all made by NIS and are part of a string of great PS2 SRPGS. None of them are copies, as each has a distinct battle system. I would know, as I own all three (and I'm preordering Makai Kingdom soon).


La Pucelle = JP 2002, US 2004
Disgaea = JP 2003, US 2003
Phantom Brave = JP 2004, US 2004

Also, there's apparently a Disgaea anime in the works.

Also note that NIS did not make Atelier Iris - it just translated and published it. It was developed by Gust. It's also NIS America's first published game. Disgaea and Phantom Brave were both published by Atlus, notorious for having small production runs of games. Disgaea is actually the game that Atlus has produced the most copies of, due to having two production runs in the US. According to GameFAQs, NIS America is publishing Makai Kingdom as well. Note that La Pucelle was published/localized by Mastiff, who are responsible for localizing Technic Beat and PIU Exceed PS2 (soon).

And stuff.

Thanks for all of this information. I bought Disgaea, my friend loved it, but a few months later decided to buy La Pucelle(when it was new on the first week) instead anyway. I played the beginning of it at his house and it seemed as if it were Disgaea, just with SLIGHTLY different character design. The battle system also seemed incredibly similar. In other words I thought of it as a copy, until now.
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My Disgaea save has 4 level 9,999s, and about 10 level 7,000+s. I have the Space+Time Machine, unlocked every character, every level, have 3 Prinny Costume on all my fighting characters and the monster weapon I forgot the name of on Uber-Prinny Baal on all of my monster characters. GG.

[Brainmaster07]

Went and bought it at gamestop two days ago. 9 hours in right now, and it's indeed awesome. Both the character and music are great. The difficulty is a little lacking, at least, until I ran into that ice dragon who completely murderized my face 9 times before I killed him :<.

Thanks for the recommendation.

[Moogy]

Heh, I didn't really have any trouble until the boss of the Flawless Marvel. Now that guy is tough.

Glad you like it.

[Omeganitros]

I think the reason it's selling like hot cakes is because that show X-Play did a review of the game and gave it a 4 out of 5.

[Moogy]

X-Play is full of jerks. I'd have given it a 5/5.

But yeah, it's selling very well for a first-time American offering from both the publisher and the developer. Hopefully NIS will bring the sequel across, too.

[Omeganitros]

Hahaha, I remember the time when an enraged fanboy attacked them with a lightsaber because they gave Jedi Outcast a 2 out of 5? They are jerks sometimes, but I think they know when they make unpopular choices.

[ToshX]

Speaking of sequels, Disgaea 2 was supposed to have come out a while ago, but I just lost track of it. Also, I'm assuming this game costs $49.99 at Gamestop, and since I don't like it much, I'll wait to get it used for like 35 bucks or something. Since you all seem to have good judgement, I think it is time I tried another game like Disgaea.