Dark Spire DS

[walrusmonger]

Picked this up yesterday since I really enjoyed the Etrian Odyssey games. I put around 2 hours into it today and have some impressions for anyone interested:

1- super minimal story (literally told to go get back something important stolen by an evil wizard)

2- super minimal graphics: either pre-8bit wireframe graphics or stylish hand drawn graphics, either way they're even more basic than the ones found in Etrian Odyssey.

3- gameplay: solid. if you're into leveling up characters, or grinding, this is right up your alley. the game is also quite tough, and very unforgiving.


Overall a good game if youre into first person dungeon crawlers. I still like EO a little more than it, but that's based on my first impression, things could change. If you like this style of game, it's easily a 9/10, but if you would rather have a JRPG or something that is story based and modern, it's probably a 2/10.

[megasdkirby]

I just got this today...came with the nifty music CD too.

Seems like good 'ol classic dungeon crawling...something I've been craving!

[aclbandit]

I saw this recently, and it looks SO AMAZING. I'll have to pick it up soon.

[walrusmonger]

I'm about 10 hours in now, the game continues to be super addictive.

I have completed 3 quests... that's it. The combat system, although out-of-date by today's standards, is very deep. The game is very immersive despite being as minimal as you could imagine- think Pokemon on the original GB, but *less* animated.

You have no idea how huge the tower is at first glance, but as you explore you find different paths, it really opens up- the map is huge.

$30 is a steal, I stopped playing GTA on DS (which I love) to play Dark Spire, and I don't see myself going back to GTA anytime soon.

Anyway, if anyone likes these types of games, this is a must buy- no doubt about it.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I restarted a bit ago, I'm about 7 hours into a new game. I re-rolled and made custom chars from the start this time. I realized that I didn't like the pre-generated characters that were hanging out in the guild house after playing with them for about 4-5 hours. They got some lvls and the healthy lifestyle skill for free... but it's just better to go with your own team of newbs.

If you thought the Etrian games were hard, I'd recommend that you stay away from Dark Spire... It'll be your Kryptonite. Damn wussies.

[Queen Of The Felines]

So is this like Wizardry/Might & Magic/etc. then?

Please say "yes."

[walrusmonger]

So is this like Wizardry/Might & Magic/etc. then?

Please say "yes."

That's what I've read from reviews (Wizardry) but I've never played it, so I cant tell you personally.

[FantasiaWHT]

If you thought the Etrian games were hard, I'd recommend that you stay away from Dark Spire... It'll be your Kryptonite. Damn wussies.

Etrian (first, haven't played second) was hard for about 5 hours or so, then was pretty easy all the way through up until the very end. How does Dark Spire compare to that?

I might have to pick that up in the next couple days as a reward for finishing finals

[Drifter 2000]

I've kind of been watching this game for a while now, and actually had forgotten about it until now. Seems a bit like a graphical rogue-like. Dungeon crawling, brutal difficulty, grinding, looting, and killing monsters.

Between hockey cards, this, and X-Men Origins: Wolverine...my wallet is going to be feeling the hurt. Since this is an Atlus game, I'm sure they'll put out about three copies of it for all of North America.

[FantasiaWHT]

Ok, bought it yesterday, saving it to play until after I finish finals as a reward. Now, who wants my soundtrack CD? Definitely going to be playing this one MUTED... ew.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Playing it muted is going to be a bad idea when you get to the dark areas... Other than the map and location spells you hear a thud when you push into a wall.

If you play Dark Spire on Classic mode you could easily call it a Wizardry clone. I do prefer the modern mode, but that is because they gave the game a great, stylized make over.

Got a lot further into the basement last night, it's finished as far as I can go so far. The rest of the time I spent gambling trying to get a quest item... no dice, pun intended. I need to figure out how to open up the rest of the first level (need a key it seems) and finish searching for secrets on the second.

Save before you go to 'Learn' lvl ups and save again after you get a result that you like. If you get low HP on the lvl up restart and try again. I don't take anything less than 7hp+ for the warriors, 5hp+ for priests and thieves and 4+ for a mage. Usually you get 1hp though. So, sometimes it takes a little bit. Thankfully, you don't lvl up much. Or at least, not so far. Not sure if the Healthy Lifestyle skill helps you gain HP faster but, it does seem to help.

[FantasiaWHT]

I mute the music, not the sound effects, that helps.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Your not being thrilled with the music got me thinking... It would have been cool if you could change the visual and music style independently between modern and classic. The 'modern' graphics style with the bleepy 8-bit music score would have been great.

[FantasiaWHT]

Couple questions:

What to do with things like scrap metal? You can't drop them, so I hope there's no item limit, or that they become useful at some point.

Has anybody tried any of those strange skills like knitting, painting, etc.? I've only gotten class levels so far.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Scrap metal: your Mage can use them like Shuriken in battle 1-4 damage. They do eat up inv so chuck away.

I'm going to make some new characters. Discovered the prestige classes and two of my group just are not going to cut it anymore. Unfortunately one of them is my dwarf tank.

I tried buying a few of those... so far they seem worthless. Although some skills open up the prestige classes if you have characters that meet the requirements. IE: Healthy Lifestyle + 10WAR + 13MAG = Samurai class. Then you can build the Samurai lvls. Tank mage rules!

Of course, Gamble, Disarm Traps and Pick Locks are needed but I'd skip the rest until you're eligible for a prestige class. I am led to believe that Healthy Lifestyle may help HP gain, but I'm not sure and I can't find any info on the internet or otherwise to confirm either way.

[Drifter 2000]

I believe Healthy Lifestyle helps prevent poisoning. Or so I've been told.

[Zigfried]

I've been looking forward to this one.