The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion (PSP)

[Jibbajaba]

For those of you who weren't aware, "The Legend of Heroes" is a Falcom (creators of Y's) RPG that was released for the PSP a few weeks ago. Wen I saw it on the shelf at the store, I was certainly intrigued, but when I looked up some reviews on the game, I became wary. IGN gave it a 5.5, Gamespot gave it a 7.1, and 1up.com gave it a 7.0. That 5.5 really made me go @_@. But the wierd thing was that it was getting great reader reviews. The "pro" reviewers were giving it a collective "meh", but regular gamers seemed to really like it. So I bought it. (Actually one of the main reasons that I bought it was that I saw Maxlords singing it's praises in a different thread.)

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/645/645477/legend-of-heroes-20050825101547180.jpg


The only conclusion that I can come to is that there "pro" reviewers are either just not old-school RPG fans, or are not old enough to have played many old-school RPGs in the first place. One complain that I saw echoed in multiple reviews was "bad localization". OK. The translation has many mistakes in it. But this is not something that has ever bothered me in games. It's just a few grammatical errors here and there. It doesn't detract from the gameplay.

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/645/645477/legend-of-heroes-20050825101538540.jpg

I am definitely enjoying the game so far. It's a classic RPG style game with very nice graphics, turn-based fighting, NO RANDOM BATTLES (which makes some people very happy), etc. So far it reminds me of a cross between one of the BOF games for PSX, and Golden Sun (GBA).

http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/653/653769/the-legend-of-heroes-20050926102400587.jpg

Anyone else who has this game have any thoughts on it? I'm just exited that the PSP finally has a good RPG that I can sink my teeth into!

Chris

[Enixis]

I've got it and loving every minute. The only downside to is the collision detection. The character seems to turn left or right after hitting an object. Extremely annoying when you're trying to talk to an NPC.

Another rpg that just came out last week is Popolocrois. Not too sure how good that one is though.

[Jibbajaba]

The only downside to is the collision detection. The character seems to turn left or right after hitting an object. Extremely annoying when you're trying to talk to an NPC.


I've noticed that as well. I don't have a problem with it as long as I use the D-Pad instead of the Analog nub for precision moving.

Ill have to look into Popolocrois.

Chris

[PDorr3]

Thanks for the feedback on this game, I was also put off by the pro reviews but now you make me want to give this a try. One thing I hope this has though is battles that dont get old and boring.

[esquire]

Just out of curiousity, does the game require for you to upgrade your firmware?

[Jibbajaba]

Just out of curiousity, does the game require for you to upgrade your firmware?

Yes you have to upgrade to version 2.00. I went ahead and did it. I can roll it back later if I want. The web browser is fun to check out anyway.

Chris

[Biff_McFresh]

Must pick this one up eventually, looks beautiful.

[pragmatic insanester]

i hear popolocrois is kind of juvenile. i like the cutesy graphics for this game, they remind me of the saturn working designs titles.

[Spycee]

they remind me of the saturn working designs titles
I played about 10 hours and it feels like Albert Odyssey : a bit slow but very entertaining, and good graphics.

[segagamer4life]

The only downside to is the collision detection. The character seems to turn left or right after hitting an object. Extremely annoying when you're trying to talk to an NPC.


I've noticed that as well. I don't have a problem with it as long as I use the D-Pad instead of the Analog nub for precision moving.

Ill have to look into Popolocrois.

Chris yeah the d-pad is the way to go for movement in this game... don't bother too much with the analog, unless you want to get frustrated. Also, I have heard good things about popolocrois, its not as long as LOH... but its good, and has alot of Anime cut scenes from what I have read.

[Jibbajaba]

Maxlords? Anyone else pick this game up? I'm liking it even more as I get better at the game and progress further.

Chris

[Frankie23]

Hmmm. I notice the subtitle is "A Tear of Vermilion". Anmy idea if it is at all related to the old Genesis RPG, Sword of Vermilion?

[Drexel923]

Maxlords? Anyone else pick this game up? I'm liking it even more as I get better at the game and progress further.

Chris

I'll be buying this when it drops to about $20-25...just like I did with all my PSP games. IMO, none of them are worth $40-50.

[Six Switch]

i jsut got a psp and this game looks really fun.

could you explain the whole no random battle thing,like do you see enemies and have the option to fight?i might pick this up after finals.

[Jibbajaba]

i jsut got a psp and this game looks really fun.

could you explain the whole no random battle thing,like do you see enemies and have the option to fight?i might pick this up after finals.

You walk around and the enemies are just cruising around the landscape. They have these little emoticons over their heads that tell you if their are frightened or aggressive. If they are aggressive then they chase you (but you can avoid them) and if they are scared then they cower away from you (but you can still kill them).

Chris

[Six Switch]

ok that is pretty cool.i'll be getting this game for sure.

[Joker T]

Looks very cool I also am looking at picking up Kingdom of Paradise which looks fun.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/259533.asp

Rather bad box art LOL

[Six Switch]

didn't have it at best buy today,i'll checl gamestop this weekend.

[Ed Oscuro]

Hmmm. I notice the subtitle is "A Tear of Vermilion". Anmy idea if it is at all related to the old Genesis RPG, Sword of Vermilion?
My question also.

Looks like a fun game, lol @ "elcargot" though.

[Zigfried]

No relation to Sword of Vermilion.

I'm a big fan of Legend of Heroes even though the translation is disappointingly bad at times. I'd call the game a "slow burn".

[PDorr3]

One thing I like when I read about this game is its fast paced battles. Nothing annoys me more than long drawn out battles (I heard popolocrois has drawn out battles do to loading times). So I was wondering if battles in this game are fluid, and if they ever become boring and tiresome?

[Zigfried]

There's no loading times to worry about. Most battles go by quickly, and they can be avoided if you're tired of fighting.

[Jibbajaba]

Thsi game will NOT work with the WAB version changer. Tried it last night, but there is no way around upgrading the PSP to version 2.0 right now. The good news is that there is a new launcher out which lets you run a lot of homebrew software on a 2.00 PSP.

The firmware rollback technique works just fine though. I tested it last night.

Chris

[esquire]

The firmware rollback technique works just fine though. I tested it last night.

Chris

Cool. I've been holding back picking up some of the newer games for this reason. how hard and time consuming was it to rollback?

[Jibbajaba]

Anyone new grab this game? I am still working my way through it, but I REALLY like it. I have defintely gotten into the story. It would be nice if at least one of the party members were a little bit more permanent though. Everyone is always coming and going.

Chris

[lol monster]

i picked it up over the weekend,and i like it.i am replaying through ffx so i am splitting my time between those two.

and i know what you mean about the characters.except for the main two they are always coming and going.

[segagamer4life]

I am in chapter 3 now, almost done, with that, how far along is everyone... this game is serious fun...

[Jibbajaba]

I beat the game a little over a week ago. Good Stuff. Definitely an enjoyable experience.

Chris

[s1lence]

I beat the game a little over a week ago. Good Stuff. Definitely an enjoyable experience.

Chris

How many hours did you think it took? I'm just about to chapter 3, I really wish the PSP had longer battery life.

[EndlessChris]

Hey you don't have to upgrade to 2.0. I use some program called "No Update UMD Starter" which just hunts for the boot.bin file and then starts up the game. Works fine on my 1.5 version PSP.

Granted, I didn't like the game as much. Battles are just drastically uninteresting. I mean, I like old school RPG combat, but that was because it didnt waste my time back then showing me all sorts of battle effects, I just did my damage and waited for my next turn.

Still, I love the graphics and the story seems pretty good. I like how the first 30 minutes or so is just setting up Avin and Mile as characters.

[Jibbajaba]

I beat the game a little over a week ago. Good Stuff. Definitely an enjoyable experience.

Chris

How many hours did you think it took? I'm just about to chapter 3, I really wish the PSP had longer battery life.

I honestly couldn't say. The lack of a game timer makes that difficult to estimate. Where are you in the game? I know you say you are at Chapter 3, but what is happening right now in the game?

Chris

[demen999]

Cool, I might check this one out. I recently found out about Tales of Eternia and this seems pretty damn close. So I am definetly interested in this one.

[s1lence]

I beat the game a little over a week ago. Good Stuff. Definitely an enjoyable experience.

Chris

How many hours did you think it took? I'm just about to chapter 3, I really wish the PSP had longer battery life.

I honestly couldn't say. The lack of a game timer makes that difficult to estimate. Where are you in the game? I know you say you are at Chapter 3, but what is happening right now in the game?



Chris

I'm right at the part where you met up with Douglas again.

[Jibbajaba]

I beat the game a little over a week ago. Good Stuff. Definitely an enjoyable experience.

Chris

How many hours did you think it took? I'm just about to chapter 3, I really wish the PSP had longer battery life.

I honestly couldn't say. The lack of a game timer makes that difficult to estimate. Where are you in the game? I know you say you are at Chapter 3, but what is happening right now in the game?



Chris

I'm right at the part where you met up with Douglas again.

That isn't telling me much, but I believe that you still have a ways to go.

Chris

[segagamer4life]

yeah, unfortunately, you meet up with douglas, (and everyone else) so often..lol, but I beat the game this morning, and brother, its a great game, a decent ending to a fun ride, anyone with a PSP this is a must own.

[Jibbajaba]

yeah, unfortunately, you meet up with douglas, (and everyone else) so often..lol, but I beat the game this morning, and brother, its a great game, a decent ending to a fun ride, anyone with a PSP this is a must own.

Did you have a problem with the final boss(es)? It took me 4 attempts to beat the game.

Chris

[s1lence]

Sorry I was trying not to get into any spoilers. I believe your right though, I have a long way to go.

[Daria]

I'm glad to see all the postive feedback the game is generating in this thread. I was concerned about the collective low scores I'd been reading elsewhere but planned to pick up the game anyway. Afterall for old school RPG gameplay it's pretty much this or PoPoLoCrois (which I already own).

As for PoPoLoCrois being juvenile, I'd like to disagree, however one of the major reasons I'm enjoying the game so much is that it reminds me of Rhapsody which IS juvenile so you may actually have a point there. XD

It's still a fun, lighthearted, and colorful game though. A good adventure story. I think it's been suffering from mediocre reviews for much similar reasons that Legend of Heroes has. So I wouldn't discredit it until you've given the game a go yourself.

[heybtbm]

It's amazing to me how anyone could recommend this game. It is average, mediocre, boring crap.

I understand how people might want to like it. It looks good and it is one of only two RPG's on the PSP...but c'mon. The battles are tedious, the translation is embarrassing, and the control is a joke (just try and go up to a NPC or bookshelf and get a response on the first try...annoying). It's certainly not the worst RPG I've played, but it gets a solid "C" and a big yawn in my opinion.

I sure hope "Generation of Chaos" gets it right later this month.

[segagamer4life]

yeah, unfortunately, you meet up with douglas, (and everyone else) so often..lol, but I beat the game this morning, and brother, its a great game, a decent ending to a fun ride, anyone with a PSP this is a must own.

Did you have a problem with the final boss(es)? It took me 4 attempts to beat the game.

Chris

two tries, and that was it, luckily I had my guys at level 40+ and that worked well, also I used the Magic Protect spell, man, that saved my life ALOT!!!!!...lol..

[segagamer4life]

It's amazing to me how anyone could recommend this game. It is average, mediocre, boring crap.

I understand how people might want to like it. It looks good and it is one of only two RPG's on the PSP...but c'mon. The battles are tedious, the translation is embarrassing, and the control is a joke (just try and go up to a NPC or bookshelf and get a response on the first try...annoying). It's certainly not the worst RPG I've played, but it gets a solid "C" and a big yawn in my opinion.

I sure hope "Generation of Chaos" gets it right later this month.


I admit, some of the translations were bad, but the story does its job, it grabs you and doesn't let you go, but thats me, to each his own... I am with you on Generations, I hope that is gonna rock.

[Beefy Hits]

I rented this from Gamefly about a month ago, am on Chapter 3, and am enjoying it. I see what people mean in that it has bad translation, is generic in every way (I mean - c'mon.. Legend of Heroes? It doesn't get any more generic than that). But I think that is the charm of this game. It is simple, old school, back to basics. The fighting engine reminds me of Lunar, and the story is fun and engaging. I also like that it gives you cues to where to go next - I play RPGs for the story and the characters, not necessarily to figure out puzzles. Maybe I'm a little biased because I'm a sucker for JRPGs..

I'm surprised a sequel is out already. Has anybody played that yet? What do you think the pro reviews have pretty much said it's the same thing as the first one, which doesn't sound like a bad thing.

[segagamer4life]

it is not a true sequel, in the sense of it doesn't have any ties plot wise to its predecessor, however, it does seem to be a great game, I have not purchased it yet, but plan to.

[Beefy Hits]

Beat it just now. Was a throughly entertaining experience. I don't think I'll move on to #2 just yet - next up is summon night on the GBA. Hopefully Gamefly will have it available by the time this one's returned.