Torn Banner, Crowned Dragon

On 11/21/2018 at 11:32 PM by KnightDriver

I watched Avengers Age of Ultron today and played Banner Saga and Dragon's Crown Pro.

I thought I hadn't seen Age of Ultron before, but after a while, I realized I'd seen it in the theater in 2015. It's good. I couldn't help thinking of the Disney Infinity figure of Ultron and his winning line after a match in Marvel Battlegrounds, "I have won in every conceivable way." It makes me laugh. It was kind of hard to take the movie seriously.

Then I got to the last battle in Banner Saga and. . . got beat again, even on easy. It's totally unfair the way they take away a character I've leveled for the whole game and stick me with one that's at level 1. I've had it with this game, again. I did get a few new achievements along the way though. That's my only consolation.

WIth that, I booted up my PS4 and played Dragon's Crown Pro. I love the Vanillaware graphics. The characters are so exaggerated but everything is so beautiful at the same time. The gameplay is basically a 2D side-scrolling brawler but with way better action than those old arcade games like DnD Chronicles of Mystara and Golden Axe. Also, there are a lot more items, skill levels, special attacks and crazy monster foes. You can even raise fighters from the dead and take them along in your party. With four players on screen, and my wood golem, battles become showers of colorful explosions.

There's a story too and lots of side quests for extra XP and cash. The story is kind of, fetch quest for the royal family in the castle, but it sends you to interesting areas to fight orcs, goblins, dinos, fungi, minotaurs, dragons, and god knows what else to come. It's a very cool game.

I'm having some trouble understanding how my Wizard works though. He has a melee attack and a magic one and I'm not sure how my magic recharges or how I can speed it up. It always seems like I'm out of energy in a battle. It's ok though, because with three other AI team mates and my golem (from a conjuring skill I unlocked with skill points), I sometimes just scour the screen for hidden treasure while my team takes out the baddies.

Oh, and you have a sidekick that opens chests and doors for you. Oh, and a fairy that helps you discover secrets. It's pretty cool and I love the graphics. DId I say that again? Well, I can't help it. I'm a sucker for a lush colorful art style in a game.

Super Step Contributing Writer

11/22/2018 at 12:52 PM

Vanillaware is a graphics engine, I take it?

KnightDriver

11/23/2018 at 11:47 AM

They are a Japanese developer known for a specific art style. They made games like GrimGrimoire, Dragon's Crown, Odin Sphere and Muramasa Demon Blade.

Cary Woodham

11/22/2018 at 10:35 PM

Yeah I like some of the characters in Dragon's Crown. My favorite is the Amazon for some reason. Both Dragon's Crown and Odin's Sphere are great games.

11/23/2018 at 11:45 AM

I like the shop keeper. Every character is so exaggerated. The game got some criticism for it, but it's not like it singled out the women, the men are rediculous too.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

11/26/2018 at 10:03 AM

Banner Saga is a cursed game, man.

11/27/2018 at 11:45 PM

I think they wanted to make it feel brutal for the story, but it makes it not fun. I mean, a war is not fun in reality. If you go for that in a game, the game also won't be fun. Dam, though, I so want to love it though. I keep thinking about putting myself through it all again. I shouldn't though. I'll just drop my controller again.

goaztecs

11/26/2018 at 12:54 PM

I wasn't a fan of that Avengers flick. I wonder if I watch it again I'll change my mind.

11/27/2018 at 11:29 PM

I really haven't loved any of the Avengers movies so far. I think they have too many characters. Four is about my limit before I start to lose interest.

PixlBit