Lost Classics! "Where Overlooked Classics are given another shot"
Welcome to Issue #04 of Lost Classics!
Remember 2 days ago, When I hinted what games were next on the list (PLEASE NO MARVEL U PUNS -__-).
The Hints were:
- They're PSX games
- These games are based on a Anime I love from my childhood. (I don't care. I'm 21 and I still watch animated programs from my childhood)
That Anime was.....
DIGIMON: DIGITAL MONSTERS
If you g1s need a refresher on the Series. Here's g1Gervise's (ThatDudeInTheShades) take on Seasons 1 & 2 (1999-2001):
[WARNING: VIDEO AUTOPLAYS!!!]
[COPYRIGHT: g1Gervise/ThatDudeInTheShades]
This however is Not about the Anime Series (Planning to do a something special with that Series in the near future :)).
OH NO....
Today, I'm going to talk about the games that came out during the first 2 Seasons (Series for UK readers :D).
These games are....
Digimon World
And
Digimon World 2
DIGIMON WORLD REVIEW:
The First World game was released for The Playstation in it's Native Country, Japan on January 28th, 1999. The US fans of the Anime would have to wait a year later when it was released on May 23rd, 2000 (around when the 1st Dub season finished in the US). PAL owners would have to wait another year to get it, July 6th, 2001. The Game was Developed by Bandai. They [Bandai] also published the title worldwide.
STORY:
Not important really! They took the same premise of both the Anime Series (The Protagonist was a kid, The Setting was from the anime, File Island) & original Digital pet toy (traning, fighting, feeding, etc.) and rolled it into one. But this is not me complaining.... It's was a
smart move on developer Bandai's part. They kept the story simple yet engaging at the same time.
GAMEPLAY:
Like I said when I was discussing the Game's Plot. Bandai basically took the original Toy Design and made a game out of it. What do I mean exactly?
Well.
Training you Digimon
Feeding it to regain lost stamina and health (Since this was a RPG/Dungeon Crawler. HP XD)
Fighting other Digimon to increase you Partner's level.
Speaking of fighting. The Thing i thought was unique was when you defeated a Digimon. The Game gave you the option to ask said Digimon to come back to the villiage with You (i.e. the character your controlling) and Your Digimon.
Here's Some Gameplay footage (Hopefully it will show what i was trying to explain XD):
SCORE:
This was what really caught me attention when first playing this game 9 years ago. The Composer of Digimon World (sorry couldn't find composer's name. Please PM me :)) really made a beautiful score for DW.
In one part of File Island, the score would be calm and peacefull. While in another part, It would be hectic.
One of my Personal Favorites:
FINAL VERDICT:
Overall, for a game based on a popular anime at the time (I Honestly wouldn't be surprised if it STILL was with Some of the g1s here. +5 for Nostalgia.) It Still hold up to this day.
Cutscene Graphics never aged well.
But that not the point, We Play games to have FUN not for state of the art graphics... If any otakus still has there copy of this game, Give it another go. Who Knows.. You'll probably enjoy it more than when you first played it :). If there are no otakus that played this game and want to give it a try. You'll Probably like it. The Safest bet is:
1.) A Used Game Store
2.) The Internet (Amazon, ebay, etc.)
3.) Pray for Sony to include it into their PS1 Classics Catalog on PSN XD
For Fans of the Show: HIGH RECOMMENDATION
For Non-Fans: TRY IT
DIGIMON WORLD 2 REVIEW:
Now Since the first did so well worldwide, It Shouldn't be a Surprise that Bandai released a follow up titled Digimon World 2 for the PSX...
Once again, The Developer/Publisher was none other than Bandai.
It's was released on July 27th, 2000 in it's native country, Japan. US Gamers would have to wait a year later, May 19th, 2001. Sadly There was not a PAL Version.
STORY:
(WRITER'S NOTE: Read The Description regarding Digimon World 1's Story.)
Bandai Copied the main Premise from the first 4 seasons (Series. Trying to please the UK readers XD) of the Anime.
"A kid or Kid(s) are sent to the Digital World. They are Heroes known as DigiDestined. They Fight and Destroy the Main Evil Controlling the once peaceful Digital World. They have a tearful goodbye with their Digimon. They Go Home. THE END!"
OR DO THEY????
As Much of it is a copy & paste moment with these 2 Title's Premise...
Again it works!
But Then Again, This is coming from a fan of the Anime (Seasons 1-3) XD.
GAMEPLAY:
(WRITER'S NOTE: Read The Description of Digimon World 1's Game play.)
It the same. But This a good thing. They [Bandai] followed an old saying while developing this title "If It's Not Broken. Don't Fix It"... But they changed the fighting from 1 on 1 from the Original to 3 Digimon on each side (you; CPU) for the Sequel.
SCORE:
Again, This Was what really pulled me into the game. Whoever Composed the score for DW2 did the unthinkable?
He/She Composed a Score that's on par with th first one :).
Especially when your in a battle:
FINAL VERDICT:
For a Game That come out a year after the original and being better than the first one is in fact an impressive accomplishment that we RARLY (Keyword folks: RARLY -__-) see in the Video game Market.
Again The best way to play this games is to Try:
1.) A Used Game Store
2.) The Internet (Amazon, ebay, etc.)
3.) Pray and Wait for Sony to include it into their PS Classics Catalog on P..S...N.....
WAIT! Why Am I mentioning the PSN Store when in fact their is a PSP version of the Game. That's right fellow g1s there is in fact a PSP Version of Digimon World 2....
BAD NEWS: It was only released in Japan
GOOD NEWS: Since PSP (original & 3000 Models. Don't know about PSPgo.) is Region Free. You can Import the Game :).
Overall, The Fans of the show will love it:
HIGH RECOMMENDATION!!!
But What about the Non-fans of the Anime???
HIGH RECOMMENDATION!!!
Due to the fact that they will probably have a much enjoyable experience playing the Sequel than the Original.....
Well That's It for me.
I got to get my review of George Romero's The Crazies ready for Tonight.
For You See, Tonight.....Is the beginning of "31 Days of Halloween"
Again, I'm Yazna and I'll see you next time on LOST CLASSICS!
Lost Classics! "Where Overlooked Classics are given another shot"
