rmvxace Liphidain: Dissonance of Darkness [Review by Dante]

[Radiant Arin 412]

Game Title: Liphidain: Dissonance of Darkness

Developer: @Tharis

Game Engine: RMVXAce

Topic URL: http://www.rpgmakervxace.net/topic/12677-liphidain-dissonance-of-darkness/

Download Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j1wib0hqchtvsxw/Dragon.exe

 

 

 

POSITIVE POINTS:

 

The mapping was very excellent, combining the RTP tlleset with a bit of Celianna's Treesets (I believe), and really bringing a vivid town to life. The dialogue was excellently made, with a few noticeable spelling errors and cut-off words in the text box, but beyond that, everything flows easily.

 

NEGATIVE POINTS:

 

It's a bit hard to understand the plot at first, and the intense amount of events that are used on a single map can make even hardcore games lag at certain moments. It's also a bit confusing at some points to discern the difference between a passable tile and not-passable tile.

 

GENERAL COMMENTS:

 

I did only get to the part where you could possibly complete every single Side Mission in the town, and now I'm stuck. I do believe the quest where you get the girl to join your party says to go to the Northern Exit, yet after checking every possible exit, I cannot find this Northern Exit. Where is that?

 

STORY:

 

The story is set in the Middle Ages, coinciding with the plot when archangels and Lords are running the show. In the beginning of the game, we are shown images of a war rampaging between two factions, with the bad guy enslaving the good guy and a band of heroes coming into the rescue to save him. However, the attempt ends in failure, as the good guy sacrifices himself to save his fellow comrades.

 

And then we jump forward 1000 years. While this type of jump is to be expected in a typical RPG, it makes everything else feel awkward, especially when the player then wakes up in a room, controlling a person that we know nothing about, and we aren't even given a glimpse of who or what the MC is doing. We then are controlling a man named Tharis as we set out into the world beyond, riddled with teenage pranks and mischief.

 

AUDIO/GRAPHICS:

 

All the music is custom made in the game, as far as I can tell. It also generally fits the theme of the time and era that the game is set in. As I have said before, the mapping and the graphics presented in the game really draw attention to the game. It may be one of the more redeeming features of the game.

 

The NPCs in some of the places vary from very unique and characterized to downright boring C/Ps of each other. But I suppose that's a good thing. The crazy wackiness of Mr. Wittham (or whatever his name is) and the incessant innkeeper really bring the NPCs to life in certain parts, but that's pretty much it. From there on, everyone else is 2-Dimensional or isn't supportive.

 

BATTLE SYSTEM:

 

The Battle System in the game uses Jet's Simple Sideview. While the Battle System is particularly bland, it isn't Tankentai, so I'm happy. The actual combat is particularly bland and auto-pilot, especially in higher levels as you can just one shot everything. When a certain other member enters your party, it just becomes even easier. Enemies will have weaknesses that you have to exploit, though they usually make sense by RPG Logic (bees are weak to fire, etc.). So yeah, like I said, bland.

 

OVERALL SUMMARY: The detailed mapping and the wide range of NPCs is what sets this game apart from the rest, along with the non-linearity concerning the Side Quests in the town. However, it is a bit difficult to navigate some maps, especially since you can't dash in one of them, and it's difficult to discern what is passable and what isn't.

 

RATING: 3.5/5.

[Tharis 212]

Bravo!

 

The town's Northern Exit is actually a North Western Exit, I'll do something to help clarify it in the future. incase the player decides to explore after they have Arysana in the Party.

 

The audio is actually all RTP some of it is RPG Maker 3 some DS some VXAce and one song is RM2k, I am glad that I was able to use the audio in such a way that it didnt feel like other games. I tried to be very selective with what I used and where I used it so that it would feel genuine and authentic. 

 

yes I used Celiana's Parallax trees but I actually made them into an RTP sheet that I had clustered and then added to the game, this is partially why there will be some lag for some players as I have a forced RTP Parallax in some cases where parts of the trees (so that they will overlap properly) are evented.

 

The battle system will get a bit more interesting (albiet not much more interesting untill I have a chance to really focus on the enemy/actor/skills balance) as you progress into, through and back from the forest.

 

I have Jonnie91 working on a custom made song for me but He's not ready yet and I do not wish to rush him as he will likely do a better job without me pestering him haha! (even though I can't wait to hear what he comes up with)

 

As for the jump from the War to Tharis' bedroom I will actually be adding in a playable portion to the prologue that focuses on Larik, Tharis' father, and gives a bit more set up for Tharis himself. 

 

The plot af the begining is to increase intrigue, and it's meant as a bit of a teaser of things to come in chapters down the road. So if you find yourself just a little bit lost as to what is going on (and this was done slightly intentionally) the answers to your questions lie on the other side of completing the game (the Full game, which honestly won't be out for quite some time).

 

Thank you for the review, I hope you get a chance to go check out the forest. If you head west from the inn you'll see it (you may even want to go out the western exit of the inn and you'll definately see it.)

Edited March 9, 2013 by Tharis