Celestian Tales: Old North – Japanese adventure of Indonesian nyash

Greetings, the inhabitants of the cozy, despite the periodic invasions of blue pygmies in red clothing, blogs Stop-game-uru. For a number of no interesting reasons, my conscious acquaintance with the world of Japanese games began recently. That is why it is still difficult for me to adequately describe my attitude towards them. If in short, this is an adventure, interesting characters, many dialogs and almost always mocking the free time of the player gameplay. Therefore, unfolding a collar with a new game, traditionally bought in the Gogi stall, I experienced the expectations of Schrödinger: I imagined and could not imagine what could be inside. Well, all the more interesting to share impressions. Traditionally, I apologize for the tedious introduction and suggest everyone who wants to get acquainted with the first in the history of Stopheim with a review of the game Celestian Tales: Old North.

Through the world in which we live.

The world of Celestian Tales is divided into many regions. The action of Old North takes place in the state of the same name, almost closed from the rest of the world. Only occasionally something from the outside penetrates here: outlandish jewelry, weapons unknown to local masters, magic objects and knowledge, or individual elements of someone else’s culture. But for the most part, nothing delays for a long time. Something is prohibited, something does not withstand general contempt, but something remains, but in a very far from the original form. It is worth noting that closeness does not prevent the local world from shining with beauty, as is appropriate for a self -respecting fairy tale.

This peaceful village is dangerous in that it causes a desire to stay.

It is here that six heroes have to meet in the city of Levantin to study knightly affairs. Each of them has its own motives, its own character and its own view of what is happening around. Well, to rally this pack and turn into an indestructible detachment will help a small global disaster. As soon as the recruits pile managed to learn the first lesson, the Kingdom was attacked by the blue giants – the destroyers of the worlds from which the kingdom needs to be protected. In general, the backbone of the game script does not shine with particular originality. But the developers are diligently trying to fix this with an interesting presentation, well -registered characters and promised reigree.

… a line of fire passes.

The story campaign meets atypical for JRPG a proposal to choose a “main” character, on behalf of which the narrative will be conducted. In addition to different views on events, everyone has a personal background and several additional scenes that cannot be seen when playing for someone else. Well, and also records in the diary are always written in the style of speech of an individual hero. The prologue works about the same as in Dragon Age: Origins. They briefly tell us how the protagonist rolled to the life of a knightly one, after which the main plot will immediately begin, where in any case you will have to face the same problems.

There are in Celestian Tales and the ability www.dealbetcasino.uk to influence some events. For example, the player will be able to decide: to give the robbers to the merciful lord, or to hang them on the nearest bitch. But not everything is so simple here. The fact is that the characters of the game are not abstract elves-Magi-riverbells, but individual personalities. At the sight of the wounded beast, the first thought of the warriors of Reinard will “eat”, while the elven girl Ilian sympathizes with the unfortunate tummy. And if a separate character will fundamentally make his own decision on any of the forklit, and the player does not even know about the presence of moral choice in this moment. In the example, you can cite the same situation with robbers. Ilian Pacifist, so I learned about the possibility of committing deadlyness only during the second passage, for Camilla.

Ilian in no case will allow the murder of the defenseless, even if the defenseless earlier he himself killed defenseless.

As for all additional scenes, they are not so smooth with them either. In appearance, they resemble “quests of friends” from Tokyo Xanadu. Situation, dialogue, return to the main scenario. Here are only in the “Tokyo” there are a lot of these stories, but you can see all of them in two passages. Celestian Tales offers something else: for each passage (the first one took me ten hours, the second almost half) will be able to see only a few additional short scenes. Yes, they really help the characters open up. Yes, watch them interesting. But at the same time, they make the player ask themselves the question: “Is it worth it?”. As for me, it would be better to give one character who could “spy” the whole plot at once.

No, the game has not bad script, otherwise I would not dare to be on the second “race”. It is interesting to read the dialogs, and to observe the clash of different worldviews – all the more. The characters are not shy about expressing their opinion on the events taking place, and with each I am ready to agree and argue at the same time. But all this is included in the main plot. Thoughts of all heroes you will hear in one big conversation, the same for each passage. Therefore, all reigree comes down to the prologue, pair of scenes and epilogue. All this will incite ten percent games. What is the rest of the time – I’ll tell you now.

… Here death is waiting for you from all sides ..

The world study is quite most of the time. Or, rather, fermentation around the world. As I said, Old North is a closed kingdom, especially taking into account the threat from the “destroyers of the worlds”. The local population is characterized by exceptional isolation, and when trying to start a conversation, he will respond to one or two learned phrases. Exception to the rule are only story characters.

Of course, the share of nonlinearity is present. For example, at the very beginning of the game, heroes can speak with a couple standing near the fountain. And hear a couple of memorized phrases. Then, after some advancement in the plot, you can do the same, with the same result. If you repeat this constantly, at some point the dialogue will sparkle with new colors, and the player will even allow you to choose one of the two phrases in response. Perhaps a similar feature is characterized by all NPC. Perhaps different blanks at a certain moment can give out a new line of dialogue only if a separate character acts as a party leader. Perhaps the new line of dialogue can be seen if you speak with a certain character at a certain time of the day (real, not game). Frankly – I don’t know. Simply because for hours to observe the same for the prospect of seeing a couple of seconds of new content, tritely do not want to. I have free time, but not to such an extent.

Separate phrases may seem too pathos and far -fetched, but reading dialogs is still interesting.

A visit to “enemy” locations that enemies roam the enemies roaming a little more interesting. These places are characterized by exceptional corridor, but behind some corners you can find something valuable. The presence of a specific goal and a rather high speed of advance forward do not allow to get bored, and the lack of random clashes and a pleasant design allow you to enjoy such travels. True, you can’t do without battles at all. The balance has the same nuance as Hyperdimensional Neptunia: if you run up the enemies too often, you can ultimately rest against the wall, forcing you to return and regret a little. In principle, on medium complexity (and it changes in the game settings, if that) should not arise, unless you set the goal of “passing the game without non -stew”. But, the mechanics of simplifying the battles itself, as the frequency of contractions increases, is somewhat frustrated.

And the fights themselves are quite banal. Even if you have never played JRPG, you will still learn here a classic step -by -step system for the genre with the construction of a “wall to wall”. At the same time, up to three heroes on the side of the player can fight, the rest are obliged to sit on the bench and powerlessly observe what is happening. Change the composition of the fighting in the middle of the battle, alas, it will not work. Minimum tactical possibilities: a couple of types of crystals (treat, resurrect, restore endurance, improve potency, etc. D.), a dozen skills for each character (work for “endurance”, which is always restored when it is not spent) and banal attack-protection attacks. Enemies do not differ in particular diversity, and the fights themselves are closer to the finale in a single scheme, which seems to the player the most effective. Even bosses for the most part surprise exclusively by appearance, and then not always.

There are two types of enemies in the screenshot. But the first time this can not be noticed.

Of the unique features, it is worth highlighting only at any time to change the composition of the party (only a leader remains unchanged) and complete regeneration after each battle. Only the “waste” after death is not healed by itself, but there is a special ravine against it in the inventory. As a result – the combat system is too monotonous. Which is especially not happy when the character stops receiving new skills and find new equipment.

… and often it is not clear whose side is your side ..

Unfortunately, my review will not be able to clearly answer the question “whether it is worth buying a game”. On the one hand, we have a beautiful picture, interesting dialogs and pretty characters. On the other, there is a monotonous gameplay and a simple script that breaks away where the main plot is usually in JRPG. And the promised reiglabiness does not save the situation.

To some extent, Celestian Tales: Old North became the opposite of Hyperdimension Neptunia Re; Birth1. In “Neptunia” the process itself might seem tiring, but the emotions that remained after the final credits forced to forget about all the disadvantages noticed along the road. But the creation of the Ekuator Games, although pleased throughout ten hours, left behind mixed feelings from disappointment and resentment.

Perhaps the situation will improve after the exit of the sequel, which is already being developed. Perhaps the situation will improve after the release of the tricel, which was planned before the release of the first part. But the original was released back in 2015, and therefore we will see the end of the story soon. If you like how it looks, you should buy Celestian Tales on sale. But I can’t take it at the full price: you risk getting something like a demo version. Devoid of bugs and other troubles of Early Access, but ending, as soon as the main goal is achieved – to interest and intrigue the player.