I figure I should write up a proper entry about the game since it’s the only RPG that I’m playing right now.
I mentioned I picked up the Japanese version back in August … but stopped playing it a bit after that. I think I was mid-way through Chapter 1 too. The English version came out without me realizing it until about a week after its release. I’ve since invested some time in it. :3
I’m not sure it’s safe to say that it beats the despicable KRPG grindfests cuz I’m using a specifically modified file that allows the user to have 1 each of the EXP multiplier and Crystal multiplier items — the Sub Rosa Skills and Crystal Tickets, respectively. They are in-app purchases only, I believe, but it might be a good idea to invest in a Sub Rosa Skill now and then as it can sure speed up levelling like crazy.
When I began the game, I used the item named “15 Sub Rosa Skills” which allowed me to enjoy 10 times the experience gained for 15 battles. Within minutes, I was at level 10. :3 Likewise, the Crystal Ticket 15 gave me 10 times the Crystal Points in 15 fights so I just splurged on all the abilities that I could get at the time.
From what I could remember in my Japanese run, levelling and CP farming isn’t bad at all. For CP, you have the multiplier that comes naturally from Invocation. As long as you don’t break a chain of Invokes, the multiplier will keep increasing. I’m currently at a 75 combo on Chapter 2 and can manage at least 100 CP per fight. You might actually be fighting more to grind for experience though but I believe there isn’t terrible balance issues in Drakerider.
I DO wonder about some of the Chapter 2 bosses though. Since I’m fast-tracking, I’m already at level 35 but I have no idea if that’s the average level at this point in the game. The bosses aren’t insanely tough per se but they can pack a punch with their stronger attacks and they can also take a beating. It’s a good thing that I got Healing II and Amelioration already. (Enemies begin to spew status ailments from this chapter onward so it’s a good idea to learn the latter.)
……… Oh yeah, I forgot you have to MASTER abilities too in order to learn some other ones so maybe the grinding CAN get a little on the annoying side after a while. 😡 I mean, given that there’s an IAP item that’ll allow you to instantly master a skill, I would think that the game is designed in such a way that will cause some players to eventually snap.
You know, Square Enix should have given 1 each of these IAP items to users that were within the first 100,000 to download the game or something. Let them get a taste of the fast-tracking and it’ll hook ’em. 😀
In terms of story, I don’t expect anything spectacular. The localization is quite good, IMO, although listening to the Japanese dialogue and reading Westernized names seems kind of odd. For example, the dragon is known as Murasame in the Japanese version. In English, it’s Eckhardt. Similarly, the female character that shows up at the end of Chapter 1 was originally called Mina but has been localized as Gale. :V
I’ll leave it as this for now. ^^
I like Sora’s more.
koukoupuffs 