Hi all,
So, in the interest of not cluttering up a thread in New Releases with game questions, spoilers and the like, and letting Aaron hopefully comb through bugs and issues more easily, I thought I'd post this thread here.
You aren't going to be punished if you post somewhere else about the game, but I ask that you please try and discuss the game here, rather than in the New Releases thread. The last Manamon thread got to 150-something pages, and that's just excessive. I say that, after being a large part of why it occurred. So let's start by doing better this time.
Okay, with that said, my initial impressions so far.
Sound design is good, and I like the music. I wish it could be a little quieter, but it doesn't get in my way. I'm a fan of Manamon 1's fight music thus far over Manamon 2, but the latter isn't bad by any means. Creature sounds are pretty good.
As for creature designs? I...am a bit mixed on this. Dageetle, for instance, just sounds awkward, as does Flarebra. I'm only in the power plant thus far, though, so I may find manamon names I really enjoy later on.
As for design choices overall? We have a physical sound move, in Decibel Tackle; thank goodness! We also have some neat abilities; I like the stone type Turrubble's ability where if you hit it super-effectively, it will always calculate using its defense stat. That's actually a really neat trick. I also enjoy the sprinkling of Tangeria manamon into the game, especially Zapistan at a very low level in the aforementioned power plant. I'm hoping we see plenty more ghosts and some good shadow and ice types.
Now, for my issues. None are huge yet, but I've got a couple.
First, the script. I'm already liking the potentially increased depth here, but this script really, really could have used an editor. The lack of commas is the same problem I've been reporting since 2014 with Paladin of the Sky, and this would be easy to fix. It disappoints me that such a simple thing was either not caught or not cared about.
Second, this game seems considerably harder than the first, in the sense that stronger manamon are available earlier on. There's a trainer who uses a mreaking medical miracle on a route just after the first stadium, for instance; admittedly, he gives a lot of gold, but that's definitely a step up. Now, I don't really mind extra difficulty in and of itself, but I hope this doesn't lead to power creep.
third, and I remain open on this one...it looks like teachable moves are not a thing, or at least not yet. So it looks like every member of species x will essentially have the same moves available. This is definitely a disappointment, but if I'm wrong about this, I'll go ahead and eat crow. Let's just say I'm hoping for better than last game, and am also hoping that the mentioned improvements to old manamon actually make sense. Giving Snowmonno 5 extra defense won't make a difference, for instance, so if that's what Aaron considers an improvement...I mean yeah, okay, but it's not a selling point.
As stated, these are early impressions, and are mutable. I'm generally liking the game thus far, and am really going to let it come down to the wire as to whether or not I buy it. I likely will, but am not sure.
One question, while I'm here.
Does anyone know how the heck to set the switches on the second floor of the power plant? I seem to have gotten into a situation where no switch makes a sound, but the force field is still there, so I...kinda don't know what I'm supposed to do here.
I think a little hint in game somewhere (even just a sign you can read, in the guise of a worker safety bulletin or something, would be helpful.
Anyway, enough out of me for now.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z8ls3rc3f4mkb … n.txt?dl=1