RAVE: SRPG's and Operation Darkness

What?! The blog is resurrected! Much like Nazi zombies... but more on that later.

So I was originally going to blog about this on 'Apocryphic Videos' but I realized that this blog would be much more suitable on my original blog.

On to the game itself. I am a massive fan of Strategy Role Playing Games (SRPG's). One of my favorite games of all time is 'Shining Force II' by Climax/ Team Sonic/ Sega. I am a role playing gamer but SRPG's have always had a soft place in my heart
thanks to said game. So it's to my dismay that the SRPG is being faded out to the point where even the originators Climax stopped making 'Shining' Strategy games. Now don't get me wrong, I like these new wave RPG's like Mass Effect and what not BUT I really want my games of old back. I'm old school like that. So when I found out I had the monies to pick up a game with a hardcore strat RPG base I jumped.

I picked up the demo and played it continuously, even through I was getting owned every twenty minutes (SRPG are time consuming affairs believe me) I still kept coming back for more. This made me know for sure I'll had to buy it.

So Operation Darkness is pretty sweet. Sure the graphics and sound ain't nothing to write home about the core is the SRPG and it does what it does well. We have a story which follows the nameable hero and his team. Like all good SRPG's I have played, I find myself getting invested with the characters. Right now my faves have to be Cynthia the sniper, mysterious Cordelia and the leader of the crew, James Gallant. Whilst I am not a big fan of the main setting (World War II, that's more up my step-dad Val's alley) the fact it's an alternative history with werewolves, zombies and vampires included makes it much more in my vein of games. I remember I liked Bloodrayne for the same reason, the alternative take on history, oh and hot vampires LOL.

So I'm moving through the campaign right now and doing good on and off. I really like how this game allows you to customize your squad and crazy stuff which never occurred to me before like carrying too many items can slow your character down is definitely a plus in my book. It's filled to the brim with stats which goes hand in hand with strats.

Another thing I dig is how the game is played, since we are using guns, rockets and tanks, it's completely different then a fantasy SRPG which I am learning first hand. Guns have sweet range and rockets wipe out whole squads. I also know later on, magic powers are unlocked for all characters so that'll be something to see as well.

I'll report back in again after I get further into the game but so far I am liking this trip into darkness.

P

P.S now how to make Jude move faster... damnit boy, move!!