The perfect set up.
Apr. 4th, 2012 11:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fandomonymousSERIOUSLY, SPOILERS AHEAD for the fantastic Iridium Games rhythm RPG "Sequence", including the secret bits of endgame: both how to get them and what they mean. Yes, the game is only ten hours long give or take, but still, deserves mentioning.
* I have missed StepMania-style rhythm games SO, SO VERY MUCH. I was obsessed with Dance Dance Revolution back in high school and had the associated StepMania habit, back when it, uh, was easy to find less than legal step files. Everything's changed since - the advent of the Western instrument-based rhythm games has changed a lot of how people play these games, as well as the default scroll order (towards the bottom of the screen and slightly "tilted" instead of towards the top and straight on), which is super awkward for me. Also that adds extra buttons and craziness that I am just not used to. >.> And well, DDR has been fading ever since Supernova mix and In the Groove has a different philosophy and music style, which doesn't help much either.
But this? This was basically DDR/StepMania with some progression mechanics and that is pretty awesome. I can't really comment on the quality of the stepfiles since for the sake of exploring the plot I played on Easy, but it seems pretty good - all made sense relative to the music, and a few crowning moments of awesome at key song points. And, well, I know I can play independently of note color now, which is kind of awesome.
* I do wish for more songs and a greater variety of them, but that's okay - seems like much of the gameplay was made by one person, so I can forgive that. The fact that I kept playing despite the lack of song variety tells you just how strong the leveling and plot system is, to be honest.
* I'm really impressed with the voice acting, especially since it seems like a mix of professionals and amateurs. The guardians were all quite appropriate, and even I fell for Naia a little bit by the end. (Also, Ky in the spoiler-y area? Totally amazing from someone who shouldn't really have much acting experience at all. ...Maybe I have, uh, a thing for very emotional men. >.>)
* The chunks of humor sprinkled throughout were pretty golden. A little lame at first ("my brain feels like a hobo has stabbed it with a knife", anyone?) but it does get stronger as it goes.
* Plot plot plot plot. OH HOW THICK YOU MAY BE, PLOT. I'm fascinated by the concept of the Tower itself, and what it means for Ky and Naia's future. I do kind of side with Ky on the regular ending - I know if I had followed my "ideal" path, I would have ended up a very different kind of happy than where I am now, so maybe I'm biased. But still, what a neat concept, and I'm a sucker for the "game within a game" concept. ...Then of course, they add another couple of layers. We have to go deeper, amirite? ;) No but seriously, it's pretty awesome. For those playing the game looking for the extra achievements, here:
IRIS: Write down the binary given in the description of "Extract". Plug it into a binary to ASCII converter; you should get "/tcag". Put that at the end of the Iridium website, then follow the instructions on your screen.
LIES WITHIN LIES: Create the Iridium: you'll need one of each crystal from each floor, plus Radiance, which drops from Mir. Head to the floor selector and pick the new one. Watch the cut screen and well, beat the new stepfile (it's a doozy; Trigger 2 + Brazer helped me a lot). Go back and beat Mir again then let the credits roll. As far as I know it doesn't matter what weapon you're using, which is kind of handy as the secret floor drops something badass.
And man oh man, what endings they are! I should have figured really; of course Mir was referring to the entire game of Sequence as the game, so of course they set up what happens at ???. Still, it's lovely. I'm so very intrigued by all the reference drops to biology and genetic engineering - I mean, the game is called "Sequence" after all, and while /tcag might have one meaning, I can't help but think of, well, DNA nucleotides. UGH SO GOOD IRIDIUM RELEASE THE SEQUEL ALREADY ;__;
* I have missed StepMania-style rhythm games SO, SO VERY MUCH. I was obsessed with Dance Dance Revolution back in high school and had the associated StepMania habit, back when it, uh, was easy to find less than legal step files. Everything's changed since - the advent of the Western instrument-based rhythm games has changed a lot of how people play these games, as well as the default scroll order (towards the bottom of the screen and slightly "tilted" instead of towards the top and straight on), which is super awkward for me. Also that adds extra buttons and craziness that I am just not used to. >.> And well, DDR has been fading ever since Supernova mix and In the Groove has a different philosophy and music style, which doesn't help much either.
But this? This was basically DDR/StepMania with some progression mechanics and that is pretty awesome. I can't really comment on the quality of the stepfiles since for the sake of exploring the plot I played on Easy, but it seems pretty good - all made sense relative to the music, and a few crowning moments of awesome at key song points. And, well, I know I can play independently of note color now, which is kind of awesome.
* I do wish for more songs and a greater variety of them, but that's okay - seems like much of the gameplay was made by one person, so I can forgive that. The fact that I kept playing despite the lack of song variety tells you just how strong the leveling and plot system is, to be honest.
* I'm really impressed with the voice acting, especially since it seems like a mix of professionals and amateurs. The guardians were all quite appropriate, and even I fell for Naia a little bit by the end. (Also, Ky in the spoiler-y area? Totally amazing from someone who shouldn't really have much acting experience at all. ...Maybe I have, uh, a thing for very emotional men. >.>)
* The chunks of humor sprinkled throughout were pretty golden. A little lame at first ("my brain feels like a hobo has stabbed it with a knife", anyone?) but it does get stronger as it goes.
* Plot plot plot plot. OH HOW THICK YOU MAY BE, PLOT. I'm fascinated by the concept of the Tower itself, and what it means for Ky and Naia's future. I do kind of side with Ky on the regular ending - I know if I had followed my "ideal" path, I would have ended up a very different kind of happy than where I am now, so maybe I'm biased. But still, what a neat concept, and I'm a sucker for the "game within a game" concept. ...Then of course, they add another couple of layers. We have to go deeper, amirite? ;) No but seriously, it's pretty awesome. For those playing the game looking for the extra achievements, here:
IRIS: Write down the binary given in the description of "Extract". Plug it into a binary to ASCII converter; you should get "/tcag". Put that at the end of the Iridium website, then follow the instructions on your screen.
LIES WITHIN LIES: Create the Iridium: you'll need one of each crystal from each floor, plus Radiance, which drops from Mir. Head to the floor selector and pick the new one. Watch the cut screen and well, beat the new stepfile (it's a doozy; Trigger 2 + Brazer helped me a lot). Go back and beat Mir again then let the credits roll. As far as I know it doesn't matter what weapon you're using, which is kind of handy as the secret floor drops something badass.
And man oh man, what endings they are! I should have figured really; of course Mir was referring to the entire game of Sequence as the game, so of course they set up what happens at ???. Still, it's lovely. I'm so very intrigued by all the reference drops to biology and genetic engineering - I mean, the game is called "Sequence" after all, and while /tcag might have one meaning, I can't help but think of, well, DNA nucleotides. UGH SO GOOD IRIDIUM RELEASE THE SEQUEL ALREADY ;__;