Let's play Saga Frontier 2

Inspired by the feeling of nostalgia I got from this thread:
http://www.rpgcodex.net/phpBB/viewtopic ... 153#541153

The second Saga Frontier game has nothing to do with the first one (except maybe for the gameworld and I'm not even sure about this): there are no recurring characters and the stories are not connected in any way. So no murderbots this time.

I would also like you to note that this is my first attempt at making this kind of thread and that I'm fresh out of school. Also, English is not my native language and I don't have the slightest idea about punctuation rules. So what I'm trying to say is that this thread is doomed to suck giant multiheaded dicks, but I have a glimmer of hope that you'll find it enjoyable. I'm playing it on the pSX emulator BTW.

Also, keeping in mind that the first game had non-existent C&S and almost no dialogue options, I somewhat fear for the "interactivity" of this LP thread. I can only hope that the second game is better in that department.


The game starts with a "cinematic" where some troops are fighting each other.



One party dies and we get to see the next sequence.



Using my deduction skills and the shit I've read on Wikipedia earlier, I think we can safely assume that this is Gustave XII - the king of Finney, sitting on, what seems to be, a lizard. A lizard with fur I might add.





It seems that the anal raping of the fleeing army is cancelled. We have more important business to attend to.






Why do I have the feeling that something will go terribly wrong? Oh wait, I've read the Wikipedia earlier.
And then...



we are presented with the magical save screen. In the middle of dialogue. Which has no dialogue options. Great.




Oh, it seems that my shitty pseudo-sarcasm gun has misfired. So we get to choose which storyline we are going to play. Choose your brave savior of the world wisely.

That's it for my first post, I just hope that it wasn't too image heavy, but I have a feeling that besides the combat and the dialogue, there's really nothing to do in this game. Also, are the images of sufficient quality?

gustave's storyline was pimp, i loved this game and its art

legend of mana was hawt in that aspect too

edit: have you ever played this game before?

Oh, I forgot one thing: the first hero who gets 15 votes wins.

I've played legend of mana but it would always freeze when I beat the last boss. A very good game I might add, had some C&C and the quests were very well made. I've never played Saga Frontier 2 though, this is my first playthrough. Also, can someone direct me to an image hosting site, that allows uploading multiple images at once, other than imageshack. I've run out of credits there.

oh okay, then minor spoiler below (not really)


the saga series (romancing saga 1,2,3 - frontier, frontier 2, etc.) is usually about mutliple characters' storylines in a shared world

in saga frontier 1 it was stories that happen simultaneously and most characters would join other ones, in saga frontier 2 its more chronologically sound and you play as a strange eye in the sky watching it all unfold

the game was great i thought and was trying something different and unique, its art direction and beginning letting you choose a scenario shows that

i loved legend of mana, it was a very calming game to play for me and had a very charming and kindred nature to it, ++++

Gustave's storyline is fairly good. The other guy's is terrible, but the story slowly stops making sense if you NEVER pick him.

Will's a bust but the stories that follow in kids and grandkids are better

still nothing on gustave's hot glorious conquering action though

Because the wise posters of The Codex have spoken and clarified some moments about how the story in this game is told, it no longer makes sense to wait for the results of the
poll. So I'll just continue with the Gustave's story for now. We'll get to know Will in due time.






As its name suggests, it responds to the Anima of fire. Upon reaching seven years of age, the prince undergoes a ceremony to test whether he is worthy to wield Firebrand and become heir to the throne.








Can you smell the epic drama that is about to ensue?

Sophie: It? Are you speaking of Gustave? You've cared for him so much. Only the ceremony did not go well.

Gustave XII: Only... ONLY!? Anima wasn't even drawn from him when he touched the Firebrand. Common trees, grass, and even rocks have Anima. He is less than a rock. I had high hopes for him. That is why I feel so betrayed. It is unforgivable. It is not permissible for a member of the royal family not to have Anima. He will be banished.

Sophie: Even though he may not have the power of the Anima, Gustave is still a living being. I have given birth to him, I have nursed him, and I have raised him. He may only be an heir to you, but to me, he is the son to whom I have given life. I cannot just throw him away.






If, by this point, you somehow haven't shed some manly tears, you are a heartless monster.



Some old man: Forgive me, Your Highness. This is the best house in this area.

Sophie: Thank you. I know you've done all you could. What should we do know...?



Dammit, maybe now this game will let me play a little. Somehow, images of a huge, bipedal walking tank appear in my mind. What the fuck? Anyway...



My plea was left unheard.



Master Cielmer: As the young master's tutor, it is my responsibility that this has come to be. Therefore, I no longer have the right to remain. Please grant me permission to leave the palace.

Gustave XII: Very well, you have my permission. Thank you for your services over the past four years. Cielmer, tell me one last thing... Why didn't you tell me that he didn't have any Anima?

Master Cielmer: I did not know myself. I had sensed that he possessed very strong Anima within him... I feel that fate has had a hand in the appearance of such a figure in the royal family.

Gustave XII: Fate, eh... I only wished for a son that could have formaly acceded to the throne.






Gustave XIII: Master Cielmer!

Sophia: Sir Cielmer! Why have you come here?

Cielmer: His Highness has granted me permission to leave, and I will be heading back to Gruegel. Therefore, I came to see if I might escort Your Highness to Gruegel.

Sophia: But I do not beliebe that His Majesty will allow us to leave...

Cielmer: Waiting here will most likely not change His Majesty's mind. Even worse...

Sophia: Oh no! That can't be...

Cielmer: At Gruegel, it is best that you seek asylum from King Sui of Na.

Sophia: I understand. I have always left matters regarding Gustave to your discretion. I shall heed your words.


Oh great, he's a Jedi... or something like that.





Five years have passed. Gustave has become infamous as a violent child. The fact that he is ungifted and that he is an outcast has twisted his mind as the years passed. His peculiar background as a member of the royalty of the Eastern Continent causes his peers to avoid him, taking away the thing most important to a young boy... friends. Gustave has only one follower, a boy named Flynn. Flynn patiently endures even
Gustave's most violent acts and never leaves his side. For he, too, cannot use any spells.

Me? I'm just stomping some flowers and throwing rocks at birds. Why do you ask?



Gustave: So what? I'm just a worthless piece of trash who has no Anima or spells!

Oh shi-
Not now, not here. I think my emo sense is tingling.

Yes! Slap that emo kid!

Sophia: Gustave, look! Is it the power of spells that makes flowers and trees blossom? Are birds able to fly because they can use spells? Even though you can't use spells, you are still human. You are human, Gustave!!

I don't get it... What's the problem? Just buy an axe, grow some manly hair on your chest and become a barbarian. It worked for Conan.



Gustave: If my mother was coming you should have told me that!




Gustave: Why you...!




Flynn: Because I can't use any spells... Sir Gus is very scary, but Sir Gus is the only one... the only one who understands me...

Yes it is. Everyone loves their Fireball.



Flynn: What's wrong, Sir Gus? It's okay, no one saw me. C'mon, Sir Gus, let's eat.

Man, that game was such a step down from SF1...

Note: When I was saying that his line was fairly decent, I was NOT referring to this part.

yeah the game itself is already a 'let's play!!" - it's very "go here, do this" and while the dungeons kind of let you roll around in a spongey "plenty of paths all lead to the same place" type of deal you more or less get rail roaded by the actual plot

gustave is a pimp though, you just need to know how he gets over his emo to bring down the fyukin' fyuury

So now we finally get to control our character. This opportunity is too rare to miss. And so Sir Gus begins the mandatory process of breaking into people's homes and taking
the stuff that isn't nailed down.



Disappointed by the fact that the people in this city have nothing valuable to be robbed of, Sir Gus tries to initiate a conversation with them. Thus, we get to read their thought-
provoking responses.




Oh, my first fed-ex quest. How thrilling!

Actually, it's not. So Sir Gus decides to educate him on the subject of manliness.

I wish all kids nowadays could be reasoned with like that.



Intrigued by the misterious drawer, Sir Gus furiously starts searching for his house.

And he finds it.
Where's my loot?

I have no idea what this pocket station is, so I'll just leave it alone.

A bit later Sir Gus wanders into a smithy.



Gus: Uh huh. There were no smiths in Thermes, and there weren't that many in Gruegel either. This is the first time I got to see one so close.

Smith: Ye make it sound like I'm some kind of circus show.

Gus: What are you making?

Smith: I'm makin' a knife out of steel. For me, it's easier to use a steel knife occasionally, since ye don't have to use any Spell Arts when usin' one. My ol' lady, on the other hand, is good at usin' the spells on a stone kitchen knife, so she'll never be usin' a steel blade.

Gus: You think we can make a sword out of steel?

Smith: That'd be hard, young master. I hear the ancient blacksmiths made blades out of steel, but for me, a kitchen knife is the best I can do. Besides, the soldiers only use
stone or wood swords, nowadays.



Smith: I am the master, and you are my apprentice. I will be very strict, is that clear?



Gus: Yes Sir!

They spent a year hammering on the forge.

And another one.


Gus: This one's only practice. The real sword I intend to forge will be three times longer.



Gus: Yes. I can see that sword... somewhere out there...



Gus: We're going, Flynn.

Flynn: Wait, Sir Gus!

Something interesting is about to happen? Finally.

I have no Idea who this Kelvin guy is.

Kelvin: We've recieved information that bandits are in the eastern caves. Tommorow morning soldiers will be sent from the castle to investigate. Please notify everyone to stay away from the caves.

Lady in green: I understand. Thank you for your trouble.

Kelvin: Well, I must hurry along to the next town.

That was unexpected.

So we've somehow arrived at the cave entrance.

Flynn: Sir Gus, I'm scared. Aren't there monsters here?

Gus: That's why we came. I've trained extensively for this. Now it's time for the real thing.

I'm starting to like this kid.


We enter the cave and that's where things get really interesting. I almost came when the combat started: good old turn-based monster slashing action. The combat sistem is pretty simple (not that simple actually): characters have some starting abilities, which are used to attack, defend, heal and the like. There are active and passive abilities (like
Deflect, which is used automatically). You learn new abilities automatically, when attacking or being hit. After the battle, some of your attributes (HP, spell and weapon points) and skills (sword, spear, fire magic and the like) may also increase. There's no xp.




Anyway, after wandering in the caves for some time, the story unexpectedly switches from Gus to...

Kelvin.


Kelvin: What? What am I doing here!? I came to look for you. There are bandits in here, you know.

Gus: Oh, so they were bandits.

Kelvin: You encountered them?

Gus: Flynn got captured.

Kelvin: You brought him along too? So you just ran away while Flynn got captured? Can't you do anything right? Let's go notify father.

Gus: Wait! I will save Flynn. He's one of my kind. I don't want help from Sit Thomas.

Kelvin: What are you talking about? You actually think you can save him by yourself?

Gus: I'm going to jump into the midst of them, so I'll need your spell support.

Kelvin: Why do I have to help you?

Gus: You're not helping me. You're helping Flynn. Please, Kelvin.

Kelvin: As always your plan is too reckless. However, I am a noble man, and thus it is my duty to help those in need. I will help Flynn. But Gustave, are you going to be okay with a weapon like that?

Gus: I can't use Spell Arts, so this sharp blade is the only thing I can depend on. Let's go.


Oh my, now that was an inspiring speech. I think I've just lost all motivation to complete this thread and some IQ points as well after typing all that prattle.

The two valiant heroes team up. Onwards!!1

Some slime miniboss. The heroes chop him to pieces on the spot.
Another one.

Butchering anyone on sight and collecting loot, our heroes venture deeper into the cave.








These burglars have yet to discover that sharp blades are dangerous.


I believe he is bleeding like a struck pig.
Both.







Three burglars and a boss against two kids? This smells of rape.
[Insert something witty here] The heroes prevail against all odds.









Don't mess with an emo kid with a knife. Man, this is so stupid. Is this shit at least moderately entertaining? Or should I pick another JRPG for a let's play thread? Also, should I continue with Gustave's story or switch to Wil for a while?

that is up to you i'd say, they both kind of sort of intersect eventually - if you want to keep them chronologically relevant (there's really no reason to, nothing makes "more" sense if you do) you could switch now

i played through gustave all the way though

Wow, I was told this game was worth playing. Thanks for the warning.

Actually, this game IS worth playing. The combat sistem is very enjoyable. It's just I've never imagined that creating a LP thread would be so much trouble: you play for an hour and then spend the next three putting this shit here.