felicity
Scholar
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2008
- Messages
- 339
It's totally free, small and easy to run, and it's very fun. http://www.falcom.co.jp/vantage/index_e.html
It looks like a MMO but it's really not. It's a tactical strategy game on a hexagon map like Fantasy General. You choose a 'Master' and summon 'Natials' to fight for you. Summoning them costs MP, and they consume MP every round in action. There are magic stones around the map that you can take, they increase MP income to the side who owns them. You win when you defeat your opponent's Master. The interface and control are simple and intuitive enough that despite crappy translation (Bard->Bird, serious), the basics can be learned in 10 mins. The biggest charm of this game, besides its simplicity, is the relatively strong AI. The computer has no real advantage over you (two sides both started with the Master alone), and the damage done in an attacked can be 100% predicted. You can see how much damage you'll do to a particular enemy in a window. At later stages, or in expert mode, computer gains some terrain advantage but that's it. It somewhat feels like chess.
There is a netplay feature (1vs1) you can play against human when you're bored of AI. The sequel is Vantage Master Japan, which is better balanced and the AI is fucking ruthless. Unfortunately there no translation and it's rare, good luck finding a torrent. Got my copy years ago when it first released.
Gameplay video on Youtube
Here is a review from Hardcore Gaming 101
It looks like a MMO but it's really not. It's a tactical strategy game on a hexagon map like Fantasy General. You choose a 'Master' and summon 'Natials' to fight for you. Summoning them costs MP, and they consume MP every round in action. There are magic stones around the map that you can take, they increase MP income to the side who owns them. You win when you defeat your opponent's Master. The interface and control are simple and intuitive enough that despite crappy translation (Bard->Bird, serious), the basics can be learned in 10 mins. The biggest charm of this game, besides its simplicity, is the relatively strong AI. The computer has no real advantage over you (two sides both started with the Master alone), and the damage done in an attacked can be 100% predicted. You can see how much damage you'll do to a particular enemy in a window. At later stages, or in expert mode, computer gains some terrain advantage but that's it. It somewhat feels like chess.
There is a netplay feature (1vs1) you can play against human when you're bored of AI. The sequel is Vantage Master Japan, which is better balanced and the AI is fucking ruthless. Unfortunately there no translation and it's rare, good luck finding a torrent. Got my copy years ago when it first released.
Gameplay video on Youtube
Here is a review from Hardcore Gaming 101