It's been a key part of several ID@Xbox presentations and had its demo released twice (I believe)… I'm genuinely surprised how many people are saying (everywhere, not just here) that they'd never heard of it until today's release.
I've been waiting for it to come out for ages, I'm so glad it's finally here.
I'd seen it, I'd just forgotten the name and had to Google it. Will definitely be giving it a go, though, it looks delightful.
Strangers of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins
I am having the god damn time of my life with this game, it's like Nioh mixed with Final Fantasy, with some of Nioh's fun combat depth without the oppressive difficulty and Final Fantasy 'Jobs' instead of weapons. This game lets you experiment, it lets you have fun, it lets you mix and match job abilities to make the most busted setups you can think of like any good FF game with the job system.
The story is/was a bit of a meme on the internet, it's so fucking dumb but it at least knows it and has fun with it, like an unpretentious DmC. It's a 'retelling' of FF1 apparently but so far that's not very true, the Warriors of Light in FF1 didn't wear modern day casual shirt and trousers, listen to Limp Bizkit/Sinatra and tell bosses to shut the fuck up with their long ass monologues. Furthermore, every mission so far seems to be dedicated to one game in the entire Final Fantasy series, I haven't done it yet but they even have Noctis' palace in there from FFXV.
If playing a casual action game with a fun FF job system in various locales of the entire FF series in a story that takes itself far less seriously than <people who haven't played it but judged it anyway> interests you, there's a lengthy demo out there and you can straight up port your data to the full game from it.
Tunic is good fun, but so far it’s borrowing too much from the Mean Games Club for me. I’m only on the first bit and I’ve already died about seven times, forced to trudge back through the same boring enemies from the last bonfire. It has a ‘no fail’ mode in the accessibility options but that sort of defeats the whole point of the game; you literally take zero damage. I could do with a Dad mode that halves the damage taken or something.
And I wish good games would stop being bloody difficult! I want to play stuff like Elden Ring and Tunic. Games without signposting, games that treat you like a grown-up. But I also don’t want to wade through the same content again and again because I’m crap at games.
forced to trudge back through the same boring enemies from the last bonfire.
Oh god, well that's me out then. Dark Souls is a fucking plague on this industry.
I think that's a very fair point, MPH. Tunic is very much a game of discovery, where combining exploration, curiosity and a bit of common sense unfolds a lot of mystery. That it's also surprisingly challenging (well, not surprising to those who played the demo, but hey) is a bit of a pity, it definitely locks down the amount of people who'll enjoy it. No Fail is there but, like you say, that's quite the opposite extreme to take things to… it just becomes a walking simulator and fuck that right away.
It definitely has a Fez vibe, which I'm really digging, except Fez didn't kill you every five minutes.
For me, I'm enjoying it. I've only died a couple of times, got a sword and a refillable health potion (ala Souls) which improves my survivability and I'm slowly working stuff out as I roam around trying to find secret stuff. I like it a lot. But I can see where it also throws up barriers…
I might try to muscle through by turning on the no-die mode for bosses. But the regular enemies are giving me enough grief; those spiders can get smegged. I don't want to learn attack patterns and have frame-perfect timing for a Zelda game starring a fox.
forced to trudge back through the same boring enemies from the last bonfire.
Oh god, well that's me out then. Dark Souls is a fucking plague on this industry.
I've already bounced of Death's Door this year for exactly the same reason. I'll give Tunic a go, as I don't want to pre-judge without evidence, but it's disappointing to hear it's all one shot this, retrace that, git gud the other. Surely difficulty levels are not hard to implement in something like this? It's not changing AI or the game, just the severity of the punishment for making a mistake.
My favourite thing to do in games is explore, find out about the world around me, but increasingly the only games that want to allow me to wander without punishing me are UBIGAMES, and frankly chasing icons on a map is not what I call exploring.
Every other thing seems to want to punish me by draining my time. I get there's a place for that, and I'm happy those that have the time and are enjoying Elden Ring etc. But BOTW is the only recent game I can think of that has got a good balance of the two poles. There was exploration, and peril, but the risk/reward balance was perfect. You could go wandering and find something interesting, and die sometimes yes, but not every bloody time you came across something new. You had a chance to progress through something other than perfection.
I guess I just need to accept that what I want isn't fashionable any more. Maybe if I wait a generation, it'll come back around. Bah. Old man rant.
Doesn't it just make you yearn for the old prism powder and silent oil again? Rub that shit on me daily pls
Al, I think you're posting in the wrong forum again, The Society For Kinky Weird Shit is two doors over.
Doesn't it just make you yearn for the old prism powder and silent oil again? Rub that shit on me daily pls
Ha, indeed 
Or play as a whm and cast Sneak/Invisible. Or Bst and charm. Or nin and shadows. Or find a friend/party to help you. Or ask for a raise from someone passing if you did die. Etc. Options, interesting options - all with risks, but all opening up ways to explore. Not just git gud, perfection is the only way.
FFXI was impenetrable in all sorts of ways that only a community could figure out, just like (whatever)Souls, but it never demanded perfection from you, nor did it punish you ridiculously for making a mistake.
Al, I think you're posting in the wrong forum again, The Society For Kinky Weird Shit is two doors over.
Is that where we go to get fobbed off by random Mums?
If that's what the kids call it these days, sure.
FFXI was impenetrable in all sorts of ways that only a community could figure out, just like (whatever)Souls, but it never demanded perfection from you, nor did it punish you ridiculously for making a mistake.
I respectfully disagree, if only for the time when I went out hunting in my shiny new armour, died to the first rabbit I met, LEVELLED DOWN so I could no longer wear any of the armour I owned, and had to run all the way back to San D'Oria in my underpants.
Oh God don't say BST I'm going to end up levelling it.
Got struck down with Covid on Monday, not been well so have returned to playing Fallout 76 mixed in with some Football Manager.
Watched some videos on F76 as my levelling had stalled and it seems I had just completely misbuilt my character. There is a nice UFO themed event on too currently.
I respectfully disagree, if only for the time when I went out hunting in my shiny new armour, died to the first rabbit I met, LEVELLED DOWN so I could no longer wear any of the armour I owned, and had to run all the way back to San D'Oria in my underpants.
Hahaha! Fair point, I guess I overstated the case a little for effect 😁
Al -BST ended up being my main, I LOVED it. BST/whm was the best solo option back then, and gave me chance to explore loads of areas that people just didn't go to at all. It really felt like going off into the wilderness. Probably very different now, but the rhythm of balancing aggro with the pet through a fight was immensely satisfying when you got into the groove. I used to get quite attached to some of the crawlers I charmed…
I hear it's very different now, something about charm being obsolete and you cant be miles away from your pet anymore. :(
I still think it sounds hella fun, one of the pets has a sick debuff and you yourself have a strong buff, also dual handaxes hell yeah.
Unsurprisingly BST is not in smash action rpg, Strangers of Paradise. 
I am enjoying Tunic a lot. It's much bigger than I expected, there are secrets everywhere, I have no clue what some things do and I'm currently in a beachfront area full of statues. I found a hidden graveyard and got slaughtered. I love the pages of the manual you find, with their hidden tips and things. This is definitely up my street.
I hear it's very different now, something about charm being obsolete and you cant be miles away from your pet anymore. :(
Whhhaaatttt…?? Charm was the whole point! It's not like I'm ever going to play again, but still…
Tearsintherain.gif
Starting to make significant progress in Tunic now. I can see how one of the main things - finding the glowing diamonds to unlock pages of the game's instruction manual - could be hugely divisive, since it basically hides mechanics unless you're otherwise told. I only just learnt that you can power up your stats like health, attack and potions! I've been taking on enemies without any of that, and yet now I have the tools to become even more powerful which removes significant barriers.
I will say that while it's still far from easy, your survivability in the game does increase drastically once you get the sword and shield. The latter is much closer to the start of the game than I thought, so I wish I'd found it sooner.
I also like how there are so many hidden nooks and crannies, so many places that raise more questions than answers. As I said, it has a real Fez feel to it and I'm really enjoying digging into it to reveal more information.
I've been playing The Outer Worlds and finding it quite hard. Then I found the armour tab and realised I could equip stuff there and make combats far easier.
I have done exactly this in about two thirds of crpgs I've played.
Tunic looks lovely, but it's kicking my ass.
I have the sword, and I just met my first boss, which killed me in very short order. I'm mainly struggling with un-cancellable attacks and invincibility frames, which just aren't things I've ever needed to deal with in the kinds of games I usually play.
I've just thrown invincibility and infinite stamina on. Life is too fucking short.
Press LB at save statues - if you've picked up any power-up items and have enough coins, you can use them.
How do I know if I've picked up a power-up item?
They're the ones at the bottom right - one looks like a broken tooth, one looks like a sheet of paper with powder in it, one looks like a flower… There is a fourth one but I forget what it is and what stat any of them affect.
The last one is a mushroom. They're all marked with ??? until you use one to power up, then it'll be labelled. The more you use, the more it costs to power up.
Enjoying Tunic but the constantly being lost is the biggest issue I've had so far, the world looks nice but it's not really one I care to 'explore' like that. I know it's super linear but I feel like I'm stumbling through the dark in a way I didn't on Elden Ring, not to mention I dunno why I'm even there.
I know it's super linear
It's really not.
I don't know how else to describe it, but I guess the world is like a big puzzle in itself? I just know I was stuck for ages last night because I had no idea where to go and the only rewards I got for finding hidden pathways were currency.
I've found so many new areas that aren't signposted just by thinking 'Oh, I wonder if I can go down here?'. I also stumbled upon the ability to teleport completely by fluke. It rewards curiosity, though I still have no idea what some things are for…
Spoiler - click to showThe grey metal obelisks with lights on the top, how to reignite the dead statues, the circular room in the old house… still so many things to uncover!
I played an hour or so of Tunic last night, it's good, I like it. It doesn't feel unfair or too demanding of perfection so far. All attacks are very clearly signalled from the normal enemies I've seen, no boss yet though so could change… I've died a couple of times, but didn't lose too much, and it was definitely my fault for swinging wildly without thinking. I've got a sword now, which is definitely making things easier, but no shield yet. The world is fun, lots of exploration to be done, lots of loops, lots of "aha I'm here again" moments. I like that.
Not sure how I feel about the complete blank page in terms of language/instructions. It'll force me to experiment a bit, which I guess is good. I'm so used to hoarding Elixirs in rpgs that I haven't used a single item yet despite having about 6 types, as I'm afraid I'll need them later… so no idea about how anything really works yet.
Still, I enjoyed dipping a toe in and it's not immediately "fuck you" in the way souls is, so that's a major fear allayed a bit. Looking forward to a bit more playing, seeing how I get on.
There are definitely places you can go early on where you're simply not prepared:
Spoiler - click to showI stumbled into the Frog lair way too early, and spent most of my time sneaking past enemies or using bombs. I found the old burying ground and got one-shot by some guy with a gun. I teleported to a place in the south and got ruined by flying drones because I didn't have a shield (though I do now, so will be going back soon). I also recently found a place that's totally not the same as everywhere else so far (all metal scaffolding and walkways), and also found ridiculous enemies.
I agree with your judgement though, Cheddar , but I can see how it could also be deemed as harder than you'd expect from a game that looks like this. I'm still loving it though, and keep hoping to find time here and there to play more.
After about an hour wandering around aimlessly in Tunic feeling a bit frustrated, I headed back to the start and discovered that I'd unlocked a new door, discovered how to teleport, and how to interact with the obelisks.
So that's going to keep me busy.
Also, I fully stand by my decision to turn off health and stamina. I'd happily play this without any combat at all, as a pure exploration experience - its touchstones from games like Fez and Journey feel much more relevant to the experience than Dark Souls.
Teleporting and the obelisks really do seem to be the game changing moment, when you can start doing 'stuff'.
Spoiler - click to showI've opened the gold door at the start of the game, killed the guardian of the Forest Fortress and gained one of the three crystals… two to go!
Want
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Dude.
He’ll have finished it by April 6th anyway.
Dude.
sorry you can just edit that post
After about an hour wandering around aimlessly in Tunic feeling a bit frustrated, I headed back to the start and discovered that I'd unlocked a new door, discovered how to teleport, and how to interact with the obelisks.
Meant to say, have you tried
Spoiler - click to showpraying at Hero Graves? Because that's a thing, though I have no idea what you do there. It's noticeable though that you become your ghost form… and the instruction manual page I just found says only ghosts can enter the main burying grounds. So… wooooooohhhhh, spooky?
The more I discover in this game, the less I understand what I'm supposed to be doing.
I keep finding things I just can't do - gaps I can't cross, chests that seem impossibly out of reach, things I see in the distance with no way to reach it. I'm not sure what I'm missing, though the obvious answer would be an ability of some kind. Those moments are on the edge of frustration, but I'm keeping a level head about knowing to come back later.
I will say the instruction manual pages are way more useful than they seem… looking closely can reveal paths you might otherwise miss, hints that solve puzzles and so on. Definitely worth a close study when you get them.
I'm currently facing my third major boss. He's a bit of an arsehole, because he's constantly out of range but my 'get over here' skill doesn't pull him close enough. Seems to be more about biding time and hitting when possible. I'll get him eventually.
On the fourth boss to get the last key. The Quarry area is nowhere near as good or inventive as other regions, and it has an absolutely bullshit mechanic that becomes horribly unavoidable near the end. Really took the shine off things for me. Still enjoying it, but that particular area felt like the dev ran out of ideas…
You guys really aren't selling Tunic to me - here and elsewhere all I've seen is people whinging about it.
It's the same as Elden Ring… it's great, but it's not THAT great.
I dropped it, at least for now.
The only real complaint I have about Tunic, playing on easy mode, is that it feels very difficult to tell when – or even if – you're making progress.
I spent an hour or so tottering about a little beachy area lighting up statues which then let me open a teleport pad to… a dead end. I still haven't seen any of the three crystal MacGuffins I assume I'm supposed to be finding, and have only stumbled into two boss fights. I don't know what that "'get over here' skill" is that Mart referred to. I keep picking up items that subsequently don't appear in my inventory. There are obvious interaction points for tools I don't have.
I enjoy wandering around, finding shortcuts and treasure chests. I just wish I had some direction.
The only real complaint I have about Tunic, playing on easy mode, is that it feels very difficult to tell when – or even if – you're making progress.
Obtuse is the word. Plus bird, bird is always the word.
I spent an hour or so tottering about a little beachy area lighting up statues which then let me open a teleport pad to… a dead end. I still haven't seen any of the three crystal MacGuffins I assume I'm supposed to be finding, and have only stumbled into two boss fights.
Not sure why the teleport led to a dead end… that should be leading to where one of the key bosses is.
I don't know what that "'get over here' skill" is that Mart referred to.
Spoiler - click to showThe end of the Frog Domain, off that beachy area, is a large room full of people worshipping some kind of orb. It's that. It's basically a whip that can pull enemies towards you (and stun them) or pull you towards anchor points that look like hooks or tuning forks.
I keep picking up items that subsequently don't appear in my inventory.
This, I'm curious about as I can't think what that might be. Everything I've collected has been accessible in some way.
I enjoy wandering around, finding shortcuts and treasure chests. I just wish I had some direction.
I mean, I just beat the fourth boss, got the last key, took it back to the shrine and it did… nothing? Then an achievement popped called 'What now?', so… yeaaaaaah. I've already worked it out, but I can see how knowing where to go would be incredibly difficult if you weren't basically remembering every little detail.
This, I'm curious about as I can't think what that might be. Everything I've collected has been accessible in some way.
They look like playing cards? I've picked up a few of them, but haven't noticed them anywhere.