CRESTFALLEN: INCEPTION
BY LUN
INTRODUCTION
Some of you out there are beginning to believe that the RPG 95 program is growing obsolete. You place your games on hold while eagerly awaiting all these other RPGmakers to come out, believing that somehow you will be able to make a better game with a more powerful engine. You scorn RPG 95, because you think that its processing potential is the equivalent of a rusty SNES, or-god forbid-a NES. Indeed, those of you who think this do have a point; the RPG 95 is a pretty old program. It seems impossible to add anything new original to it. However, after playing Crestfallen: Inception, I have learned something. If you put your mind to it, anything can be done on this program, whether you�re making a racing game, a battle simulation, or even an arcade-like shooter.
Crestfallen is revolutionary. I can already see hundreds of prospective RPGmakers scampering to copy what Lun has created. He is the John Smith of RPG 95, who has shouted gold, and the masses are responding. He has redefined the meaning of a �mini-game.� Everything that I have mentioned, from the racing to the shooting, is in this game, and damned if I know how he did it.
By no means is Crestfallen perfect, of course. There are some weak spots to name of, but these are inconsequential. As an RPG, Crestfallen is great. It is at least in the top 10 RPG 95 games out there. As a game, however, it is something more. It stands on a pedestal above the rest, for what you will see in this game will constantly surprise, even shock you. I personally finished the game shaking my head in wonder at some of the scenes that have occurred. But that�s enough rambling. It�s time to break this game down, and see exactly what makes it a classic.
PRESENTATION: 42/50
Graphics (Quality and layout of tilesets, backgrounds, monsters, characters, etc.): 15/20
The graphics are not a highlight of the game. There are some pretty details, like the flickering torches and the bustling city. However, the tilesets are for the most part, bland and uninspiring. Monsters and battle backgrounds are all default, and there really wasn�t anything that exciting. Some of the larger maps, such as Southwall, treated you to rows and rows of gray bricks that stretched on endlessly. The layout was realistic enough, but curiously inconsistent. For example, some parts of Southwall were deeply decorated with books and such, while others (mainly the upper floors) had nothing but filler space. The first act doesn�t suffer much from this, but the roofless houses in Gilmesh had a fairly primitive look. Also, many of the characters (Including Midian, the main character of the first act) did not have their own character tileset to differentiate themselves from other characters. This is pretty inexcusable, as Lun had more then enough room to add some new characters.
However, there were some examples of some great graphics. The puzzles (Especially the battle game) were especially nicely decorated. Lun did put a great amount of work into the layout. The opening scenes, like the bustling city, and others such as the advancing armies and such, are pretty breathtaking. The way the cut scenes were deployed, with flashing effects, were also exceptional. In whole, the graphics are nicely laid out and presented, only a little bland.
Sound (Originality of the score, use of sound effects, catchy and relevant tunes.): 8/10
There are great sound effects, and music was pretty well done, although I think that Laguna�s song got pretty annoying looping over and over again in Southwall. There were too many songs that I�ve heard before, which lowered the score a bit. On the other hand, there were some that I haven�t heard, and most of them were very appropriate for the setting.
Did I mention the awesome sound effects? Yeah I did. You actually hear creeping footsteps, muffled or frantic screams, thunder, and pouring rain. They were remarkably well done for an RPG 95 game and add some great atmosphere to everything.
Cut Scenes (Their relevance, the way they�re carried out, and quality.): 5/5
The opening scene alone gives this a 5. The details put into the cut scenes are amazing. You actually see a gigantic, bustling city move around. Other cut scenes are almost as impressive. I suppose the only criticism here is the rushed feeling I got at the end of the two acts. Act 1 ended with a great boss, but there was no cut scene to resolve anything afterwards. Act 2 had a final cut scene, but it wasn�t that impressive when put next to some of the mid-game scenes. This is nitpicking, however, for even the blandest scene outdid 90% of the cut scenes in any other game. Perfecto!
Flow (How smoothly the game runs with the story, as well as the overall "feel" for it. Is it like a Final Fantasy or a Secret of Evermore?): 14/15
Flow relates to how much fun the game is. After all, for a game to be successful, it must make you want to keep playing. It has to make you want to dedicate a few hours of your time to it, and put it in priority to anything else for the moment. Crestfallen does this quite well. The story is gripping, and works well with the game. With a few exceptions, it is never difficult to figure out what to do next. One exception is when you first reach Southwall. Its size is intimidating, and may put you off for a while, as you�re forced to explore it all in order to get a grip on your surroundings. Lun might do well in shrinking the overall size of the area, or at least providing a map or something to easily guide you around.
The other problem is that some of the later puzzles can be a little too frustrating for people who aren�t skilled with arcade games. While I wasn�t really put off with any of them, a few are extremely difficult to complete. The same goes for the other puzzles, such as when Percellius has to play as a juror. My personal favorite puzzles were the ones Midian encountered, along with the murder mystery in Southwall.
STORY: 60/70
Plot (The quality of the story. This includes both minor plot devices, side stories, and the "big" story.): 28/30
It�s great when you know that the creator of an RPG has already designed the entire world in his head, especially when the demo that you play barely scratches this world. Crestfallen is one of four games that I know of which do this. (The other three are Happy Valley, Alpha, and my own, The Fallen.) By doing this, you can really immerse your players into this world. Lun has not skimped on the background story, which is full of political intrigue and warfare.
This is what happened. The royal Illuminarch, guarded by five great warriors, governed the six nations of Grarg, Elea, Archaya, Gilead, Lansa, and Ilum. The world was peaceful until someone assassinated the Illuminarch, splitting the countries up. All but one of the bodyguards were blamed, and exiled to different parts of the world. These bodyguards are hence called the �Crestfallen.�
More drama follows when the Gilead ambassador is ambushed and killed. Gilead withdraws itself from the pact and blames Archaya for the treachery. War ensues. At the same time, Grarg also withdraws from the compact, for its own reasons. It decides to grab a hunk of territory from Elea and invades it. This is where you are thrown in. Add a few cults, a dash of dark magic, and some underworld activity, and you�ve got yourself quite a story.
Lun also created some great plot lines for the characters. In the first Act, your sole goal is to avenge the death of your friend, who is slain by a Gilead general. Nothing else really concerns you, but this simple and righteous goal makes for a great opening scene. Almost all of the second Act takes place in Southwall, which is a world of its own. In a fashion similar to Midgar in FF7, Southwall is basically your world. It�s a terrifying place, which first seems to offer a relieved sanctuary, but then gradually reveals the underbelly beneath. Think of the movie �Blue Velvet� and you�ve got Southwall.
The best thing about the plot is that it promises so much more. The two acts have almost nothing in common, but Lun assured me that everything will be tied up eventually. I could go on and on divulging the world for you, but just go play it yourself. You won�t be disappointed.
Characters (How interesting and original the characters are. Also, the way they interact with each other and the environment, and their relevance to the plot.): 19/25
In Act I, you start out as young Midian, a young Archayian soldier eager to prove himself to the world. In Act II, you start out as young Percillius, a young Elean soldier eager to prove himself to the world. Seem familiar? That�s because they are. The two are basically identical, and I wonder why Lun had a need to separate these two. (Well, I suppose since each takes place in different parts of the world, it�s necessary, but I�m sure he could of thought of a way around it.) Both are rather uninteresting, and basically are the stereotypical �Youthful, righteous warrior.�
Development is a little weak. You know nothing about Percellius� past, and a brief flashback with Midian is supposed to explain everything. Nor do the two of them develop much. I mean sure, I suppose young Midian learns that it�s not smart to attack armored generals in the face, but what has he really gotten from his travels? Percellius also shows no sign of change through his adventures.
Some of the other characters are well done, while others are somewhat annoying. Princess Elea, with her simpering attitude, is way overdone. There are a variety of colorful characters in Southwall, but not all of them are that interesting. Lun could have left out a few of them without anyone missing them. Fillmore, Lorf, and Pheral were pretty good, but others like Taul and Swayne were underdeveloped.
Now, there is some development that can occur, should you seek it out in Southwall. For example, you can learn about Cindi and Grouseby, and see what they�re up to. This is nicely done, and I�m glad there are optional secrets you can discover. Still, it is sad when minor characters have more going on with them then the major ones do.
The characters were still pretty good, when compared to many RPGs. This gets a high score because the end of the acts promises so much more. I just hope Lun gets around to finishing the game.
Dialogue (Do townsfolk walk around saying "Hi, it�s a sunny day," or "Last week I was in the store with my son, and overheard some thieves plotting something." Do characters have a certain voice, or do they sound all the same?): 4/5
The dialogue was excellent. You learn so much from talking to the townsfolk, and people really talk like real people. The only annoying thing was the presence of verbs appearing in the dialogue describing what the characters are doing. While it does explain some things, it is pretty distracting and not that necessary. However, conversations are great, and I never got bored with reading anything. The only other criticism I have here is the fact that some objects respond to an action, while others don�t. For example, sometimes Percellius will say: �Oh, a barrel! Full of body parts!� when he inspects something, and sometimes he won�t. This lack of consistency sometimes makes it hard to solve puzzles, etc.
Originality (Is an evil empire taking over the world, or are they just converting everyone to Buddhism? Stories that ring of Final Fantasy or Lord of the Rings get a low score in this.): 9/10
Crestfallen is very original. There is a world within a world within a world in this game. The political overtone resembles Final Fantasy Tactics. (Which isn�t a bad thing.) Although some parts of the game are contrived, the simple fact that Lun created this world from ground up gives this at least a 9.
GAMEPLAY: 82/80 (See below)
Events (How effective the events are played out. Buggy events, including teleporters that need to be clicked, scenes that loop, etc. will lower this.): 45/45
I found maybe two bugs in the entire game. Considering the complexity of some of the events that go on, this is amazing. One bug that comes to mind is that sometimes, when you lose the battle simulation mini-game, everything freezes. This doesn�t always happen so I�m not sure how to fix it. However, Lun gets kudos for making a 99.9% bug-free game. Everyone should study this game and see how to get things done in their own RPGs.
Grammar/Spelling (A game that is constantly filled with crappy spelling and grammar can really detract from the game. More typos = Fewer points.): 5/5
It all checks out. No typos, and no weird grammar errors. Five out of five!
Combat (The balance between characters and monsters. This includes leveling up, magic effects, and the rate that money is gained.): 13/15
I wasn�t really sure how to grade this section, because there really wasn�t any combat in the game! There is only one random battle dungeon to be found between the two acts. Most of the traditional RPG 95 combats are for boss battles and such. However, this doesn�t mean the game isn�t challenging. The puzzles more then make up for the actual combat, and I really consider these to be �battles� as well. Some of them are very hard! The battles of Crestfallen are not mindless repeats of the space bar, but mazes, races, being a detective, bribing a jury, and shooting down a monster. These are brilliantly executed.
It makes me wonder why there are any traditional battles at all. They seem out of place in a game like this. Midian is unlikely to level up at all, while Percellius might go up two levels in his scenario. Weapons are pointless, and there are almost no spells to speak of. Neither are there any shops, or form of money. As I have said, this game is revolutionary, and sheds the normally pointless dungeons and battles for a far more interesting look. So I ask you, Lun, why keep the few old bits that remain? Remove all the battles, replace them with puzzles and mini-games, and see what you get.
Dungeons (The length, variety, and the puzzles in a dungeon.): 9/10
The dungeons are all wonderful, and full of great puzzles. I�ve said it before, the one exception is Southwall, which is just too damn big to navigate efficiently. But it�s not that big a deal, and I don�t think Lun needs to change it. I am very happy that random battles are pretty much taken out, and replaced with mini-games. There are so many, I could fill up a page naming them all off. Which brings me to�
Special (Puzzles, mini-games, movies, and pictures all fall in this category.): 10/5
No, that�s not a typo. Crestfallen deserves an extra 5 �extra credit� points for what it has done. I would normally never do this, but I just don�t feel that a 5/5 justifies what Lun has done. This game is a new type of RPG 95 game, one of its kind, and completely pioneering everything. Lun, I know many people are asking you how the hell you did some of the scenes in the game. I�m one of them. Bravo!
CONCLUSION
Anybody who�s heard of RPG 95 has probably played this game. If not, download this now! This is the best game I�ve ever played (Unless you count mine >:p) and deserves the score it got. It�s not perfect, but for the moment, it stands a head above everything else. So Lun, when is Act III coming out?
Highlights: Great mini-games, intriguing storyline, proves that anything can be done with RPG 95.
Low points: Mediocre graphics and characters, some may be put off by the harder mini-games. Oh, and it won�t improve your sex life either.
FINAL SCORE: 184/200 = 92%
FINAL GRADE: A-
(93-100) A: I bow down to you, God(dess) of game making. You should be filling out a job application for Square.
(90-92) A-: An excellent game, and a must-download. Games like these come once a year.
(87-89) B+: Great game. Also a must-download, after one has played all the A- ones.
(83-86) B: A very well done game, with only a few flaws. Your players won�t be disappointed trying it out.
(80-82) B-: While it isn�t perfect, it still deserves attention. Just don�t expect people to cry tears of joy from playing it.
(77-79) C+: It�s got problems, but hey, all games do. Don�t give up on it, just pay attention and improve things. It�s still an above average game.
(73-76) C: The average game, i.e. plain vanilla. Games like these tend to get overlooked, unless you are a fan of the series, the game maker himself, or the game maker�s friends. If your game falls in this category, don�t expect a whole lot of downloads. (Unless you advertise like crazy.)
(70-72) C-: Sub-average. Needs some improvement. If you want your game to become legendary, work hard and fix what needs to be fixed. Not a bad game, just a weak one.
(67-69) D+: Eh�don�t quit your day job. Maybe it�s time to start over.
(63-66) D: Just plain bad. Tastes like grandma�s lipstick, and smells like her perfume. Throw this sucker in the trash.
(60-62) D-: Below crap. Playing this game is worse then a coffee enema. What were you thinking?
(Below 60) F: I�d rather blow my dog then play this game again. It�s games like these that keep us reviewers down to a low level.