New Review Posted: Generation of Chaos

Daniel Weissenberger · 05-03-2006, 01:53 AM

Brad Gallaway reviews Degeneration of Chaos, and is shocked by the lack of quality he finds burned onto the disc:

"I'm just not having much luck with review material lately. First I had to suffer through Drakengard 2 (which made me fall asleep—no joke), and now, a game lands in my lap which actually ties with Unlimited SaGa for the lowest score I've ever awarded a game in my entire career— Generation of Chaos on the Sony PSP."

How bad is it? Find out here.

legendarypegasu · 05-03-2006, 10:42 AM

Funny that you mentioned that Drakengard 2 put you to sleep, b/c the same thing happened to me. I was a hughe fan of the first game, but Drakengard is just medicore in every facet of the game.

machine · 05-03-2006, 11:41 AM

For what it's worth, you can download a free mini-strategy guide from the Nippon Ichi website which explains a lot more than the skimpy manual included with the game. At 80 pages, it seems funny to call it "mini" but it is rather nicely done - apparently they commissioned DoubleJump to prepare it for them.

EnduroGamer · 05-03-2006, 02:12 PM

I have to imagine that somewhere at Nippon Ichi there is a man staring into his monitor, reading your review, and shouting "RTFM!!!!" at the top of his lungs.

Seriously though, the game actually sounds kind of interesting. Sometimes a review is so bad that I am almost drawn to it more than had it have just been "meh" as the kiddies like to say.

Epic Juicebox · 05-03-2006, 02:32 PM

I agree with Enduro. As one of the only people in the world that was able to appreciate Unlimited SaGa - even if it was only a little bit - I've learned to seek out the games that garner a negative reaction this strong! *grin*

- EJ, The Epic Juicebox

EnduroGamer · 05-03-2006, 02:38 PM

Danny's typo in the above post tells me that he really meant to type...

"Brad Gallaway revews Degeneration of Chaos, and is shocked by the lack of quality he finds burned onto the disc:"

QXZ · 05-03-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

GC_Brad wrote:
I'm just not having much luck with review material lately ... and now, a game lands in my lap which actually ties with Unlimited SaGa for the lowest score I've ever awarded a game in my entire career -- Generation of Chaos on the Sony PSP."

Shouldn't that read, "a game lands in my lap which receives the lowest score I've ever awarded a game in my entire career"?

Low Emissions · 05-03-2006, 08:51 PM

All I have to say is... Ouch.

Hypatia93 · 05-04-2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnduroGamer

Danny's typo in the above post tells me that he really meant to type...

"Brad Gallaway revews Degeneration of Chaos, and is shocked by the lack of quality he finds burned onto the disc:"

I don't get it..

Hypatia93 · 05-04-2006, 01:21 PM

Brad, I've not yet read your review, but I must say I'm scared. I was actually HOPING this was going to be an awesome game--a system seller as it were. I mean b/t this and Infected, I was anticipating there was going to be at least a "decent" reason for me to pick up a PSP (which would also include some other so-so to above average titles, like Exit, and like). Alas, I know it's not meant to be, but should I dare turn the page and read the horror of it all?

*creak*

EDIT:

Okay, I'm back from reading it. Well, first I had to clean my face, b/c the review made my eyes bleed. Heh.

Thank you Brad for saving me from a fate worse than death.

I do have to say I'm sorely disappointed, in Nippon Ichi, not you, for having brought such a craptacular title to the States. Apparantly, this is simply the next installment in a long series over in Japan--they eat that shit up. But I suppose it's better done over there.

Guess I'll have to wait longer for a "system seller" that would drive me to drop butt-loads of cash on the PSP. No biggie, though, I'm still all-about my fabulous X360 and Oblivion.

Which reminds me, Brad, have you purchased yours yet? You /really/ do need one, honey. For your mental health and all. Besides, you can write that shit off as a tax deduction, but then, I'm sure you're well aware of that.

Brad Gallaway · 05-04-2006, 02:41 PM

Hey Hyp.

Well, i think there are a few good reasons to go PSP right now, and there are a lot of promising things in the pipe. unfortunately, GoC isn't anything to be excited about... like you said, it's evidently the latest in a long series. i did a bit of research and the developers seem to have been cranking these things out, and they wrongly assume that the US audience is already totally familiar with their esoteric system and will eat it up like their hardcore following back East does.

HOWEVER, in other Nippon Ichi news, i'm happy to report that Makai Kingdom (after 5 hours) seems to be the best thing NI has released since Disgaea... in fact, i'd probably say that MK is a lot more newbie-friendly and has a better curve. ask me again after 5 more hours, but so far it's a really great game that i'd recommend to folks who groove on SRPGs. it's not perfect (i don't like the free-movement system) but overall it rocks and the humor is great.

as for the 360, now that Culdcept is coming out, i HAVE to hurry up and get one. honestly though, they're still in very short supply here. EB called me the week that i didn't have any money and they only got *two* in, and of course they were both sold the same day. it wont' be too long now sincethe airline tickets for my son's visit have been paid for and i can start looking at some discretonary spending. ; )

shun · 05-04-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GC_Brad

HOWEVER, in other Nippon Ichi news, i'm happy to report that Makai Kingdom (after 5 hours) seems to be the best thing NI has released since Disgaea... in fact, i'd probably say that MK is a lot more newbie-friendly and has a better curve. ask me again after 5 more hours, but so far it's a really great game that i'd recommend to folks who groove on SRPGs. it's not perfect (i don't like the free-movement system) but overall it rocks and the humor is great.

Wow. Really? I have to check it out.

:Unwraps Makai Kingdom from shrinkwrap:

Admittedly though, I'm quite ashamed to say that I've been putting off this game for quite a long time. It's one of among my list of my long line of procrastinated entertainment stuff (which includes a lot of DVD's, a lot of books and a lot of videogames). I actually bought Makai Kingdom 1 week after I got my PS2, yet I still haven't tried it. (To be honest, I've played more Rumble Roses than this one

) Shame on me, shame on me.

calintz · 05-08-2006, 10:13 AM

I loved Makai Kingdoms best of all the Nippon Ichi SRPGs...maybe until I get Disgaea 2 that is...

...but a 0.5 for GoC? It can't be that bad...but I'm scared to actually play it and find out...cos I need to waste money on it first -_-"

Mike Bracken · 05-08-2006, 12:28 PM

Just as a counter-observation a lot of the hardcore SRPG crowd likes Generation of Chaos--apparently, once you actually figure out how to play the game, it gets a lot better and is more in line with the standard NI fare.

I haven't played the game yet, but I've heard both sides of the issue--from people who gave up in total aggravation, and from those who stuck it out. Either way, it's pretty unforgivable that they released a game and didn't give players the first clue as to how to actually play it.

Mike B.

calintz · 05-08-2006, 01:19 PM

Wouldn't it give you some sort of tutorial?
That's a little unforgivable to make a strategy game without any form of teaching gamers how to strategise...

EDIT:
oh..ok, read the review in more detail and found this:

Quote:

no instructions, no tutorial, no opening walkthrough to show how the game is played… nothing.

...i guess there's always gamefaqs... -_-"