Is Popful Mail (Sega CD) overrated?
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:32 am
Man, I just finished this game today, and I am not pleased at all.
I've heard many good things about this game (like ratings of 9/10 and 10/10)
And really, by looking at it on screenshots or just the cover, it does look like it would be true.
Actually, maybe I had higher expectations and was mislead.
The cover of the game made me think that this would be a classic or something really magical like Lunar or Zelda Alttp.
Anyone else here who hated this game?
And yes it is 2014 now, but I normally play really old games so age hasn't affected my experience.
Here's my mini review:
Graphics: 2/2
The game has good graphics and stuff! It has everything needed to make a great game.
Music: 1/2
The music in this game doesn't stand out. They do sound good, but there's nothing memorable. AND it is insanely repetitive. If they aren't masterpieces anyway, at least have different songs for different stages! The final stages and ending theme were good at least!
Gameplay: 1/2
This is what ruined everything. The idea of a platformer action RPG would be my favorite, if you didn't die unexpectedly in 2 or 3 hits every time and having to load from last saved game.
Saving is ruined. Though you can save anywhere, you will be lucky to remember to save in time before dying and losing all the money you got since last saved.
Equipment upgrades weren't very good either. I could barely afford to upgrade the only character I used.
I heard that Working Designs made this game harder, but, even without that, almost all the stages feel long, confusing and boring. AND repetitive! Once you're in an area with like 3 or 5 stages, those stages all look the same. The only reason i'm still giving this a 1 is because it is still playable and because it is a genre I like.
But without exaggeration, I got around 180 Game Overs through out the whole game.
Enjoyment: 1/2
I'm not gonna lie, the dialogue in this game is amazing!! But that's the only real quality anyone playing this game would pursue, and it's not all that much of a big deal either. Maybe for the time, but getting through this game just for that... no.
Also I did enjoy some puzzles! But those cheap deaths and boring stages... ugh.
Replay value: 1/2
This game is a remake of an older game, and it's considered the perfect version. Ouch!!!
I was looking at the PC Engine version, In that, a few things seemed better, so if I could read japanese or figure out the menus, I would give that a chance.
But I am NEVER playing the Sega CD version again.
Overall: 6/10
Funny how things are!
I happen to love this other game called Alundra 2 a big lot, yet people give THAT one bad ratings instead. No, Alundra 1 did not affect that like it did for almost everyone else.
Thanks for reading, and sorry that I hate this much beloved game.
I've heard many good things about this game (like ratings of 9/10 and 10/10)
And really, by looking at it on screenshots or just the cover, it does look like it would be true.
Actually, maybe I had higher expectations and was mislead.
The cover of the game made me think that this would be a classic or something really magical like Lunar or Zelda Alttp.
Anyone else here who hated this game?
And yes it is 2014 now, but I normally play really old games so age hasn't affected my experience.
Here's my mini review:
Graphics: 2/2
The game has good graphics and stuff! It has everything needed to make a great game.
Music: 1/2
The music in this game doesn't stand out. They do sound good, but there's nothing memorable. AND it is insanely repetitive. If they aren't masterpieces anyway, at least have different songs for different stages! The final stages and ending theme were good at least!
Gameplay: 1/2
This is what ruined everything. The idea of a platformer action RPG would be my favorite, if you didn't die unexpectedly in 2 or 3 hits every time and having to load from last saved game.
Saving is ruined. Though you can save anywhere, you will be lucky to remember to save in time before dying and losing all the money you got since last saved.
Equipment upgrades weren't very good either. I could barely afford to upgrade the only character I used.
I heard that Working Designs made this game harder, but, even without that, almost all the stages feel long, confusing and boring. AND repetitive! Once you're in an area with like 3 or 5 stages, those stages all look the same. The only reason i'm still giving this a 1 is because it is still playable and because it is a genre I like.
But without exaggeration, I got around 180 Game Overs through out the whole game.
Enjoyment: 1/2
I'm not gonna lie, the dialogue in this game is amazing!! But that's the only real quality anyone playing this game would pursue, and it's not all that much of a big deal either. Maybe for the time, but getting through this game just for that... no.
Also I did enjoy some puzzles! But those cheap deaths and boring stages... ugh.
Replay value: 1/2
This game is a remake of an older game, and it's considered the perfect version. Ouch!!!
I was looking at the PC Engine version, In that, a few things seemed better, so if I could read japanese or figure out the menus, I would give that a chance.
But I am NEVER playing the Sega CD version again.
Overall: 6/10
Funny how things are!
I happen to love this other game called Alundra 2 a big lot, yet people give THAT one bad ratings instead. No, Alundra 1 did not affect that like it did for almost everyone else.
Thanks for reading, and sorry that I hate this much beloved game.