Secret of Evermore - Retro Playthrough - November 2015

[singlebanana]

I have guests coming into town tonight who will be around for a few days, so I decided to make another push last night with the game.  I am now through the 3rd checkpoint and hope to get back to finishing the game sometime this upcoming weekend.  If anyone gets stuck or has questions about the game, let me know.

[Disposed Hero]

I finished the Coliseum and did the marketplace thing (with minimal use of a guide).  I went to the Pyramid but got stuck, so I decided to go to the Hall of Collosia instead which is where I last saved.

I feel like the more I play this game, the more I like it.

[singlebanana]

I feel like the more I play this game, the more I like it.

I'm happy to hear this.  I've really enjoyed this game myself.  The combat took me a little while to get use to, but once I did, I haven't have many problems. I spammed Crush on "multiple" throughout those pyramids. Kind of cheap, but it allows you to keep moving without much damage or direct combat and it helps you level up the spell for tougher battles latter. I gotta admit, I spam it every boss fight.

It seems that money in this game is always plentiful and I haven't had any problems (except for the very beginning) purchasing equipment. Every time I am at an alchemy mat dealer, I just fill up on whatever I'm not maxed out in.  While it makes the game easier, limitless materials makes the game a little too easy and pretty much negates searching for mats  later in the game.

[Disposed Hero]

Just got both of the diamond eyes last night.

It seems like our play styles are drastically different.  Other than Heal, I really haven't been using alchemy at all.  I've found physical attacks to be more than sufficient for taking out enemies, even bosses.  It helps that my dog's level 3 charge attack is doing ~400 damage per hit.

I've also had an abundance of money in the game.  Cost of living is apparently cheaper in SoE, because I was always broke and needed to grind for money in SoM. 

[singlebanana]

It seems like our play styles are drastically different.  Other than Heal, I really haven't been using alchemy at all.  I've found physical attacks to be more than sufficient for taking out enemies, even bosses.  It helps that my dog's level 3 charge attack is doing ~400 damage per hit.

Yeah, my dog is hitting for 500-600+ right now. Talk about an OP companion.  I find that the more you crank up his attack rate, the less you really have to worry about in the game other than healing him. The various collars also raise his defense so much, that most of the damage he takes (except magic) is always -20 HP. Sometimes I have to lower his rate just to be able to level up my weapons.

Spamming alchemy pretty much puts the game into breeze mode, but I'm not going to complain about shorter fights and a quicker finish.

I've also had an abundance of money in the game.  Cost of living is apparently cheaper in SoE, because I was always broke and needed to grind for money in SoM. 

Wait.............. are you telling me that there is something in this game better than SoM?? Ha ha!

[singlebanana]

Pushed through to just past 1 AM last night and struggling heavily today, but here be the fruits.....the fruits mannnn, the fruits!

[img width=700 height=522]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/A53475A5-8789-48A7-A728-ABA65F8F2D5E_zpsregsupeh.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=522]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/3FCB43E6-5FE3-45AC-89C0-7C0C9AD0EAE3_zpsu1odrszg.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=522]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/A125CD8B-ED21-4CFA-B1AD-7C861CF763B4_zpsisllljs4.jpg[/img]

[JerryGreenwood]

^ That's amazing detail on that screenshot. Parking meters, fire hydrant, sale sign, gutter, street litter, sidewalk cracks, the windows even have different glare and items inside.

Was a lot of the game like this?

What did you guys think of the music and graphics?

I might have to get this game again.

[singlebanana]

Yes, I thought the entire game was very highly detailed. Maybe not always to the extent you see in the picture, but very close. As far as the music goes....well, let's save that for the podcast.

[singlebanana]

We are recording the Secret of Evermore podcast tonight. Is there anything that any of you would like us to discuss?  We will certainly talk about the music and graphics Jerry.

[JerryGreenwood]

Personally, I'm just interested to hear more about the game. I didn't give it a fair shake as a kid because it wasn't Secret of Mana 2. Also, it came out pretty late in the SNES time line and at that time I was probably way more into PlayStation.

I looked at it's Wiki page to see when it was released and I read the Reception part. I don't want it to influence your views, but here it is if you're interested.

Spoiler (hover to show)

Secret of Evermore received positive reviews from most media outlets. Most publications praised its graphics. For instance, RPGFan called the game a "wonderful visual experience," applauding its use of color, animation, and background.[8] Zachary Lewis of RPGamer noted that the locales found in Secret of Evermore were detailed in a much more realistic way than other games of the genre.[15] GamePro was complimentary of its American art-style, but longed for the Japanese art found in other Square titles.[44] Another highlight for many critics was gameplay, particularly aspects also found in Secret of Mana such as the ring menu.[6][8][39]

Reviewers were more critical concerning the game's sound. Although the musical score was appreciated for its overall quality, both RPGFan and RPGamer found that there were too few adequately long tracks, with mediocre ambient sound effects to fill the dead time.[8][15] Critics were mixed on the issue of Secret of Evermore being the first game developed by Square in the United States. Super Play found that the game was not up to the standards held by other Square games.[43] Others noted that Secret of Evermore was a decent first attempt by the American team. GamePro dubbed the game "worthy of a sequel," while Game Players anticipated another game from the same development team.