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One of the initial releases for the
Sony PlayStation,
King's Field, published by
ASCII Entertainment and developed by
From Software, was a truly next-gen game for its time. This game was the first
FP RPG, set in a massive environment where you alone dictate the game's action and events. The primary antagonist (Alexander/you) is left completely free to choose their own path to discover the vast island you are shipwrecked upon. This may seem somewhat daunting to gamers who prefer a more linear approach to their gaming experience.
This lengthy adventure pits our hero in search of the Moonlight Sword, which is required to save his home kingdom of Verdite. You are left on your own to recover this great artifact, given no direction at all. Your adventure thus begins.
Armed with your trusty sword, you venture into this unknown world in your quest. Many upgraded swords, weapons, armor, and magic are at your disposal - but first you must find them. Some are rather obvious, but most are hidden behind secret walls and openings you must first uncover. This is a great part of the
King's Field experience - you never know what you will find and must be very explorative as you progress through the various parts of this island.
The FP game play rate hovers around 15-30 FPS, depending upon the amount of activity at any given time. The World is seamless and huge - there are no loading times between various sections of the island, which is detailed in full polygonal graphics with dark, almost gritty texture mapping. The feel of this island is almost surreal and is completely grim, which adds significantly to the overall appeal of this adventure.
[img width=200 align=right]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/games/U-061/ss/U-061-S-05780-A.jpg[/img]The background music is appropriate for the varied environments that you traverse. However, the sound samplings for the creatures and actions are perfect. Though rather unspectacular on their own, the sound of a monster cackling around the corner or your sword striking a deserving foe are top-notch and performed at just the right time, and volume, to further enhance your experience.
King's Field is a difficult game. Your progress through the various sections is impeded by the level of the fiends that you encounter, right from the beginning of this saga. Enemy AI is not that great, but at times this is compensated for by the sheer numbers that you will encounter.
The control is excellent, using the D-Pad to navigate/move/look at this richly detailed world. Executing attacks and other actions are intuitive and easy to perform. The minimal numbers of NPCs that you will encounter interact with you slightly, and are pretty much useless, though their ghostly, undefined faces are somewhat appropriate for this journey.
Overall,
King's Field is not for everyone. The graphics and sound are average, though collectively are entirely effective. The game play is rather slow and requires time to navigate the island. For those that are more akin to pure action-adventure type games, this will probably put you to sleep. On the other hand, if exploration and having the freedom to discover and create your own experience is your cup of tea, don't miss this hidden gem.
After a horrible weekend of hunting last week, I got some amazing deals this week. Before we left the house I wanted to go to sale that had video games listed in the ad but they didn't open for another hour so we went to some other ones first instead and I was just hoping the games would still be there.
The very first sale we stopped at had this:
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9742.jpg[/img]
It was marked $10, so I offered $5. He asked his wife who was thinking about it, and they agreed on $7 and I reluctantly agreed but they apparently didn't hear me and then said $5 was fine. The SNES and games are for sale, some of the manuals too.
We went to a few more sales and I didn't find anything at them, but by around 10:00 we stopped at the sale that advertised games, I saw some overpriced PS2, Xbox, and GameCube games and figured that was what was advertised, until I notice another box with the lid half closed "PC games $0.50 each, PS games $1 each" was written on it. I looked through them and there was nothing I really wanted so I offered $5 for everything, they too $10.
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9743.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9744.jpg[/img]
And since I don't collect PC games, they're all for sale if someone wants them.
Zoboomafoo (CIB)
NASCAR 2001 (CIB)
Disney's Dinosaur (CIB)
Formula 1 '98 (CIB)
dora the explorer: barnyard buddies (CIB)
jumpstart: wildlife safari field trip (game only)
rocket power: team rocket rescue (box only)
rayman brain games (CIB)
land before time: return to the great valley (CIB)
my disney kitchen (game, box)
Gex 3: dep cover gecko (CIB)
army men 3D Collector's edition (game, box)
land before time: great valley racing adventure (CIB)
disney's hercules (CIB)
mort the chicken (game, box)
destruction derby 2 (game only)
NASCAR 99 (CIB, plus an extra box)
007 Tomorrow never dies GH (manual, game)
Tigger's Honey Hunt (CIB)
Crash bandicoot (game only)
Some other small scores:
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9739.jpg[/img]
NFL Quarterback Club 99 is CIB and even smells new, the game is still in the plastic bag and there was a Controller Pak in the box as well (paid $1). Carrier is the first DC games I've bought in a LONG time, I almost didn't even recognize it as a game when I saw it (paid $0.50). The Mario figure was $0.25.
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9741.jpg[/img]
Paid $2 for everything. Anyone know if the PS2 remote is worth anything?
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9740.jpg[/img]
$2 each, would have been nice if it was FF7 instead of 8, but I'm sure I can sell it for a profit. Both those games are for sale.
And the best find of the day and probably the best find of the year, maybe even my best find ever. This sale had some electronics I was casually looking at but couldn't find anything I wanted, but as I was about to leave I notice a brown paper grocery bag on the ground with a piece of paper on it. The paper was folded over and all I could read was "Turbo" and "Gaming System". I couldn't think of what it could be so I looked inside the bag expecting an old Pong system, boy was I wrong. Inside was a thing of beauty: A TG16 with a bunch of games. I didn't even check to make sure it was all there or how many games there were. I took the bag to the woman selling it and offered her $10 for (it was marked $15). She accepted my offer.
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9745.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=524]http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j22/Mike_2_0_0_6/Game%20Collection/2008%20Scores/DSCN9746.jpg[/img]
alien crush (game, manual, jewel case)
blazing lazers (game, manual, jewel case)
blody wolf (game, manual, jewel case)
boxy boy (game, manual, jewel case)
bonk's revenge (game, manual, jewel case)
cadash (game, manual, jewel case)
devil's crush (game, manual, jewel case)
fantasy zone (game, manual, jewel case)
galaga 90 (game, manual, jewel case)
impossamole (game, manual, jewel case)
jack Nicklaus turbo golf (game, manual, jewel case)
JJ and Jeff (game, manual, jewel case)
keith courage in alpha zones (game, manual, jewel case)
legendary axe, the (game, manual, jewel case)
ninja spirit (game, manual, jewel case)
pac-land (game, manual, jewel case)
r-type (game, manual, jewel case)
sidearms (game, manual, jewel case)
silent debuggers (game, manual, jewel case)
sinistron (game, manual, jewel case)
splatterhouse (game, manual, jewel case)
super volleyball (game, manual, jewel case)
takin it to the hoop (game, manual, jewel case)
tricky kick (game, manual, jewel case)
tv sports football (game, jewel case)
veiguues tactical gladiators (game, manual, jewel case)
vigilante (game, manual, jewel case)
world class baseball (game, manual, jewel case)
final lap twin (game only)
parasol stars (game only)
cyber-core (game only)
dungeon explorer (game only)
In non-gaming finds, I got a really nice, big Jim Morrison/Doors poster for $1, I don't have any wall space big enough for it however.
Also got one of those backpacks that you put water in and it has the tube to drink from for $2, needs a good cleaning but a very good price regardless.
One sale had a REALLY nice Remington 870 Wingmaster for $300 that I would have bought in a heartbeat but it was only a 20 gauge instead of 12.