Eternal Poison Review and Impression Thread

[RayFoxSith]

Just making one early. Post either press reviews or your own impressions of the game.

[Numerrik]

November 4, 2008 - PlayStation 2 owners are undoubtedly quite familiar with publisher Atlus, which has put out quite a few games (and still does) for Sony's last-gen console. Although Eternal Poison hasn't garnered as much attention as a title like Persona 4, this strategy RPG could still be tempting for RPG enthusiasts as it approaches its retail release next week. In light of this, I spent a few hours with Eternal Poison to find out what gamers can expect when they boot it up. The results were actually quite confusing.

Eternal Poison aims to be a dark fantasy title that follows several adventurers' journeys to seek out the -- go figure -- "Eternal Poison." The prologue cutscene of the game introduces the mysterious witch Thage and her horned canine companion Raki. As they walk calmly through a forest environment, they stumble upon a group of demons called Majin that are about to attack a defenseless young woman. Thage and Raki intervene and the game's first battle begins.

During battle, Eternal Poison presents a traditional grid-based field where you view the action from an isometric perspective. Several Majin are present and your very first task is to defeat them and -- presumably -- rescue the aforementioned damsel in distress. Thage and Raki walk you through the basics of battle, but a lot of material is completely untapped, including some of the more advanced statistics that can be seen from the character profile pages. Regardless, battles are turn-based and you can move your character when his or her turn comes up and then you can have them perform one action.

At the start of the battle, I moved Thage forward and engaged a Majin. If you perform an attack or special skill, the scene switches to a battle animation that takes an annoyingly long time to load -- very unfortunate indeed. Luckily, you can opt to turn off the battle animations to speed up the experience, but I would have preferred if the scripted scenes had just come up a tad bit faster.

Once you whittle an enemy Majin down enough, you can force it past its Overkill threshold and place it into a bound state. Once bound, you can spend another turn and capture the creature, adding it to your collection for future use. Although I didn't have enough time to properly experiment with these features (even though they're sure to play a tremendous role later on), you'll be able to summon captured Majin into battle to fight on your side or sacrifice them to power up your characters. Poor Majin... always gettin' sacrificed.

I also learned that when you have one of your characters wait out their turn instead of attacking, the leader character can order them to attack during his or her turn. For example, command Raki to hang back and save up an attack and then when Thage's turn rolls around, Raki can spring into action. Neat stuff.

After the tutorial battle is wrapped up, you're oddly taken back to the main menu where you begin the game proper. A cutscene plays to explain the context of these misadventures -- a context that includes the kingdom of Valdia being threatened by the demon realm Besek, which suddenly popped into existence not long ago. Seems like Valdia's princess has been captured and heroes from across the land are being recruited to rescue her. Could the princess be that defenseless girl we saw at the game's beginning? All signs point to "yes."

It's here that you're allowed to select one of three branching stories. Each story gives you access to a different group of characters, including one group that continues to follow Thage and Raki. I, however, opted to pick up the tale of Ashley, Glynne and Reyna, who are heading into the demon realm Besek for their own reasons.

Of course a battle ensues to introduce the three new heroes, but nothing new in terms of gameplay is brought into the picture here. Honestly, I have several problems with Eternal Poison after my initial impressions have settled. Even though I've tried to explain the story here, very little information is given to you when you start this game up; that's extremely sloppy. Narratives aren't properly structured and details seem to be all over the place. Eternal Poison just doesn't have a well-told story so far.
Furthermore, the entire package feels cheap, with little production value to speak of. Because my time with Eternal Poison was limited, I might have not had the proper "warming up period" for it, but so far things feel uninspired and uninteresting. We'll just have to see if the experience picks up down the line.

I will give my nitpicks on this:

1. Not everything is covered in the speed tutorial? Read the damn manual! Final Fantasy Tactics didn't teach you everything from the get go either!
2. Was the intro fight timed? IT should have given you all the time you needed to capture a Majin and play around with it. I smell someone who wants this game to fail.
3. Yes some of the loading times may be a bit longer than people have gotten used to. but it's NOTHING like it was a few years back. We've come a long way. I for one can deal with that, plus you CAN turn animations off, which gives you away around the issue.
4. They didn't give new game play? no matter if you chose mages, rangers or paladins, fights 1, 2, and 3 will all be the same.
5. There are some games which leave you in the dark on information. Sure, it's not standard in SRPGs but it's not unheard of in games.


My final thoughts: This game probably won't be winning any game of the year awards, granted, it's seems like this reviewer was trying to play down the game, as if he disliked SRPGs. As someone who's most recent game purchase was in September (Diablo 2. and before that, Persona 3 FES in April) I think this game will be just fine for me, as my only other SRPG is FFT I think this will be a welcome addition to my video game collection.

[DamnedToBeFree]

It was a preview, not a review.

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/927/927026p1.html

[bullman422]

You should keep in mind that this is just a preview not an actual review of the game as you put in your subject. Also on your nitpick #3, he did mention in his article that you could turn off the animation to make it go faster. Unfortunately though there are some who will treat this preview as a review and pass on it, but I think others who are SRPG fans will give it a chance or at least wait until the real frigging review is posted.

[RayFoxSith]

Not to mention I made a review thread right here. (http://atlus.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2329)

[Kakizaki]

Merged threads. The EP section is pretty small. There isn't much of an excuse for missing an already existing review thread.

[dragonlife29]

I love what I've played so far (2 hours). Meh...I was gonna type a nice little paragraph, but I'm tired, so I'll just say I love the "Overkill" voice XD I like to shout along, trying to mimic the voice...>_>

[TheMagicHat]

I've played for a few hours so far. Just got to Isapolis for the first time on Thage's route. It's a lot of fun and really makes you think. Especially if you want to Overkill everything for capturing instead of just killing.

I just love Thage so far. It's so rare that you have a female protagonist that badass.

[Kid Marin]

http://www.1up.com/images/game/ratings/reviewratings/1up_B-.gif

http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3171286&p=2

[dragonlife29]

Wow; It's been a while since a game has made me not want to go to sleep, and this game is doing just that! Gah...so much fun...!

This game is awesome! I believe I just finished the first strata, if the manual's anything to go by; I beat some loud-mouthed Majin with two blades (his 2D animation was hilarious--WTF!) and was totally pleased that I Overkilled him alone with Thage, who, by the way, is all kinds of win in personality and usefulness! She's a beast! I opted for the Flameweaver class on that battle; good thing I did because the Pyro spell I got with it was powerful enough that I didn't need to combo him :D

Oh, I totally used the Bleed tactic on him that you guys showed us in this very forum! :D Very, very useful, so thanks! I probably would have never used it if it weren't for you guys, since I usually tend to ignore status-inducing stuff :P

I stopped immediately when getting back to Isapolis after the battle...kinda; I had to talk to everyone to feel a little sane >.< After that I saved and was excited to see what the boss Majin would net me in Cammelia (Mwahahaha).

I was kinda ignorant as to what I should opt for in the beginning, but as I progressed, I figured that since I don't use captured Majin, I may as well go with Skills, which is what I did with the boss.

Okay, okay! Short story time! (And a question)

This game made me feel so stupid! XD I was like, "Hey! Where the #### did Raki's Aero 1 go:confused:!?" I thought it got replaced with his Bleed stuff for some stupid reason, but it wasn't until the last battle that I accidentally pressed right on the d-pad while in his attack window, switching to his magic...:lol: I never even noticed the little vials! On the fight before the boss, I was stunned when I hit the square button on the deployment screen and, lo and behold, the Majin I had equipped and ignored came up to be selected! I was like, "Oh...!" (Though, I did want to summon them before, just to see...look up at Raki's story and guess why I didn't know how to summon them...>_>).

Anyway, the question: How come my Thage nullifies magic? I can't even heal her, for Pete's sake! On her status window it says she has "Nullify" or something like that, but I have no idea where it came from O_o I unequipped my accessories, but that wasn't it...and I didn't see any stuff on my weapons o_O Ugh...it's like equipping Ashe from FFXII with that trinket that reduces MP to zero and killing myself over why I could not figure out what was wrong! XD

One more: When buying equipment, I sometimes see the ailment pictures: does that mean I'll have a chance of inflicting an enemy with that, or I'll be affected? I'll have to look again at Thage's weapons again...I do miss some things, after all >_>

The game had me at the title screen, by the way--the track was absolutely beautiful...:) It almost made me forget I didn't get my art book...but then I remembered :very_sad:Not just that, but that I can't even play my soundtrack on my computer--where it matters most--because of a jammed CD/DVD drive! :very_sad:I needz mah tracks on mah iPod!

Anyway, thanks once again, Atlus :D Love +1, Sleep -1.

"Overkill!"

[dragonlife29]

This game impresses me more and more! I just started again, making the big decision of either selling my captured Majin, or changing them to skills--I sold 'em after getting one skill from each, and I found out you actually unlock equipment to be bought at the store! Pretty awesome!

Customizing is also pretty damn impressive.

Anyway, how come Scamc--er, Namco Bandai--is mentioned for this game? How were they involved?

[Azriel Crusnik]

This game is......awesome.

[jj984jj]

Anyway, how come Scamc--er, Namco Bandai--is mentioned for this game? How were they involved?

Bandai owns Banpresto who published the game in Japan, every game that comes out in the west from them now has a Bandai-Namco logo on it.

[edige23]

Very excited about the game-- love the design and the art book was an amazing promotional item for the pre-order. The art and game set-up make it different from many other SRPGs out there. Not being able to replay battles once you've cleared them makes the game much more challenging-- and changes the way one has to play. You have to go back and replay a level from square one to perfect your results.

Right now I'm trying to decide what's worth more-- taking the time to add Mercenaries to the party and leveling them up or focusing on the Majin. The former don't have the turn limitations, can capture and can get equipment while the latter have earlier access to some of the necessary magic skills. Still trying to work out and come up with a more optimal approach.

The only problem I've really seen is that about half the time I go into the Traviata House, the game locks up on my PS3. I haven't seen it occur elsewhere, but it is still early. I'm hoping that it is an incidental bug based on some combo of Majin I have and not something that keeps happening throughout the game, but I've had to reset at least half a dozen times so far.

Otherwise quite pleased with the game.

[RayFoxSith]

It's a simple SRPG, but I find myself a little addicted to it. The Majin system is pretty cool as well.

[Asellus]

I really like the character models! And the CGIs are great~! :D It's been awhile since I've seen such great graphics on the PS2. (Well, not since Persona 3!) Also, I find the battle system really fun. It was tough at first, since I'm not too big a fan of these strategy type games but after awhile it grows on ya! I like the majin capture system as well!

Oh, and you gotta love Thage! <3 The girl's got both looks and style.

[ShadowHearts]

Normally I tend to dislike most SRPG's, mainly cause I either don't have the patience or suck at them, however I find this game to be alot of fun. Im also loving the Capture system. Im just past the first boss and am gonna try to capture all the monsters first playthrough.

[Perkyenes]

How does the story unfold in this game? With still screens and alot of texts like R-Type Command? Or with cut scenes like Front mission 3?

Is the story kinda serious? Or is it comical/non-serious like Soul Nomad's story?

[Numerrik]

Normally I tend to dislike most SRPG's, mainly cause I either don't have the patience or suck at them, however I find this game to be alot of fun. Im also loving the Capture system. Im just past the first boss and am gonna try to capture all the monsters first playthrough.

good luck with that. starting in strata 2, monsters will destroy a bound majin so you can't capture it. It's annoying.

[SickleCellAnemia]

And the CGIs are great
I agree with you here. I only just started the game, but I'm liking what I've played so far.

Annnd since the game is out, shouldn't this be moved out of the Coming Soon part of the forum?

[Olethros]

Haven't had a chance to play the game yet, but the Art book is very well done.

Also, "Thage against the majin"? You Atlus guys are too clever for your own good sometimes. As lame as that is, I still got a good chuckle from it. ;)

[Kid Marin]

http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/Eternal_Poison/index.html

[Shullen]

While I will admit this game does have a nicely done intro and cut scene cinematics, that is all it really seems to have that stands out...Two other fairly new releases by Atlus on the PS2 are better: Dokapon Kingdom and P3: FES. I would recommend either over Eternal Poison...Also, if you are looking for a grid-based strategy game with a strong story, nice cast of characters, and good customization check out Final Fantasy Tactics if you have not done so (& yes I am aware it is "old" :razz:)as it is still the king of such games in my book. 8-) Sorry Atlus...:-|

[Futomimi]

^^ jkhjafdjklajlkdajlkjdafiueoiruoieakflkajflkdjafoiu eknalkjfdahgljhl

[Sei]

Compliments on the beautiful emerald hue, and the eye catching font Shullen!. It makes what you say much more readable, interesting, and pleasant to the eyes!.

[Olethros]

^ My sarcasm detector must be off today, 'cause I swear that actually sounded sincere Sei. :confused:

[Sei]

^ It was!.

I think a strong case can be made for the beauty and uniqueness of personalized font and color. Whatcha think? :)

[LadyRayna]

I just went blind.

[bullman422]

I got back from a trip to Key West yesterday and found my copy of EP waiting for me when I got home. So far so good. I decided to do Ashley's quest first and it is interesting. I love the whole bind/overkill feature and I have managed to capture most of the Majin on the battlefield. I'm still not sure how to best use Majin though. I'm still trying figure out if it is better to keep them for battle, sell them, or sacrifice them for skills? I hope I make the right choices tonight since I hear that later rounds can get very challenging and there is no way to backtrack and replay previous levels.

[Olethros]

I just went blind.

^This is exactly what I think.

Being a unique individual is wonderful, but using gimmicky things like that to stand out is just a plea for attention.