Previews!

[ProfessorMurder]

This one from Gamertell sounds really positive!

http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-preview-crimson-gem-saga-for-psp/

This one's from Gamervision.

http://www.gamervision.com/gamer/sarah/news/article/impressions_crimson_gem_saga

She's not sure whether she likes it or not, but she does point out that the dialogue = Awesome Sauce.

I haven't pulled out the old PSP since finishing Wild Arms XF and R-Type Command, so I'll probably pick up Crimson Gem and Hammerin' Hero if the previews stay positive...and my tax return comes in sometime soon...

[reason1313]

I got this pre-ordered on amazon and am playing Mana Khemia until it comes in. PSP at work= Win!!!

Nice to see good vibes coming from previewers considering what was being said about the original version of the game.........

[Birdpoopman]

Sounds awesome, as expected. :D

[johnahlberg]

It is awesome. I have the Asia region version and am waiting for the US release to come out so I can get it in all it's fine tuned glory. It's a wonderfully fun game.

[Macstorm]

http://www.rpgamer.com/games/astonishia/astonishia2/astonishia2imp.html

[Manly Biceps]

I've got a couple of things to point out about your preview, Mac.

"One frustration was that the game requires a large number of skill points to even see what the hidden skill is going to be and then even more to gain access to that skill."

I understand the confusion and frustration there, as it seems a bit counter-intuitive, but the thing this system allows you to do is now to skip over one skill without paying for it, and then unlocking the next skill in the tree.

So, say you don't want to pick up Immolate, but having the area effect of Blaze would be useful, just pay the unlock cost, and then buy Blaze.

Also, I'd just like to point out that the Asian version of the game was tongue-in-cheek, too, we didn't just decide we were going to yuk it up just because that's how we roll. It was meant to be funny, but the quirky translation made it hard to figure out if it was intentional or not.

Thanks for getting the preview up, quick! I totally appreciate timely coverage! :)

[Macstorm]

Well that's good, it just hit me as a pain at the start because I was limited on points and wasn't unlocking anything new. I can see that being a plus later on.

Glad to get the coverage up, anything to get my card holder to me...er, anything to help. ;)

[ShadowYuri]

Thanks for the preview, I think I could like this game ; hopefully it'll stay fun from start to finish. :)

[Manly Biceps]

More previewage!

Gamer 2.0 (http://www.gamer20.com/gamehub/crimson-gem-saga-psp/previews/1154): "Our first impressions of Crimson Gem Saga are very good so far since we were not expecting a traditional turn-based RPG to really keep us hooked to keep playing it this early on in the game. It may not be the most original and unique RPG we’ve ever played, but the simple mechanics and interesting story have done a nice job in surprising us so far. We are definitely looking forward to continuing from where we left for the review, which will be ready in time for its release on May 26."

And then our Canadian gaming comrades to the North are all like, "Psh, why don't you let some freaking Canadian sites preview your game sometime? Or do your preview builds not convert over to metric?" Well they DO convert over to Metric! Straight outta Toronto!

Toronto Thumbs (http://www.torontothumbs.com/2009/05/07/first-impressions-crimson-gem-saga/#more-2060): "About half-way through the Spire [semi-spoilery stuff happens. The preview will actually detail the plot at that point.] And that’s approximately the same point at which the myriad of details the game was offering against a fairly familiar backdrop really won my affection. My early experience with the narrative has turned up some interesting religious overtones that might prove unique, and as with so many of the titles Atlus has brought from overseas there’s a continually light-hearted humour at work. But the little visual details are where the game really takes shape on the PSP screen.

That's right. Mad love from USA and Canada.

You know you're going to want a nice, solid RPG to play while you try and forget that you don't have enough money to take a real vacation this summer, right?

Trust me. You will.

I broke my leg one summer, and had to stay indoors all day for all of my summer vacation. If I didn't have video games to play, I'd probably have gone insane.

[Manly Biceps]

More previews:

RPGFan (http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/Crimson_Gem_Saga/index.html) has some nice things all around to say.

SiliconEra (http://www.siliconera.com/2009/05/19/crimson-gem-saga-search-for-the-wicked-stones/) goes WAY in-depth with the combat, and shows that we weren't lying about the English version not being as cheap with the ambushes as the Korean version.