Surprinsingly good adventure on PS2 this week.

[skalmanxl]

Today I recieved a copy to review of Capcoms newest adventure game for the PS2, Glass Rose. It's a traditional point and click adventure like we are used to see on the PC, but only on PS2 instead.

It's got a famous japanese singer/boyband/something something in the lead role, but he is about as famous as a fistful of gravel in the west. He travels back in time in some mystery way and ends up in 1929 in a famous japanese mansion, just in time to live through a series of murders. Thing is, the people in the mansion all thinks that our hero is the bastard son of the recently deceased father in the family. So, our gets to unravel the mysteries to whats going on in the mansion.

Point and click games don't work well on the PS2, but just plug in your USB mouse in it, and you got yourself a regular PC point and click, on the bigger screen. The structure is very linear though, where certain things happens in certain timeperiods, and you have to be there to trigger the next thing. It's kinda like Colonels Bequest with all the evesdropping and spying, and questioning characters about every single detail you can think of.

Conversations are actually done by highlighting certain phrases in the other characters sentences, to get more information out of them. Sometime you get what you need, sometimes you miss out due to "asking" the wrong thing.

A real good old skool adventure game on the PS2, certainly the biggest surprise I've had this year. Initially it felt a bit bad, but I ended up doing almost four hours in one single stint. Try it out will you, rent it, abuse the return policy of GAME, or what have you. But try it out, we don't get enough games like this, and it will sell about five copies anyway.

For those interested, I only found the japanese site for it, but it's out tomorrow (thursday) in Europe, but there doesn't seem to be a release for the US planned. http://www.capcom.co.jp/gnb/

For interested europeans, Game have it for 20 quid: http://shop.game.net/ViewProduct.aspx?cat=10248&mid=323189 . At that price you CAN do a gamble...

Enjoy.

[Garyos]

Wow. Sounds amazing. :o

I haven't bought a new PS2 game for a while now... But I have a nagging suspicion that the ol' machine has gone kinda wonky anyway.... :(

[WontonGoodsoup]

I will surely check this out. I would much rather play AGs on a console because consoles are just so much more...well...comfortable and compatible. Thanks for the info skalmanxl.

[Crescent Moon]

I remember hearing about this game a while back, before it was released in Japan. Sucks that it won't be released in the US. >_>

[Huz]

Today I recieved a copy to review of Capcoms newest adventure game for the PS2, Glass Rose. It's a traditional point and click adventure like we are used to see on the PC, but only on PS2 instead.
Oh ho, I read about Glass Rose yesterday - I meant to see what the AG crowd thought of it, but you've beaten me to it. GameCentral (the teletext-based magazine I read about it on) describes it thus:

A kooky, random point 'n' click adventure game. With a joypad! For intrepid weirdoes only.

Sounds like my sort of thing! Shame I don't have a PS2, because Play.com have it even cheaper (http://www.play.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=PS2&title=149014) (£18).

It's an eternal mystery why Sony Europe releases mad stuff like this but Sony of America or whatever they're called is unwilling even to take a chance on Broken Sword 3. Something to do with current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, no doubt.

[Sonny-Bonds]

Might have to try it out.
Especially as its fairly cheap.

[feisar]

Ive made topics on glass rose before (throughout its development) it does look like an excellent game.. i sooo cant wait until it comes out (tomorrow in the UK).

Apparently the game has had no pre-release hype, marketing or anything at all because it wasnt going to be released yet, but they've had to take the game straight from Japanese to PAL because SCEA have refused the game in the US.

The same happened with gregory horror show :/ Capcom Eurosoft have a habit of just chucking games on shelves and not caring about creating any hype or marketing around them.. they've done the same with maximo 2 and gotcha force already this year.

Anyway Capcom have very quickly become one of the biggest supporters of the adventure genre and are the only major publisher at the moment to invest in brand new high budget adventure game titles (glass rose, gregory horror show, everblue 1+2 and the hybrid clock tower 3). Shame the adventure gaming community hasnt noticed :S

[WontonGoodsoup]

I don't get all this. The ps2 has hundreds of games that are pure garbage that wouldn't sell even if you paid people to buy them. But they won't put out this game just because it's an AG?? That's the most stupid thing i've ever heard.

[mag]

Given my love of adventure games, and given how few adventure games actually come out for the PS2, I just can't believe I didn't hear about this sooner. I must be losing my touch. I guess I'll have to go check it out now.

mag

[Crescent Moon]

I don't get all this. The ps2 has hundreds of games that are pure garbage that wouldn't sell even if you paid people to buy them. But they won't put out this game just because it's an AG?? That's the most stupid thing i've ever heard.


Seems to be that way sadly. :frusty: I don't quite understand SCEA's method of choosing adventure games to be released for US PS2's. Clock Tower 3, Shadow of Destiny, and (later this year) Nebula: Echo Nights all get releases, but others like Syberia and Glass Rose don't, despite ALL of them (actually, I haven't played Nebula or Glass Rose, but they're apparently quite good) being quality games.

[hagstrumpa]

Skalmanxl!
I am so happy to hear that! I had totally forgotten about Glass Rose. I have to run to the store and pick it up.
It is great that they are releasing traditional adventure titles for the PS2. But I agree on the control part. I tried to play Discworld on the PS2, but screenpainting is not that easy with a game pad. :crazy:
Do you know where one can buy a USB-mouse? (pref. in Sweden)

[feisar]

Its not just adventure games suffering. SCEA are blocking anything with 2D elements, probably because some random focus group says they are outdated.. also they are market leader by a large stretch and have too many games comming out so they are in the position where they can afford to dump the niche ones and not care.

So far SCEA have blocked the releases of Broken Sword 3, R-Type Final, Gregory Horror Show, Killer 7, Crimson Tears, Hyper Street Fighter 2, WRC2: Extreme, WRC3, Wipeout Fusion, Glass Rose and those are just the ones i can think of off the top of my head :S

[WontonGoodsoup]

So far SCEA have blocked the releases of Broken Sword 3, R-Type Final, Gregory Horror Show, Killer 7, Crimson Tears, Hyper Street Fighter 2, WRC2: Extreme, WRC3, Wipeout Fusion, Glass Rose and those are just the ones i can think of off the top of my head :S

Sounds communist to me.

[skalmanxl]

Skalmanxl!
I am so happy to hear that! I had totally forgotten about Glass Rose. I have to run to the store and pick it up.
It is great that they are releasing traditional adventure titles for the PS2. But I agree on the control part. I tried to play Discworld on the PS2, but screenpainting is not that easy with a game pad. :crazy:
Do you know where one can buy a USB-mouse? (pref. in Sweden)

I recomend that you get it from EBGames/Tradition (where I actually work) or GAME, where you can return your game after a week if you don't like it. In Sweden, it's actually full price, we charge 599:- for it at EBG/Trad.

A USB mouse can be found at most places, a regular PC mouse works just fine. Try places like Teknikmagasinet or Chlaes Olsson, who usually have cheap mice. Or, if you have a regular socket mouse just get an adapter which transform is to a USB mouse, should work.

So far SCEA have blocked the releases of Broken Sword 3, R-Type Final, Gregory Horror Show, Killer 7, Crimson Tears, Hyper Street Fighter 2, WRC2: Extreme, WRC3, Wipeout Fusion, Glass Rose and those are just the ones i can think of off the top of my head :S

Umm...R-Type is released over there, you can get it dirt cheap thanks to the "fresh games" label. I think Eidos has it. And...you sure Wipeout Fusion didn't get a release, quite some time after PAL-land?

[feisar]

whats glass rose like? is the plot good? how are loading times?? graphics etc..??

btw

sorry i got r-type mixed up with psyvariar :S which is another classic japanese 2D shoot em up that came out around the same time.. its equally ace and was released in europe by empire but not in the USA because its 2Dness

( http://www.xplosiv.net/products/product.asp?psj=278 )

[skalmanxl]

whats glass rose like? is the plot good? how are loading times?? graphics etc..??


I like it, I've only had one sitting with it, and put almost four hours into it according to the savegame clock. Graphics are pre-rendered backdrops with characters that doesn't really blend in. Backdrops do look nice, but to be honest, it does look dated. Syberia actually looked a lot better in that department. But the atmosphere is quite good, and the music fits in nicely with the 20's theme of the game.

Very little loading, thanks for that, and cinematics looks extremely good. Capcom has a strong tradition of having nice pre-rendered cut-scenes in their games, and in Glass Rose it looks amazing. Voice acting are a bit off, but that's not uncommon. Since everyone has japanese looks and names, it would benefit from a switch between the languages. But it's nowhere near the travesty of voice acting in Forbidden Siren.

I'm still in chapter one, so I can't say much about the story. But more and more unfolds as you talk/spy/pry into people's business. As I said before, it feels a lot like Colonels Bequest, one of my favs of all time. I'll play it some more this weekend, only problem is that I've gotten new games from the magazine, when I also bought a bunch the other day. Oh well, more on Glass Rose later on. This far, it feels like a 7/8 out of 10.

[EagleFlyFree]

Does anyone know where to find a walkthrough for this game? I have searched the net with no success.

[skalmanxl]

Where are you stuck? Maybe I can help you. Tell me what time it is in the game and maybe I got some clues for you. Due to time constrains and the fact that I got stuck, I haven't played THAT much more...but still. Maybe I got help.

Do you enjoy the game so far? You can either email me or send a private message so we don't ruin the game for everyone else.

[pleto4_ryan]

no pc version? ;(

[EagleFlyFree]

Where are you stuck? Maybe I can help you.

Do you enjoy the game so far?

Actually, I haven't even seen the game myself. An (impatient ;)) friend of mine plays it and asked me if I could find som help on the internet. When I spoke to him today he had almost finished the game on his own. But thanks for offering your help. My friend seems to enjoy Glass Rose, though not as much as Broken Sword 3 or Syberia.

[rowie4life]

It's £16.98 at amazon.co.uk inc. P&P but if you spend £25 or more you get free delivery.
So i'm gonna wait till runaway comes out and buy them both

Glass Rose Out Now (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001777FI/ref=sr_aps_videogames_1_1/202-9526475-4626264) and Runaway Out 28/05/2004 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000087JRP/qid%3D1081301947/202-9526475-4626264)

Total Price £37.48

Rowie.

P.S. Amazon.co.uk has only got 2 copys of Glass Rose left.

[Miffy]

Where are you stuck? Maybe I can help you. Tell me what time it is in the game and maybe I got some clues for you. Due to time constrains and the fact that I got stuck, I haven't played THAT much more...but still. Maybe I got help.

Do you enjoy the game so far? You can either email me or send a private message so we don't ruin the game for everyone else.


Can you help me? It is 7pm on the first day I helped the boy do the tangram and then met his father. I know I must try and get the basement key from the houskeeper, but I can't find her or anyone else. I can now go into the servants quarters which wasn't possible before but can't find anything of interest. I'm stuck! Any hints? Thanks......

[Scoville]

So far SCEA have blocked the releases of Broken Sword 3, R-Type Final, Gregory Horror Show, Killer 7, Crimson Tears, Hyper Street Fighter 2, WRC2: Extreme, WRC3, Wipeout Fusion, Glass Rose and those are just the ones i can think of off the top of my head :S

Killer 7 isn't coming out because Capcom and Nintendo made it Gamecube exclusive in the states, not due to SCEA. Hyper Street Fighter II is coming out as a bundle with SFIII:3rd Strike (it was just announced), Wipeout Fusion was released a long time ago, and Crimson Tears was also just announced for the US.

[Sonny-Bonds]

I just won myself a copy of it on ebay for £9.50 posted,
so I'll be playing it soon hopefully.