Ogre Battle 64

THE BAD:
The graphics aren't very good for a '99 game, but that doesn't matter. This kind of game doesn't need shining graphics to show it's beauty.

SUMMARY:
This game's storyline is AWESOME, with unique characters, relationships, and plotwists. The graphics aren't very good for a '99 game, but that doesn't matter. This kind of game doesn't need shining graphics to show it's beauty. The strategy, planning, and intimate storyline make this a overall favorate. A must BUY!

The only reason I made this a 4.9 is because of the graphics, that's all.

You follow the rise to greatness of Magnus Gallant, who will go from frech academy recruit, to Battalion General, and one of the main leaders of an army. Decisions you make effect the future, what characters you'll get, what you won't, and how your battalion is designed. Very few units, all extremely powerful is one option, another is many units all equal in strength, or many units placed in legions that march across the plains in long lines of intimidating power.

THE BAD:
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SUMMARY:
Alright here we go. Get ready to kiss 500 hours of your life goodbye - any Strategy/RPG fan out there should sell his soul to get this game. Ogre Battle 64 offers more in a minute than most games do in a lifetime.

Graphics
The graphics aren't great, I'm not going to lie, but that is expected from a console Strategy/RPG. The characters are pretty detailed, barring the face. The facial expressions really are not there, but in no way does this take away from the experience. The battle effects are sweet, and many of the spell effects are sick. The background is detailed in battle and during cutscenes, however, while your units walk from town to town, the world does not look too pretty. This matters not, however, as you'll soon grow to love these graphics.

Sound
Some of the best tunes I've heard. When things get heated you'll know, and when things are happy you'll know. There are several different scores throughout the game, and each has its own great appeal. Some of them are so good you'll find yourself humming them in the shower.

Story
One of the best I've ever seen. The land is Palatinus. The Palatinean kingdom is split up into 4 divisions: the royal Central Division, the poor Southern Division, the Eastern Division (inhabited by the Church of the Goddess Berthe), and the Western Division. The Palatinean King, Procus, is a weak-minded fool, who surrendered to the Holy Lodis Empire long ago. Lodis now exercises complete control over Palatinus, leaving Procus, and his son Prince Amrius, only with their autonomy.

Amidst the confusion spread by the Lodisan control over Palatinus, a revolution is spurred. At the head of the revolution is Frederick Raskin, an aged knight, and an idealist. His following is few, but gathering nonethelss. He also has the support of the Zenobian Empire, who has recently defeated the Zetiginean Empire. The hero from the revolution against Zetiginea, Destin the Valiant, along with Gilbert, former commander of the Zenobian Beast Division, Debonair of the Wind, and Saradin the Warlock (the four Devas of Zenobia), fight alongside Raskin in his struggle against the Palatinean crown.

You are Magnus Gallant, son of a general Ankiseth, commander of the Western Division, and former commander of the Central Division. At a young age you leave for the military academy, and upon completion and graduation from the academy you enlist in the Southern Division. No one is quite sure why you chose to head off for the poorer, weaker Southern Division, but nonetheless you fight against the revolution for the kingdom of Palatinus.

The events that rise out of the revolution cause a change in Magnus, and from this change forms a chain reaction of events, that eventually causes much more than just a kingdom struggle - instead it's a struggle to save the world.

Epic the story is, and it will have you debating and considering for months to come. It fits in perfectly with the rest of the Ogre Battle series, and leaves you dying to buy the next installment.

Gameplay
This is where the game shines. If the score of this game is a 5.0/5.0, then the gameplay is a 52.73. Your army is made up of at most 95 characters, ranging from all sorts of classes. Basically, all your men (and women) will start off as puny soldiers, and they will rise through the ranks of basic classes, advanced classes, and finally on to master classes. Your army will be made up of units, all consisting with at most 5 characters (barring those with monsters, as monsters take the spot of 2 characters). You can only dispatch 10 units at a time, which is somewhat of a bummer, but it makes you pick only the best of the best from your select army.

There are several classes to choose from (more than 20) for both males and females. Males and females both have completely different classes, and thus you will need an even balance of both. Each class specializes in its own weapon and type of armor, and each has advantages over the other. Also, you will gain access to special classes for your soldiers, and because other characters will join you throughout the game. All in all, (including monsters, dragons, demi-humans, et al) there are over 60 different classes found with Ogre Battle 64.

Replay Value
You can play this game for 250 hours and still not be anywhere near bored. There are, in total, 10 different paths you can take for the game, and this isn't including the fact that you can, and probably will, change your unit configuration every single time you play. Also, there are so many items to be found during battles, until you've played the game through 2 or 3 times, you won't have even seen everything yet. I have played this game for 500 hours and I can still pop it in whenever and pick up a game.

Final Note
Get this game, and get it quickly. I don't care if you have to buy a Nintendo 64 and this game costs $200 on Ebay, just buy it you will not regret it. And once you buy it, hold on tight and never let go. Just plug in the N64, pop this game in, grab a bucket and a lot of food, and you're set for a week or so.

--DK

THE BAD:
Music, lack of 3D annimation, storyline, maps.

SUMMARY:
Just as the title says. You control a battalion and can make your warriors more powerful by gaining experience and changing classes into more powerful guys. The strategy is very challenging, and watching your units fight is cool. The attacks have wonderful detail. You can create units yourself and equip them with different things that you find/buy. The music gets REALLY annoying and repetitive in the beginning, but it gets a little better as you progress through the game. You are given choices throughout the game, which determine which people you start out with, and how the story will turnout. You'll notice that storyline is under good and bad. I thought that it was boring and it took too long to sit through in between missions. I wish there was a way for me to zoom through it. But if you like that kind of stuff, then you will enjoy the storyline very much. I was expecting much more 3D annimation, being a N64 game, so I was a little disappointed. The maps I felt were just so-so. They could be so much better. I rented it, and got addicted and bought it at Funcoland for like $45. Worth every penny. It'll keep you busy this summer.

THE BAD:
The graphic's need a little work but the storyline more than makes up for it.

SUMMARY:
Ogre Battle is a non-turn based RPG N64 videogame. It retails in stores for about $50 but you can't find it anymore. You will have better luck looking for a deal online. In my experience w/ Ogre Battle I have gotten three different endings and many different choices to get to those conclusions.
With a variety of characters to choose from you can customize your army to your own specification's. Some of the charecter's include Paladin's and Dark Knights. There is also a variety of different weapons and items to choose from that have good as well as bad effects on yourself as well as the enemy.
All in all I say that this game is great for experienced RPG player's as well as beginners. The storyline is great and you will never get bored with this game.

THE BAD:
Bad? Not in this game!

SUMMARY:
This game has a storyline that I actually read! With me, that is unheard of. In most games, I pray for a skip feature such as in Front Mission 3. However, this is not the case. The graphics are perfect for this game, although they are not the most impressive things, they definitely get the job done. The job system is awesome. After you get used to getting through all the menus, they will be navigated with ease.

With multiple scenarios and a crapload of customizable character options, this game will have you busy for months! My advice to you: if you like rpg's or strategy at all, BUY THIS GAME!

THE BAD:
Low detailed maps

SUMMARY:
This game is phenomenal! It totally lives up the original ogre battle and then some. The storyline is great, the cutscenes are portrayed very well, with intelligent absorbing script. The fighting and unit upgrading is very similar to the first ogrebattle. improvments include item requirements as well as statisticle requirments. Instead of your units only heading straight to your destination (which is one option), you can also command your units to chase any opposing units they come across or avoid them. All in all i am thouroughly enjoying it and find as good if not better than the original