Zegapain XOR Demo on Japan Marketplace

[TrackZero]

Those of you with Japan Xbox Live! accounts set up (see instructions here (http://www.gamersreports.com/article/19)), you can grab this region free demo.

For anyone with no knowledge of Japanese, you shouldn't have much difficulty getting right into the gameplay.


PIC (http://i2.tinypic.com/205qnvl.jpg)

Official game site can be found here (http://www.zegapain-game.net).

The graphics are quite good. It took me a minute or two watching the intro to realize it was an ingame engine. Gameplay is very reminiscent of Zone of Enders 2.

[xDrZaiusx]

woah sweet

[SexualChoc]

It looks like a next gen ZOE. And I absolutely love ZOE. Shit, I am seriously considering getting a 360.

[Xerxes]

Bandai needs to shoot this over to america if they know what's good... Granted the gameplay is good of course.

[blackdragonxt]

ok, I have not bought a 360 cuz basically it sucks. There's probably like 1 MAYBE 2 games on the list right now that are mildly interesting.

What MS needs to do is get this game over HERE RIGHT NOW! (or after it releases in Japan)
THIS is the kind of stuff (gameplay) that will help sell the 360. Because we're not getting any of the good quality games till much later: Gears of War, Lost Planet, etc. (personally everything on the 360 right now sucks...just look at some of the ratings the games have gotten)


If this game came out, I would defeintely buy a 360. Right now, my hopes are for teh PS3 to have a strong launch lineup. I've seen at least 4-5 titles on the "supposed " launch lineup for the PS3 that would make me buy one on launch day. That was not the case for me for the 360.

Just my opinion.

[TrackZero]

ok, I have not bought a 360 cuz basically it sucks.

Dude, in all honesty, you do not know what you're talking about. The 360 is one of the best consoles I've ever owned and it's not even been out for a year (I've only had mine since April). I have zero regrets on my purchase.

[Heretic Machine]

Dude, in all honesty, you do not know what you're talking about. The 360 is one of the best consoles I've ever owned and it's not even been out for a year (I've only had mine since April). I have zero regrets on my purchase.

Agreed, it is certainly one of the highlights of my console collection. I'd rank it up there with my SNES, though for different reasons. I believe that it's library should grow into it's potential with time, and it has had a better first year than any console I can remember.

[Zurik]

Well I agree with Blackdragonxt, if the 360 had more RPGs and non-pc games right now I would already have one.

[Lord Nerdious]

Oh yea, Now an XBL member on 3 continents!

[KidCactus]

The graphics are quite good. It took me a minute or two watching the intro to realize it was an ingame engine.
Yeah right. The ingame engine is nowhere close to the PRE-rendered intro.

[Xerxes]

Well I agree with Blackdragonxt, if the 360 had more RPGs and non-pc games right now I would already have one.

They have enough games to hold me with what they got now including PCish games, money is my issue. It's slim pickens out there but it's enough. Besides RPGs take too long anyways...

To anybody who's played it, what's the verdict?

[Lord Nerdious]

So... Uh... Yea....
Just played the demo, gameplay was fun as hell but, I had no clue what was going on the entire time and then apparently failed.

[TrackZero]

Yeah right. The ingame engine is nowhere close to the PRE-rendered intro.

Apparently you can't remember what a pre-rendered intro looked like from more than a year ago then.

[TrackZero]

So... Uh... Yea....
Just played the demo, gameplay was fun as hell but, I had no clue what was going on the entire time and then apparently failed.

You're essentially protecting that big ship. I failed the first time, then completed it.

Tip: Use the right thumbstick to change target, hold R to speed burst and then swing that sword a lot with B.

You can use d-pad to switch between your special abilities and use them with Y. That meter recharges. Also L trigger and L button are up and down.

[Lord Nerdious]

Badass I beat it. Figured out my problem. Wasn't listening to Pantera.

[TrackZero]

Badass I beat it. Figured out my problem. Wasn't listening to Pantera.

That's ALWAYS the problem. ;)

[Lord Nerdious]

That's ALWAYS the problem. ;)

You'd be amazed how often it is.

[AbiosiS]

Pantera is the solution to any and all problems.

[hotdrop]

So a game based on an anime about a vr game thats linked to the real world. Now thats just funny

[Sl1pstream]

If this is region free, I'll be picking this up.

[Watership]

ok, I have not bought a 360 cuz basically it sucks. There's probably like 1 MAYBE 2 games on the list right now that are mildly interesting.

What MS needs to do is get this game over HERE RIGHT NOW! (or after it releases in Japan)
THIS is the kind of stuff (gameplay) that will help sell the 360. Because we're not getting any of the good quality games till much later: Gears of War, Lost Planet, etc. (personally everything on the 360 right now sucks...just look at some of the ratings the games have gotten)


If this game came out, I would defeintely buy a 360. Right now, my hopes are for teh PS3 to have a strong launch lineup. I've seen at least 4-5 titles on the "supposed " launch lineup for the PS3 that would make me buy one on launch day. That was not the case for me for the 360.

Just my opinion.

I think the early adopter phase is over now, and don't think I know anyone who regrets his purchase of an Xbox 360.

Well, maybe Kelegacy.

There is one thing that most people don't really know until they pick up the xbox 360. Achievements make the console. They give you reasons to play through a game in different ways than you would ever want to before.
It's just brilliant. If Sony doesn't copy it somehow, they're in trouble.

[DeadScreenSky]

Yeah right. The ingame engine is nowhere close to the PRE-rendered intro.
Agreed. The ingame graphics are very good (barring the short draw distance), but the detail on the intro mecha and special effects are on a ridiculously higher level.

Unfortunately the game doesn't seem to be all that fun, either. It is kind of a poor man's ZOE. It's developed by Cavia and published by Bandai, which is probably enough info to deter a lot of gamers. :D Too bad, I really was hoping for something great, though it is possible the demo isn't presenting it in a worthy manner...

[JazGalaxy]

The Xbox 360 has arguably the best lauch lineup of any console ever, excluding possibly the super nintendo. That's just a fact, and no I don't own one. Anyone who argues simply doesn't remember how craptastic most console launches are.

[T-Rex Commando]

I came this close to buying a 360 a few months ago, but then I was dissuaded by the numerous horror stories of broken units, as well as the HUGE lack of good games that don't involve online play. Xbox Live is great and all, but sometimes i just want to be all anti-social and play by myself. (Not like that, sickos)

Oh, but this game does look great.

[TrackZero]

Agreed. The ingame graphics are very good (barring the short draw distance), but the detail on the intro mecha and special effects are on a ridiculously higher level.

Unfortunately the game doesn't seem to be all that fun, either. It is kind of a poor man's ZOE. It's developed by Cavia and published by Bandai, which is probably enough info to deter a lot of gamers. :D Too bad, I really was hoping for something great, though it is possible the demo isn't presenting it in a worthy manner...

I believe I mis-read that earlier comment. That intro IS in-game engine. You guys seriously can't tell?

[ElPresidente]

Anyone who argues simply doesn't remember how craptastic most console launches are.

QFT

Just had my first shot with this and like many, I failed.

Nonetheless it looks like it could be a whole lot of fun once I get my head around the controls. :)

[DeadScreenSky]

I believe I mis-read that earlier comment. That intro IS in-game engine. You guys seriously can't tell?
If they were capable of doing the beginning in-game then what happened to the gameplay graphics? :p

I'll watch it again sometime soon, but the models and special effects in the intro were all of a much higher quality than during the gameplay.

EDIT: Here, look at this video (http://www.zegapain-game.net/menu.php?p=movie). It's low-res, unfortunately, but the difference between the prerendered video in the beginning and the later ingame stuff is still blatant. This is the exact same thing Cavia is doing with Bullet Witch and their other titles - they simply don't have the skill to make what would be the best graphics ever seen in a videogame.

[31 Flavas]

I believe I mis-read that earlier comment. That intro IS in-game engine. You guys seriously can't tell?If it was real-time rendered, why was the actual gameplay footage noticibly worse? Don't take that the wrong way, now. The actual gameplay graphics were not "bad" just very noticibly "less fancy" shall we say?

Granted i'm only going off the website video, I do not have a 360. So if you've actually played the demo and can tell its in game, thats cool. It looks very rendered from the website video though.

[JazGalaxy]

well there is a difference between prerendered with the game engine and realtime rendering of cinematics.

[31 Flavas]

well there is a difference between prerendered with the game engine and realtime rendering of cinematics.?? prerendered with the engine? Pardon my language, but what the hell are you talking about?

It's FMV or game rendered. If that opening stuff was game rendered, why is the rest of the game obviously lacking? If it's FMV then its clearly something the 360 can't handle on its own, because otherwise it'd be real-time rendered.

[Skjef]

It's FMV or game rendered. If that opening stuff was game rendered, why is the rest of the game obviously lacking? If it's FMV then its clearly something the 360 can't handle on its own, because otherwise it'd be real-time rendered.Incorrect. Game developers can play all sorts of tricks when they have the luxury of a fixed camera angle (cinematic). They can manually load and unload textures, polygon meshes, light sources, etc. They also don't need to worry about the physics or AI during an in-game cinematic. It is entirely possible that they can utilize their in-game graphical engine to a much greater potential during a cinematic than during gameplay. Does this still count as being in-game? My vote is yes.

[JazGalaxy]

Incorrect. Game developers can play all sorts of tricks when they have the luxury of a fixed camera angle (cinematic). They can manually load and unload textures, polygon meshes, light sources, etc. They also don't need to worry about the physics or AI during an in-game cinematic. It is entirely possible that they can utilize their in-game graphical engine to a much greater potential during a cinematic than during gameplay. Does this still count as being in-game? My vote is yes.

exactly.

"Prerendered" has taken on negative connotations since Sony started promoting the PS3 becuase Sony's version of prerendered is the concept of using hardware beyond what the system is capable of producing and calling them indicative of the consoles graphical prowess as a whole. That is not to say that all prerendering is done in such a way or is as negative a thing. many games have prerendered cutscenes done entire from within the games engine pretty much the same way machinima is made.

And beyond that, some prescripted realtime cutscenes can look better than in game graphics because of the concepts mentioned in the previous posts. If you don't beleive this is the case, then look at games like Dark Aliance 2 or Gladius which feature a ridiculous level of quality in animation and lip syching during cut scenes that is absent during acutal gameplay.

[TrackZero]

If it was real-time rendered, why was the actual gameplay footage noticibly worse? Don't take that the wrong way, now. The actual gameplay graphics were not "bad" just very noticibly "less fancy" shall we say?

Granted i'm only going off the website video, I do not have a 360. So if you've actually played the demo and can tell its in game, thats cool. It looks very rendered from the website video though.

Well, the other big giveaway is how it loads the game engine before the intro begins, which takes just as long as it does when you actually go to begin the mission. Also, if it was pre-rendered, I think they honestly would have done a better job on the explosions (not to say they're bad, but could have been much better....Lost Planet better).

[31 Flavas]

edit: ok, this was supposed to be in response to Skjef, but looks like I took to long with my response. Well, i'll leave it up.

Well, I obviously can't comment any further without a 360 to download said demo.

If it is some sort of very carefully controlled in game render that is only accompishable through fixing the camera, manually loading/unloading textures, etc.... then it's really no better then an FMV.

It'd be like Sony showed off Killzone footage to sell you the PS3. And then telling you after purchase, "Oh sorry, you'll never get anywhere near that level of graphics in game since we cheated, but it was honest to god 'Real-Time' rendered!"

Besides.... if they want to give you eye candy for clearing a stage, starting the game, or defeating the final boss/level.... why not give the best graphics possible like you can with pre-rendered FMV?

[ElPresidente]

The only issue being the gradient banding occuring during any fades of brightness to darkness in the intro. That granular banding is the result of compression on video files. While Skef is correct in that cut scenes can be made look better while using the in game engine since they don't need to rely on system dependant resources like AI and physics in the case of Zegapain the intro is pre-rendered... NOT ingame footage.

[TrackZero]

edit: ok, this was supposed to be in response to Skjef, but looks like I took to long with my response. Well, i'll leave it up.

Well, I obviously can't comment any further without a 360 to download said demo.

If it is some sort of very carefully controlled in game render that is only accompishable through fixing the camera, manually loading/unloading textures, etc.... then it's really no better then an FMV.

It'd be like Sony showed off Killzone footage to sell you the PS3. And then telling you after purchase, "Oh sorry, you'll never get anywhere near that level of graphics in game since we cheated, but it was honest to god 'Real-Time' rendered!"

Besides.... if they want to give you eye candy for clearing a stage, starting the game, or defeating the final boss/level.... why not give the best graphics possible like you can with pre-rendered FMV?

Well, no, they're quite different. One is being generated real-time on the hardware, the other is just a movie file playing. There's no comparison. I prefer the immersion of always staying in the game engine.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

I'll download this when I'm back in Sydney tomorrow night, but I hafta say, I'm now really loving the fact that I got an Asian 360. Originally I only got one from that region due to the price difference, but now it looks like I'll actually get to play all the US games (Hong Kong gets english versions of every US game and they work on JPNS systems) and a few japanese exclusives.

I never expected to see any exclusives on the 360 in Japan that I'd want, but this shows promise and on the 27th of this month Senko no Ronde comes out, which is a 2p vs shmup with full live compatability, which is heaven for me.

Of course, I'll likely have to sit and sulk watching you guys on my friends list playing GOW for a few weeks before I get a chance to get into it...

[jacktion]

Looks good, but why is the draw distance approximately the same as the N64's? There is tons more detail but the fog is about the same. Isn't this next gen? Aren't we paying 500 dollars to see to the horizon?
With that said, it still makes me want a 360.

[EternalGamer]

I am not trying to threadjack, just want to throw the counter-possition into the ring. The 360 library is not a bed of roses for all people. If you like sports games, racing games, and First Person Shooters, you are good to go. If you like adventure games, platformers, odd games, and RPGs, you are shit out of luck aside from Elder Scrolls Oblivion, and even that is not everybody's cup of tea when it comes to RPG games. And looking at the E3 roster, this doesn't look like it is going to change anytime soon.

I dig the 360. It's a good system with a fantastic interace (Live Arcade is the best idea ever). But the library definitely leaves something to be desired for a lot of folks. I'm pretty sure that in terms of games I like, this is by far the worst system launch ever with the exception of the PS2. With the Nintendo systems you always have one or two great platformer type games (usually Mario). Sega gave us Clockwork Knight and Panzer Dragoon with the Saturn and Sonic with the DC. The even the original Xbox had the terrific Oddworld in addition to Halo. All these other systems have had at least one game that I thought was a AAA release. Kameo was the closest anything came in the launch line up and even it (despite being better than the reviews claim) wasn't anything to rave profusely about.

Like I said, the lineup has a lot of things for a lot of people, but be careful on trying to sell everybody on it. It doesn't currently cater to everybody's tastes, especially those weened on Japanese style plaformers/adventure/RPG games.

[EGO]

Funny how all the detractors don't actually have 360's, huh?

Game looks awesome! I love ZOE2 (not the first one, because it was boring as watching paint dry). If this is anything like ZOE2 but with Achievements, MP and none of that PS2 crunchiness, I'm in!

Is it available on the US Marketplace?!?

[EternalGamer]

Um, hi. I've owned a 360 since midnight on the November launch date. I am also a person you would have labeled a "detractor." Not that people who don't own the system lack a valid point. Note to all: If you haven't bought a 360 because you don't think the software library has anything that interest you, you are problably right. It probably doesn't. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Your tastes are just different than theirs.

[TrackZero]

Looks good, but why is the draw distance approximately the same as the N64's? There is tons more detail but the fog is about the same. Isn't this next gen? Aren't we paying 500 dollars to see to the horizon?
With that said, it still makes me want a 360.

? I can see enemies coming miles away. Don't know what you're refering to, there's no fog on mine.

Though I do remember the fog in Turok on the N64. *shudder*

[DeadScreenSky]

Now that I've looked at it again, there is no possible way it is using the ingame engine for the intro. The smoke alone is rife with highly visible compression errors, as is the space background in many shots (especially the opening one).

[ECM]

Funny how all the detractors don't actually have 360's, huh?


Eh? I've had one since launch day and I think the selection of titles, to date, is pretty lousy. In fact, unless Dead Rising is utterly amazing, the 360 doesn't look to have a must-have game till Lost Planet (and I know I'm not alone in feeling this)...in 2007.

[thenefariousone]

Jebus - backhanded compliments are one thing, but your your post was just a bizarrely unwanted and unwelcome rant.

For starters - it's really funny how you went into a post about a game demo release, and the first thing you wrote was not about the demo, but the fanboy-esque "xbox360 sucks."

Then you say absolutely nothing about playing the demo and if it is any fun, and if so, what makes it fun.

But despite that - you want the game for "teh Gameplay" and you'd buy a 360 right now for the game, and if the xbox had more....blah blah blah...



Look - it's your money, buy what you want. If the system doesn't currently have games in the genres you prefer playing, then fine. But do us all a favour, and save the goofy "xbox 360 sucks because I said so" garbage for some crappy forum. Or at the very least, a post about "why do you think the xbox360 sucks."


This topic is about the "Zegapain XOR Demo on Japan Marketplace" - talk about the demo, talk about the upcoming game.


ok, I have not bought a 360 cuz basically it sucks. There's probably like 1 MAYBE 2 games on the list right now that are mildly interesting.

What MS needs to do is get this game over HERE RIGHT NOW! (or after it releases in Japan)
THIS is the kind of stuff (gameplay) that will help sell the 360. Because we're not getting any of the good quality games till much later: Gears of War, Lost Planet, etc. (personally everything on the 360 right now sucks...just look at some of the ratings the games have gotten)


If this game came out, I would defeintely buy a 360. Right now, my hopes are for teh PS3 to have a strong launch lineup. I've seen at least 4-5 titles on the "supposed " launch lineup for the PS3 that would make me buy one on launch day. That was not the case for me for the 360.

Just my opinion.