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Anybody ever play it?

I searched for any threads about it and the search engine turned up nothing. The game is a Tactical Role-playing game that is similar to Final Fantasy Tactics (aside from the dragons) and was released only in Japan on the Snes by Sqaure. However, it has been "unofficially" translated into English (for quite some time) and I've been able to give the game a shot. All-in-all, I felt the cast of characters (which is large) were easily memorable. It's great to burn time with, but as far as challenges go.. Nah. I would say this game is best if you're looking for a good story and memorable cast of characters. There's 27 chapters of main game-play with a good number of side quests.

I'll also go with what wiki has had to say about the gameplay:

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Bahamut Lagoon combines RPG mechanics with squad-based combat. Characters have HP, MP (SP for fighter characters although there's no difference), EXP, equipment, stats and class-specific, SP-draining special elemental abilities very much like traditional console RPGs. The player can explore his surroundings, talk to people and visit shops when not in battle, though to a limited degree (e.g. there is no world map and no way to leave the current area.)

The game's core are its turn-based battles fought on a 2d grid. Characters are assembled into parties of four and the player's maximium is six parties, which are usually well outnumbered. The two opposing sides act in alternating turns so that each party can move once and/or attack once a turn. Attacks are divided into distant and close-up combat. In the former, a party uses a special ability (e.g. casting fireballs, throwing lightning, healing allies) of one of its members at a distance. The range and possible area of effect damage vary per ability. If the attacking party has two or more characters with the same ability, they join in the action to multiply its effectiveness. Distant combat results in less money and generally less damage, but the target cannot retaliate. Distant attacks can also affect the field; fire and ice ignite or extinguish forests and melt or freeze ice, etc. Close-up, each unit in two adjancent opposing parties can act once. Very much like Final Fantasy SNES combat, they can attack an enemy, use an item or a special ability (though these can't be combined and most only affect one target instead of all) or defend.

Dragons are the player's ace in the hole. They have their own stats and gain experience like normal characters do. In battle, each party has a dragon attached to it and draws a large portion of its strength from that of its dragon: if a party's dragon is slain, the party will lose the ability to use special attacks and class-specific abilities for the remainder of the map. The beast acts as a very powerful autonomous unit that moves after its party does and it cannot be controlled beyond very simple commands, e.g. "Come!" Out of battle, dragons will eat anything and raising them by feeding them items is an important part of the game. Feeding can improve their stats as well as affect their behavior on the field, and the dragons develop into new forms as they grow.

The player can change the characters in each of the parties, their formation as well as what dragon represents them at will.



[Full Article can be found @ Wiki]

Since it was never released in the US, I feel like the Black Sheep of the flock when I mention this title. It's really good as far as graphics, characters, and story go, but due to the above fact that it was never released in the US, it's rarely even heard of (as far as the people I've told it to). I'd recommend it.

This post has been edited by xDrkMage on 24th March 2007 23:03

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"Space for Rent"

I played the fan-translation of it a few years ago. I know that the hardly-ever-here-anymore Silverfork was a big fan of the game.

Basically it's a solid and interesting strategy RPG. It sometimes irked me that Lancers were so worthless and special characters were almost always worthless (I'm looking at you, Matelite) because of how important Dragon stat bonuses were and how you had to stack same-type units to use them effectively. Some of the characters were a little bland (like most of the main characters, for instance), but others were totally hilarious (Donphan in particular). Nonetheless, it's a pretty fun ride, and I'd be lying if I didn't that it kept me amused for a few months in high school.

Edit

By the way, that setup in the above animation isn't a good idea at all. If you want a good attacking party, you need to split up the three Knights, the three Heavy Armors, and the three Light Armors. Word to the wise.

This post has been edited by laszlow on 24th March 2007 23:34

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END SPOILER

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By the way, that setup in the above animation isn't a good idea at all. If you want a good attacking party, you need to split up the three Knights, the three Heavy Armors, and the three Light Armors. Word to the wise.

I can agree. I've read that in the faqs and site guides I've come across, and found it the most "effective" solution in contrast to the generic. Then again, every time you separated the heavy armors, your abilities to throw Matelite elsewhere (and still play an active roll), weren't there. He was in the sense, worthless, so I actually throw him in anyway with the armors. The Knights are really conferrable anywhere so I never really minded taking them from Byuu's party (but still preffered they stayed)... I always have the impression they were meant to remain with Byuu's party, story-wise (then again, you could also argue it makes more sense for Byuu and Matelite to be with Yoyo by that logic). Also, as far as Light Armors, I really prefer not to use them. Once you max your dragons dex, they're everywhere.. It ruined the balance of my own personal style of play (I prefer to be more sluggish on the advance, in all honesty). With the overlapping, you had three formations doing all the work and the other three playing catch-up.

One good combination was the 2x Cross Knights with 2x Summoners. Though, that formation was really field oriented usually. Not that that's not good, since Cross Knights have powerful field abilities, but I preferred to have Byuu in head-on engagements.

Donphan was hilarious... especially if you sent him out on the spy mission.

This post has been edited by xDrkMage on 25th March 2007 00:51

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"Space for Rent"

What a coincidence, I just happened to be playing it on my emulator when I read this post... It's a great game, and I've been enjoying it a lot.

I finally beat this game, and it was AWESOME!!!! Maybe one of the best games, up there with Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy VI.

This post has been edited by RoughknightVII on 1st April 2007 02:38

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We, who cannot see into tomorrow, have no way of knowing... But... But... If you don't find dreams yourself... if you don't capture your ambitions... happiness won't just come to you.