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I picked this up the other day simply because it was a Sting/Atlus release (ah.... Riviera...), and I HATED IT. I couldn't figure out why I was losing or winning in any given battle, I couldn't figure out what was going on in the cluttered displays and menus... Luckily, I was bored enough to pick it up again and again over the rest of the evening.
Long story short, this game is fantastic. I had read that it had a "steep learning curve" but I wasn't prepared for it. So take it from me: DON'T GIVE UP. After a few hours of replaying the same couple scenarios, I finally got the hang of it and have been on a roll ever since. The instruction manual isn't all that helpful, and neither are the in-game tutorials, which tend to let you in on the information that you've already had to figure out on your own. My advice is to pick this up and bear with it for a bit. It's really worth it.
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With the release list for the GBA growing ever so smaller (especially for games of any real quality), it's good to see a game like Yggdra Union hit Nintendo's little handheld that could. From the same people who've brought us the underrated Riveria: The Promised Land, and Atlus, the publisher responsible for bringing the Super Robot Taisen and Summon Night series' of games to our shores, Yggdra Union throws some twists into the typical turn-based system of things, and the overall weirdness of the game's presentation and characters is a sight to behold indeed. The game's turn-based combat system is deeper than one may think at first glance, helping make an already lengthy game even more fun to play. The graphics and animation are crisp, clean, and have a unique style that mostly sets them apart from the handful of other strategy/RPG's on the GBA, which is a nice feature as well. The battles themselves are well done and nicely presented, although Yggdra Union does have a bit of a steep learning curve. That aside, the game boasts a unique charm to it that helps make it a more than worthy addition to your GBA library if you like strategy/RPG's, and that same uniqueness may even warrant a look from gamers that don't usually play these types of games. All in all, your GBA isn't dead yet, and here's some more proof of that.
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it's from sting what els can i say
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I got Yggdra Union for my gba(from my husband) for Hanukkah, and the game is so in-depth, it's not funny. I lost the first tutorial mission three times before I "got" it, and between the 50+ page instruction manuel, the long-winded tutorial (which you have to use in conjunction with the intruction booklet) and the battles, it's really tough. Don't try playing it unless you like tactical role-playing games. I like it, as it's a type of gameplay I've never tried before, but some people might not like it due to its long learning curve.
The game is really deep, it's a strategy rpg with cards, and everything from what kind of weapons you have have, to your gender determines how the battles will turn out! I think I like it, but it's taken me hours to learn to play. Certainly deep, but make sure you have a whole day to learn the game; or a long commute.
First off, you have to work your way through the first level, learning the ropes of each method of battle. You have cards you play with; that's actually your main method of attack or defense. If you don't have an attack card, you can't attack. Simple, right? Well, not really. You also have to figure out which characters move during each turn. Each card has a number on it; say 10 or 12. You can move one of your characters 12 times, or two of them 6 times, or 12 characters 1 turn. It's all up to you!
You also have to contend with is that your units, which represent individual armies, don't have hit points or health--they have morale, and each time they lose a fight, they lose some of that morale. When morale hits zero, the unit is defeated, and if that's one of your main characters, game over. Unfortunately for you, morale doesn't automatically regenerate between battles, and is restored primarily by using items you'll have in short supply. Thankfully, you retain the experience levels you've earned if you have to replay a mission, so missions naturally get a little easier the more times you're forced to retry them.
Enemies have morale, too, and it took me a while to figure out that until you deplete their morale, you can't finish off that particular enemy!
Gameplay-wise, the game's battles remind me a lot of Age of Empires for the ds. You can see all of your characters fighting your enemies, even watching them fight and die; the curious part of this is that even if you watch them die in battle, they haven't really died, it just means that their morale took a hit.
One thing I hate about the game so far is it's convoluted "equip" system. Once an item has been equipped to your character, it can't be un-equipped until the weapon breaks, and then you have to uneqip it, throw it away, and make sure you have another weapon in the wings, or your character will be weaponless and therefore, defenseless!
There is a weapons triangle, a lot like the ones in the gba versions of Fire Emblem, and you must remember it when you battle, or you will lose! Swords beat axes but are weak against spears, spears beat swords but are weak against axes, axes are strong against spears but weak to swords, and I am not yet sure what archers are weak against!
The story is full of political intrigue, and the tutorial introduces you to some truelly lovable dunces (like the second-in-command) who you can't help but roll your eyes at.
By the way, Yggdra is the name of the Princess (which you learn by reading the back of the box) and "Union" is what you call your army when they have weapons, cards and high morale. It's your "team', if you will.
There's more to learn, and I highly recommend you get a new copy of the game, as the instruction booklet explains some things that the tutorial never fully explains, and vise-vera. It's one of the few games I recommend you get the instruction booklet and keep with you as you learn the ropes of the game.
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