Let's Battle Ogres! (Ogre Battle 64)

I really liked Ogre Battle for the SNES but once I finally beat it I decided the game is ridiculously flawed. Any way you play the game it just stops being fun after a while. Either you OCD over everything or you don't. If you do, the game is mind numbingly tedious. If you don't then you can't promote anything the way you want, even if you settle for being evil aligned.

How is Ogre Battle 64? Is the game tedious if you only care about not screwing yourself out of being able to promote units?

I'd rather be a do-gooder. The allies are much cooler, not to mention better.

Id say play as a bad-ass and get the "Bad/Evil" ending, but if the ending is really lame, you miss a lot of good characters, and the Good ending is better ill feel dumb for wanting you to get a crap ending.

March of the Black Queen was the shit for bad guy play. I loved getting the witch and turning all my knights into vampires. I would endlessly quote Bela Lugosi during those battles.

Oh, holy shit, i totally have a sealed copy of this game. I guess this means it's finally time.

I have the US release of every Ogre game, but've never played through any; Storywise, is it ok to start on this one, or will i be confused?

You will be more confused if you finish the 1st with a low chaos-frame and get an overall 'bad' ending, and then enter the 2nd and see allies who were murdering puppies and raping babies as good, honorable men...

So, not. Not required.

Ogre Battle 64 is one of the best games evar. I would get a N64 for it.

Thanks for the explanation of the Chaos Frame. I remember back in the day when my friend beat it and we got the 'worst' ending, we were all 'wtf'. We were just pile-driving through the game and the system is never elaborated on during the course of the game.

You need to have as a long term goal at least one party with 3 ninja masters in the back row. It doesn't even matter what is in front of them, especially if one or two of them started off life as wizards. Everything dies to that party.

Also Dio is a jerk and I hate him. Even when I keep him around I let him die in battle and leave him dead.

Normally, before a mission there's a bit of story explaining the situation before we jump into the briefing. This time, Hugo tells us that he has come up with a plan at the last second. Wow Hugo, you're a life saver!



We've got a bigger area to work with this time. Hugo's plan is to travel around liberating cities and ask for information. So...the plan is that there is no plan. We've just got to go around fighting people until someone hopefully tells us where the Prince is. Great. Thanks a lot, Hugo.







As you can see, Atlus is done screwing around. They start sending people after you two seconds into the mission. Like last time, I decided to split everyone up. Leon and G&G head directly south to Senal, while Dio, BJ, and Rumpus head west and then south to take Dese.

Unfortunately, the enemy sent a priestess unit to intercept each group. G&G fight a Priestess and two Soldiers, which is so easy that it makes me cry.



Look at that face. That is the face of sheer terror.

Only one Soldier is left behind, but the unit manages to get away. G&G then pushes a Knight unit that was stationed at Senal away and...



G&G's unit rests at Senal while...



...Leon hunts down and kills the Knight unit. We got a Light Mace (starting priestess equipment), but we already have a few of those so no big deal.

Meanwhile, Dio has hit a roadblock. The Priestess unit he's up against has two Priestesses and one Fighter. So it's essentially the worst unit ever since it can't kill anything, but it's still dangerous because it can capture strongholds. Plus, it's nearly impossible to kill since the two Priestesses can heal like mad.


OH SHI-

Dio pushes it back, and then BJ and Rumpus finish it off. Not only that, but BJ and Rumpus level up! Dio keeps pushing towards Dese and knocks the Wizard unit there away.



The Wizard unit counterattacks but is swiftly obliterated by Dio and the gang. Dio found a Rosary (starting Priestess equipment) on their corpses, but again, we have some of these already so no big deal. We're now presented with this situation.



We have no idea where the Prince is, G&G is on his way to Ishro (the town in the east), Leon is resting at Senal, Dio/BJ and Rump are resting at Dese, and there's two strongholds to the south. G&G makes it to Ishro, and...what's this?! A story event?!

Rebel: There shouldn't be anyone in the area except for the Prince's escort. We have a very small advantage, so let's not screw this up!



Rebel: This plan has got to work! If we can't hand those three over, this whole thing falls apart!
Rebel: Th...They're here...
Rebel: Huh?
Rebel: The Palatinean Army is here!!!

A battle ensues with a Knight and two fighters. G&G's got this shit locked.



See? No problem. The Knight gets pushed back, Ishro is liberated, and G&G makes a discovery...

Knight: Are you hurt, my lord?
Prince Yumil: Thank you, Jeal. I'm okay. Are you alright, Rhade?



Rhade: What took you so long?! Incompetent Southern Division...



There's that T for Teen rating in action, folks. Rhade does this sort of thing a lot.



G&G: I'm a cadet with the Southern Division...I am not yet assigned to any post, sir.



Rhade: Not assigned? What are you guys, rookies or something?
G&G: ...yes, sir.



Yeah...like, a lot. He's even more of a generic hothead than Dio.

Rhade: What the hell is the Southern Division doing?!



Rhade: ...go and take care of those rebels. Kill them all!



Rhade: Rebels wish for the downfall of this kingdom. The jeopardize the lives of innocent people and bring discord to peaceful lands. What else can we do to protect our kingdom, and the people we love? We must crush them and teach them the futility of their defiance, that is the only way!

Rhade: Now go...and kill them!






I just thought it was funny that the guy who was guarding them was just standing in the corner the whole time and no one said anything until he tried to tip-toe away.

Yumil: How could he do such a thing?
Jeal: My lord, we should get moving.



Alright, new victory conditions! The enemy captures a new terrority, and we need to go get it. And in case you hadn't noticed, Rhade is a huge dick. The good guys are self righteous pricks? Uh oh, is this the cold touch of heavy handed foreshadowing I feel?

G&G wipes out the Knight unit and everyone in the unit gains a level. Leon also finally catches up to that leftover Priestess unit and finishes that.

In the interest of not boring you all to death with the details, Dio liberates the southern most town with no resistance, and my other three units liberate the town at the fork in the road. Two more Light Maces were found in the process, and a few characters leveled up. Right now I'm holding your hand through all the battles so you get a feel for them, but later on I'll be summarizing a lot more and focusing on the story. Anyway, we're now presented with this:



Not a good time to be Red, I'd say. The Blue Pain Train is coming to the Volmus Mines!



Qad: We pledged our lives to the revolution. You're not going to stand in our way!! We'll create a world where society is not based on class, and everyone has equal rights! Feel our pain, our sorrow, our wrath!

Feel what's in our pan...wait, what were talking about? I mean, feel our generic utopian-fueled RAGE!



Again, G&G has this shit locked and finishes off Qad in one encounter.

Qad: ...Why don't you finish me off?
G&G: There's no point in risking your life to kill a lowly soldier...



Qad: Your sympathy won't change our fate. Mind you, we are the ones who attacked the prince...
G&G: ...

Alright, we did it! More soldiers that we already don't need, and a weapon we already have multiple of (in addition to better versions of)! Would it hurt you guys to give me something good for once?

Yumil: Thank you for saving us. You told me your name was Goofus.



And you guys wanted me to call him PANTS. But anyway, Rhade's still pissed off and interrupts Yumil.



G&G: I believe it would be beneficial for the kingdom to listen to what they have to say.
Rhade: Shut up! There is absolutely no need to listen to their bitching! The only thing that matters for these lower-class scum is what they have to face at this moment. The work load is too harsh, the living conditions are sad...they only think of themselves. Why listen to those who don't think about the future and of the entire kingdom? Instead they believe that they're the only ones who are miserable!?
Qad: Speak for yourself!! We only think of ourselves? Who took everything away from us for their own good? You!! The so-called upper class that can't do anything without the protection of Lodis! The heartless beasts that prey upon the people and indulge all their desires!!
Rhade: You call us beasts?! We dedicate our lives, to the peace and prosperity of this kingdom. We fufill our duty as the upper class, and get compensated accordingly.

While Rhade is saying all of this, he beats the living hell out of Qad and knocks him over.

Yumil: Rhade, stop!



Rhade: My lord! They tried to kill you, for their own selfish end!!
Jeal: My lord, this is part...no, this is the last stage of the inspection. Please stand back and watch.

Music: DUN DUN DUN!

No seriously, the music does that.

Yumil: What...what are you doing? Rhade, what do you think you're doing?



Rhade: As a member of the royal family, he needs to learn the harshness of the world. ...isn't this a good opportunity for him? HE can see for himself how to punish those who oppose us, the upper class.



Goofus tries to punch Rhade, but he somehow manages to Matrix-dodge it and punch Goofus so hard that he falls flat on his ass.



Rhade: Well, isn't that too bad. There goes your achievement, kid. You have raised your sword against the lineage of the Progenitor. Are you prepared to accept the consequences?
Qad: Isn't that lineage too noble to be mere puppets of Lodis?
Rhade: ...Alright.



NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! *crash*

Music: Heroic fanfare! Don't worry folks!

Foreign Knight: Or, do all knights in this land devour helpless souls?

Not all of them. Only the ones who were brought here by humans who wish to pay them tribute.



Jeal: You!!

At this point, a cloaked stranger comes up behind Jeal and taps him on the shoulder.

Jeal: Who the hell are you...!? Get out of my way!!

After the stranger Matrix-dodges Jeal's axe, he throws his cloak away and fights Jeal.



At this point, Saradin comes in and paralyzes everyone and they all escape. My brain says that I took a screenshot of it, but my computer says that I apparently didn't. Oops!

If you've played Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen, those characters probably look familiar. Hint hint.

Rhade: Damn it!
Jeal: Don't let them get away!
Music: Sad!
Yumil: I couldn't...I couldn't do anything...
G&G: Yumil...

Narrative: Owing to the Southern Division's actions, the attempt to assassinate Prince Yumil at Volmus resulted in failure.



Narrative: Rumor spread among the population that they executed a person who had no relation to the incident, to save face. Meanwhile...Expected to dwindle, the rebels' activities have instead intensified and become more violent than ever. The outcome of the public execution was not as expected...



Atlus Writer: So I guess what I'm trying to say is that it affected, you know, like all of them. Like the upper and lower, but...you know, the middle too.

Seriously. Atlus circa 2000, you guys need to check your work. I'm curious to know how Atlus' localization went from being this bad to as good as it is now in just a few years.



Pretty epic subtitle, right?

Godeslas: Come in.



Every time. It never gets old.

Godeslas: I'm sure you are aware that the rebels' activites have become more aggressive recently. Their strength is minimal; what concerns me is that they initiated their actions simultaneously in various parts of the kingdom. This must mean that they are getting their act together. So, in order to stop the uprising and suppress the rebels, we will organize the troops specifcially for that purpose. Your performance at the military academy, one month of field training and actual combat...I can't believe you've just recently graduated. I have no idea why you came to the Southern Region, but I'm willing to test you. You are now a captain in the Southern Division.



Gee, I wonder which units and which tactician I get assigned.



Godeslas: Don't get me wrong. This does not mean that your actions have been justified! The abduction and attempted murder of Prince Yumil while he was in our jurisdiction...We even need rookies like yourself to help clear our reputation, that's all. I want to make one thing clear, though. I'm not asking for your opinion or consent. You hear me!? This is an order!! Just keept quiet and follow my orders! You will be provided money. Organize your troops and attend to your duty. Understood?
G&G: Yes, sir.
Godeslas: Don't ever show sympathy for them again. You can't do anything about it alone. Set aside your personal feelings. Focus on your regiment and what you can do for your kingdom.

It's been a pretty bumpy ride already, but things are about to really get started now. Look forward to some new members joining in the next few missions. We can also now go to training sessions at our regional headquarters (in this Chapter, the Southern Division's HQ) which lets us level up for a small fee. Our units performed very well; even our hodgepodge unit thrown together with leftovers. Everything's shaping up.

But are the Palatinean upper class really to be trusted? Are we doing the right thing in stopping the rebellion? And just what is the nature of the relationship between Lodis and Palatinus?

Well, you'll just have to keep reading.

Deneb hosts the tutorial that you can access from the main menu but she's not in the main game in any real sense, unfortunately.

Tell me about it! My first two times through I got the worst ending. That's when I got on the internet and actually stopped to figure out just what the hell was going on. It's such an obtuse and ridiculous system that I never would've figured it out on my own. It's pretty ridiculous that the game never gives any indication of how any of this stuff works. I remember the manual was something like 100 pages, but it was only halfway translated so it didn't really help explain anything.

Well, the units move really slowly so battles can take a long time. But it's fun, and there's a good story in there buried under horrible writing and bad translation. It was a breath of fresh air back in 2000. An RPG for the N64? Who would've thought that anyone could pull it off? But here it is.

I don't recommend it if you have OCD. There's one sidequest that, in addition to having some prerequisites, has you go to a certain town on a certain day in a certain month at a certain hour with a certain unit leader. And that's just one quest. This game can really get ridiculous.

That is the best idea ever.

Anyway, at some point later on I'm going to break down all of our different promotion options for our units, but that can wait a bit. Dio's unit members have all been renamed Ozzy, Gillian, Hetfield, and Lemmy. I'll now be referring to Dio's unit as Heavy Metal, because I think it's funny.

I'm debating changing Leon's name to PANTS since someone has to be PANTS, but Leon probably won't be with us for too long so I don't know if it's worth it. I'll probably name one of the Fighters in G&G's unit PANTS, since he'll be with us for a long time. Once I can promote someone to Priestess, I'll name them WhiteMage. Keep the names coming, though. We've got a lot of units that still need real names.

PANTS should be some monster unit that is physically incapable of wearing pants.

Protip: Sort your parties by experience level and renumber them. Then sort them again by alignment, without renumbering them. Now you can tell at a glance how they rank in experience and alignments. Repeat the sorting process between battles to keep the ranking accurate.

I like to get all my soldier training done early by pitting a Cleric-led party of soldiers against a similar enemy party, over and over. Soldiers are too much dead weight beyond the first chapter.

I have never seen the bad ending. I can't seem to play this game without ending up high-alignment, high chaos frame. It's an effort just to keep a couple of parties evil.

Name suggestions:
Seraphim - Nausicaa
Princess - Azalyn
Dark Knights - Donbot, Joey Mousepad and Clamps

In thinking up those three, I also decided that the next time I play this game, I will use Star Trek names for all the characters.

PROBABLY UNNECESSARY HISTORY TIP: Sounds like another translation error- is that Saladin (aka Salah Ad-Din or "Righteousness of the faith")? Salah was the Kurd who took over Cairo and its slave armies, brought together many of the Muslims together, and "reconquered" Jerusalem, thus starting the 3rd Crusade. He was considered a satanic being among Medieval Christians, but Muslims still revere him to this day (even Saddam conveniently ignored his heritage while modeling himself on him). Even in the Medieval West his image as a nasty man barely lasted. This wouldn't be his own VG reference, but the only other one I can think of is Big Boss, who Sniper Wolf calls Saladin for reasons I'm not sure of...

Wow, all that history might have been ignored thanks to a stupid translation error.

I request a male wizard named Maxwell, as in James Clerk.

Saladin is interesting in part because the medieval Christian writers really liked him; they thought he was just one step (conversion) away from being a perfect knight. If you had brought this up a few years ago, I could probably have told you more. And I think Richard I had a great deal of respect for him?

huh!

Also, in the original Ogre Battle, weren't you doomed to get the worst ending automatically if you drew the death tarot? as the card that defined you?

True, true...I have to admit, I never did the paper myself and my textbook at the time was light on the information. I had some help from the Cartoon History of the Universe III and wikipedia at least. Wiki said Richard really respected him, and Barbara Tuchman in Bible and Sword also had Richard seeing Saladin in a good light.

In light of all this history and translation errors, I demand you name one of your characters after the leader of the Third Crusade: Lichald I the Rion Healted.

Okay, Lichald or Rionhealt might be better. With or without spelling mistakes.

We need stuff like this more often. With Sala-Saradin in there, I wonder how much I missed.

Guys, I completely forgot! Our army needs a name before I can start the next mission. I can't play anymore until I have a name. I'm going to check back in a while if any of you have suggestions. There's a 12 character limit. Get thinking!

If no one comes up with anything, I'm just going to give us a name.

Also, it seems like more people want the bad ending so...here we go! Bad ending, ahoy! This actually makes things infinitely easier for me since I don't have to worry about liberating or capturing or whatever. I can just do whatever I want. And don't worry too much guys. My first time through I got the worst ending, but was still able to recruit the high CF characters. This is probably what I'm going to try to do in this playthrough (the best of both worlds!), unless if you guys really want the werewolf and dark knight hero-characters. They require that you don't get any of the high CF characters.

Um...I probably won't have any male wizards since males make shitty magic users, but if I do I'll name him Maxwell. If not, someone will get named Maxwell.

This is a good idea. But it seems like people want the bad ending, and in order to get the bad ending, you don't have to worry about any of this. So I won't be doing this.

I've never used soldiers ever. I know that this is technically not the "right" way to play this game, but that's how I play it.

This is completely insane to me. How the hell did you manage that without using a guide?

These are all really good ideas, but I forget how to even get Seraphims and Princesses. But Dark Knights? Sure thing.

Edit: Uh, accidental double post.

I still think Lichald the Rionhealted would be a fun name though.

As for the clan's name...how about Boh. Rhapsody?

I did it once by just having all my parties use the "attack leader" strategy. I must have lucked into liberating a lot of towns, because my alignments were so high that, as I mentioned, I couldn't even get generic classes.

Seraphims... is that the same as Angel Knights? Because they have a random chance of appearing instead of a Zombie if you let a female character die. (By the way, did I mention that if you sell off all your Old Clothing, you eliminate all chances of your characters turning into Zombies?)

The last time I played this game I named my army the Akatsuki... yes, I am a die-hard Naruto fan. Leave me alone.

More G alliteration would be awesome but I can't think of anything.

I'm going out to run some errands now, but if no one comes with anything before I'm back I'm going to name it QueenFanclub so everytime someone sees the army coming they'll say "Look! It's the QueenFanClub!" or something like that. ...maybe. I haven't really decided yet. But hopefully someone will come up with something I really like.

Damn 12 character limit.

And we're not naming it after Naruto. Hell no.

PantsBrigade.


That is all.

Grand Garter

TacticalTime?

A-Team?

TalknTyrants

That's pretty much how I feel about the entire Ogre series: I love everything about them except actually playing them.