Epic Elf by Spirit Young

 

In this quest you play as a Dark Elf named Dagree. He's a simple treasure hunter who is normally feared by humans. For some reason, the citizens of Vitality Island aren't scared of him except for the naughty Royal Family. Along the way you can make choices in the game that determine what side character you'll end up with.

The story itself is easy to follow and doesn't really need to be serious.
Most of the characters that you talk to probably rode on the short bus. 

 

Other main characters come into the play as well. If you join up with the wizard he'll have his own problems that come into light during the quest for you. If you kill the wizard you get a thief to replace the loss. If you don't talk to everyone, future quests won't become available and you'll miss out on items, weapons, or hidden bosses. There are also abilities that your characters can learn (pushing stones, raiding houses). 

 

Epic Elf is a really epic adventure of 10 hours that will take the dark elf Dagree from rags to riches. Or so is the intent: the game isn't some epic quest to save the world, but rather the exploration of a large isle that hold a great treasure. Of course a dark elf like Dagree isn't liked by humans, however, starting with his trusty slime Drip, he will have to form a party of adventures, collect equipment and start exploring dungeons. The story has a goofy tone and it's a parody of the more serious jrpgs.

 

The game is a pretty classic adventure that uses RTPs and the usual Rpgmaker combat system, although maps are really well done. Enemies are both fought in random encounters and in touch encounter, depending on the map. Speaking about maps, the world map is pretty compact, but it will be necesssary to open some roadblocks to progress in the adventure.

 

Download Link (Epic Edition)

Download Link (Regular Version)

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de

Internet Archive (Epic Edition)

Internet Archive (Regular Version) 

Random Fact: the game was completed in 2012, and that version is still available, but in 2013 a new version was added, with more sidequests, bosses, secret items and even a different ending.

 

Final Verdict: Epic Elf may be an old game with pretty generic visuals, but it was really done with attention to the details and the particular care typical of some games that look like something bland and generic due to the use of the old RTPs, but they hide some real fun! Another example of this is Everlasting Journey, so do not let the lack of original assets deceive you, because this is an entertaining game of exploration, humor... and also battles, even if this is maybe the aspect that probably could have been perfected (well it's an old game made with an old engine, ok?), anyway I did not mind. This is without doubt a well done classic rpgmaker adventure!

Panzer by Orochii

 

Year is 2651. A world in war. Two factions reign and conquered most part of the entire planet.
The army of the kingdom of Reigarn, with huge power and politic influence.
And the tribes of the Urok, with heavy numbers and born for the battlefield.
The fight continued on and on, and for that matter, a small group parted on a mission to stop it in a movement, once and for all. 

 

 

Panzer was an experimental game, a short visual novel adventure with battles. In this game the protagonist isn't a party of character but a mech, that's divided into various parts: left arm, right arm, head and body, each one can be upgraded separately and equipped with different instruments, and in the end it's more or less like playing  party of four characters...  the assets are ripped from various old games from Front Mission to Metal Slug.

 

Download Link (English)

Download Link (Spanish)

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de

Alianza RTP 

 

Random Fact: there are two cheatcodes for this game:

MONEYBAGS - Gives you 5000$ as starting money.
GIVMEWANZER - Gives you an overpowered starting panzer.  

 

Final Verdict: this game is clearly an experiment, and it's not perfect at all: aside from the imperfect translation from the original spanish version (for example loot mention is in spanish even in the english version, but come on, this is not a tragedy), it is quite simple, linear and repetitive but not without its charm. For a 1-2 hours game it's pretty good, especially because it has many clever ideas and aspects that were probably limited by the time constraits. That's a pity, anyway it's still a playable game and a different experience from the usual fantasy adventures, and I would not mind at all a more modern and complex remake at all.

 

So Panzer was an interesting experiment, I know that some people may not like it, and others instead had fun with it and loved the aestetics (this Front Mission redux feel), like me... so I decided to set for a middle ground rating.

Bikini Smoker - ビキニスモーカー Part 1 & 2 by Bokkyguy (japanese)

 

Bikini Smoker - ビキニスモーカー, like Psycho Platoon, is a visual novel with battles in two parts. It starts with a couple of girls (in bikini, of course) exploring a ship and fighting bizarre enemies. Soon they will found that a poweful enemy is opposing them, none other than Ronald McDonald.

 

WARNING: the game includes some sexy scenes and inuendos, nothing explicit. 

 

Bikini Smoker is the first game released by Bokkyguy (Kazuyoshi Hashimoto), and it's a shorter and simpler game compared to Psycho Platoon: combat is simpler and animations are less flashy, still original and well made. Still no levels, no random battles, no equipment managements, levels or other rpg elements. The adventure is also linear, except for the second part that has two possible epilogues, and one links to one of the endings of Psycho Platoon. This game received also a spin-off doujin game.

 

Download Link (BS1)

Mirror Link (BS1)

Rmarchiv.de

Official Site (defunct, via Waybackmachine)

Youtube Playthrough

 

Random Fact: in this game characters may heal smoking cigarettes, that they have in limite quantity and are automatically restocked after each battle. This is the reason why the game is called Bikini Smoker, of course.

 

 

 

 

This is a direct sequel from the first game following the last battle on the broken down ship. Later the two girls are joined by a third girl to fight a series of selected warriors of the enemy organization before the final battle.

 

Aside for the addition of a new playable character there isn't much else added to the game compared to the first half of the story. The difficult doesn't increase nor the characters add new abilities or more hitpoints. Clearly there are more silly characters and more battles, and a final choice that will determine the epilogue for the story, good or bad.

Download Link (BS2)

Mirror Link (BS2)

Rmarchiv.de

Official Site (defunct, via Waybackmachine)

Youtube Playthrough

 

Random Fact: the third girl that joins the team is none other than a schoolmate and best friend of the psychic pyromancer of Psycho Platoon, and appears in both games, but she's playable only here. Meanwhile the protagonist of this game appeared in the epilogue of Psycho Platoon, and onf od the endings of this game also connects with that game. 

 

 

Final Verdict: a little game, really simpler than Psycho Platoon for simpler mechanics, graphics and story. However it's still a well made short visual novel adventure, the custom animations and art are really pretty good.

Novella by NewBlack & Narcodis

 

The Lovers (Les Amants) is a 1928 painting by René Magritte, and if you give a look to that painting you will see the protagonists of this game, two figures that apparently have their faces shrouded by white cloth. These are indeed two lovers, or better, they were. The game is their story and we play as the male character as he explores a surreal landscape solving musical puzzles.

Novella is a short adventure/puzzle game: the game mainly consist on exploration of some restricted areas that are pretty well mapped and atmospheric, where the protagonist has to solve some musical puzzles. These three puzzles consists basically in trying to mimic the notes from a violin using a piano, and I guess it's not really easy if you do know play musical instruments. There are no battles, no inventory management, nor risk of death. The main menu is particularly impressive.

Download Link

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de

 

Random Fact: this game was made for the 2011 Rmn Summer event. Although it's released as a complete game, it's a first chapter that ends with a screen that says "end of part one" leaving the story incomplete.  

 

 

Final Verdict: Novella is a weird game, some ideas are great, other aspects not so much. The story is obscure and seems incomplete with the mentioning of just a part one, but I may be wrong of course (maybe part 2 is just what hopes.the protagonist, to turn back time and restart). The puzzle are ok, strange but not bad, maybe a bit difficult but there is a solution for all of them on the game page, so it is impossible to be stuck on any parts. Maps and graphics are the best part of the game, but aside from style and presentation (that are clearly important) there isn't much else.

The story is weird, maybe incomplete due the strict time requirements of the event or maybe is it is a personal expression of a real life experience of the author. Who knows? The problem is that it is rather vague and... somehow it seems it could have been a bit better. I also do not like some choices, like when you perform a task you read that "a door has opened"! Ok. But where? How? Why?
Lots of questions and no answers, yes. Anyway this is not a bad game, it is ok, very stylish and quite short even if I am pretty sure that most players will have difficulties with those puzzles.  

Final Fantasy Time and Again by Azrael & Sephiroth X

 

The world is in a state of flux. The Baron Army, the most powerful nation in the world, has inexplicably begun attacks against other nations in a blitzkrieg attempt to gather all of the Crystals of the Elements. While the people of Baron are confused, their King is well loved for his service to the people up to this point. As his support dwindles, attacks come out in larger force, with the Dark Knights, Dragoons, and the Baron Red Wing airship fleet coming out in more violent shows of force each time.

 

In the midst of this, a loyal Dragoon of the Baron Army, a half-demon orphan of Mysidia, and an unbalanced Psionic wanderer will meet, their fates locked together until the end of this madness, and will begin a constant struggle for peace... 

 

Final Fantasy Time and Again is a fangame based on the world and some events of Final Fantasy IV. The characters of that game will appear from time to time, but the game focuses on the four core characters of the game. Like Kain, the protagonist Azrael is a Dragoon and the game closely resemble the original source game, sending the party of original characters all around the world and making them interact with the various characters seen before. Expect dungeons, puzzles and battles.

 

Download Link

Rmarchiv.de 

 

Youtube Playthrough 

 

Random Fact: this is one of the few FF fangames that includes a working Jump attack mechanic. It's cumbersome but well integrated into the Rpgmaker 2003 system.

 

Final Verdict: this is a brillian fangame that while incomplete, it's 8-10 hours long. Mapping is pretty good and it really represent a case of well made fangame and entertaining story that involves new characters inside a familiar setting.

Four Sided Triangle by Majin Sam

 

The protagonist is Hennu Katsuya that recently moved with his mother to the town of Onanne. Being a classic teenager he has to go to school but something happens on the way and becomes involved in a battle between the city guards and some dark knights followed by the appearance of mysterious portals around his new home. After this event he starts to help Jonouchi, one of his schoolmates, that apparently is a sort of secret-soldier/agent that works with the town guard. For Hennu this is the beginning of a great adventure.

 

Four Sided Triangle is a fantasy Rpgmaker jrpg with a serious plot but also comedy moments. The system is classic, heroes have Alchemy powers that are linked to the elements, Hennu for example will learn how to use electricity powers, and enemies have strength and weaknesses to these elements. But the game includes also races and puzzles to be solved.

 

Download Link

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de

Random Fact: the game constantly references to the Full Metal Alchemist anime. For example Hennu is said to look like Edward Elric to that anime, moreover he will have to learn Alchemy during the course of the adventure. Unsurprisingly there are golems in this game too, even if they are more similar to the fantasy counterparts rather than to those of the anime.

 

Final Verdict: Four Sided Triangle is a pretty good demo, pity for the imprecisions and mapping issues especially in the later parts, but I can say it's an enjoyable experience if you want to try an old-school Rpgmaker jrpg that is not too serious. Despite the lack of polish you can still have some fun with this little unfinished game thanks to the variety of tasks, the humor, and fun classic party-based jrpg gameplay, if you can tolerate the silly parts and quite random events, but better if you can enjoy them! 

Overall not bad at all!

1873 by LouisCyphre

 

The year is 1873. Law-enforcement is non-existant in the small trail town of Tombstone, Texas. Bandits, drunkards, crooked gamblers, and killers walk undeterred. Crimes are committed without regard to consequences, because there ARE no consequences.

 

Enter Mardsen Dustine. With his handful of allies, he is charged with clearing out the filth from Tombstone. Each month of the year 1873, you'll bring in various bounties and wanted men, cuminating each month with a showdown with a particularly dangerous opponent. As you progress and your fame grows, the rewards you reap will grow as well - but so will your notoriety and the danger it entails. Can you survive a year in the West?

 

 

1873 can be defined as a western-themed rpg/adventure: the game in fact consists into a linear series of missions that our bounty hunters will take. Sometimes they have to capture a dangerous criminal, others they have to rescue someone, in any case all boils down to dungeon delving adventure, fighting bandits, solving few puzzles and facing enemy bosses. Restocking is possible in some cases even during missions.

Battlers are custom made by the author, that also made all the graphics for a game posted previously, Speak no Evil. 

Download Link

Rpgmaker.net

Rmarchiv.de 

 

Random Fact: this game is more a prototype than a real demo and it includes some unnamed and non-interactive characters that were supposed to enable some extra optional quests and features.

Final Verdict: I admit, despite some lack of polish this game is strangely addictive, maybe for the simple and fast battles or the wild west charm, a very unusual occurrence in rpgmaker games. I only wish maps were a bit more refined and populated, but I know that this is a demo of a cancelled game, still it was a promising prototype!