SMT: Strange Journey: mapping

[theo]

I've been on the fence about getting Strange Journey when it comes out. More musings are below, but cutting to the chase: how does the mapping work? Is it all auto? Are any annotations available? One thing that annoyed me about 7th Dragon was that I couldn't mark shortcuts when I found them. I've been spoiled by EO, so the ability to make annotations would sway me into picking it up, big-time.

Thanks in advance! And now, my fence-riding thoughts:

Pros:
1. It will be cool (duh!)
2. Soundtrack included (which reminds me, I need to check on EO3 OST)
3. I'm intrigued by the M-rating
4. Grid-based dungeon crawling
5. Localization by Nich and friends

Cons: (at least temporary and definitely specific to me)

1. I have a modest backlog of games to catch up on already

4. I'm getting the DSi XL (I'm leaning towards Burgundy) and I'm trying to curb my spending. (But SMT:SJ will look so cool with a bigger screen!)

3. It's starting to warm up and my gamer-quotient will drop considerable when I can play outside again. (Especially in Indiana, where we just adopted Daylight Saving Time last year. Since we're on the very edge of the Eastern time zone, sunset is almost 10pm. It's weird getting into the mindset of "it just got dark, so it's time to brush those teeth and go to bed".)

[Kimiko]

From what we've seen, Strange Journey uses the same engine as the EO games, so mapping will probably work the same as well. Unless they left out specific aspects of it of course.

Have you considered that the DSi XL's even bigger screens are only bigger in physical dimensions? The pixel dimensions are the same as all DSs, so the result is going to be blockier images. I don't notice it much with my regular DSi (compared to my DS) though, so maybe it won't be that bad.

ETA: There are so many Atlus games that I still need to get (including SMT:SJ), but argh, I shouldn't spend too much money in a short time, and I already ordered a lot of stuff just this month..

[Maxine MagicFox]

psssst: this should go in the Atlus forum where we already have a Strange Journey topic going. Meh. ^_^ It's fine. I'm just going to move this over, ok?

[Kimiko]

After the latest Atlus email, I checked a few gameplay videos of SMT:SJ. I don't see any mapping by hand happening in them, so I guess it's done automatically.

The limited 3D combined with semi-realistic textures still remind me of those old DOOM mods. Or Rise Of The Triad, an even older, even less 3D game.

[noodles]

[Maxine MagicFox]

I don't remember reading about any mapping. I had thought it was along the same lines as Class of Heroes or Dark Spire.

[Vapour Trail]

[theo]

[Kimiko]

[theo]

[Vapour Trail]

[Vapour Trail]

[theo]

[theo]

I've been swayed and I've pre-ordered it via the ItL Store. Hooray!

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

[Vapour Trail]

Nice! It's an excellent dungeon crawler, so I'm sure you'll love it. I beat it three times consecutively for all three endings, so I certainly liked it anyway...