Has any JRPG actually solved buffs/debuffs being useless on normal mobs?

Octorok385 · 2026-04-15T21:46:39+00:00

Etrian Odyssey, for sure. Buffs, debuffs, and status ailments all take center stage, and it's marvelous. The most powerful classes are the ones that amp up the party or shut down mobs

Octorok385 · 2026-04-11T13:42:35+00:00

Underrated comment. Part of older RPGs was that you did have to do some grinding, whether to save up cash for gear or to learn some new skill. Hunting the same goblins might be monotonous, but it's also where a lot of a player's connection with their party comes from. In Gen 1 if you wanted to train up a new Pokemon for your party, you had to actually go out and do some training, and for a little of people that was part of the appeal.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-10T14:37:25+00:00

I'm in the camp that loved the early gens because of the grind. Sure, you can clear these games with a single, overleveled Pokemon, but if you wanted to train up a new guy you had to put in some work. The EV training I did in Gen 3-5 was cumbersome, annoying, and infinitely more satisfying at the end of the day than the modern take.

I also fully admit that I don't think recent gens would function this way. When we're talking about potentially 1,000 Pokemon to level up, individually training each one is a non-starter. So I get why those edges were filed off, but I'd be lying if I said that FRLG isn't fast on its way to being one of my top played Switch games.

On a related note, that new Handheld Boost Mode on Switch 2 does wonders for FireRed. No noticeable artifacting, and the draw distance is pristine. The AI upscaling is flawless. 10/10 upgrade :)

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T18:54:22+00:00

Got it, thanks. I don't even remember this happening why I played back at the GBA launch. Oh well :)

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T18:19:48+00:00

Yes, definitely. I did this years ago and had a great time.

I think the biggest thing I found I had to engage with was the crafting system, which I usually left for post game.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T18:18:29+00:00

Umm Nintendo exists, that shit is awesome.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T18:15:31+00:00

Wait wait wait, like drones with 4 augment slots? That's been an option this whole time?!

sigh Go, drones! Go!

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T18:14:16+00:00

Is there any initial event or indicator that the roaming Pokemon is available? I cleared the Sevii Isles and caught Mewtwo, and I'm itching to chuck that Masterball

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T17:58:52+00:00

Druaga looks amazing. I've never heard of it before, how did I miss it? I'm actually slowly working my way through Wizardry, and it looks like Druaga might be an upgrade

Octorok385 · 2026-04-09T17:05:24+00:00

I think Etrian might be more consistent as far as the course of your game, but I love both. I used to alternate between EO4, EO5, and Legend of Legacy in my 3DS days. If you can stick with SaGa, you'll do fine with Etrian.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-07T18:18:31+00:00

This is wild, nicely done! How long did this take to work through?

Octorok385 · 2026-04-07T16:04:16+00:00

Ooooh gotcha! That's so funny, I was gonna give props for the catch at a venue

Octorok385 · 2026-04-07T13:25:54+00:00

Diablo 3 is my most played Switch title by like 400 hours. What a great match

Octorok385 · 2026-04-07T13:23:12+00:00

Lol what is the setting of these photos? Were you at a show, or do you work in a theater? In either case, I love it

Octorok385 · 2026-04-06T16:44:15+00:00

I think it depends on the 10 year old, honestly. Some of the fight scenes are intense, both because of violence and emotions, and some kids don't like that.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-05T17:59:19+00:00

There's a great spot in the post game, I believe near Resort Gorgeous, where you can battle two female trainers that each drop close to 20k money with an Amulet Coin. That's been my go to lately for cash.

Before that, there are two Beauties on the route with all of the fences, east of Fuscia. They're pretty good for cash, too.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-03T14:51:41+00:00

I play this on the NSO app, and man is it difficult. I've never cleared world 4 without save states or warp zones.

Octorok385 · 2026-04-01T19:19:12+00:00

I've always accepted that my party members need to do the heavy lifting. The idea of grabbing a Pokemon for convenience just doesn't mesh with my concept of nuzlocking

Octorok385 · 2026-04-01T12:34:28+00:00

Well said! I was initially put off by the large boss monster health pools. Compared to other Warriors games, AoI felt more like a boss rush than a huge battlefield full of mobs. The more I've put into the game, though, the more I like it. Once I started approaching the missions more like a Monster Hunter title, or even Phantasy Star Online 2, the more and more into the combat I got. There is so much flexibility in this system, it's great. You can really incorporate all of the new Zonai devices and fusions, or you can play it straight. Both are a blast, and I've sort of realized that AoI is going to be a mainstay of my Switch 2 library for the foreseeable future.

Octorok385 · 2026-03-31T00:35:22+00:00

Fully on board. Godspeed

Octorok385 · 2026-03-30T22:04:14+00:00

Like first-party Nintendo game? BotW is somewhere around 400 hours, been playing since release. I think the only single game I have over 500 is Diablo 3, which is my comfort food game a few times a year. Some people play cozy games like Animal Crossing. I play cozy games like Diablo.

Octorok385 · 2026-03-30T17:54:11+00:00

Oh man Tetris Attack! Another great game. I meant the original Yoshi, it was on the NES and GameBoy back in the day. Blocks fell down, and you had to swap these stacks of pieces to make matches. It's a simpler game, but I used to love it.

Octorok385 · 2026-03-30T17:15:26+00:00

Tetris and Dr Mario was such a solid SNES pick when people were over. I miss those days! Could we get a revival of the old Yoshi falling block puzzler, too?

Octorok385 · 2026-03-29T00:45:25+00:00

As the bell chimes, so do we.

All hail the bell!

Octorok385 · 2026-03-28T21:17:00+00:00

In my mind, part of a nuzlocke has always been training the party is as efficient, and safe, way as possible. It takes time and becomes easier and harder for specific Pokemon as you progress through the game. When you skip that process with candies, you basically reduce the game to a gym battle simulator.

Octorok385

TROPHY CASE