Some Thoughts on Fragile Dreams and HOTD: Overkill

Having only recently acquired a Nintendo Wii, I thought instead of writing the thesis chapter I desperately need to write, I would attempt to discuss some games that have impressed me in my limited playtime with it thus far. The first game that I acquired for the system was Fragile Dreams. I was immediately struck by its strong and distinctive visual style. For those unfamiliar with the game, it's an adventure title by Namco/Tri-Crescendo reminiscent of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (not quite as dark though). The image above is one that I think perfectly captures what this game attempts to convey with its visuals. Fragile Dreams is set in a post-apocalyptic society, one that has been interrupted by an unknown catastrophic event and begun to decay. If this were a western game, the environments would probably be drab neutrals - browns, blacks, greys, as has been the frequent complaint against games such as Fallout 3. The difference in approach is obvious. Although Fragile Dreams, much like Fallout, is concerned with the world as we know it in a state of ruin, it is much more aestheticised.
 
I think this is an effective approach because it makes the world more complex, mysterious, and emotionally ambiguous: even if this is a post-apocalyptic world where the protagonist is possibly the only person left alive, it can also be seen as beautiful. Nature is quick to reclaim what humanity relinquishes in death. This reminds me of a style of Japanese photography that seeks to find beauty solely in decay and impermanence. Instead of people, the game world seems to solely be populated by cicadas, fireflies, cats, and innumerable hostile ghosts who manifest as the emotional residue of those long-dead. However, the game isn't always a natural paradise. Much time is also spent exploring rusty, nasty-looking, and darkened shopping malls and train stations littered with trash and so on. The game can become quite eerie on occasions when the darkness coincides with Silent Hill-esque sound effects (making good use of the Wii remote). The game maintains a nice balance between being visually lush and creepy.
 
Unfortunately I can't say much more than that at this stage, as I haven't gotten very far into the game. So far the design choices in sound and visuals have been excellent, emphasising what the Wii can do well - putting emphasis on design rather than just the technicalities of the engine. However, I can safely say that this is not in any way a bad game as some reviewers are suggesting, definitely not a 3 or 4 out of 10 anyway. Has there been some secret meeting where reviewers have decided to hate on Japanese games now? The graphics and sound are excellent, the writing is polished, and it is laden with atmosphere, everything an adventure game needs to be excellent.
 
HOTD: Overkill
 
Basically, this game is awesome. Its visuals remind me a lot of the film Planet Terror from Grindhouse, with its liberal use of film grain, visual artefacts, slow-down effects, etc. Unfortunately, the engine is kind of bad as it suffers from frequent slowdown, but the style is such an effective pastiche of 70s grindhouse films that I can't help but forgive the game. Again, a strong and distinctive style does much to overcome the game's shortfalls in comparison to more technically impressive games. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TL;DR Maybe I'm just sick of the Unreal Engine?

Having only recently acquired a Nintendo Wii, I thought instead of writing the thesis chapter I desperately need to write, I would attempt to discuss some games that have impressed me in my limited playtime with it thus far. The first game that I acquired for the system was Fragile Dreams. I was immediately struck by its strong and distinctive visual style. For those unfamiliar with the game, it's an adventure title by Namco/Tri-Crescendo reminiscent of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (not quite as dark though). The image above is one that I think perfectly captures what this game attempts to convey with its visuals. Fragile Dreams is set in a post-apocalyptic society, one that has been interrupted by an unknown catastrophic event and begun to decay. If this were a western game, the environments would probably be drab neutrals - browns, blacks, greys, as has been the frequent complaint against games such as Fallout 3. The difference in approach is obvious. Although Fragile Dreams, much like Fallout, is concerned with the world as we know it in a state of ruin, it is much more aestheticised.
 
I think this is an effective approach because it makes the world more complex, mysterious, and emotionally ambiguous: even if this is a post-apocalyptic world where the protagonist is possibly the only person left alive, it can also be seen as beautiful. Nature is quick to reclaim what humanity relinquishes in death. This reminds me of a style of Japanese photography that seeks to find beauty solely in decay and impermanence. Instead of people, the game world seems to solely be populated by cicadas, fireflies, cats, and innumerable hostile ghosts who manifest as the emotional residue of those long-dead. However, the game isn't always a natural paradise. Much time is also spent exploring rusty, nasty-looking, and darkened shopping malls and train stations littered with trash and so on. The game can become quite eerie on occasions when the darkness coincides with Silent Hill-esque sound effects (making good use of the Wii remote). The game maintains a nice balance between being visually lush and creepy.
 
Unfortunately I can't say much more than that at this stage, as I haven't gotten very far into the game. So far the design choices in sound and visuals have been excellent, emphasising what the Wii can do well - putting emphasis on design rather than just the technicalities of the engine. However, I can safely say that this is not in any way a bad game as some reviewers are suggesting, definitely not a 3 or 4 out of 10 anyway. Has there been some secret meeting where reviewers have decided to hate on Japanese games now? The graphics and sound are excellent, the writing is polished, and it is laden with atmosphere, everything an adventure game needs to be excellent.
 
HOTD: Overkill
 
Basically, this game is awesome. Its visuals remind me a lot of the film Planet Terror from Grindhouse, with its liberal use of film grain, visual artefacts, slow-down effects, etc. Unfortunately, the engine is kind of bad as it suffers from frequent slowdown, but the style is such an effective pastiche of 70s grindhouse films that I can't help but forgive the game. Again, a strong and distinctive style does much to overcome the game's shortfalls in comparison to more technically impressive games. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 TL;DR Maybe I'm just sick of the Unreal Engine?

I've never seen a post apocalyptic environment realised so beautifully in a game before. Fragile creates a wonderful almost dream like ambiance, that tugs on all the heart strings of the artist in me. I love the game despite it's few flaws, I honestly couldn't care less about the games combat, which I'm sure the majority of Westerners will have an aversion to. The prime focus of this game is it's ambiance and story, something I myself appreciate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did, I happen to think in some ways this game is ahead of it's time.
  
It captured my imagination, and I do love it for that alone 

Nice post. I'll definitely take a look at Fragile Dreams now. I loved Shattered Memories. 
and yes HOTD is awesome.

"

 Basically, this game is awesome. Its visuals remind me a lot of the film Planet Terror from Grindhouse, with its liberal use of film grain, visual artefacts, slow-down effects, etc. Unfortunately, the engine is kind of bad as it suffers from frequent slowdown, but the style is such an effective pastiche of 70s grindhouse films that I can't help but forgive the game. Again, a strong and distinctive style does much to overcome the game's shortfalls in comparison to more technically impressive games. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 "

Agreed about Fragile, but I was quite disappointed with Overkill's low frame rate and less than perfect calibration which made it feel lesser to HoTD 2&3 Return and Ghost Squad. It's still a fun game for sure, but these two are the lightgun games I tend to recommend (more than Extraction, more than the Chronicles games, as they lack proper calibration). It's baffling so many games meant to be lightgun games skip the calibration process that SEGA has mastered with their own arcade ports and end up being "Wii remote pointing" games instead of near perfect arcade-like experiences that work great with lightgun shells like the sweet Hand Cannon. Now, not every game needs that, for example something like Sin & Punishment 2 is not meant to be a lighgun game, so "Wii remote pointing" and the nunchuck controls to actually move your character as in a shmup are the intended, and perfect, controls, but games like some I mentioned were clearly meant to be arcade-like experiences, yet fail to offer that. Some make up for it in some ways (like the length, visuals, and fan service of the Chronicles games) but it wouldn't have been hard to make the games even better, great even, simply by copying SEGA's perfected calibration process. </rant>

" @owl_of_minerva said:

"

 Basically, this game is awesome. Its visuals remind me a lot of the film Planet Terror from Grindhouse, with its liberal use of film grain, visual artefacts, slow-down effects, etc. Unfortunately, the engine is kind of bad as it suffers from frequent slowdown, but the style is such an effective pastiche of 70s grindhouse films that I can't help but forgive the game. Again, a strong and distinctive style does much to overcome the game's shortfalls in comparison to more technically impressive games. 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 "

I really loved this simply for the simple reason that is was fun.  I mean laugh out loud, shoot the hell out of stuff fun.  It was the most fun I have had in a game in a very long time.  I mean, I enjoy games a lot, but this was significant fun and isn't that why we play games?  It is also cheap, so I think anyone with a Wii is mad not to play it, unless of course if they are easily offended and it is offensive.  You are right about the engine, but it didn't harm my fun at all.  As for Fragile, I don't have it yet, but desperately want to play it.  It is a game like this that really makes me annoyed at mainstream game retailers.  I have not seen a single copy of this game in any local store.  I saw it a few weeks back at JB and that is it.  How the hell is the public supposed to buy it when all the regular retail outlets don't even stock it?  Nice right up, and it just increase my desire to get it. "

" @oldschool said:

"  Have your tried calling them all up and asking if it's ever been in stock? (databases should tell them), if it hasn't, due to it's somewhat niche appeal, I would get it online via Amazon UK, the 25 Pounds asking price will lessen the wallet blow of postage costs. it may never turn up second hand.. I'm confident your girls would love it. the emotion and the imagination the game attempts to draw from player would go down well with them. They would of course go gaga over the games art. "

I think I would like both of these games, especially Fragile Dreams. I've had my open for it. Too bad Galaxy 2 is coming out, plus I just bought Anno 1404 or Dawn of Discovery.

That did it, I'm getting Fragile now. 
 
 
I was hesitant because of the bad reviews, but whenever I read up on it, it seems like the game sets its focus and ambition exactly where I want it, even though gameplay-wise it might not be the next Metal Gear Solid.

They lightgun games I mentioned are lazy ports, yes, but what does that have to do with anything? The games are arcade perfect as far as I can tell (well, maybe Ghost Squad doesn't run at its proper frame rate, I can't remember if it was 60 in the arcades, but in any case it doesn't hinder gameplay as it does in Overkill) and are a blast to play, with proper calibration and no technical issues. They launched at budget price so should be really cheap now. Get the Overkill lightgun shell alongside them and you'll have a blast for sure, as long as you like that type of game, unless you disliked their arcade versions. But I guess Overkill is enough for you for now, maybe try different genres instead like Little King's Story and Monster Hunter Tri, and get more such shooters later on.

Sega cleaned up some textures in the HoTD collection.

Lol @ those reviews. So he played games that didn't rely on dark atmospheres fine with those settings, that must mean that they're the perfect settings so he refused to change them for an actually dark title? The other one needs no further comment...

I didn't notice anything enhanced in HoTD 2 & 3 Return but that's cool they did that. HoTD 3 still looks absolutely fine actually, 2 not as much, but is a blast.

1. it's a bit short apparently, 2. there's some backtracking, 3. the inventory system can be annoying (then again, RE has an annoying inventory system), and  4. the combat isn't wonderful.

" @oldschool: On a somewhat related note, is Muramasa available in Australia anywhere, did it even get a release? I really want to play that."

I came very close to purchasing Fragile Dreams (sounds right up my ally), but went with Sin & Punishment 2. Will certainly pick up a copy at some point, though.

" 4. For me, Silent Hill 2 is among the best games ever made. So yeah. Combat isn't an issue if it takes place in a great world. "

I keep meaning to pick up Overkill, I'm sure it's cheap around town.
 
Love some of the gun games soon to be on offer on wii, like Gunblade!!

" @Rallier:  I've finished HOTD, and the ending is brilliant. I especially love the self-aware dialogue sequence after the last boss. "

I thought HoTD Overkill was a blast, it was so much fun and probably the best thing i've played on the Wii thus far. I really enjoyed every second of it, the style, the music, the goofy grindhouse style movie effects, I thought it was pure brilliance. Cannot convey how much I loved that game. 
 
HoTD 2 & 3 return on the other hand offended me with it's very existence. I mean don't get me wrong, I love HoTD 2, 3 is a'ight. But the fact it didn't include HoTD (the original) pissed me off so badly. I get why it didn't, because 2 and 3 use the same engine and whatnot, but damn, I REALLY wanted a release of 1 that I don't have to A) play with a mouse B) buy a Sega Saturn for (i've tried! Both were broken :( ) 
 
As for the other game, thank you for bringing it to my attention, you can colour me geniunely interested i'll have to have a good look around and see if I can find a copy of it locally. It will give me a reason to dust off my Wii, which hasn't been used since HoTD Overkill. But in it's defense, I havn't had a working television in 4 months. :( Just a PC monitor to play my 360 on.

" @oldschool: Yeah, Australian retail is frustrating, especially when they overlook more niche titles on the Wii/DS in favour of the less essential offerings. How is Opoona? Its review scores aren't the highest, but that can be misleading. "

" @Shirogane:  I've only seen it in JB Hi-Fi. Maybe they have some kind of exclusivity with Rising Star Games? "

"@Shirogane:  You should like Fragile Dreams then - I'm guessing it should still be sitting forlornly at a JB near you. Nier doesn't seem as bad as some people are saying, but some of the changes they made to it for localisation purposes really annoy me and make it of much less interest. When will Square Enix realise that the only people who would buy that game want it to be as close to the Japanese experience as possible?  Instead they go and make the protagonist as hideous as possible because they think we prefer it that way (although looking at Kratos, I can see why). "

Just bought Fragile Dreams. There goes my coffee allowance for the rest of the month.

"Although Fragile Dreams, much like Fallout, is concerned with the world as we know it in a state of ruin, it is much more aestheticised."

I have played one and a half hour of Fragile Dreams now. 
 
There is really not much more for me to do other than agree with what was said. Beautiful game, atmosphere, mood, script and voice work - but ohmygod, what a horrible, horrible game design. I really can't blame reviewers for giving this low scores, I would probably do the same. 
 
I got the feeling that this was "meant" to be a game with prerendered backgrounds and that many problems arise from the developers inability of programming 3D world controls, combat, interface etc., not to mention the numerous bugs and glitches. 
 
The combat is unbelievable! :D Does any one know if it is even in any way necessary or serves a greater purpose, story-wise? It feels like they just implemented combat because "hey, it's a videogame and has to have combat in it, eh?" while the game would've been much better off without ANY of the item management, RPG elements and enemies, focusing on the exploration aspect (which is awesome).

I never thought I would buy a Wii, but games like Fragile Dreams finally changed my mind.  Thanks for writing your thoughts on this game, it sounds like something I would enjoy.  My Wii is supposed to arrive tomorrow, unfortunately I forgot about this game and bought other ones with the purchase, will have to pick it up later. When people say combat is 'horrible,' I assume they mean the controls are bad, or that the combat is boring and unchallenging? Those are two different things, although they often come as a pair. I will say that I love a good story more than combat, and I don't mind if controls are fussy if the combat itself is easy enough that I can blast thru it. I am an adventure gamer at heart, not the best at fast-paced combat, although I am working to improve my skills.  I enjoy games like Diablo where you can blast hordes of enemies with a push of a button.  For some reason I find I can do action RPGs but some action games I don't enjoy... not because I don't like the combat but because I find I clench the controller too tightly and always have to stop  when my hands and shoulders have seriously cramped up and it's too painful to keep playing.  Sorry, God of War. :(  I even played Clive Barker's Undying and Max Payne on God Mode and still enjoyed them thoroughly, but that's just me. Undying I think I played thru 3 times, the atmosphere was great.

@owl_of_minerva:
 
No, I'm enjoying myself! Its just such a pity that a good game is marred heavily by a lack of polish/tacked-on combat/bad code
 
I mean, one of the main problems in combat is that the character model and camera get in the way of you even seeing the enemies properly, let alone hit em. Wow.