Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth

"A game you'll never get board of."

Ok, you all know how this game is played, right? No? Oh great, now I have to spend a paragraph explaining about this game.

Evered heard of: Tactics Ogre, Vandal Hearts, or even Final Fantasy Tactics? Yes, they are all Rpg strategy war game, which means you have to move squares by squares. Most of these games you can just move as much as you want and still attack. But this game, you have a Rap Gauge, which can be good or bad. What it simply is it's long bar that limits you to do an amount of things. So you can move 5 spaces but you won't be able to attack according to what the actions are. But as you process further in the game, you can actually move through the whole map!!! Also, when attacking you can do limits of amounts of attack. The more Rap Gauge you use, the more turns you're gonna have to wait.

Graphics--- 10/10 --- Excellent

I personally think these graphics are the best in other Rpg Strategy War game. Like comparing with Final Fantasy Tactics, I also think they are the best, but just some slight errors, but no one will even notice them. I actually like these graphics better then FFT.

Storyline--- 9/10 --- Fantastic

I could give it a 10 but sometimes the game is so boring, you don't have a clue on what the hell they are talking about. Like, first your on your mission to save the world from this guy from conquering the world. You get reinforcements but they stink. Next hours later, you get characters from out of nowhere and they just join you. That is why i give it a 9, but thats not the whole reason. When you go through the game the first time, probably you have no idea what its about. The second time, you get some, but its still so confusing. If you really get this game, then i would actually give it a 10 not a 9.

Sound Effects/ Music--- 8/10 --- Great

I have to say, there are not much musics in this game, and most of them are just so dam annoying. What gets on your nerves is when you go into the battle, omg, you will get so freaken pissed. The music sucks!!! Yes its horrible. It goes from normal, good, and then it just goes outta WACK!!! Also, when any character dies, especially the guys who die not the gals, you don't even know what sound they make! Its like the sound of you want to barf or something. But soon or later, you will get used to the music. Right now it doesn't bother me, its like i kind of like it! No kidding. What also makes up for everything is that some of the music's are quite good and interesting to hear. Also your coins you use, the sounds of the coins are, i have to say this, amazing!!!

Controls--- 9/10 --- Fantastic

If I am gonna right about a FAQ in every RPG Strategy war game, i have to give it a 9. I definitely have to give it because when your in battle, sometimes when you move the curse right, you move up, and if you move the cursor up you move left. So its kind of confusing, but you will definitely get used to it. If thats not your concern about the game, then i would give it a 10.

Gameplay--- 9/10 --- Fantastic

The gameplay is so dam amazing! I like it a lot more then FFT. The reason I give it a 9 is because the enemies raid is insanely big. You can only put a maximum of 7 characters while your enemies can put, let say, 20. But whats good is your character can equip more releable equipment the your enemies. But thats not all, the more people in the battle, the longer the battle takes. Which means you will have to see the enemy one by one. Its gets really boring and you won't like it, but it's worth playing.

Difficulty--- 5 or 10 (not a score, just rating how easy or hard it can be)

This is probably your hardest game in your ''To complete pile''. Whats hard is, ok, once one of your characters die, they are gone for good without any revivement. Meaning if your best character recruitable character dies and is not revived at the end of the battle, that character is GONE for good! And whats even worse is you won't be having a revive coin for a longgggg time. But thats not all. The levels of the enemies. All enemies cannot go over your highest character's level. If you and your enemy are the same level, the enemy have to advantage. But whats good is they have level capture, which means they are stuck at that level if your level goes beyond the level capture. So if you're level 10 and your fighting level 5 people, its a 50/50 chance that the battle will still be hard. But if your atleast 10-20 levels ahead your enemy, forget it, its too easy.

Replayability--- 10/10 --- Excellent

Once you beat the game, you can play again for newer endings but you have to find it out for yourself. Whats even more fun is if you decide start a new game, atleast if your characters are godlikes, this time it won't be and you can actually take on a real challenge for yourself. If not godlike then don't restart your game ever again.

Rent? Buy?

I would definitely just buy this game. Hello!, its a FFT look alike, and i like all games that have good graphics. Just buy it, you'll definitely like it a lot! My prediction is that this game is still out there somewhere even after it's been a year. If you ever get to see this game in stores, its probably lower then $30 already.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/05/02, Updated 09/19/02