Baten Kaitos I: HD Remaster - Review (Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean) Switch

[@tabcat9]

This is a very standout game from my childhood that I hold dearly in memory. In fact, I still have the GameCube game, and recently sold all my other games except this one because it’s just special to me. I had no idea it was re-released on the switch so thank you for making this video. I was a child at the time of playing so I can’t exactly remember the content, I just remember the story really stood out to me as well as the deck building (I hadn’t played a game like this before). Some of the music is still on my playlists to this day. Watching your video has made me so excited to replay this game, honestly. I love it so much.

[@fancywaffles]

Yes. Play Origins. The story and the way it connects to BK1 is so good. I'm legit gonna miss the English dub though, it's very good in Origins (although I like BK1 too, it was full of charm). I'm surprised you didn't mention the story actually. BK1 has one of my favorite plot twists from that time period. Maybe it's just the nostalgia talking, but I was blown away the first time I played it.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Without spoiling anything, I didn't really buy into the twist. I didn't like how it panned out, or any of the motivations for it happening. Or how it was resolved. Good to hear origins is good!

[@fancywaffles]

@HellFireRPGs it really worked for me, but I also played it when it first came out so maybe I was just easier to impress back then. Heh.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yeah, I think it probably would have had an entirely different impact on me back in the early 2000s.

[@windego999]

Yeah, the Origins dub was absolutely amazing and the main trio of heroes each had fantastic performances. That's why it's so shitty that we're not getting the dub.

[@pilarcases4190]

Same. I try Origins but I not understand

[@crispy_asch7110]

I've always wanted to play this game, but I might pass bc of the lack of English dub. 2000s crappy dub adds a lot of charm to these games, and it makes me actually enjoy the hours of grinding.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yeah, I went back to see some Gamecube footage. It was cheesy as hell, but definitely charming.

[@AcidWords1]

It's definitely still worth picking up.

[@IMRavnos]

I am the opposite, bad dubs destroy immersion for me. Would much rather hear Japanese than ear poison. Never ceases to drive me crazy that there are phenomenal English voice actors... yet Jrpgs almost never get subbed by these people. Instead they get dubbed by middle aged women and men trying to sound like 6-26 year olds and then are directed NOT to "Act" but to "Match the speed and tone" of the Japanese dub. The result is just terrible. Makes me truly appreciate 80% of Tales of Vesperia voice acting as only a couple of NPCs and ONE PC sounded like bad 1990's Anime dub garbage.

[@leolightfellow]

2nd game is worth playing. :) It's also very different from the first, so some people like the 2nd more and some people like the 1st more. Surprised you didn't mention that the first one also has the best plot twist of any video game ever. It blows people's minds when they first come across it. So awesome! :)

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yeah. I mentioned in another comment that I really didn't buy it. Probably a result of playing rpgs for 25 years lol

[@captainthunderbolt7541]

The plot twist is pretty much the same as the one in KOTOR, though I think that was just coincidence.

[@pilarcases4190]

I have a question: I die a lot in Origins and I not know how revive my allies in the Battle. Please tell me what Button I have to use for It. I have the Magnus Cordial Fate

[@eldritchautomaton]

Before watching this video, just want to say that I absolutely love Baten Kaitos, and any coverage is good coverage. I got the remaster myself and while I have some issues (what the hell is up with performance? And why did they just change the entire design of the main menu? And why is there no english va? Why did they feel the need to censor things and add their own bs to the translation?) with the remaster, I am still have a blast playing through my favorite JRPG from my childhood.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Well, yeah, I had a problem with a few of those issues, haha. I'm really glad this exists, so people like me can finally see what it's all about.

[@flygonic]

This is the RPG I hold closest to my heart because it's the one that introduced me to the genre back in 2003 when I was 15 yo. Still can't believe I'm playing this on the Switch 20 years later. I will never forget how I literally jumped off my couch the day they announced it on that Nintendo Direct.

[@j0nnyism]

Same here this and symphonia on the GameCube

[@redstratus97]

Loved loved loved this game! Got the full soundtracks from play Asia as well when the GC version came out. Number 4 best JRPG of all time for me! Everyone play it!

[@HellFireRPGs]

Gotta know your top three now!

[@redstratus97]

@@HellFireRPGs I haven’t played as many JRPGs as you have. But right now my top 3 is: 1. Final Fantasy X 2. Final Fantasy 7 (original PS1 version) 3. Xenosaga 3

[@HellFireRPGs]

Three amazing games right there. Worthy of anyones top three ;)

[@pmtazekiel]

I love these games. So glad they weren't forgotten... now could we get Skies of Arcadia...? Probably not

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yup. Another game stuck in the past. Surely it'll come eventually.

[@SeveredLegs]

You are totally right about the long regular battles. Those attack animations were super slow, which was fine when you first enter a new area and find new enemies, but eventually it's obnoxious when you're backtracking or trying to figure out where to go.

[@HellFireRPGs]

When did you first play the game? Interested to know if it really annoyed people all those years ago.

[@SeveredLegs]

Back in the day when it came out the first time. Got past the Geldoblame battle but put it down for a long time after that. Replated it during 2020 and had a wonderful time. I would say past halfway through the game is when the battles really started to feel slow. When I was younger, I had more time and perhaps a different mentality/focus. Enjoyed the game much more the second (complete) time but was less annoyed the original time. By the time I got to those block puzzles with the flames, I made sure to use a guide because at the tender age of 40, there was no way in HELL that I was gonna sit and figure that stuff out. @@HellFireRPGs

[@marcrics]

I haven't played this in a while but I remember the battle system frustrated me a lot so having the option to make that easier to get through the great story helped. Having a break then going back to do Origins.

[@Raphtor13]

Played the originals on GC and loved them.

[@jmxarcx117]

Bro great review, shows understanding of the game and intelligently describes its goods and bad. i can tell you really played the game and understand it. Definitely a sub

[@longers1028]

My biggest question was if they fixed the ultr-compressed audio of the english VO. I'm sad to hear they just gave up and scrapped the English VO altogether.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yup. Such a shame.

[@j0nnyism]

Just wouldn’t have been economical

[@captainthunderbolt7541]

They removed the English dub due to the fact that the English script was censored, and no longer matched the dub.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Cheers. Do you have any details on what parts were censored?

[@elchingue]

I think you can use the original Game Cube controller with the correct adapter... or get current GC type controllers

[@HellFireRPGs]

Yeah, I will look into that before I jump into the second.

[@swordfish1390]

You should absolutely play Origins! I personally consider it to be vastly superior to this game, and I can safely say that it (Origins) is one of my favorite games of all time.

[@julieb3240]

I got the collection just to play Origins. Already beat the original game a long time ago and I liked it. It was pretty nice. ^_^/

[@HellFireRPGs]

Great to hear! A few people have said I should play it. Looks like I'll be giving it a shot! thanks.

[@FaerieFaye]

@@HellFireRPGs Origins adds a lot to the first game. Recontextualizes the whole series and clears up the plot. Origins characters are strong and combat is more fast pace.

[@swordfish1390]

No problem! The only bummer is that, as you said in the video, neither game has an English dub option, which I found especially disappointing in Origins, since that dub is really good.

[@redstratus97]

Vastly superior?! No no. Better graphics, better sounds and nice to have more information about the world and some emotional scenes. But it’s overall story just fails in comparison to the first game. Origins plot twist was just laughably over the top silly and stupid and IMO should have never been done.

[@---nd2yx]

Agree wholeheartedly with this. Like the game overall, fond memories, but definitely outdated in some ways and overall way too grindy and too much of a slog to get through. The quality of life improvements in the remaster are a godsend for this game. Doing all the side quests and trying out all the combos without a guide is a miserable experience as well, but with this thankfully not being a game with trophies (as an OCD completionist I’d get the Platinum no matter what) it’s fine if you simply don’t do everything.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Thanks! There was no way I was about to 100% it. Just saw the speed run record was 14 days, lol

[@AcidWords1]

I love the games, but what's the deal with the difficulty spikes? I'm about to tear my hair out on the Ungo Angyo boss fight on the first game.

[@real_Furryratchet]

Baten Kaitos Origins is the superior game in any way! Story, Characters, Combat System, Music - everything is better in the 3nd game

[@HellFireRPGs]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@real_Furryratchet]

I mean 2nd game! Well combat is subjective. But I love the more fast paced game over the slow pace from the first game :)@@HellFireRPGs

[@redstratus97]

If you liked the first game then yes Origins is indeed worth playing. It’s a good prequel but fails to live up to the first game IMO.

[@windwaker0rules]

I did pirate this game back in the day, pal region and scalp prices hurt, origins is better and I wonder if they will censor the music and crosses again

[@alanramirogarcia2886]

Time to redeem yourself buying it today 😅

[@HellFireRPGs]

I got my Gamecube very late (around the time the games started leaving shelves) so I never even saw it on Aussie shelves.

[@fitforchrist1990]

It would've been near perfect if they just added the English dub

[@HellFireRPGs]

Massive issue!

[@Artimes.]

2:37 can you please go into this a bit more. What exactly did they change in terms of polictical correctness?

[@HellFireRPGs]

What I understand from that statement is they removed the voices because they didn't match the expressions of the characters. Doesn't really make sense to me.

[@Artimes.]

@@HellFireRPGs hmm, Yeah I am going to have to see a side by side comparison. I can either look it up on youtube or just play the OG because I have the game my self. I heard something along the lines that certain protrayal of specific scenes would not be acceptable this day and age. Maybe its the whole sexist female steriotypes or something but I'm not sure.

[@HellFireRPGs]

@link9us Interesting. did a bit of digging but didn't find anything specific. If you find something, let me know.

[@Chelaxim]

I love both games but Origins more. One opinion I have on the first game that hasn't changed in 20 years is nobody in the game has drip. From major characters to nameless NPC everyone has ugly clothes.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Hah, I actually commented on their dress sense in the review :D

[@PM-xc8oo]

As much as I was looking forward to playing through these on a modern system with widescreen support and QOL improvements, I just can't get past the censorship and complete removal of English voice acting. They literally had to go out of their way to make this game worse.

[@Letzer]

It felt like you didn't really want to play this game, and that's ok. The port was horrendous, that definitely didn't help. While BK Origin is an improvement over this game in most aspects, I don't think you'll have any more fun than you had with this one. I suggest you focus on games you think you'll like and the passion will shine through-- and your motivation to look up fun trivia about them might give me a know the fact video. hehe I miss your "know the Facts" video. It's sad that they didn't perform as good as your reviews.

[@HellFireRPGs]

I absolutely wanted to play this game. I just found a few flaws that held it back a bit. Even so, the score I gave was a positive one. I miss know the facts too, haha. I found a few that come to mind: The gnosis boss, kosmos card, and the developer pens.

[@Letzer]

@@HellFireRPGs Did you know about the 14days 100% "speedrun"for this game? Yes. 14 days.

[@HellFireRPGs]

@Letzer wow! That's actually super impressive to get all SP combos, and get through all the random battles in such a short amount of time.

[@Letzer]

​@@HellFireRPGs You know how some card upgrade after some time? Well the shampoo card takes 336h to become another card. That is why the 100% speedrun takes so long. The only way to get this upgraded card is to wait. haha The almost 100% speedrun (excludes the shampoo) is around 80h

[@HellFireRPGs]

@@Letzer what a crazy game, haha. I had a quick look at the sp combos online. Think I'll need to have a closer look, lol

[@joearnold6881]

The English dubs were so bad that new players would probably drop the game. Back in the day bad dubs were more common, and we look back with nostalgia. “Just make it an option” doesn’t help, because unless you had a warning like “would you like to use the original English dub? Warning: it’s pretty awful and embarrassing”, most new people will just leave it on by default it and have the bad experience. Me, I respect the creator’s vision, and that bad dub wasn’t it.

[@SeveredLegs]

Too long of an intro, plus begging for subscriptions before providing any actual content.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Sorry for trying to make a living. I'm sure you would ask your employer for support/money if they didn't pay you.

[@SeveredLegs]

@@HellFireRPGs come on don't be a crybaby about it. What about waiting until partway through the video or at the end? Asking for subs before anyone could possibly know if they want to subscribe?

[@HellFireRPGs]

@SeveredLegs if you would like me to justify it, fine. Both my analytics, and global analytics show, that not everyone watches a video until the end, and I don't want to break up the meat of the review for an advert (I know some creators do, but I find that annoying). It's a minor content creation strategy that a lot of successful channels use. Most of the reviews that you watch or read are a result of business goals. You employ strategies that are proven successful. I want to be successful so that more people will view my content. If one or two people are annoyed that I spend 15 seconds asking for support, fine. Can't please them all.

[@keiichimorisato98]

I know you already have the game digitally thanks to Bandai sending you a code, but are you likely to buy the pgtsicsl edition?