Mystic Ark Review - RonMan Gaming

Please enjoy my review for Mystic Ark. This is not a sequel to "The 7th Saga" but due to its similarities, it was going to be renamed to "The 7th Saga 2" for its North American release...which never actually happened.
#snes #rpg #retrogaming

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

Also, the 7th Saga is NOT hard, you just aren't playing it right. Once you get to the Bonro and Zellis area, unless you are playing Olvan, STAY THERE, and duel characters while getting free new equipment upgrades from your friends. Then you blaze through the game at level 30-40. Mystic Ark is far too easy in the battles.

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

7th Saga is a game where you need to grind and level a lot, but this can be done in a fun way by having duels with 3 or 4 of the apprentices. It's also a good idea to save state your seeds and levels, so that you don't get bad levels. If you do that, it's not that hard. I have beat this game with every character, you just need to be prepared.

[@rodrigosaavedra7283]

Thanks for the recommendation I'm trying to play and this helps me a lot

[@NESADDICT]

Dang a thanksgiving release?!

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah dude! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@erockbrox8484]

What I don't understand is how games like these were even made. Obviously the game had a budget and some talented artists and programmers behind it. But the people who made the game don't know how to make a good game? Like the healing and save points? Didn't the developers test out the game and check to see if its fun to play. Did the developers play Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 4,5,6 on the SNES? All you have to do is play some good RPG's and copy the formula for your own. Once a good formula has been established then you just follow that as a template for your own game. But people who make bad games and programming menus and such that are not fun to navigate, like its like they never played a good RPG themselves.

[@allenyates3469]

7th saga "unreasonably difficult" 😂😂😅😅. You poor sweet summer child...

[@NoKneeHobbit68]

This game is really visually appealing to me, but it looks like one that would zap my patience almost immediately.

[@RonManGaming]

Haha yeah you're right about that. I do have a lot of patience but there were a few times throughout the game where I wanted to tap out.

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

In world 2, you reach a cave with rolling rocks that knock you into a pit with enemies every time you can't avoid time. You have to climb this long area and duck to the right to avoid the rocks, but the final rock NEVER gives you enough time, and I have tried waiting, they are all the same time.

[@totemlordreviews7242]

Never heard of this one before. I own 7th Saga but have yet to dive into it. How did you come across this one? Just curious

[@RonManGaming]

I can't remember how exactly I found out about this, but I must have either seen it in a video or read about it. I spent probably too much time looking into retro video games lol.

[@timebravo]

Nice monster design and music is superior. The weakness is on the storyline and battle model: game main characters with no stories behind, it is easily getting bored

[@RonManGaming]

I agree, for sure.

[@barry-allenthe-flash8396]

The whole point about every place you location having its own self-contained, episodic story is kinda cool. I've only played a couple games like that, but they're some of my favorites. Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen has elements of that, as does Chrono Trigger after all, and both are classics (both written by Yuji Horii too). Have you ever played or heard of Esper Dreams 2 on the Famicom (but an NES version exists thanks to fan translations and reproduction carts)? That's a pretty cool example of this kind of story structure, and doubly impressive since its done on 8-bit hardware. This is the first video of yours I've ever seen - I just read about Super Bomberman 2 on Hardcore Gaming 101 and heard about Produce (apparently the 5 Super Bomberman games were co-developed between Hudson and Produce), and Mystic Ark was mentioned, so I went looking for a video review of it 'cuz it had a cool JRPG name, lol - but I'm definitely subbing! If this review is anything to go by, you do great stuff! But you also have a lot of back-catalog to work through, so if you've looked at Esper Dreams 2 already, my bad! I'll find it eventually. I'm gonna check out your review on Warrior: Legend of the Blue Dragon next (again, I've never heard of it, but that's _a cool sounding title)_ and start diving into your other vids now. Great work, RonMan!

[@RonManGaming]

Welcome to my channel! Thanks for subbing and wathcing - I very much appreciate that! I have not heard of Esper Dreams 2 but I will absolutely check that out! Thanks again!

[@Cyril86]

If I ever played 7th Saga again I'd get one of the mods that restore the original japanese difficulty.

[@RonManGaming]

Yeah that wouldn't be a bad idea.

[@Cyril86]

@jeffcotten1081 Yeah, that is what I said.

[@charlene2400]

Want hard & thankless? Try Secret of the Stars, lol. I had to suffer with that one an entire year, before the net could answer all.

[@RonManGaming]

Haha actually I have that game and it's on my back log lol. I'll get to it one day.

[@charlene2400]

@@RonManGaming there's a reason it's not even on cheap multicarts, lol

[@marco_robert]

Hey. I am unable to get the translated version. Can you help or share any link? I have tried lots of times.

[@RonManGaming]

Hey Marco. I ended up buying a reproduction cart off Ebay. It wasn't too expensive.

[@marco_robert]

@@RonManGaming Hey I appreciate your reply. Would definitely check that out!

[@rossmerchant8435]

Both 7th Saga and Mystic Ark sound so conceptually interesting and this one looks gorgeous with the animated Mortal Kombat-esque battle sprites, so it's such a bummer that neither stick the landing. I just don't have the tolerance for this level of tedium without a worthwhile plot, even with guides and savestates. For anyone like me who is on the hunt for that one more hidden gem SNES RPG, I would whole-heartedly recommend Treasure of the Rudras, which is also flawed but manages to be greater than the sum of its parts in a way that these don't seem to be. Open to recommendations as well since I think I've gone through everything worth playing. Has anyone tried Far East of Eden Zero?

[@Imorajna]

Brain Lord OST In the beginning of the video?! Nice touch

[@pablofernandez7037]

👎🏻

[@RetroRivals]

Think I’ll pass on this game but thanks for the awesome review. Cheers 🍻

[@RonManGaming]

Hahaha yeah you're not missing much by skipping this one. Normally, I love SNES RPGs, but I was happy to finally finish this one and move on.

[@alexh2790]

I wonder how the Dynamic Designs translation is? I ran into a few bugs in this one. One dungeon the arrow floors did nothing, and in the underground lab just before it, the game would hard lock if you went back through the elevator.

[@RonManGaming]

Oh really? Yikes! What a waste of time to have those types of bugs show up.

[@tonymarsala6939]

Hell yea happy Thanksgiving bro Great review,got a RetroPie 4 so I can play these games now Any thoughts on using one I will have to watch your older videos to find any hidden gems in this era

[@RonManGaming]

I've never used a retropie or anything similar so i'm not sure how good of an experience they are. But thanks for watching, dude!

[@InfiniteComboReviews]

This is my first time ever hearing about this game.

[@RonManGaming]

That's why you're subbed to RonMan Gaming lol

[@backinthedaygamer]

l liked the video but you def did not sell me on this game lol. I suppose that was the point.

[@RonManGaming]

Haha I sold it the best I could.

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

Don't worry, it's impossible once you reach the cave with the rolling boulders.

[@mchevre]

Absolutely not impossible. I’m sorry you had difficulty but don’t spread misinformation. The boulders are tricky but not even close to impossible. I got through it, yes with the male character, with little trouble.

[@RetroReminiscence]

I have never played this one, which is isn’t surprising since I’m not a seasoned RPG player. But the interacting with everything reminds me of all the interacting I did in Shenmue on the DC back in the day. But from the sound of your review this one is not really memorable and skippable. But I still love that you talked about it on the channel cause I’m sure info about it on KZbin is scarce. Great stuff man

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

Did you even playing this game, or just grab stock footage from cheaters? I feel like if you had actually played it, you would've at least mentioned the impossible rocks in world 2.

[@RonManGaming]

Thanks for watching! No, I certainly played it - I capture all of my own footage. I named my Character 'Ronnie' and you can see that in the footage. For those rocks, every second rock gives enough time to get passed. Try that then let me know.

[@EmeraldEyesBibleSecrets]

@@RonManGaming I was only able to beat it with the female hero on my other save. I don't know if she's faster, or the game is just kinder somehow. It definitely isn't every second rock for the male hero, unless it's some kind of rom or patch difference. I was amazed at how much easier it was with her. So I guess I'll continue with that file at least.

[@mchevre]

I played with the male character and it seemed like every second rock for me. You just have to be exact as there’s only exactly enough time with no moment to spare .

[@rickykeim2005]

Hey Ron just wondering have you played Chrono Trigger ? It's well known so you probably Have and I've played through the Game many times myself.

[@RonManGaming]

Hey Ricky! Yes I've played Chrono Trigger many times as well! It's one of my favourite games ever. I have it CIB for both SNES and DS.

[@rickykeim2005]

@@RonManGaming did you ever Go straight to Lavos in the Beginning of the Game? after Marle Disappears you can find a Green blip on one of Lucca's Teleport Pads this will take you right to Lavos. I did this accidentally once. or have you ever Forgotten to Feed Crono's Cat? it changes up the ending a bit.