I come close to dieing on every random battle I have. And since you can't use characters like Delita during them, they're around level 5-9 where everyone else is close to 20 already. I don't remember the GBA tactics doing this.

Your abilities and stronger jobs are what should give you an advantage. Given the fact that you can beat the game with characters that are level 1.

Leveling up too much, too early can be dangerous because you won't have access to equivalent equipment. As you level your enemies levels will go up (you knew that) and they will be equipped with corresponding armor, weapons etc. So if you grind too much in Ch. 1 for example your enemies will be leveled up and may be using weapons that won't be available to you until Ch. 3.

I hope that makes sense haha. Now if you are grinding to get JP to get new abilities or job classes there are ways to do it without your level going up, hence you could have good jobs and skills but not have to worry about you enemies levels going up. But i won't get into all that. Let me know if you are still having trouble or want any tips!

I don't remember if the GBA game had this same enemy leveling mechanic or not, but it wasn't a port of the original, it was different, and in general aimed at a younger audience hence the lower difficulty.

BTW I am loving having this game for PSP. I haven't played the PSX version for years.

I ended up buying a PSP today on impulse. I got the Star Wars Battlefront slim pack and I really like it. So far, it's worked perfectly.

I also bought Ratchet and Clank, Socom Bravo Team (used) and Final Fantasy (used.) I've only played Ratchet and Clank as well as Battlefront. Both are really good and a lot of fun to play. I tried to play Socom, but the disc wouldn't load (possibly due to a huge fingerprint on the part of the disc that was showing.) I'll have to try to return it or get the store I bought it from to clean it for me, later today.

So far, I'm really happy with my purchase.

Well the leveling system is really keeping me from liking Tactics as much as I should be. Most of the fun (for me at least) comes from being able to destroy enemies that kicked your ass a few levels ago. This game takes it away. Story based battles are too easy now though. And as boston george mentioned, I've unlocked and want to use jobs but outfitters don't carry weapons for them yet because I'm not far enough into the story. So the game is keeping me from being as dominating as I should be because of all the hours I put into it. I guess I'll just continue with the story and finish it. The 5 characters I use (Ramza and four generics) are 15 levels higher than the story characters on my team that I can't use during random fights or control during story battles.

If you have a thief you can steal a lot of really good equipment. In random battles with human enemies they will be the same level as your guys like we discussed and they should have good equipment you can steal that should be more suitable for your high-leveled guys. I know in Ch. 1 I had some weapons that I wouldn't be able to buy from a town until Ch. 3.

:lol: The amount of stuff you can do in the game is almost ridiculous. I think some of the things you don't like may be the things I like the most. I know what you mean about wanting to be able to dominate after putting a lot of work into your characters though. I'm the type that's almost always higher-leveled than my enemies in RPGs too. I love to grind. It's helpful in this game too but you still need to use strategy to win.

It's cool that you are gonna finish for the story though. The story alone is worth it I think, even if the gameplay mechanics aren't your cup o' tea.

Have you played Jeanne D'Arc? I think it's a nice contrast to FFT because even though they are basically the same type of game in Jeanne the enemies don't level with you, so it actually pays off to level grind, and then be able to go back and just slaughter your foes. But there's still (some optional, some not) levels that will give you a challenge. Even if you're way over-leveled like I was at the end of the game.

I sure am glad that I decided to take my unopened SW Battlefront PSP bundle in for exchange this past weekend. I went back first thing in the morning on Saturday to the store I had bought it from (also with the intent of picking up a second DSLite for $100 on sale plus coupon). Not surprisingly, they were all out of DSLites when I showed up at 8:30am, but the sales lady actually offered me $20 off the very same PSP bundle I had bought instead. So I ended up getting the bundle for the same price as the core (thanks also to a coupon)!

Finally picked up FF Tactics during the Toys R Us sale and I'm getting back into it. After playing Jeanne D'arc and Disgaea it is a gameplay adjustment.

Also picked up a few other PSP game I have been looking for used at EB.

Loco Roco (finally found it)
Valkyrie Profile Lenneth
Gradius Collection
Gurumin


In no time I have a pretty decent PSP collection.

I saw Gurumin new for $14.99 at the EB in the forum on Friday night. I am very tempted but just can't seem to pull the trigger. Let me know what you think of it.

I really like it. I played through the first major level and it has really solid play mechanics and some really cute characters.

It is basically a 3D platformer with a Drill Dozer type weapon (if you played that GBA game). Though the combat seems easy at first you can pull off some cool combos and you have to factor in when to charge your weapon. The "monsters" in the game remind me of characters from Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends.

So far there is a lot of clever voice acting and the storyline looks quite fun. It is very cutesy like many Japanese games, but there seems to be enough solid gameplay here to hook anyone.

It is developed by Falcolm of Popful Mail fame. They also developed and ported some of the Ys games. I'm not very familiar with the publisher Mastiff. I don't consider them on the same level as Atlus, but they seem to have done a great job bringing this one to the US. For $15 it is a must buy and it is a really overlooked gem on the PSP.

Another vote for Guramin. It's super-cute, but still a fun action-RPG in the mode of Dark Cloud 2 or Kingdom Hearts (not that good, but still pretty decent).

Gurumin is awesome. I got it recently for $14.99 @ Gamestop too. Can't beat it for that price.

Guess I'll have to give it a go then. Thanks guys!

God Of War demo came in the mail yesterday (in fancy packaging and including collector's GoW charm -- nice!). Just tried it. OMG!!!!!!! It's great and controls beautifully. Not as high-res as the PS2 games, but certianly a close representation and just as fast and brutal. This will be a day 1 purchase, no doubt.

Good to hear. Hopefully my copy will show up soon. This game is one of the reasons I bought the PSP.

Still waiting on my demo....they are pretty pricey on EBAY still...hopefully I can play and sell :)

Yeah, I got my GoW demo yesterday also. I was surprised at how close to the PS2 version it looked and felt. I know its only a demo, but I hated where they cut it off. What a damn tease! Also, as short as the demo was, I'm surprised Sony isn't offering it as a demo through the PSP download site.

Anyway, when does the actual game come out? I can't wait!

I got my copy of the GoW demo earlier this week and I agree with the impressions here - it's a fantastic demo and has me very excited for the release. IGN has March 2008 as the release date.

Sweet demo.. 1 boss, 1 power up boss and the play is pretty much the same as the PS2. It's beautiful to look at. I hated where it cut off also, I swear I can get past the level without harpooning the beast. But, it does kick me out of the portal eventhough I am able to open the door in time. I think this is the game that I'll break my analog stick on.

I'm contemplating buying a copy of the Ultimate Avengers UMD movie for $4.99, for the hell of it (don't ever plan on picking up the DVD and I have the Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Justice League Heroes games, so that's how I'm rationalizing it; plus, I just feel like sampling the UMD video for my new PSP).

Seems like there are no reviews at all for this UMD out there, though. Does anyone own this and can comment on the quality of the disc or can point me to a review somewhere?

EDIT: I went ahead and picked it up, and also picked up a copy of Tekken: Dark Resurrection as well. Looks like the US Pricing is really starting to take effect at more and more gaming stores, as it was selling for $19.99 whereas it was $24.99-$29.99 a few weeks back. Now all I have left is to get Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max and Castlevania: Dracula-X Chronicles and I'm all set.

SCHOOL ME :)

I won a piano black PSP slim in a College Football Pickem game a few weeks ago and it's finally going to be delivered next week according to my fedex tracking.

Anyway, what's worth picking up immediately? The most recent college football game comes with it, but I'm not a huge sports guy. I'm much more into shooters and platformers. I'm definitely picking up the 2 GTA titles, but what else?

Besides games, what extras does everyone recommend I pick up? Do I need a memory card? Screen protector? Cheap UMDs?

You will need a memory card for game saves, as well as if you plan on using the psp for music or (non-UMD) video. The more memory the better (i.e. 4 GB), though as noted earlier in this thread some games (such as Lego Star Wars II) are not compatible with memory cards larger than 1GB. I guess a screen protector isn't ultimately necessary, since the screen is not touch-sensitive like the DS, but I would get one anyway. There aren't really any accessories for the slim right now though, so probably best to wait a month or so.

As for (platformer/shooter) games, I'd recommend:

- Castlevania: Dracula-X Chronicels
- Killzone: Liberation
- Ultimate Ghosts n' Goblins

Non-platformers that are probably must-haves as well are:

- Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
- Jeanne D'Arc
- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Loco Roco
- Me and My Katamari
- Marvel: Ultimate Alliance

And for the fighting fan:

- Darkstalker Chronicles: The Chaos Tower
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection

Thanks for the tips Yavin. I'll keep an eye out for deals on those titles.

I scored GTA: Liberty Stories for 11 bucks shipped on Ebay so far. I'll probably just buy the other GTA title new on Amazon for $20. I'm going to my TRU tomorrow to see if they have anymore $10 MGS: Portable Ops and Syphon Filter: DM.

Yeah, I'm still trying to get Tekken for cheap(ish). The first ebay auction I won never shipped so I finally got my money back the other day.

Started on Jeanne D'Arc, extremely addictive. With the beautiful stylised 3d graphics it would be really hard to go back to Final Fantasy Tactics, if I ever do..

Those two games are great (MGS: PO and Syphon Filter)). I'd also recommend Crush (just starting it and it's brilliant), Dead Head Fred (fun action/platformer) and Ratchet & Clank - Size Matters (I know, you're shocked :) ). I liked GTA : VCS much more than GTA : LCS, so if you're frustrated with LCS, don't dismis the series.

And like I posted above, just wait until GoW comes out. Oh my God!!!! -eek-

Crush is GREAT (even though I just got stuck)! So are the other ones you mentioned but Crush deserves special recognition since it's a pretty obscure title.