[Lucaz]

I'm very doubtful about this. La-Mulana is one of my favorite games, but I don't know if I want to buy this, considering the graphics and the music are below the original imo. And checking some of it in youtube, I'm not sure I'm into the changes (they took away the puzzle from the last boss' fourth form). So it's wether I should replay the original or the new version that I distrust but may be different enough to be worth playing
_________________

[Lucaz]

Yeah. That was, to me, one of the best stuff in the game, the way it keeps being mainly about puzzles 'till the end. Although maybe I'd like it less if it wasn't that I got through sheer luck at the second try, without knowing how to solve it.

I wonder what they changed in the Hell Temple? At the very least now you probably don't need to get 120.000 score in Gradius. Not that I finished the Hell Temple.
_________________

[Lucaz]

Played it for a few minutes, just entered the ruins and fooled around in Guidance Gate. The most obvious difference is that the whip is much faster, both at attack rate and time between pressing and hitting, so it's much friendlier. Xelpud sends mails about the things you see around. Hope that doesn't go overboard, 'cause it's pretty uncalled for.
_________________

[Lucaz]

Already fought the first two bosses. Both where slightly different but not much. The most notable change so far is that it controls a lot more fluidly, which you might like or not, and bats are easier. So far, if there is any meaningful differences in the layouts or puzzles I'm missing them.

My main issue with it aesthetically isn't the graphics, although I do prefer the darker and textured MSX looks, but that the music is less interesting, it isn't as dense or powerful as the original. It's enough to listen to Inferno (Inferno Cavern) or Giant's Cry (Graveyard of the Giants) to know what I'm saying. Although it does works in some cases, like Ancient Machine (Palenque), or the more adventure-y songs like Fearless Chalenger (Guidance Gate).
_________________

[Lucaz]

I'd tell you to check which one you think look and sounds best and go for that one. Besides that, there are some differences, the remake's controls are more friendly, and it's slightly easier, mostly because it's more guiding at a few times, but it's still so hard you wouldn't know. Most other differences are layout and details that I suppose are there only to make it different for people who already played the original.
_________________

[Lucaz]

Yesterday I had to check a let's play to get past a part I would've never thought talking to Mulbruk would be necessary to get the serpent staff.

[Lucaz]

So just finished this, at 18.45 hours, which means I played about the double of that, which still like a fourth of what it took me the first time. It's the second time I do this, but the feeling of accomplishment is still there (mostly because I remembered almost nothing). Some thoughts on the remake

It's overall a bit easier, but minimally so. The changes in layout are very minor, and there are two or three new puzzles that are good.

The guardians are all quite changed, and and two are completely different. Most are changed for the best although Bahamut and Tiamat I prefer the original. The most important is that now sub weapons aren't unbalanced against them, so you can't just spam shurikens and flares. Sometimes the collisions are a bit confusing in that only section of the sprites hurt Lemeza. Last, Mother didn't come out so well. None of the forms looks as good, specially the third, and second and fifth are't that great. They removed the puzzle in the fourth form and that's pretty bad IMO. It's still a great last boss.



This aside, is anyone still playing? How you doing?
_________________

[Lucaz]

Something I've notied about the music, is that although my favorite songs aren't that special in the new soundtrack, the ones that I liked less, mainly GIGA-MAGMA/Tower of Ruin and M.U./Chamber of Extinction, are better in this version.

Tried playing Hell Temple. Too much. Just too much.

[Lucaz]

[Lucaz]

Well, in Deceased Crab's second lp he leaves four or five bosses alone until he is about to finish the game.

[Lucaz]

Confusion Gate's difficulty varies a lot from layer to player, I found it easier than other things at that time of the game. It may be very random, but it's also very straightforward and localized (as in, it takes a few screens instead of a few areas).