In 2018, a mobile game called Dream Simulation Battle was launched in China. It quickly reached the top of the major best-seller lists with its exquisite graphics and novel wargame gameplay, with a monthly turnover of more than 400 million.
Probably for many young users, this product is a well-made mobile game with novel gameplay. But for a bunch of old console users, the name Dream Simulator actually represents a game career 20 years ago. Among them, the most impressive is the product mentioned in this article - Dream Simulator 4.
Thanks to Lacquer, as a 1997 work, the accuracy is not inferior to that of the game 20 years later
1997 was a landmark year. The shadow of the dream simulation battle 1 and 2 in the early years gradually dissipated. The 1996 Fantasy Simulator 3 was met with great criticism. For developer Messia, how to do a good job of this brand has become a top priority.
Dream Simulation Battle 4 is launched and listed in this situation of internal and external difficulties.
1 Magical Plot Line: Obviously it is a Western-themed overhead RPG, but it is inexplicably linked to the legend of the galactic heroes. Willie Yang said I was innocent.
Fantasy Simulation Battle 3, the two most criticized places: 1 is too novel combat system; and the other is that the human design is really not very powerful.
With the pearl jade of Dream Simulation Battle 2 in front, the 3 generations are not too brilliant whether it is the protagonist, villain or supporting role.
This is very difficult for the 4 generations of screenwriters.
It is risky to drastically change the plot and reset the setting, after all, if the reputation of the 4th generation also collapses after the 3rd generation, then this series will not think about doing it any further.
However, without changing the plot, still following the style framework of the first three parts, and worrying that there is no good person like the 2nd generation, the plot of the 4th generation is too repetitive, and the player still does not buy it.
Under the balance of the two phases, the 4 generations of screenwriters have made a very magical plot setting: that is, relying on the traditional theme framework system, adding some external people who are suitable and very well-known.
Willa Admiral is the supreme military leader of the kingdom where the protagonist is in Fantasy Simulator 4
Thus, the most magical character in the 4 generations, Willa Admiral, officially appeared.
After seeing the setting diagram of this character, do many players have the figure of the protagonist of another anime work in their minds?
That's right, it is the above protagonist of the galactic hero legend who also wears a beret and has a bookish face - Yang Willy.
The two not only look like each other, but also have a temperament, and even talk slowly and slowly, and like the small movement of a hand to stroke the forehead.
Even in Dream Simulation 4, the screenwriter of TuFushi also assigned Admiral Willa an adjutant who admired him, General Legal.
In addition to the portraits, the background and development of the story are also a tribute to the silver legend everywhere.
Lead the poor and weak countries to defeat the invading imperial army through various magic tricks. Although he has made great achievements, he is still restrained by the corrupt leadership class in the country and cannot fight a war and make full contributions.
Add to that the Opposite Landfonte, who resembles Reinhardt (I have to say, even the name is very similar). It's basically a dream simulation 4, modeled on the setting of the Galactic Heroes Legend.
Of course, judging by the results. This generation is modeled on the silver Biography setting is not bad. Each character can also justify themselves, and with the upper painting, it can also be said to have certain characteristics.
However, compared with the stunning of the Fantasy Simulation Battle 1 and 2 eras, the 4th generation is a bit too ordinary.
Although players do not have much opinion about the outbreak of imitation silver Ying (after all, it is not the same group of users), the evaluation of the plot of the entire Fantasy Simulation Battle 4 is just decent. It is higher than the 3 generation of unknown so, but compared with the 2nd generation, it is still much worse.
The Messian screenwriter, who did not taste the sweetness, further intensified in the fifth generation. And to another masterpiece - EVA under the imitation of the black hand. However, at that point in time, there were too many copies of EVA's works. In addition, by the time of the fifth generation, the dream simulation war was basically gone. So the homage to Dream 5 was discussed less.
This ending is also a bit embarrassing for the screenwriters of the fantasy simulation battle.
However, whether the plot is good or not, in fact, the impact on Dream Simulation Battle 4 is not so great. Objectively speaking, although there is a gimmick of tribute to Yinying, the place where players really care is not here. It's the graphics of the game.
2 Magical Tomoshi Suwara: On the basis of three generations, Tomoshi Sukuhara finally found the most gorgeous way to draw, and also made the 4th generation of Fantasy Simulation Battle the most tasteful generation in general.
Unlike the overly flat 2D feel of Dream Simulation Battle 1 and 2, and different from the rough and messy style of Dream Simulation Battle 3, the painting style of Dream Simulation Battle 4 has finally reached the best degree of a unified and high-definition quality.
16-bit machine era fantasy simulation battle 1, 2, although the quality of the game itself was excellent at the time, the gameplay strategy and plot are also the best in history. However, the performance of the 16-bit machine is insufficient after all, and tomoshi Kakuhara's painting can show 30% of the charm is already good. Not to mention the pixel-style map scenes and battle screens.
In the 32-bit machine era, the first next-generation debut of Dream Simulator 3 seems a bit too hasty.
Although the graphics are much more expressive than sega 8-bit machines, Messia does not seem to have found a suitable way to play the performance of 32-bit machines.
This also leads to a very strong sense of jaggedness in Fantasy Simulator 3. Coupled with the real-time gameplay, the feeling of chaotic picture is more prominent.
Fortunately, in four generations, Messia finally found a way to improve the quality of the picture.
From this scene map, we can clearly see that the texture of the scene ground is significantly improved compared to the three generations. And the jagged feeling of soldiers and heroes is also significantly better.
And Tomoshi Kihara's character Ritsuki finally has a very strong sense of light and shadow performance and three-dimensionality in this generation.
In 1997, the graphics quality of the console's top games was better than that of many mobile games 20 years later
We can see this from the later fantasy simulation mobile game and the 1st and 2nd generation remake versions. They basically inherit the art style of The Dream Simulator 4. This also proves from another side that the art style of the four generations is mature and successful.
To put it bluntly, the artistic performance of Dream Simulator 4 should be the best of all the Fantasy Simulator series. Even from 1997 to today, nearly 25 years have passed. The art quality and vertical drawing effect of this generation are still excellent in all games.
3 The complete, complex but not so difficult to understand gameplay system is also the best generation in the Fantasy Sim Series.
If the artistic performance of Dream Simulation Battle 4 is the best, then the gameplay content of this generation can be described as a breakthrough in conservatism, moderate difficulty, but still surprises.
After returning to the turn-based gameplay of 1 and 2 generations, Fantasy Simulator 4 has not been fully copied, but has incorporated a lot of novel elements. Bring more highlights to the combat experience of Fantasy Sim Battle 4.
In terms of classes, Dream Simulation Battle 4 has put in a total of 71 types of troop systems, which can be said to be the largest number of class systems in history.
In addition to the traditional infantry restraining the lancers, the lancers restraining the cavalry. The enhancement of flying classes, dragon classes, ninja classes and a large number of demon classes all bring new gameplay and feelings to the class strategy of Fantasy Simulation Battle 4.
Should we choose heavy armored units that are strong but have a slow frequency of action and slow speed, or lightly armored units that do not have a high offensive and defensive but have a super high frequency of action and move far, or choose long-range strike units to wait for the enemy to cast a net?
The application of a large number of classes makes the combat experience of Fantasy Simulation Battle 4 better than that of Generation 1 and Generation 2.
The hero's class richness is also the most numerous and complex in the 4 generations.
Twelve heroes, each with four stages and up to a dozen class choices.
Different classes offer different base bonuses, resistance, frequency of action, and types of troops, as well as bonus attributes and ranges for classes.
Moreover, there are promotion relationships and special hidden career lines between different occupations.
It can be said that in the later stages of play, the biggest motivation to support players to keep choosing levels to restart and challenge the limit is to watch different career lines play to the final final career experience, and it is more fun and interesting to see which class is more fun.
Of course, the system that was inherited and carried forward in Fantasy Simulator 4 is also the new heroine favorability system added in three generations.
At least five of the twelve heroes are candidates for heroines who can be pursued.
From the delicate and lovely neighbor's green plum bamboo horse, to the gentle and virtuous queen candidate; from the ruthless and wayward second candidate for the queen, to the arrogant and anti-string enemy banshee; and even the aforementioned Yang Titus (wrong, it is Willa Titus... The standard girlfriend, the Imperial Female General, can also be one of the targets of the player's raids (Yang Tidu's head is green grassland).
It can be said that in the 4th generation of fantasy simulation war, all kinds of women you can think of can become the ultimate lover relationship with the protagonist. Even in different route choices, you can directly turn against my girlfriend who was still qingqing before, and it is not surprising that you fought until the end.
Even in the later 5 generations, there is no such rich and interesting favorability gameplay experience.
Of course, in addition to the above system, the classic hidden levels, opening questions and answers, hidden treasure chests and rich equipment and magic systems in Fantasy Simulation Battle 4 have also reached the peak level of the series.
Even in the five generations two years later, it is only a re-integration of the 4th generation gameplay system and a certain balance adjustment.
If you talk about the level experience and the degree of plot blood, The Dream Simulation Battle 4 is certainly not as passionate as the 2nd generation, but if you want to say that the entire Dream Simulation Battle series is the culmination, it must be the 4th generation.
4 Conclusion: Although the quality of the game is very high and it is full of sincerity, the market environment determines the fantasy simulation battle series, which was already at the end of the crossbow at that time.
I talked about the advantages and features of many games, but in fact, when this work was released, the actual sales situation was not ideal. The 2nd generation of the series also sold 170,000 sets, while the sales of the 4th generation were even less than 50,000 sets.
On the one hand, it is caused by the word of mouth that is too novel in the 3rd generation, resulting in old players not buying it. On the other hand, it is also due to the frequent appearance of famous works in that era, and the niche wargame of fantasy simulation warfare cannot be out of the circle.
So in 1998, after Messia did another fantasy simulation 5, it announced the dissolution of the company. The Fantasy Sim Series also came to an end.
Originally thought that a generation of classics was gone, but in recent years, with the resurgence of fantasy simulation battle mobile games, the news of the remake of dream simulation war 1 and 2 has come, and it seems that there is a possibility of reviving this wargame series with exquisite pictures and outstanding plots.
Of course, whether this time will rise again or be short-lived, we don't know, but in any case, the descendants of light led by Alvin, Leon and others will always have their own place in the hearts of players, right?
5 Cold Knowledge: At the end of the article, we popularize the cold knowledge of several fantasy simulation series
The exact name of this game should be the Holy Sword Langulisa, otherwise known as dream simulation war. Because the core of the story is to tell the story of the thousand-year confrontation between the holy sword Langulisa and the magic sword Aruhasato.
The protagonists of the fantasy simulation wars throughout the ages are all blood-related descendants of light, even the protagonist of the five generations, Siguma.
Released in 1991, Fantasy Simulator 1 was not highly rated, but it influenced a large number of developers who liked wargames, including the Yanlong Knights team in Hantang, Taiwan. Therefore, it is completely fine that the fantasy simulation battle has affected the wind direction of a generation of wargames.
The last piece of cold knowledge is a small problem: Jessica, the core guide of the fantasy simulation battle, has appeared as a key character in all generations, but in a certain generation of fantasy simulation war, Jessica cannot be used as a character. Do you remember that generation?
Students who know, welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss.