Faussete Amour

[Samurai Ghost]

Sorry if this has been discussed before, but for those of you who own or have played this game, what are you impressions? It seems to get a lot of lukewarm reviews, and it a bit of a love or hate game. I can get a copy in good shape (without spine card) for about $75 shipped which I think is a pretty good deal but still a decent chunk of change for a game.

I love Castlevania and Bionic Commando, two games which come to mind when I see gameplay videos, and I really like the art style/cut scenes/character designs. I guess I have a thing for female main characters a la Valis, Alisia Dragoon, El Viento, etc. Plus the music seems pretty interesting.

So, do you think this this game worth picking up from a gameplay standpoint? Might get it just to add to the collection but I'm kind of on the fence about it.

(Also, I know I can download the game and try it out first but that's not really my thing.)

[soop]

$75 is a lot.  When I look at something that expensive I generally look at it this way:

1) Will I get £1 per hour enjoyment out of it?*
2) What else could I spend that money on?

*I know that time is not necessarily the defining factor, you can have a super-good time that costs more, but generally with video games, they need to pass that test.

And point 2 could also apply to other games you're looking for.  I don't know if you have anything else on your to-get list, but $75 buys you quite a few games, some of them really good.

For me, I'm struggling to justify Rainbow Islands and Dracula X at current prices.  Of course you could always look at it as "an investment" but I doubt most of us can bear to part with our treasures, whether they went up or down in value.

[Samurai Ghost]

Well, money-wise $75 is a lot, towards the upper end of what I'm willing to spend on a game. But then again I always consider that brand new software for current gen systems (which I never buy anymore) is even more expensive than that in Japan and most likely won't hold their value as much as an older sought-after release. For instance, I remember buying the King of Fighters 94 Rebout with controller for around 8,000 yen (around $80 at the time) when it came out a few years ago, and I saw it for sale for around $3 today.

So basically, I can afford it, but I'd just like to hear some opinions on the game from other fans of the system.

[grahf]

This is one case where I'd try a CDR first. I played it a few years ago and found it boring, but I admit I didn't give it much of a chance.

[SuperDeadite]

It starts very slow.  But the last few levels are awesome.  The music is very odd and unique, some will find it out of place,
I dig it though.  The art is fantastic, overall it is very love or hate.  I would not compare it to games like Castlevania or Valis, it's something completely different.  If it clicks with you, it's a great game.

[Samurai Ghost]

It starts very slow.  But the last few levels are awesome.  The music is very odd and unique, some will find it out of place,
I dig it though.  The art is fantastic, overall it is very love or hate.  I would not compare it to games like Castlevania or Valis, it's something completely different.  If it clicks with you, it's a great game.

Yeah that's the general impression of the game I heard so far. Generally it appeals to me so I might go for it depending on how much I spend on other games this week. Kind of been going crazy collecting! And I know if I play a CDR of it I probably won't bother buying it. For me it's either get the game or not these days.

[esteban]

I have always been curious about this game. I know I'll have to try it for myself, because I may appreciate its quirkiness.

One of these years...

[Nazi NecroPhile]

I don't know how anyone could hate this game.  It's cute, colorful, and has some dang tricky spots to master; what's not to love... or at least like?  If you decide to pass on this one, I'd gladly take it for that price.

[Samurai Ghost]

I don't know how anyone could hate this game.  It's cute, colorful, and has some dang tricky spots to master; what's not to love... or at least like?  If you decide to pass on this one, I'd gladly take it for that price.

Yeah I figured since it's a lot less than it usually goes for on eBay if I don't like it I could pass it on to one of you guys for the same price. But once unless I get a duplicate it might be hard to let go as I'm kind of a crazy collector...

[Joe Redifer]

The game deserves its lukewarm reviews.  I imagine you could get some enjoyment out of it if you put forth some effort, but your first impression won't be so hot.  The thing I always remember about this game is the fantastic title screen music.

[thesteve]

i have played it a bit, but it didn't hold my attention.
i have about 10-15 minutes in it.

[Arkhan Asylum]

The game deserves its lukewarm reviews.

No it doesn't.


The game is very well put together.  The problem is people see the stretchy grabby shit and assume it will have the pacing of Bionic Commando.

That's their mistake.  It's a different kind of game. 

The graphics are cute and colorful, the music is pretty nice but sometimes may not feel like it fits...

and the game play itself is solid.  There's not much to complain about with the game

If you buy it and hate it, just sell it to me.  I still dont have a copy. I want one though.

[thesteve]

its true, the game play is solid.
the grafx very cute.
i dont hate it,i just didnt get into it. (will play again)

[Tatsujin]

art, grafx and music is top in this game. gameplay wise it is very special and offers a lot techniques.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Another thing is the presentation of the game.  The story/scenes progress nicely.

[arromdee]

To me, this is the point where burning CDs comes in.  Let's face it, the original developer and company isn't going to make any money when a $75 copy of this game gets sold on ebay anyway, and if you're getting it just to play the game it's probably not going to be worth $75 compared to something else you can get for $75 (especially if you play modern games at all).  And if you burn a CD you're still playing it on the original hardware, unlike emulation.

[Bernie]

To me, this is the point where burning CDs comes in.  Let's face it, the original developer and company isn't going to make any money when a $75 copy of this game gets sold on ebay anyway, and if you're getting it just to play the game it's probably not going to be worth $75 compared to something else you can get for $75 (especially if you play modern games at all).  And if you burn a CD you're still playing it on the original hardware, unlike emulation.

True that..  But I want the actual game... 

[CrackTiger]

If you like the extremely limited grappling gameplay of Bionic Commando and have always wanted to play a game that doesn't hold back with it, then you'll love FA. You jump and swing like a good Castlevania game, only grappling more often than hitting enemies. It plays like Daimakaimura, in chunks that get challenging at times and can require some planning to get through. The aesthetics are pretty good, but it feels like it's lacking a final polish to tie it all together. It is the gameplay that is most memorable for me and what kept me pushing through the game. Definitely worth $75 if you spend that kind of money on PCE games and already have the heavy hitters like Drac X, Star Parodia, etc.

To me, this is the point where burning CDs comes in.  Let's face it, the original developer and company isn't going to make any money when a $75 copy of this game gets sold on ebay anyway, and if you're getting it just to play the game it's probably not going to be worth $75 compared to something else you can get for $75 (especially if you play modern games at all).  And if you burn a CD you're still playing it on the original hardware, unlike emulation.

Modern games aren't worth full retail price. Especially when they will sell new for $20 - $30 or less within months. For those who can appreciate 16-bit games, modern games have paled in comparison for many years now. Copied games aren't the same as the real deal, especially the average downloadable CD image. A complete game is still a work of art. There isn't no point in collecting and reading old books and magazines and the same goes for video games. Playing a cdr of a game to try it out in cases like this is still a great idea, but that doesn't mean that it's a waste of money to buy a game for the price of a game.

[VestCunt]

FA is an above-average platformer.  Graphics, music, and play control are all well-executed and it has enough quirks to give it character.  The negative reviews occur because people get pissed off when an expensive game isn't A) dazzling, or B) groundbreaking.  As good as it is, FA is neither.

[nectarsis]

FA is an above-average platformer.  Graphics, music, and play control are all well-executed and it has enough quirks to give it character.  The negative reviews occur because people get pissed off when an expensive game isn't A) dazzling, or B) groundbreaking.  As good as it is, FA is neither.

That and most "don't give it a chance" or play long enough to appreciate it.

[arromdee]

Modern games aren't worth full retail price. Especially when they will sell new for $20 - $30 or less within months. For those who can appreciate 16-bit games, modern games have paled in comparison for many years now. Copied games aren't the same as the real deal, especially the average downloadable CD image. A complete game is still a work of art.

But the question wasn't "is $75 worth it as a work of art", the question was "is $75 worth the play value".  If you want play value, burn a CD.  If you want the artistic merit of having all the parts, sure, pay the $75.  I personally would not pay $75 just for the artistic merit.

As for modern games, sure they go down in price in a few months.  Buy yourself three modern games that are a few months old.  Or just get Pier Solar (for Genesis) or Mysterious Song or one of the new Dreamcast games; none of them are $75.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

But the question wasn't "is $75 worth it as a work of art", the question was "is $75 worth the play value".

No, the question was "is it worth playing".  It definitely is.

[CrackTiger]

Modern games aren't worth full retail price. Especially when they will sell new for $20 - $30 or less within months. For those who can appreciate 16-bit games, modern games have paled in comparison for many years now. Copied games aren't the same as the real deal, especially the average downloadable CD image. A complete game is still a work of art.

But the question wasn't "is $75 worth it as a work of art", the question was "is $75 worth the play value".  If you want play value, burn a CD.  If you want the artistic merit of having all the parts, sure, pay the $75.  I personally would not pay $75 just for the artistic merit.

Going by your "play value" logic, nothing that costs more than a cdr is worth buying. Might as well throw the whole real hardware experience out the window as well, since it doesn't offer much compared to emulation, which has many more features.

As for modern games, sure they go down in price in a few months.  Buy yourself three modern games that are a few months old.  Or just get Pier Solar (for Genesis) or Mysterious Song or one of the new Dreamcast games; none of them are $75.

What if you already own those games? I doubt that Fausette Amour is going to be anyone's first purchase. Dracula X might be for the same price though and is such a waste when there are Virtual Console and PSP releases. Pier Solar goes for $100 - $400+, unless you're lucky enough to get into a direct sale window and are patient enough for that or to find a non-gouged copy. Why not just wait even longer until it's finally ripped and supported by emulation? Why compare Fausette Amour to homebrew anyway? Because the creators earn money from a direct sale? That still leaves the rest of the published 16-bit games.

[arromdee]

Umm, Pier Solar just did a reprint.  Like days ago.  You can get it for retail price right now.

[Tatsujin]

I smell some heavy disobeying in this thread.

[SuperDeadite]

fuckin n00bZ...

[PunkCryborg]

Well you know if you make a $75 pce purchase like that you can always sell it for $75 if you don't like it. It's not like a new game where you spend $75 and resell it to gamestop for $15

[CrackTiger]

Umm, Pier Solar just did a reprint.  Like days ago.  You can get it for retail price right now.

$50 for a reprinted rom in a box? That's like five Halos, all of which have superior Mode 7.

[Joe Redifer]

I should clarify my comments a bit.  I think the game is an acquired taste.  Once you get a taste for it, obviously the game is good (thus putting in the effort to like it).  But again I don't think it's a game that grabs you right away, thus the lukewarm reviews.

[Samurai Ghost]

I have to admit I can be impatient with some games. I have gotten so many titles this year that if I game doesn't grab me chances are I'll turn it off after a couple levels. But sometimes if I sit down with a game and get serious then I appreciate a game that rewards a bit of effort, which sounds like is the case for FA. Anyway, I might just go for it.

And yeah, I know I can burn a CDR easily. But I like having the actual game. I used to emulate a lot but now I very rarely if ever do. I guess I'm a purist in that sense, as a lot of you guys are. I know a perfect 1-to-1 rip of a CD game will play exactly the same, but somehow it's different. I don't know how to explain it really. Even with flash carts which play on the actual hardware, it's just not the same as popping open a box, slapping in the cart, and playing a game. The tactile and visual experience of having the actual game and packaging is just different.

I think as games go more and more towards the digital download aspect lacking any physical medium I think there will be an even bigger rift between retro/classic game players and current gen gamers. Don't get me wrong, there are great games being released all the time, but something as simple as opening and closing a Megadrive/Genesis clamshell case is enjoyable for me. Or taking out the instruction booklet and flipping through it. Am I a total weirdo?

[hoobs88]

I think as games go more and more towards the digital download aspect lacking any physical medium I think there will be an even bigger rift between retro/classic game players and current gen gamers. Don't get me wrong, there are great games being released all the time, but something as simple as opening and closing a Megadrive/Genesis clamshell case is enjoyable for me. Or taking out the instruction booklet and flipping through it.

I concur.

[Tatsujin]

CDRs are for little girls

and

MAY damage your system over a certain time uf use.

[Arkhan Asylum]

CDRs are for little girls

lol

also, People who can't be bothered to give a game more than 10ish minutes of their time shouldn't be gaming.  The best kind of games require more than 10 minutes to get the full effect. 

If you want immediate amazement, do some acid and stare at a kaleidoscope. 

[RegalSin]

So there is a thread for this.

I wrote a review of the game, since I actually own the game.

1. The game is a great challenger.
2. Basically a Valis 1 clone, and I said Valis one in the non PCE/NES 3. Has bionic commando features, which is the only way to get around, because the character walks in real-time like people in GTA
4. One stage is actually simular to that SNES game, however that SNES game has better music.
5. Your clothing being armour being torned off, along with your leotard is also a nice death sequence, at least it give you something to watch, when you die, which is going to occur alot.
6. The graphics are pretty auwsome in relations with mid 1990 animations. This pretty much sums up Barberella the game.
8. The correct way to play this game is for exploration, but towards the end of the game, it becomes super ridicoulous. You see a mega spoiler is the reason I brought this game, that is towards the end.
9. The game follows the rules of non-save games. That is why the levels seems short, because there is no save for this game. Like Sonic 1, you either have the time or not.

Do I enjoy this game? Yes when I get the chance I do take it out for a spin.

If you really want to get it, then get it. It is like buying that $1000 dollar record you gotta own.

[Arkhan Asylum]

If you really want to get it, then get it. It is like buying that $75 dollar record you gotta own.

fixed.

[Tatsujin]

lol yeah \o/

[Samurai Ghost]

Hey, found a pretty good deal on a copy of Faussete Amour (~$45 plus shipping) and it just came today.
The reason it was so cheap was the cover has some weird water damage, like it looks like someone sneezed on it or something, there's little specks of discoloration all over it. It doesn't really bother me as it as I just wanted to play it, but it would be nice to print out a cover that I could stick in there instead.

So any of you guys with this game willing to scan the cover for me, or does anyone have a hi-res copy of the cover? I'd really appreciate it!

The game was literally just delivered so I haven't popped it in yet but will play through it when I get back to my place this afternoon!

[majors]

Hey, found a pretty good deal on a copy of Faussete Amour (~$45 plus shipping) and it just came today.

Eagerly awaiting your opinions now that you tracked it down.

I also recently played it for the first time since I've read other ppls thoughts on it. This game should have been imported more, but I guess Castlevania was out around the same time and it got all the love.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Faucet Armor is a game that doesnt get enough credit.   It's a beautifully done game.

[ApolloBoy]

I think it's a pretty good game too, it reminds me a lot of Bionic Commando which is one of my fav NES games. I got a really good deal on my copy, I found it for $10 at CGE a couple years back.

[shubibiman]

The negative reviews occur because people get pissed off when an expensive game isn't A) dazzling, or B) groundbreaking.  As good as it is, FA is neither.

Ditto.

[Samurai Ghost]

I spent a bit of time with this game yesterday and I have to say... I love it! It's quickly becoming one of my favorite platformers for the CD system (Dracula X will always have the #1 spot). Really glad I picked it up. Haven't cleared it yet but I got to the boss battle where you are taking on the four girls at once and they kicked my ass a few times although I came close to beating them. I'll try to finish the game over the weekend but these are my opinions so far.

Graphics - 9/10

Love all of the vibrant color in the background and spites. It really shows off the PCE's color - it just pops. Everything is clear and easy to make out, and the worlds just look so vibrant, and maintain a consistent graphical style. I dock it a point because I'm a parallax junkie and I think a few of the levels would have looked even better with at least one layer of scrolling.

Cutscenes 8/10

I really love the graphical style of the game and character designs and look forward to each of the cutscenes as I get to them, unlike a lot of games were I usually just skip over them. But they are too short... Wish they could have put in at least a few more frames after each boss; seems there are only about 2 or 3 frames in total for each one. Not a big issue, I just want more!

Sound - 9/10

The music is quite unique, and is unlike just about any other game soundtrack out there. A few of the stages really stick out to me, like the hell/lava stage that incorporates girls screams into the music. Really great! The sound effects don't really stand out to me but work fine. The only complaint is that some of the music tracks are pretty short so if you have to play through a level a couple times in a row you'll be hearing the same loop quite a few times.

Gameplay 10/10

This is where the game really shines. The control is perfect. I couldn't tell from videos of them game, but it's spot-on. Never had a death due to bad controls. And the weapon system is really fantastic. Her regular attack is fast enough to make short work of tough enemies, and the hook-and-jump action a la Bionic Commando works really well for the most part. I didn't realize at first that if you hit the attack button while you are attached to the ledge you would do a spin jump up. The lava stage gave me a lot of trouble (especially with those green devils) until I realized I had to utilize the spin jump to take them out in one hit. So that adds some strategy, as well as with her magical attacks that add a moment of delay in her movement which make you think about when you should use them.

The difficultly and pacing is perfect for me. The stages are set up so once you learn them you can breeze through them with confidence but will surprise you the first few times. The first couple mid-bosses and bosses are really easy, but they quickly become quite challenging and fun. The items are placed perfectly; you'll be able to find a spare armor upgrade when you need it, and 1-ups are plentiful. I like how the non-crystal items stay put for the whole level. So if you avoid it and need it later you can come back and get it. Some people had complained that this game is "slow" but I really enjoy the pacing. You can work your way through the level at your own pace and I find it really fun to play.

Haven't cleared it yet but at this point I'd give this game a 9/10. Whether it's worth the $100+ price it can fetch at times is debatable, but as a game I'd say it's a worthy addition to any PCE collection. It's got a lot of lasting charm, great presentation and sound, and solid game play.

[Vecanti]

I smell some heavy disobeying in this thread.

  Yeah, there is something to be said about the real thing.

/shouldobey.jpg

[hoobs88]

Hey, found a pretty good deal on a copy of Faussete Amour (~$45 plus shipping) and it just came today.
The reason it was so cheap was the cover has some weird water damage, like it looks like someone sneezed on it or something, there's little specks of discoloration all over it. It doesn't really bother me as it as I just wanted to play it, but it would be nice to print out a cover that I could stick in there instead.

So any of you guys with this game willing to scan the cover for me, or does anyone have a hi-res copy of the cover? I'd really appreciate it!

The game was literally just delivered so I haven't popped it in yet but will play through it when I get back to my place this afternoon!

Here you go, buddy!

[Samurai Ghost]

Awesome!!  Thanks a lot!!

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Nice review, S.G.  Now I gotta find me a copy. 

The negative reviews occur because people get pissed off when an expensive game isn't A) dazzling, or B) groundbreaking.  As good as it is, FA is neither.

Ditto.

I can't say you guys are wrong (there's undoubtedly a lot of silly people out there), but I don't understand this logic.  Do these same people get pissed when a cheap game like Son Son II or Street Fighter II' isn't a piece of shit?

[Arkhan Asylum]

No they just get mad when they buy expensive games expecting them to basically jump out of the TV and fondle them.

They want to have teh expensive raers with OMGAWESOME gameplay.

[Shrapnoid]

I don't own a copy myself but, I have played a little, using the method that tangibility purists seem to despise and it's a very fun and cute game.

There really is something about it that brings on memories of Castlevania and Bionic Commando.
Don't know if I would shell out any more than 40 for it though and even then, I'd expect it to be in good shape w/ jewel case and manual included.

Guess it just depends on how badly you want it.

[Tatsujin]

I don't own a copy myself but, I have played a little, using the method that tangibility purists seem to despise.

Am gonna report you to COA.

[esteban]

CDRs are for little girls

lol

also, People who can't be bothered to give a game more than 10ish minutes of their time shouldn't be gaming.  The best kind of games require more than 10 minutes to get the full effect. 

If you want immediate amazement, do some acid and stare at a kaleidoscope. 

Great song, and, actually, I like the video (simple, low-budget, expressionistic...like a poor man's Cabiniet of Dr. Caligari).

The pedo angle is the only disturbing aspect. But, this is hardly the first pop song that intentionally/unintentionally delves into that area.