As the first [Floor Boss], it had been critical that Illfang set the tone and flavor of the game. Compared to the [High-Difficulty Bosses] or even the [Final Boss], you could even say Illfang was more important because the [First Boss] would establish the player's expectations. Atmosphere was a critical but hard-to-measure element in games, especially in SAO, which offered unparalleled immersion.
...He didn't want to admit it, but the reason that the cheap [Last Red Overkill Mode] had been installed in the [Beta] was specifically to wipe parties. Even at that time he had intended to sacrifice game balance along with everything else for this scenario, but he had been vaguely offended during the meeting in which such an unbalanced thing had been suggested. It had offended his sensibilities as a game designer, even if he had agreed with the rationale.
But that was like another life time.
It was an affectation just like this [Scrying Effect], but Kayaba tucked his hand in the pocket of his long white lab coat. The [First Boss]. With a feeling like pride, he watched the players confront it. Soon, the first concrete departure towards the [Common Sense of Magi] would be forced on them.
Kayaba believed that true ingenuity was achieving maximum effect with minimum input. From that perspective, a genius was somebody who didn't miss any opportunities that appeared before them. A genius perfectly exploited every single chance to multiply their effects.
The [Last Red Overkill Mode] would be used exactly as it had been intended. It would force the players to stop taking the flow of the game for granted, even if it was unfair.
The players had already destroyed three HP bars. No, they had destroyed almost three-and-a-half, the final HP bar had just crossed into the yellow zone.
It was tiny and hesitant. But Kayaba Akihiko sincerely smiled.
...He didn't want to admit it, but the reason that the cheap [Last Red Overkill Mode] had been installed in the [Beta] was specifically to wipe parties. Even at that time he had intended to sacrifice game balance along with everything else for this scenario, but he had been vaguely offended during the meeting in which such an unbalanced thing had been suggested. It had offended his sensibilities as a game designer, even if he had agreed with the rationale.
But that was like another life time.
It was an affectation just like this [Scrying Effect], but Kayaba tucked his hand in the pocket of his long white lab coat. The [First Boss]. With a feeling like pride, he watched the players confront it. Soon, the first concrete departure towards the [Common Sense of Magi] would be forced on them.
Kayaba believed that true ingenuity was achieving maximum effect with minimum input. From that perspective, a genius was somebody who didn't miss any opportunities that appeared before them. A genius perfectly exploited every single chance to multiply their effects.
The [Last Red Overkill Mode] would be used exactly as it had been intended. It would force the players to stop taking the flow of the game for granted, even if it was unfair.
The players had already destroyed three HP bars. No, they had destroyed almost three-and-a-half, the final HP bar had just crossed into the yellow zone.
It was tiny and hesitant. But Kayaba Akihiko sincerely smiled.
Calling the Matador a Wake-Up Call Boss is an understatement, unless you mean waking players up by stabbing them in the urethra while singing the Spice Girls.
— The End Day
review on Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
review on Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne