That first scene is interesting because it shows it isn't just a "pacifist RPG" like people keep saying, and also shows the bullet-hell mechanic and the way characters are introduced and characterized via/during combat. As far as an opening scene goes, it sure sets the game apart more than "lol, penguins".
So it's a standard tutorial then. I don't see why you'd find it so very impressive to present it in its entirety and say that it was so very impressive and special (I mean come the fuck on, 'wow suddenly the font changes!')
Hard to call the battle system a mini-game when every battle is built over the same concept - which is so important to the game. During combat you must avoid shit - that's consistent. A mini-game would be having you hack into terminals or pick locks in an entirely different manner.
In that case, two questions:
1. Why is 'standard jrpg fair combat' followed by a shmup something very important and thematically consistent with the game? Do you control a jetplane with spiky hair flying ever forward to kill Sephiroth?
2. To ask again, why is "standard fair combat" followed by a standard fair bullet hell something super super unique? Because it looks to me like it's standard fair jrpg combat followed by standard fair bullet hell.
But really, if a boss that's aware he's in a video-game and tries to beat you by forbidding you from re-loading and crashing you to desktop doesn't sound interesting to you, there's really little reason for you to try this game.
Pretty sure stuff like forbidding you from reloading has already been done plenty of times (wasn't Still Life 2's ending like that?). Crashing you to desktop, on the other hand, doesn't sound interesting, it sounds like a nuisance.
You must figure out what "Act" to use with each monster, and usually change the way you play in the SHMUP section as well. Yes, that's interesting.
Check, approach, flirt sounds like something that needs a hell of a lot of figuring out.
Of course there is. You add something you know it's "not ideal" in order to make a point or test the player. Not being able to pause in Dark Souls, for example. (in before rant against Souls fanboys)
Not being able to pause in Dark Souls has the practical application of making the game harder, it's the same as not pausing in Gothic when switching to the inventory. That's a design decision based on a pretty clear premise, and I'd say it can be hardly judged objectively on a flaw/merit scale. Saying that this is an "intentional design flaw" or that it's in some way "not ideal" is idiotic. It's a decision, it could be wise or stupid. Ris3n pausing when you switch to the inventory is also a design decision, but it's a stupid decision. I highly doubt that, again, Piranha Bytes actively decided to intentionally put in flaws into their games.
On the other hand, making sure the game is boring has the practical application of... ???
Again, calling combat a mini-game is just stupid. it's consistently about avoiding shit with your little heart - most of the times as a SMHUP, but sometimes changing it into a platformer, a side-scroller or whatever (sometimes multiple times during the same battle).
So... it's a whole set of minigames?
True, I like E.Y.E. and think it's a really cool game that messes with your head. But it's one damn "flayed gem", that barely explains its gameplay, leaves you hanging most of the time and can be hard as hell. Of course it's less popular than the quirky 5-hour JRPG with 16-bit retro graphics.
My final question regarding EYE was rhethorical. Of course the hard game that forces you to put some effort into it is less popular than the quirky 5-hour JRPG for people who hate video games in the first place.
Also, after those two walls of text, do you see where I am coming from? You keep throwing out the "ITZ SO UNIQUE" thing all over the place like an IGN journo on steroids, and yet after reading everything you've written about it, I can't still for the life of mine see why this quirky 5-hour JRPG with 16-bit retro graphics is this supposed Truly Unique Most Consistent Game Ever and Obvious GOTY 2015 (tm). Because it crashes you to desktop and has meta-reactivity? Nigga, please. Declaring that something is the x-est ever is a very easy thing to do. Whether that statement has any grounding in reality is a completely different matter.
