Final Fantasy VII This game is by far a highly accredited RPG with more fans in the US than any other JRPG. Other than the possible fangirl/boy obsessions of various characters, I really can't imagine why. Certainly, it has a decent plot and a stereotypical combat system, but nothing is impressive. The graphics are awkward and it is just plain lazy that they were used for almost all of the cinematics. Even the cut scenes with graphics were of far lower quality than previous Square games. I am also convinced the only reason so many people are obsessed with Sephiroth is because he is the only character who doesn't have forearm-wrist-hands. The combat system is slightly enhanced by the Active Time Battle system and the FFVI concept of desperation attack, or limit break, though both of these concepts were being used by Square for years before FFVII. Overall, FFVII is a decent JRPG for it's time, but should not be seen as the greatest RPG, though it should be played simply for the popculture value.
The Legend of Dragoon A game to love or hate. LoD has a subpar plot, great graphics (for its time), and a variety of characters. However, where it really stands apart from the crowd is its combat system. LoD has a combat system called "Additions" where any attack move a character has can be enchanced by completing a combination by pressing the "X" button as two boxes align on the screen. This can happen quite quickly, though the patterns stays the same for each technique. With three people in your party, you have to be able to preform three of these patterns (one for each character's strongest ability) to play most efficiently. This can be too demanding for people with poor rhythm or hand-eye coordination skills, causing great frustration, while it can be increased incentive to play for those with the skill. I, personally, did not find the combat system to be challenging, but, instead, engaging and a great modification to the generally boring JRPG combat.
Chrono Trigger This game truly deserves the title of the greatest JRPG. Not only did it introduce the concept of replaying the game with your same characters after you had beaten it, but it was revolutionary for introducing the concept of multiple endings and character-development side quests. With thirteen different endings, the game definitely has a replay value not seen before in games. The plot and characters are well-developed and the game is very engaging, making the player feel like they are really making a difference without grinding. While it may be a bit too pixely for some to play now, if you can look past the bit graphics, you will see an amazing game worthy of countless hours of play.
On June 04 2011 02:20 redFF wrote: Final Fantasy 6 is better than chrono-trigger. Chrono-trigger was amazing but FFVI perfected the formula.
I love Kefka, hated Terra... so perhaps I'm biased when it comes to Chrono Trigger. Also FFVI lacks the choices and diversity that Chrono Trigger has. If I were to judge a game purely by combat system, I would choose LoD as the winner.
I agree with Chrono Trigger because, let's be honest, it was just simply brilliant. However, I think you do Final Fantasy VII a disservice. Now hear me out, I agree that the graphics of the characters during cutscenes were straight awful usually (just using the in-game figures) however I think the environment that Square made through the detailed still backgrounds was phenomenal. I mean, you weren't impressed when you saw Sephiroth burning down Nibelheim or when the Ultima Weapons first show up? Furthermore, I really did love the story and the characters. There was a ton of diversity in each character's storylines however, they all intertwined quite well (best example I can think of would be Vincent). Never before had I really been so obssed with one game. There was something just special about it for me.
As for Legend of Dragoon, I haven't finished it and to be honest I don't think I've really given it the time of day it deserves. From what I have played, it seems pretty sweet. A little slower moving than a FFVII or Chrono Trigger but I really loved how you had to have some skill to fight--it wasn't just click attack and relax.
Anyways, keep it up. I love reading about the games from my childhood! =P
On June 04 2011 02:37 Light`iu wrote: I agree with Chrono Trigger because, let's be honest, it was just simply brilliant. However, I think you do Final Fantasy VII a disservice. Now hear me out, I agree that the graphics of the characters during cutscenes were straight awful usually (just using the in-game figures) however I think the environment that Square made through the detailed still backgrounds was phenomenal. I mean, you weren't impressed when you saw Sephiroth burning down Nibelheim or when the Ultima Weapons first show up? Furthermore, I really did love the story and the characters. There was a ton of diversity in each character's storylines however, they all intertwined quite well (best example I can think of would be Vincent). Never before had I really been so obssed with one game. There was something just special about it for me.
As for Legend of Dragoon, I haven't finished it and to be honest I don't think I've really given it the time of day it deserves. From what I have played, it seems pretty sweet. A little slower moving than a FFVII or Chrono Trigger but I really loved how you had to have some skill to fight--it wasn't just click attack and relax.
Anyways, keep it up. I love reading about the games from my childhood! =P
Haha, well, I have to agree with you there. Despite how I ranted about it, I still gave it 4 out of 5 paws. I just was a bit harsh due to my annoyance with FFVII fanboys and fangirls who have never touched another RPG in their life. It's a good game, but I don't think it deserves the title of best RPG, which people constantly try to give it.
Woot good reviews, I'm probably one of the rarer ones who agree with FFVII being overrated. It may also just have been that after everyone telling me how totally amazing and mindblowing it would be my bar was set to high when I played it haha
I haven't played either LoD or Chrono Trigger though, although I've heard many great things about Chrono Trigger and after reading the review I'll definitely have to get around to playing this classic. Thanks for the write-up!
FF 7 was pretty amazing, not the greatest RPG, though I think it deserves 5 'paws' just as Chrono Trigger, I thought the two were pretty close. I think Light'iu hit the nail on the head.
Chrono Trigger was a really amazing game though - definitely deserves the score it got.
On June 04 2011 02:48 Armathai wrote: Woot good reviews, I'm probably one of the rarer ones who agree with FFVII being overrated. It may also just have been that after everyone telling me how totally amazing and mindblowing it would be my bar was set to high when I played it haha
This also happened to me. I played it a few years afterwards due to how people was talking about it and it just wasn't fun or entertaining. :/ I simply couldn't get far into it due to no joy in the experience.
I havn't played all that many of the classic JRPGs since I was playing RTS games when they came out. I will one day play Chrono Trigger though, sadly the backlog of games is too big. The PC console sucks, too many good games (including Chrono Trigger).
Some games I suggest you try, if you have not, are Grandia and Valkyrie Profile.
These are gems that never became popular because
VP only had like 180,000 copies made. They are so rare a good condition one goes from 100-250$ online. It's also a game that can be complex for he average derp gamer, similar to Vagrant Story.
Grandia simply never got advertised and nobody really even knows about it. The reason I think it started to become known is that Grandia 2 from PS2 and Dreamcast is extremely good.
On June 04 2011 03:00 Mailing wrote: Some games I suggest you try, if you have not, are Grandia and Valkyrie Profile.
These are gems that never became popular because
VP only had like 180,000 copies made. They are so rare a good condition one goes from 100-250$ online. It's also a game that can be complex for he average derp gamer, similar to Vagrant Story.
Grandia simply never got advertised and nobody really even knows about it. The reason I think it started to become known is that Grandia 2 from PS2 and Dreamcast is extremely good.
I've always wanted to play Valkyrie Profile, but I very much am a console person when it comes to RPGs. I really don't like playing simulations.
@.@
I actually own close to $1000 of PS games due to their increase in price over the years. So I'll hunt around to see if I can find one, but... it might be out of my price range until I get out of college.
In the spring of 1999, I went to Hawaii to interview with Square for a job as a sequence supervisor on "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within," which at the time was really pushing the limits of what computer animation could do for photorealistic human characters.
Before I took the trip, I bought a Playstation and a copy of FF7 to see whether I thought a video game company had a hope of telling a good story. I was completely blown away by the game and absolutely excited about the project. I loved the storytelling in the game. (The game itself wasn't that great, but the story was so incredibly creepy that it held up remarkably well.)
Turns out, I didn't get the job, though I did get to extend my stay (at Square's expense!) through the rest of the weekend and hang out with some old friends. We saw Rushmore in the theaters and hung out at the beach in Haleiwa, it was fantastic.
And, the movie kind of sucked, so no big loss there.
On June 04 2011 03:00 Mailing wrote: Some games I suggest you try, if you have not, are Grandia and Valkyrie Profile.
These are gems that never became popular because
VP only had like 180,000 copies made. They are so rare a good condition one goes from 100-250$ online. It's also a game that can be complex for he average derp gamer, similar to Vagrant Story.
Grandia simply never got advertised and nobody really even knows about it. The reason I think it started to become known is that Grandia 2 from PS2 and Dreamcast is extremely good.
I've always wanted to play Valkyrie Profile, but I very much am a console person when it comes to RPGs. I really don't like playing simulations.
@.@
I actually own close to $1000 of PS games due to their increase in price over the years. So I'll hunt around to see if I can find one, but... it might be out of my price range until I get out of college.
If you never get around to playing it or buying it for money reasons, there is a guy named CrimeInPartner on youtube who did a playthrough of the game with commentary.
It is an EXTREMELY professional playthough where he does every ending (there are 3), collects EVERY item in the game, does the bonus dungeon, etc and has a very nice voice.
I know it's not a replacement for playing it yourself, but it's such a good game that just seeing the story is worth it. Since he does the playthrough so well, you will understand everything there is to know about the game if you watch it.
Hope it works out for you, always love the jRPG fans from the PSX era :D
Part 2 of 109 (part one is just an intro/explanation of the game)
I personally feel that FFVII was good, but it's still a bit overrated by people (whether due to nostalgia or what nots I don't know). I personally preferred FFIX but that's just me.
On June 04 2011 03:52 MiniRoman wrote: Breath of Fire was pretty good.
FF4 was incredibly difficult and prolly underrated.
FF5 worst ff ;(
Link to the Past > best emulator snes game~
You ever play demon's souls?
Aw, but Faris was amazing!
And I have not played Demon's Souls, how is it?
On June 04 2011 03:58 MoonBear wrote: I personally feel that FFVII was good, but it's still a bit overrated by people (whether due to nostalgia or what nots I don't know). I personally preferred FFIX but that's just me.
No Fire Emblem btw?
I've played Fire Emblem, but didn't write a review. I might write a review of one of the FE games in a later blog.
I think your review of FFVII misses a HUGE innovation: the materia system. It was incredibly open-ended in what it allowed the player to do. I can remember spending A LOT of time just sitting on the materia menu messing around with different combinations.
Of course, playing around with the whole system is completely optional. So maybe you didn't spend much time on it? I don't know anyone who disliked the materia system though.
Ya it's fun and worth the price now that it has gone down a lot (still was worth it full price). It's more combat oriented (medieval weapon fighting) but very thorough and well done. PS3 exclusive though. Dark Soul's is coming out on Xbox which will be awesome.
On June 04 2011 03:58 MoonBear wrote: I personally feel that FFVII was good, but it's still a bit overrated by people (whether due to nostalgia or what nots I don't know). I personally preferred FFIX but that's just me.
No Fire Emblem btw?
I've played Fire Emblem, but didn't write a review. I might write a review of one of the FE games in a later blog.
If there is any RPG to play for the PS3, it is Demon's Souls
On June 04 2011 03:52 MiniRoman wrote: Breath of Fire was pretty good.
FF4 was incredibly difficult and prolly underrated.
FF5 worst ff ;(
Link to the Past > best emulator snes game~
You ever play demon's souls?
Aw, but Faris was amazing!
And I have not played Demon's Souls, how is it?
On June 04 2011 03:58 MoonBear wrote: I personally feel that FFVII was good, but it's still a bit overrated by people (whether due to nostalgia or what nots I don't know). I personally preferred FFIX but that's just me.
No Fire Emblem btw?
I've played Fire Emblem, but didn't write a review. I might write a review of one of the FE games in a later blog.
If there is any RPG to play for the PS3, it is Demon's Souls
Edit: my reply comes off as kind of harsh when i read it, not the intention, read it with a not too serious tone, it's not like i feel personally offended by this blog entry lol.
"This game is by far a highly accredited RPG with more fans in the US than any other JRPG. Other than the possible fangirl/boy obsessions of various characters, I really can't imagine why."
^ This is quite a weird statement to make if you ask me, i mean come on, isn't it quite obvious why FF7 was so successful? Why it still has so many fans?
Are JRPGs a really cool genre? Yes. Is FF7 the best one? No.
Is fantasy a really cool genre? Yes. Is Harry Potter the best one? No.
Anime? Naruto?
Video games? That first game we played?
I could go on. When our eyes are opened to a whole new cool world for us to discover, we'll always remember that gateway drug, our Alighierian Vergil who showed us the way. We'll smile and think of that title with fondness.
FF7 had it all. The graphics - you say awkward, i call that and raise you a slain Midgar serpent on display and some of the most beautiful rendered backgrounds ever. The characters - a first glimpse into manga/anime/jrpgs, there's drama, death and an ultimate antagonist.
More than anything though, i'd say it was the first approachable epic game ever to reach the west. Four discs of story and action where the characters came to life in magnificent cutscenes.
You come off a little like the dubstep enthusiasts dissing Skrillex. Sure there were better JRPGs, before and after and you may have even enjoyed the genre before it was "mainstream". Does that take away from the fact that FF7 was the only game that was capable of paving the way for commercial success of JRPGs in the west and ultimately resulting in Mass Effect - the marriage between pen & paper style western (Baldur's Gate) and story driven eastern (FF series)? Hating on FF7 is a desperate cry for attention. You're right, but so is a man who calls a baby ugly to its parents.
On June 05 2011 06:24 Thrill wrote: Hating on FF7 is a desperate cry for attention.
Yep, this is the case nowadays. People bash FFVII because it somehow became "cool" to do so. I mean, some years ago people endlessly praised it but recently, it just stopped. There is a lot of variety when they get asked about their favorite FF game and I think that the constant basing had an influence on it.
Anyway, I didn't have a PSX or SNES back then, so I never really played JRPGs and the last console I owned was a Mega Drive which was more about games like Sonic etc. Some years ago, I decided to start using emulators and so, I played a lot of older games. So far, I completed I, II, VII, VIII, IX and X of the FF series and I would say IX is the best part out of it, followed by VII and X. VIII was really disappointing, I finished the game in ~14 hours. I actually started X-2 as well but the game was so horrible, I just stopped after about an hour.
Haven't tried playing Chrono Trigger, Mother and some other RPGs yet but I will eventually do it at some point. I actually wanted to play Secret of Mana with someone via netplay but it was too laggy, so we stopped and I haven't touched the game since then. Other than that...there are a lot of RPGs out there, so, at some point, it will be pretty hard to find something original.
I would just like to once again point out that I rated FFVII 4/5 and have only given one 5/5 in all of my ratings. While some of my wording may have been harsh, I am clearly not bashing it.
On June 05 2011 08:40 Riku wrote: I would just like to once again point out that I rated FFVII 4/5 and have only given one 5/5 in all of my ratings. While some of my wording may have been harsh, I am clearly not bashing it.
We're quite Asian about grades here on TL - a B always equals failure.
On June 05 2011 08:56 Backpack wrote: What was the thought process behind "reviewing" three of the most popular and most reviewed JRPGs of all time?
At least in the case of FFVII, I think it's very interesting to hear the perspective, fourteen years after release, of a reviewer who was seven years old when the game came out. That's easily enough differentiation from reviews that have come before.
On June 05 2011 08:40 Riku wrote: I would just like to once again point out that I rated FFVII 4/5 and have only given one 5/5 in all of my ratings. While some of my wording may have been harsh, I am clearly not bashing it.
As long as it's directed at me as well...well, I was talking about the general bashing of the title and didn't even have you in mind. But I do think that your description is kind of unfair while the rating is perfectly fine.
And by the way, you still "owe" me an answer to a question of mine in another thread
By the way i like that you follow day9's advice and keep creating content, admirable! ^^
I think it would be more well received if it was SC1/2 related though. JP is the living example that you really only need enthusiasm and belief in the scene to be successful.
I'm not necessarily saying "do a podcast" but there are some things that would be very appreciated around here. One thing would be a larger emphasis on semi-pro players and streamers. If willing to, you'd find that it's very easy to arrange text interviews with players and i'm confident you'd have some interesting questions to ask them, preferably related to background and personality (origins of the will to win etc).
Your blog output is impressive and consistent enough to make me sure you could start doing themes day9 style (funday monday etc) where one day could be "Rikus corner" or w/e where you interview someone in the scene about whom we don't know too much.
Some coverage at the upcoming blizzcon would of course be very well received too.
Feel free to ignore my advice though, it's really up to you what kind of voice you want to be, i'm just suggesting a way to weed out some of the trolls on your blog.
On June 05 2011 08:56 Backpack wrote: What was the thought process behind "reviewing" three of the most popular and most reviewed JRPGs of all time?
Because I've played them all. I play games. I write my opinions on them. Admittedly, I could have written about Xenogears or Saiyuki or Suikoden or any of the other JRPGs I've played, but I chose the three I did off the top of my head. Perhaps it is because they are the most memorable? Well, actually, I think I remember much more about FFV than FFVII, but that's due to my Faris-obsession.
On June 05 2011 08:40 Riku wrote: I would just like to once again point out that I rated FFVII 4/5 and have only given one 5/5 in all of my ratings. While some of my wording may have been harsh, I am clearly not bashing it.
As long as it's directed at me as well...well, I was talking about the general bashing of the title and didn't even have you in mind. But I do think that your description is kind of unfair while the rating is perfectly fine.
And by the way, you still "owe" me an answer to a question of mine in another thread
Which thread? I searched my "Crusher of Dreams" comments, but didn't see one from you! I'd be happy to answer your question... I think!
On June 05 2011 10:46 Thrill wrote: By the way i like that you follow day9's advice and keep creating content, admirable! ^^
I think it would be more well received if it was SC1/2 related though. JP is the living example that you really only need enthusiasm and belief in the scene to be successful.
I'm not necessarily saying "do a podcast" but there are some things that would be very appreciated around here. One thing would be a larger emphasis on semi-pro players and streamers. If willing to, you'd find that it's very easy to arrange text interviews with players and i'm confident you'd have some interesting questions to ask them, preferably related to background and personality (origins of the will to win etc).
Your blog output is impressive and consistent enough to make me sure you could start doing themes day9 style (funday monday etc) where one day could be "Rikus corner" or w/e where you interview someone in the scene about whom we don't know too much.
Some coverage at the upcoming blizzcon would of course be very well received too.
Feel free to ignore my advice though, it's really up to you what kind of voice you want to be, i'm just suggesting a way to weed out some of the trolls on your blog.
Great advice! I'll mull over some ideas and see what I can do about interviewing.
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