[RPGs]Take a Journey With Me, Part 1

ilovezil

United States4143 Posts

September 23 2008 05:44 GMT

Tonight, I'm feeling very nostalgic. Recently, I've been playing many RPG's, either off of emulators/roms, or the two Tales games that I blogged about couple entries ago. Those of you who will sit and read about a 20-year old geezer's tales, please watch your step; I'll be your guide down Zil's memory lane...

What Started It All...
For me, the RPG genre of video games are an extremely special part of my life. To begin, the system console responsible for starting all of my gaming experiences is the legendary Super Nintendo. Fueled by 16-bit graphics and capable of displaying aesthetic two dimensional images, I've played many games, from Zelda: A Link to the Past, to one of my all time favorites, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Many gamers will probably agree with me when I say SNES will go down in history as THE classic video game system. There's so much I have to say, but I wish to spare you all from overdrive mode of the 16 cylinder turbo engine in the form of my 10 fingers, so I'll be breaking these entries up. I'll focus on SNES Zelda today.

Zelda fans: bring back memories?

Indeed, I believe Zelda took my first RPG gaming experience. For me, this and one more reason is why Zelda holds a very special place in my heart. The other reason? I don't remember the details too clearly, but I do remember this: each Zelda game took me many months to complete. Yes, that's right. MONTHS! When I began SNES Zelda, it took me at least a good few weeks just to get past the Hyrule Castle (and that's just the beginning!). To demonstrate, I'll walk you through using pictures:

Castle Layout 1

I was determined to get through this!

So where it says entrance is, obviously, where I entered the castle. I followed the routes all the way around and about, determined to explore every nook and cranny of the castle. Well, one thing led to another...

Castle Layout 2

Wait...how big is this place?!

So, the castle was a bit bigger than I thought, but I couldn't let my determination waver! How could I take pride as a hardcore video game fan if I couldn't even get past this?

Castle Layout 3

My mind asplode...

Unfortunately for me, there was no internet back then. I suppose there were game guide magazines, but I had neither the resources nor mommy's permission to obtain such precious gems. My only hope was to rely on my own wits and persistence to plow onward to defeat the evil wizard Agahnim and perhaps a more sinister evil...OMGBBQSAUCE, SPOILER ALERT!!!+ Show Spoiler +

Ganon. Never would've guessed, huh?

As I've said before, this castle gave me a whole world of trouble. I couldn't get past the part where I had to find a secret passage from the sanctuary. Refer to the first picture from castle image 2. For the life of me, the secret wouldn't reveal itself. I swiped at curtains. I lit each (already lit) candle. I even swung my sword around every inch of the room in the four directions you can swing. That conundrum took me at least a few weeks to solve. The solution?!

rumroll*

Ja Jan!! Yes! Push the huge, not-so-obvious looking obstacle from the left!

That was one of the few puzzles that kept me playing this game for an amount of time beyond my knowledge. Now, watch as I demonstrate how a modern day 12 year old accomplishes what I struggled over for about a month's worth of time in under 10 minutes:

By 6:10, this prepubescent brat whizzes past the obstacle that took me a month to figure out.

Now, some of you may laugh at me and call me a nOo0b...yea, I guess I was :/

Back then, I was an 8 year old kid, excited about playing a completely new type of game. I was quite used to the simplicity of the pretty colors and linear gameplay from Super Mario World, which I played since I was either two or three years old. I was suddenly forced to step up to the big boys' league. That was a monumental point in my gaming career, retrieving that shiny gray Zelda cartridge from a colorful, glossy package. To further demonstrate my point, I'll have you observe:

Oooh, pretty colors~ can you believe that cost $49.99 back in the day? (plus tax!!)

You'd expect any elementary student to wet his pants just wrapping his mind around the glorious journey that awaits during his after-school hours. Blood, sweat and tears through countless dungeons and endless puzzles kept me playing immediately after school until my 9:30 curfew. Indeed, my parents weren't too please when my grades dropped. Rather exponentially.

To Be Continued...

CTStalker

Canada9720 Posts

September 23 2008 06:00 GMT

a couple weeks ago, i was moving into my current apartment. i'm subletting from a friend and i had to move out of my old place early, so i crashed on the couch here for a few days until my friend left. my computer wasn't set up and it was a long weekend, so what did i do? got drunk and beat link to the past in less than 2 days. my friends, being a few years younger than me, had never really played the game too in-depth. my mastery of the dungeons both impressed and dismayed them.

good blog

BreaK

Canada890 Posts

September 23 2008 06:05 GMT

I am an RPG man myself.

In my eyes there is no better game than an RPG. Although I've conquered every Zelda game, and many other Action RPGs, JRPG's are the GREATEST!

Link to the Past is amazing. One of those "perfect" games, you know. Good blod, keep 'em up.

SayaSP

Laos5494 Posts

September 23 2008 06:08 GMT

Dude LttP is AWESOME

Grobyc

Canada18410 Posts

September 23 2008 06:16 GMT

On September 23 2008 14:44 ilovezil wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6m5hWMtVh0

Pff, I have way better micro than that kid.

PoP-sicle

Canada418 Posts

September 23 2008 06:23 GMT

best zelda yet, imo zelda arent rpg thought they are more adventure game, but w/e still REALLY enjoyable game that every players should play even these day on a emulator or something

Nyovne

Netherlands19137 Posts

September 23 2008 06:24 GMT

On September 23 2008 15:08 SayaSP wrote:
Dude LttP is AWESOME