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Mini Game Reviews (Part 3: JRPGs)

Blogs > Riku
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1 2 3 Next All
Riku
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United States1064 Posts
June 03 2011 17:16 GMT
#1

Final Fantasy VII[image loading][image loading][image loading][image loading]
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[image loading][image loading][image loading][image loading]
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[image loading][image loading][image loading][image loading][image loading]
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.

*
Creative Director, CEO at Stumbling Cat, Writer for Broken Joysticks - Twitter: @RikuKat
redFF
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
United States3910 Posts
June 03 2011 17:20 GMT
#2
Final Fantasy 6 is better than chrono-trigger. Chrono-trigger was amazing but FFVI perfected the formula.
Riku
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United States1064 Posts
June 03 2011 17:29 GMT
#3
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.

Creative Director, CEO at Stumbling Cat, Writer for Broken Joysticks - Twitter: @RikuKat
Light`iu
Profile Joined December 2010
Spain51 Posts
June 03 2011 17:37 GMT
#4
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
Laters
Louuster
Profile Joined November 2010
Canada2869 Posts
June 03 2011 17:42 GMT
#5
I also prefer FF6 over Chrono Trigger, but both are amazing games.
Kim Taek Yong fighting~
Riku
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United States1064 Posts
June 03 2011 17:43 GMT
#6
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.

Creative Director, CEO at Stumbling Cat, Writer for Broken Joysticks - Twitter: @RikuKat
Armathai
Profile Joined October 2007
1023 Posts
June 03 2011 17:48 GMT
#7
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!

Looking for ArcticCerebrate formerly from @USEast
Mayor
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
United States472 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-03 17:51:38
June 03 2011 17:50 GMT
#8
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.

"You can be creative but I will crush it under the iron fist of my conservative play." - Liquid`Tyler
Yurie
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
12084 Posts
June 03 2011 17:54 GMT
#9
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).
Mailing
Profile Joined March 2011
United States3087 Posts
June 03 2011 18:00 GMT
#10
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.
Are you hurting ESPORTS? Find out today - http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=232866
intrigue
Profile Blog Joined November 2005
Washington, D.C9934 Posts
June 03 2011 18:15 GMT
#11
do you make a
Moderatorhttps://soundcloud.com/castlesmusic/sets/oak
Riku
Profile Blog Joined June 2009
United States1064 Posts
June 03 2011 18:15 GMT
#12
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.


Creative Director, CEO at Stumbling Cat, Writer for Broken Joysticks - Twitter: @RikuKat
Chef
Profile Blog Joined August 2005
10810 Posts
June 03 2011 18:19 GMT
#13
I don't think you make enough blogs.
LEGEND!! LEGEND!!
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-03 18:32:34
June 03 2011 18:29 GMT
#14
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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
Mailing
Profile Joined March 2011
United States3087 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-06-03 18:40:29
June 03 2011 18:32 GMT
#15
On June 04 2011 03:15 Riku wrote:
Show nested quote +
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)

+ Show Spoiler +
Are you hurting ESPORTS? Find out today - http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?topic_id=232866
Torenhire
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States11681 Posts
June 03 2011 18:37 GMT
#16
I have the most epic Valkyrie Profile poster in my room.

Good call on mentioning it. I need to dust off my PS2 and get back into this! I haven't played in ages, hahah.

Final Fantasy 8, my true final fantasy love. <3
SirJolt: Well maybe if you weren't so big and stupid, it wouldn't have hit you.
MiniRoman
Profile Blog Joined September 2003
Canada3953 Posts
June 03 2011 18:52 GMT
#17
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?
Nak Allstar.
MoonBear
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Straight outta Johto18973 Posts
June 03 2011 18:58 GMT
#18
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?
ModeratorA dream. Do you have one that has cursed you like that? Or maybe... a wish?
Torenhire
Profile Blog Joined April 2009
United States11681 Posts
June 03 2011 18:58 GMT
#19
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?


Best Emulator SNES game? More like best SNES game.
SirJolt: Well maybe if you weren't so big and stupid, it wouldn't have hit you.
MiniRoman
Profile Blog Joined September 2003
Canada3953 Posts
June 03 2011 19:13 GMT
#20
tru dat. i only had a sega as a kid though ;(
Nak Allstar.
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