Sunday, February 8, 2004

RPG'S WORTH PLAYING WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!
Hey everyone. I've received a few complaints over the last few months that my site is too bland. Yeah I guess you guys were rite, as it was empty for the longest time...so I've decided to revamp it a bit. I'll start with a post dedicated to my all time favorite RPG's all of which I've completed. I take my RPG's seriously and expect alot out of them, so definately check out these recomendations as they are among the best games ever created! Period! Ok here it is:

8) Kingdom Hearts (PS2). Ok there have been mixed thoughts about this game. People don’t know whether its for the kiddies or for the hardcore RPG fans. I’ll tell you the truth, if you pick this game up and expect another FF epic, you’ll be disappointed. First off, it’s not a true RPG as it has elements from platform and action genres. The story while good, isn’t on par with any of the top RPG’s on this list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your time. The story incorporates characters from the Disney world and has some FF favorites as well like Squall, Cloud and Sephiroth! And god...if you can beat Sephy you are an awesome gamer. I’ll just say he’s the hardest boss in the game and by your 10th attempt at fighting him, you’ll wish you hadn’t tried in the first place. You’ll curse at him, then you’ll throw your controller at the T.V., that’s a guarantee! He’s that hard!, but I’m glad he was a challenge as he is one of the baddest villains ever. To have him be a wuss would have been a major disappointed...anyways I’m going off topic here. While this game is primarily an action RPG it does have a menu system with all the typical FF spells and magic including summon abilities, so there is a lot to like. The story will keep gamers interested even if its kinda cliche and lame at times. O yeah make sure you collect all those dalmations for a secret ending! :D All in all a good game that would have benefitted from a slightly more mature tone with less comic relief from the dorky Goofy who is too goofy for his own good. Sorry Goofy but we all hate you. Overall 7.5/10

7) Vagrant Story (PSX). Alrite this is one of the most highly acclaimed RPG’s to grace any console, though it is also one of the least popular and accessible. Why?...Well first off this game features a complex battle system. It features a free roaming design, which allows you to run around your environment and plan an attack on your foe. Once you’ve decided on what you want to do, you select an option (attack, spell, etc). A menu will then open up. If for example you chose to attack, you will need to specify which body part you want to hit on your enemy. Of course different areas are more critical and will take more damage than others, but keep in mind, the hit% will vary. So say you decide to strike someone on the head, that area will take off the most HP, but the % of landing that blow will be lower than say striking an arm, which won’t do as much damage. So you get the idea, this game takes strategy. This is only a taste of the choices in this game. You also have the option of customizing equipment such as armor and weapons. You can rename your weapons, combine different weapons into one creating a new one altogther and depending on what kind of enemies you fight most with each particular weapon, determine its effectiveness and attributes. Yeah I know this sounds confusing and at first it is, but soon it will become second nature, well for most people anyways. O and there’s also a chain system that allows you to create a string of attacks simultaneously. These combos require exact timing however and can be difficult, but are a crucial element to achieve successful development within the game. This game features some difficult battles and puzzles making it for the more experienced crowd. For those of you who have beaten FF Tactics, the learning curve shouldn’t be too steep (In fact this game was developed by several staff members responsible for that title, including the director) since there are some similarities when it comes to equipment management. The character designs in this game are worth mentioning, they are superb. The art direction is also top notch and the cut scenes are expertly directed. The graphics are also very nice, and if you thought Metal Gear Solid looked good, this game easily ups that presentation by 3 notches. Overall this game isn’t for everyone, but for those who are willing to try something different or something a little more complex than your typical RPG, then you won’t be disappointed. Story, graphics, game play, this game has it all. Overall 8.5/10.

Alrite everyone stay tuned for the rest of my list, it will be up asap. I hope you found eveything helpful!

Comments (0)