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Post by dreggnog on Dec 23, 2009 19:30:28 GMT
I haven't played Fallout 3, but I am playing Oblivion, and while it's good, I prefer just about every Final Fantasy out there, and the idea of a Final Fantasy game being made like that is just not right. I mean, Final Fantasy games are supposed to have parties (except for Crisis Core, which is a whole different matter and very different game from Oblivion anyway) and Oblivion and Fallout 3 are one character things mainly.
It just almost always seems wrong to say that one game should be like another, even if the game in question is crap, and Final Fantasy is not crap. If you think it is, then you shouldn't play it and should play Fallout 3 instead.
I'm also not a fan of people saying that everything should be open world. In my mind, Final Fantasy games tend to be pretty linear (they open up towards the end, but a lot of that stuff is optional and I don't usually do it, an exception being XII, that game did side quest type stuff pretty well) and they're some of my favorite games ever.
Finally, I agree that linear, more focused stories are more likely to be well done. I find that when a game is too open world, you lose track of the importance of the main story and I usually forget what it's about since I can't play the same game five hours a day for a month like some people apparently can.
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Post by AlexY on Dec 24, 2009 11:54:38 GMT
It's just the difference between western RPGs based on D&D and eastern RPGs with original systems with key concepts.
D&D is far more complex and definitely engaging if you make it that way - it's about how much time and effort you invest into making your own story. D&D sessions can do this excellently, but crafting this into a game like Fallout is severely limiting it, no matter what people say. Planescape: Torment was probably the closest to true 'freedom' in D&D games and that STILL had an engaging narrative line.
Eastern culture is deeply rooted in tradition and storytelling, and that's reflected in their videogames (where, note, they are attributed as a popular medium of expression and information unlike the West) - barring a more open world/system while keeping originality and expression at top makes it for a completely different experience.
My best buddy, a PC gamer from the start, got completely enthralled by FFVII and the whole idea of a game like that - the story and progression were completely new notions to him. It's two different worlds, that's that.
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Post by Toadkiller Dog on Dec 26, 2009 3:52:22 GMT
I do both. I've been playing D&D since I was 12 (25 now), and been playing JRPGs since the same age. The same guy, a close friend at the time got me into both. I hold some loyalty to the FF series because my first console RPG that I EVER enjoyed was FFII (SNES, FFIV). Speaking of FF, while this isn't exactly the place for it...if any of you don't know yet, FFVIII was released on the PSN recently. I just bought it and downloaded it to my PSP this morning, been thoroughly enjoying it, again. I own it, hell actually two copies of it for PS1, but still...it's portable now. BTW, if any of you haven't already, I highly recommend reading this article I'll post below, or at least giving it a good skimming over. Quite informative. kotaku.com/5433455/final-fantasy-xiii-impressions-15-years-later-25-hours-in
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Post by Redemption on Dec 26, 2009 11:50:48 GMT
^ didn't read all of it, its a freakin long article. And i'm kinda a slow reader. So it gets annoying when the Kotaku page does its auto refresh. Got past most of it though, Does make me think twice about some of the complaints. I've not high hopes for it, but there back to about what they were befor its japanese release.
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Post by dreggnog on Dec 29, 2009 23:34:54 GMT
That is the single best video game article I have ever read in my entire life. I want to print it out and keep it forever. The descriptions of everything that was actually about the game were all excellent, and a lot of the extra stuff was entertaining. I am now a Tim fan, and all those bashers in the comments area only made me appreciate him more.
Anyway, the whole Paradigm Shift thing just sounds amazing. The idea that you can change the other members jobs mid-battle (only directly controlling the main character) made me pace around my house for a few minutes with a minor brain explosion. That sounds like the best FF idea since the Junction system of VIII.
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Post by Toadkiller Dog on Dec 30, 2009 4:53:21 GMT
You liked that Junction system in FFVIII? That's actually one of the few things I didn't like about the whole experience.
But, I agree, the Paradigm Shift thing sounds excellent. I'm REALLY anticipating this game now.
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Post by dreggnog on Dec 30, 2009 17:23:56 GMT
I played FFVIII when I was younger and at first I hated the Junction system because it baffled me but about halfway through the game I completely figured it out and fell in love with it. Allocating drawn spells to stats just really worked well within the game I thought, and even though you really should've been able to skip the summons, I'm just the kinda guy who can easily get used to that sort of thing. Whenever a summon would come on, my mind would just sort of go blank for thirty seconds.
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Post by Toadkiller Dog on Dec 31, 2009 2:46:42 GMT
The summons didn't bother me that badly. I just disliked the Junction system. Mostly because, even after mastering it, it just becomes cheap. You CAN beat FFVIII without having EVER leveled up. So you can beat the last boss at level 6. I'm dead serious, I've seen it done. This is done by just simply working the junction system. Any system THAT cheap...I just can't appreciate.
My favorite FF system, if you don't count Tactics' awesome job mastering system, is FFXII's gambit/License board/quickening system. Also tricky to master, but not nearly as cheap as junctioning.
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Post by Vaco Deus on Dec 31, 2009 3:11:21 GMT
blackswordsmanI agree that linear games have a greater story. Fallout 3, is great in the fact is has an okay story but you can do an astounding amount of things within the games world. Everything that people are complaining about are trivial. I'm excited for the OST. It drops in January I believe
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Post by Toadkiller Dog on Dec 31, 2009 13:10:14 GMT
The three songs I've heard from the OST on youtube, particularly the battle theme were excellent.
And yes, I agree that almost every complaint so far has been very trivial.
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Post by dreggnog on Dec 31, 2009 18:17:32 GMT
The summons didn't bother me that badly. I just disliked the Junction system. Mostly because, even after mastering it, it just becomes cheap. You CAN beat FFVIII without having EVER leveled up.. True, but I didn't KNOW that my first time through. My favorite battle systems are the Job systems of V, Tactics, and Tactics A2, and the Junction system of VIII. VII's materia system was okay, but moving stuff between the characters and organizing everything was a pain. X's sphere grid felt simple and linear, but kinda gave a sense of progress. I was overall impressed with the way XII's Gambit system worked, but it made the game feel a bit boring.
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Post by blackswordsman on Jan 2, 2010 0:44:28 GMT
I guess I can post this here: kotaku.com/5438465/real-bird-attacks-fake-chocoboTake a look at the video posted in the comments section. For what I can see about XIII, it has its flaws, but any game have those, past FF games had aswell, so I see no big deal. It seems the good outweights the bad, like that kotaku article linked earlier in this thread (the guy wasn't excited about the game at first - I read his previous article - but even he admited the good points). It seems the people that are really pissed off at the game are hardcore otakus, the same people that send death threats to a mangaka if he/she makes something they don't like. Like implying the female protagonist is not virgin. Or even have only kissed before. Yup, that's enough for a death threat... I hate japanese otakus (I'm not talking about normal fans, but real otakus) ... I'm seeing a lot of FFX hate also. Everytime people bring up XIII is like X, and that it sucks. X is not my favourite but it's a great game. It has it's flaws (the gameplay gets boring at certain parts of the game), but it has great moments aswell. The Opening, the Yuna-Tidus lake scene and the ending are probably my favourite parts. I'm playing the original dub version and Tidus is actually less annoying in Japanese for some reason. ^^ People are complaining this game is like: kill monsters - boss - watch cutscene - repeat. Well, I think most games are like this, I see no problem... And I'm sure there is exploring. There are sidequests confirmed, the Monster Hunting is back. Anyway... I'll stay away from reading about the game a little. Even blogs I used to follow are just bashing the game and stirring up wars between fans. Lame. But I also hear people saying this happens with every Final Fantasy release. So I'm not taking this whole war seriously. I read somewhere sales plummeted, with the game being at fourth place now. Meh... Whatever. =p ps: did I mention I can't stand japense otakus? Seriously they are the lamest a man can be. Only like virtual girls with their moto "3D girls suck", worship said virtual girls, get mad to the point of death threats and burning merchandise when said girls are not virgins 'cause that completely ruins their fantasies, and only like said girls cause they are mostly "completely dedicated to their man". Also, death threats and burned merchandise. What this has to do with this topic? Just a little, but I just can't stand them. I shouldn't have spent those days on otaku boards. It made me a little dead inside. The gaming fanbase is impossible to please! The anime fanbase is on the contrary quite easy to please! What they have in common is the love for pantsu and cheap moe characters! ... Zetsubou shita!!!
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Post by Toadkiller Dog on Jan 2, 2010 1:14:35 GMT
I can think of far worse human beings than Otakus. Far worse. They may be pathetic and sad, but there is still far worse a man can become.
Regardless, I liked FFX quite a bit, just not real big on Tidus much.
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Post by dreggnog on Jan 2, 2010 14:19:08 GMT
Tidus had some annoying writing and voice acting, but he did a fairly good job of changing as the game went along. I liked Squall, but he took too damn long. Cloud changed pretty early, but in a way, he kinda went from badass to lame.
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Post by Vaco Deus on Jan 2, 2010 23:05:01 GMT
For me its a tie between Squall and Locke for my favorite protagonists
I didn't mind Tidus. I always thought his cocky, whiny attitude was part of his character and his story was to show how he matured as a person when faced with a threat.
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