Filed under: Gaming
I’m eventually going to be doing a review of Professor Layton and the Curious Village on the DS, so stay tuned. I’m also working on an Uncharted 2: Among Thieves review and am currently working my way through Final Fantasy XII, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Age: Origins, and Borderlands. I realize I’m a little late to the party on FFXII and Kingdom Hearts, but I just recently felt the urge to overcome my general dislike of Square Enix (based pretty much on the fact that I’ve never been a big fan of turn-based games).
As if that’s not enough to keep me busy on top of studying and school, Tuesday is coming up mighty soon and you know what that means: Assassin’s Creed II and Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines. And I still need to write some reviews of movies to post over at Visual Crack. I am a busy little bee.
Filed under: Gaming
I am extremely excited about the upcoming Assassin’s Creed II game and as it gets closer to the release date (mark your calendars for Nov. 17th!) my usual gaming malaise is setting in. I tend to get so excited about a game that I have a hard time focusing on the ones I have (and yes, this also applies to movies that I really want to watch but either don’t have or can’t find).
I’ve thought about playing Assassin’s Creed again, but then I thought it might make me go even more crazy, so I think I’m going to go back to the new Prince of Persia, which I have been sadly unable to complete as of yet. Which of course gives me good reason to play it again – and then review it. Yeah, I know, old news. But there are always new people picking up PS3s, especially with the price drop, and I know if I was one of those people I would like to know more about some of the older PS3 games.
I may be exposing myself as a gaming heretic right now, but until today the most Final Fantasy I’ve ever played has been about 15 minutes of Final Fantasy VII – and that was 15 minutes too long. In my world turn-based battle systems are sheer torture that do not, in any way, shape, or form, constitute anything even remotely resembling fun. Yes, I suck very badly at anything involving turn-based battle, but it’s a part of myself that I’ve come to terms with, so don’t judge me.
Today I thought I’d give the franchise another go because I saw the preview for Final Fantasy XIV and was then looking at Final Fantasy XIII and thought, “I really should give the franchise at least one more try.” I was sold, albeit cautiously, when I learned that Final Fantasy XII is barely turn-based at all. And it was only $12 at Gamestop so I could hardly pass it up.
So far it’s a decent game and the graphics are great. Don’t get me wrong, if I had any input into these things I wouldn’t rate it anywhere near, say, Ico or Shadow of the Colossus, both games with absolutely beautiful graphics and great game play.
I have to say I just don’t see what is so great about the Final Fantasy franchise. I get that for many people it’s pretty much the be-all and end-all of video gaming, but I just don’t see it. I am willing to change my mind, however, as a review I read regarding FFXII mentioned that it took a few hours to really get going. I’m cautiously optimistic that I will eventually grow to like the series for more than just the pretty graphics (I’ve never been a fan of the game play but I’ve always thought the graphics looked outstanding). Thankfully, to help me out a friend of mine who is planning on getting the Japanese version of FFXIII (gotta love being in the same region as Japan on the PS3) when it comes out in December is going to give me a heads up on what I can expect when it hits the US next year, so I can decide whether I want to give it a try or not.
Any thoughts? I know there are a lot of FF faithful out there, but I’m sure, likewise, there are others like me who just don’t get what all the hype is about. I’m willing to listen to both sides.
