RPGs!

The picture to the side here was something I came across the other day while wandering about to various websites. Apparently it is from the PS2 video game called Suikoden III, how true that is I'm not entirely sure. Truthfully I was a fan of the Suikoden series up until the second game in (I've played up until #4). Beyond the second game, it just felt to me like the games had become hollow and were nothing more then mere shells of what they once were.

Granted, that seems to be my attitude for most console RPGs I've gotten into over the past several years. It is as if the game companies feel that the graphics are more important then the story, when (in my own opinion), an RPG is all about the story. Why else would a fan be there for? If a gamer wanted the absolute most cutting edge graphics, I imagine the person would rather take up a PC game.

There was one game that help bring back those RPG good times of old, and that would come in thanks to a game called Dragon Quest 8.

It was the first time that I have ever played a game from this particular series and at first I didn't have any idea just what I was getting myself into. Ok that is a lie, I thought it was going to be another one of those shallow, dull and flat out boring excuses that was being passed off as a "RPG." But I admit if first impressions are everything, then consider me completely blown away. From the characters, to the gameplay and just the overall flow of the story... it was simply amazing to be able to play a game that managed to pull off nice graphics and still hold true to great story telling and gameplay.

But that is old news, old games and I think that makes me sound as though I'm out of touch. Blah. Well, I am presently looking forward to the next installment of the Final Fantasy series (FFXII!), as well as Disgaea 2. Oh and one other worth mentioning would have to be the rumored re-release of Final Fantasy VI, which is a game I've been waiting another shot at for many, many, many years now.

On one more mentioning of a Final Fantasy game, I've hit a bit of a rock bottom as far as Final Fantasy XI is concerned (that would be the only online FF game in the series... so far...). It is a good game when it comes down to it, but you have to be pretty dedicated to be able to lay down the necessary hours to level your character, to farm up materials to craft and/or to sell off in hopes to earn enough to make your character from a wimp to champ. This is my first experience as far as a online game is concerned and consider what I've seen and what I've grown to learn, this may very well be my last for a few years (its mind wrecking! Er... at least it is to me).

Well I think this makes for a fairly decent first post in my new blog. Hopefully I'll be able to get around to writing more. I think I will go beyond just yapping about video games, that should give me something to bitch about for a good long time....