Thinking Aloud or Just Making Noise?

I've been hoping for some peace and quiet so I'd be able to jot down some thoughts here and sure enough, that is exactly what I've got tonight. It is nights like this that I am grateful to be living across the street from a hospital, opposed to a block away and having to hear every ambulance, fire truck and everything in between at all hours of the day/night.

Another thing which I am happy with is Crisis Core, which I am still enjoying. The story is amazing and it definitely adds depth to the existing characters and it does an incredible job at bringing in the new folks too.

What actually amazes me is the negative "reviews" for the game. I didn't realize how many people thought the FF7 Compilation was crap!

I know it is impossible to please the world, but sheesh! Just reading about how the game "didn't live up to my expectations" and all that, it just amazes me how some people can go through a day at all. Surely Crisis Core isn't the world's most perfect game, but considering it is on a portable system, it does accomplish quite a bit in my own opinion. It still blows my mind with the amount of voice acting in the game!

Eh, but what can you do? We all have our opinions and regardless, I still enjoy Final Fantasy games and I'll definitely will continue to support it. In my view, I don't see any other RPG title or series that can truly stand toe to toe with FF. Am I a fan boy? Maybe. But then, what in the hell is a fan boy anyhow?

Definition of a "Fan Boy."

I don't honestly know if I actually fall into that category or not, but whatever. I enjoy what I enjoy and that is what counts to me here. I will say that the sole reason I still follow the series as strongly as I do is because I know that regardless of whatever other game SE releases, you gotta know that they go all out to deliver when it comes down to Final Fantasy.

Which brings me to Suikoden I & II (sudden change in subject!) and how, two weeks later, I still do not have the game. I never would have believed it would take this long to ship, but alas... I still don't have the game. In a very short reply from Toys n' Joys, they think my order will be shipped next week.

Well damn folks! If they don't even know what's going on, then consider me worried! Truth be told, this is the last time I ever try to order something through their site! Horribly slow service certainly will get me in a foul mood and fast!

On the flip side, at least one thing I ordered had come in. So with a PS1 memory card in hand, I have begun (once again) to play through Final Fantasy VII. In the near future though, I'm hoping to dig out Chrono Cross. Depending on the mood, I might actually try and hunt down more PS1 RPGs, with the original Wild Arms at the top of that short list!

Short Saga of My Suikoden Search

I don't make it a secret in saying that both Suikoden and Suikoden II were amongst a short list of favorites back during the PS1 days. I mean there were just (literally) an army of characters to choose from. What also hooked me was the ever changing HQ, which grew along side your army. I remember those long days of obsessing over finding and recruiting every character possible. I even remember saving the main hero's sister in Suikoden II, which took me a while to succeed.

So now let us flash forward to the present day and my endless wandering about the internet. By now, I had long lost both original games and the only option out there really is to hit eBay. Well, it is an option if you've got a lot of spare cash to pay up on the outrageous prices for both. Then I got an unexpected surprised a few weeks ago, to learn that both games were actually released together for the PSP in Japan.

First question to pop into my head was: Is it coming to the US?

Answer: Almost certainly.... NOT.

That is where the issue for me died, I mean I can't read Japanese at all and so importing it wouldn't make much sense, right? Well that is what I thought until I began a half hearted search locally for it and actually came across it on the store's website. Anyway, to make a long story short, their website said they had it in stock and the store said nope (damn you once more Toys n' Joys)!

Refusing to lose, I placed an order on their site and proceeded to wait. And wait. After a week of waiting and still no word, I sent an email to inquire. I mean during this whole episode, there was nothing on their site that indicated that they didn't have it. Their response? Nothing. So there I go again, waiting and waiting...

Now after getting Crisis Core, I had given up on this wondrous compilation of old school RPG love, and had pretty much just chalked it up as a no-winner. Now out of NOWHERE, I get an email in my box that says congratulations on your purchase!

So all in all, I guess you could consider this little tale having a happy ending. On the flip side, I still cannot read Japanese and so I'll have to rely on what I *hope* I've remembered about the game. All considering it isn't different then the US versions. Anyway, now comes the wait for those bastards to mail it! We're on the same island, hurry it up!!