I have been working on the new post, yes it will most likely be just text but it will be my longest post yet, and it tackles what is a touchy subject in the gaming world . Thats right the taboo topic of EMULATION. Love it , hate it , there are reasons for both, and depending who you are those reasons can vary drastically. I wil be looking at what makes it worthwhile in some cases, and not in others, the legality issue ( I am no legal expert so don't take what I say as law but this is just my view) I will be adding more links to Emulation related sites, including one to the fantastic Mother 3 Rom and English Translation Patch, which will allow you to play one of the greatest games Nintendo ever decided to not bring to America, yeah Chuck Fesumay or however you spell his name the President of NintenDOH! really had no clue that it would be that popular. But YOU will be able to get it and play it for free by following the links I provide in the next post. I look forward to finally hearing some comments and feedback maybe even a little debate and discussion on this next post . So please guys keep coming back, and game on gamers.
MikefromKy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
FFVII Grinding
One thing I always seamed to hate, but at the same time relish is the grind. For those of you unfamiliar with RPG's, Grinding is mindless battling to either level up and gain new abilities, or to get currency to buy the next upgrade for equipment and magic.
Some games take this to absolutely mind numbing extremes, Dragon Warrior I for NES pops to mind. Hours upon hours just to gain enough gold to buy a new sword or just to gain the couple of extra levels your character needs to defeat the next dungeon or boss. Other games make the opposite mistake, and make it terribly easy especially at the beginning of the game to just fly threw worlds, dungeons, and bosses. The problem with this is by the end of the game the challenge is usually boosted up so much that your character is left to weak, and you have to grind at the very end of the game just to complete the epic you have invested 20 or 30 + hours in.
This is where I think Final Fantasy VII has really reached a balance. Yes you have to grind, but the grinding is kept at a pace where simply grinding for 10 or 15 minutes in between villages or dungeons and your set for the next portion of the game. Of course if your like me you want to grind to steal off certain enemies, or get your materia to level up, or just for the fun of exploring the over world map. But its not so rammed down your throat that you feel like your just going threw the motions, a problem I have heard Final Fantasy VIII has. Yes, I have never sat down and really played FF VIII, I have tried on several occasions and just can't get into the feel of the game. One of the reasons being the absolute grind happy magic system of FFVIII.
So yes I am grinding right now having just crossed the ocean after defeating Jenova on Shinras boat. But its a good grind, its the type of grind where you know shortly you will be advancing the game and something else new and exciting will take place. I think thats the great thing in revisiting a game you have not played more than 20 minutes into in over 12 years. EVERYTHING is new again, sure major plot points are still remembered but the little bits and pieces the witty dialogue of some npc's or the bright fun layout of some towns and enviroments. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.
Next time we will talk about what I think is the biggest difference between old school games and new school games is, and why IMO many people are turning back to the games they loved as a child. So check back soon. And please comment below on what you think the biggest difference is. And the much loved art of emulation, which some great links are provided to the right to help anyone interested in getting started emulating some of the great games from your past. (of course i have to suggest buying the game as well) ;P
Some games take this to absolutely mind numbing extremes, Dragon Warrior I for NES pops to mind. Hours upon hours just to gain enough gold to buy a new sword or just to gain the couple of extra levels your character needs to defeat the next dungeon or boss. Other games make the opposite mistake, and make it terribly easy especially at the beginning of the game to just fly threw worlds, dungeons, and bosses. The problem with this is by the end of the game the challenge is usually boosted up so much that your character is left to weak, and you have to grind at the very end of the game just to complete the epic you have invested 20 or 30 + hours in.
This is where I think Final Fantasy VII has really reached a balance. Yes you have to grind, but the grinding is kept at a pace where simply grinding for 10 or 15 minutes in between villages or dungeons and your set for the next portion of the game. Of course if your like me you want to grind to steal off certain enemies, or get your materia to level up, or just for the fun of exploring the over world map. But its not so rammed down your throat that you feel like your just going threw the motions, a problem I have heard Final Fantasy VIII has. Yes, I have never sat down and really played FF VIII, I have tried on several occasions and just can't get into the feel of the game. One of the reasons being the absolute grind happy magic system of FFVIII.
So yes I am grinding right now having just crossed the ocean after defeating Jenova on Shinras boat. But its a good grind, its the type of grind where you know shortly you will be advancing the game and something else new and exciting will take place. I think thats the great thing in revisiting a game you have not played more than 20 minutes into in over 12 years. EVERYTHING is new again, sure major plot points are still remembered but the little bits and pieces the witty dialogue of some npc's or the bright fun layout of some towns and enviroments. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.
Next time we will talk about what I think is the biggest difference between old school games and new school games is, and why IMO many people are turning back to the games they loved as a child. So check back soon. And please comment below on what you think the biggest difference is. And the much loved art of emulation, which some great links are provided to the right to help anyone interested in getting started emulating some of the great games from your past. (of course i have to suggest buying the game as well) ;P
Monday, February 13, 2012
Final Fantasy VII Love it or Hate It : Reliving The Teenage Years
As many people born in the early 80's, the early to late 90's where our awakening and first real impressions of RPG's. I think this is the reason we all love the classic JRPG style which seams to haven fallen out of grace with modern younger gamers.
Of course I had played the Zelda titles, even tried my hand at the Final Fantasy games for both NES and to a limited extent (I had a Sega) the SNES. However it took until high school for an RPG to really grab me by the throat, and heart, and not let go. That game was of course, Final Fantasy VII. Now I know the arguments, its a drawn out, mess of a story, and in a lot of ways it is. In later years, even after playing the game twice threw in high school, I was surprised to read plot points I had completely missed all those years ago.
I had lost disk 2 of my set many many years ago, and had misplaced my original strategy guide even before that. I watched Advent Children and loved it, the characters seaming as fresh in my mind as the day i first saw Cloud jump off the train, or Sephiroth stepping threw the flames of the Shinra mansion. I decided to use the dread E word and play Final Fantasy 7 again, however it just doesn't hold the feel of the original on an emulator. (hell I own the game, suck it Square) So I waited, the game has grown quite expensive as of late and all i needed was disk 2 so i wasn't about to pay up the high prices it started to command on ebay.
Then luck, I posted a Smash Bros for 64 on nintendoage a GREAT forum for old school gamers. And traded for a copy of FFVII the case was cracked and there was no instruction manual, but i had both of those....... I want to thank PlayableMoogle for the trade.
Since I knew I was getting a fresh copy coming i started disk one of the game I do have, on my old school model 1 PSX. And I have to say........ITS STILL GREAT , nostalgia does play a large part I am sure, especially since it is still on disk one, which happens to be the section of the game everyone has played several times. But i even found my old strategy guide, something i use to check once I have made it threw a section just to make sure I didn't miss a key piece of mana or item.
I plan to keep everyone up to date on my feelings as I progress threw the game, and my thoughts and nostalgic moments from the game. So come back and please comment below.
Of course I had played the Zelda titles, even tried my hand at the Final Fantasy games for both NES and to a limited extent (I had a Sega) the SNES. However it took until high school for an RPG to really grab me by the throat, and heart, and not let go. That game was of course, Final Fantasy VII. Now I know the arguments, its a drawn out, mess of a story, and in a lot of ways it is. In later years, even after playing the game twice threw in high school, I was surprised to read plot points I had completely missed all those years ago.
I had lost disk 2 of my set many many years ago, and had misplaced my original strategy guide even before that. I watched Advent Children and loved it, the characters seaming as fresh in my mind as the day i first saw Cloud jump off the train, or Sephiroth stepping threw the flames of the Shinra mansion. I decided to use the dread E word and play Final Fantasy 7 again, however it just doesn't hold the feel of the original on an emulator. (hell I own the game, suck it Square) So I waited, the game has grown quite expensive as of late and all i needed was disk 2 so i wasn't about to pay up the high prices it started to command on ebay.
Then luck, I posted a Smash Bros for 64 on nintendoage a GREAT forum for old school gamers. And traded for a copy of FFVII the case was cracked and there was no instruction manual, but i had both of those....... I want to thank PlayableMoogle for the trade.
Since I knew I was getting a fresh copy coming i started disk one of the game I do have, on my old school model 1 PSX. And I have to say........ITS STILL GREAT , nostalgia does play a large part I am sure, especially since it is still on disk one, which happens to be the section of the game everyone has played several times. But i even found my old strategy guide, something i use to check once I have made it threw a section just to make sure I didn't miss a key piece of mana or item.
I plan to keep everyone up to date on my feelings as I progress threw the game, and my thoughts and nostalgic moments from the game. So come back and please comment below.
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