First thing I wanna address, Final Fantasy V is not a crappy game and ExDeath is not a crappy villain. The earlier releases of the game had been released we were suppose to treat the story seriously, though I'm sure most of us didn't because of how cliche the story was and the bland characters. I'll admit ExDeath is probably the worst written villain of the entire Final Fantasy series and sure enough the story of FFV is easily the most cliched. I guess it's fair to say that the story is something that is disappointing when compared to IV and VI's engaging stories. Though one thing I'd like to say about Final Fantasy stories is that all them tend to be somewhat convoluted but entirely enjoyable and engaging. Anyway, I wanna stress that with any game that I play I always look at gameplay first, graphics and sound are priority 2, and if the game does have a plot to speak of then I will take it into consideration. I think most people should follow this standard because it's quite appalling to see people bitch and moan about a game solely because of it's shit graphics or lame story, they're called games for a reason. A good story is something to expect from a book or a movie, NOT A FUCKING VIDEOGAME, I can't even the believe the standards of some the so-called "gamers" have these days. Ok ok, moving on to the next thing.
I want to address other Final Fantasy games in particular and where they succeed and where they don't, this includes Dissidia 012.
-The gameplay and sound are excellent, as we've come to expect from Square.
-The story is also good, but there are some nitpicks that I have with it. With the original FFVII and Advent Children, Aerith and Zack were implied to be in love with eachother. In Crisis Core they seem played off as if they're just high-schoolers flirting with eachother and didn't look like to much loving was happening (and no I don't mean the dirty kind of love). Another thing I have problem with is Genesis. I know in an earlier post I said that he should be in the next Dissidia game if they ever made one, but the problem I have with Genesis is that he's the final boss but more often then not I feel that he shouldn't be. He's suppose to be a poetic character/villain , but that's something not too well pulled off here. Square needs to learn a thing or 2 from Xenosaga. Okay okay, I guess all I need to say is that the story is good but it's overall execution is on the opposite end of the spectrum.
-Well, everything that made the original Dissidia great is in this game
-The gameplay is the same with the most noticeable change is the addition of an assist system in combat, and let's face it, it's fun, addictive, I play almost all the damn time.
-The graphics and sound are overall excellent, many fans prefer the original versions of all the songs in the game, but the remixes are I any problems with. I stress this because it tends to be one of the biggest gripes the fans make. To be fair, I would like the option of having the original versions and the remixes, it would definitely make the game feel more nostalgic if this option was available.
-Story....where should I start? I like the story in all honesty, but what don't like is Square's horrible execution of it. What I especially was disappointed by was the fact the warriors of Chaos didn't have their own story mode, I mean this game's would be like 30% more engaging if we could play the villains side of the story, the closest we get is a few reports. Oh well, maybe if Square makes another Dissidia, they would have learned their lesson and make something far grander than anything before.....I'll be optimistic but cautious. I guess I should explain what I do like about the story as well. First off, this game does connect all the the other Final Fantasy world's and story's together in some way (ex: When Yuna encounters Tidus in the 12th Cycle, she recalls her pilgrimage with him, but Tidus is unfortunately unable to remember). Ok, I think this has gone on long enough.
-The gameplay is great, if you played FFIV then you know what it's like, the only big innovation here is the Banding ability.
-The Graphics and sound (by the way I'm going by the version of this game that's on the Complete Collection for the PSP) are excellent, it's largely music from the original FFIV (though I have no problem with that) with one or two scores that are new.
-The story is good, but yet it again it suffers the same problem in the area of execution that Square has had for many games that expand on their main games.
-Do I have any gripes with the game? Sort of. It is a great throwback to FFIV but the most interesting part is the boss rush in which the final chapter has...really I think this game could easily have been just that final chapter because there alot of recycled enemies and some of the characters bonus dungeons are unbelievably long-winded and sometimes frustrating.
-Final Verdict, it's an overall good game with minor flaws that I'm sure many fans can overlook (myself included).
Now I know what you're all thinking, "Why the hell are you taking stories into account when you just said that story be damned when it comes to video games?" I'll be fair, yes story is a lower priority for me. Allow me to say I'm willing to forgive MEDIOCRE gameplay if it has excellent graphics, sound, and story all rolled into one. Now to be honest I've never played too many games in where I had to say "Well the gameplay is nothing fantastic but everything else in incredible." But fun gameplay can rectify crappy plots and subpar graphics and sound. Story truly be damned for me. If this wasn't the case then I'd be bitching about Metroid: Other M just like all the other dumb bastards out there (sorry I know what I said at the beginning of the post but I didn't have a better example.). Anyway, I don't have else to say, maybe one day I'll come back and add something to this post but for now that's all. Good night.
I want to address other Final Fantasy games in particular and where they succeed and where they don't, this includes Dissidia 012.
- Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, what can you say about it?
-The gameplay and sound are excellent, as we've come to expect from Square.
-The story is also good, but there are some nitpicks that I have with it. With the original FFVII and Advent Children, Aerith and Zack were implied to be in love with eachother. In Crisis Core they seem played off as if they're just high-schoolers flirting with eachother and didn't look like to much loving was happening (and no I don't mean the dirty kind of love). Another thing I have problem with is Genesis. I know in an earlier post I said that he should be in the next Dissidia game if they ever made one, but the problem I have with Genesis is that he's the final boss but more often then not I feel that he shouldn't be. He's suppose to be a poetic character/villain , but that's something not too well pulled off here. Square needs to learn a thing or 2 from Xenosaga. Okay okay, I guess all I need to say is that the story is good but it's overall execution is on the opposite end of the spectrum.
- Dissidia Duodecim [012] Final Fantasy:
-Well, everything that made the original Dissidia great is in this game
-The gameplay is the same with the most noticeable change is the addition of an assist system in combat, and let's face it, it's fun, addictive, I play almost all the damn time.
-The graphics and sound are overall excellent, many fans prefer the original versions of all the songs in the game, but the remixes are I any problems with. I stress this because it tends to be one of the biggest gripes the fans make. To be fair, I would like the option of having the original versions and the remixes, it would definitely make the game feel more nostalgic if this option was available.
-Story....where should I start? I like the story in all honesty, but what don't like is Square's horrible execution of it. What I especially was disappointed by was the fact the warriors of Chaos didn't have their own story mode, I mean this game's would be like 30% more engaging if we could play the villains side of the story, the closest we get is a few reports. Oh well, maybe if Square makes another Dissidia, they would have learned their lesson and make something far grander than anything before.....I'll be optimistic but cautious. I guess I should explain what I do like about the story as well. First off, this game does connect all the the other Final Fantasy world's and story's together in some way (ex: When Yuna encounters Tidus in the 12th Cycle, she recalls her pilgrimage with him, but Tidus is unfortunately unable to remember). Ok, I think this has gone on long enough.
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
-The gameplay is great, if you played FFIV then you know what it's like, the only big innovation here is the Banding ability.
-The Graphics and sound (by the way I'm going by the version of this game that's on the Complete Collection for the PSP) are excellent, it's largely music from the original FFIV (though I have no problem with that) with one or two scores that are new.
-The story is good, but yet it again it suffers the same problem in the area of execution that Square has had for many games that expand on their main games.
-Do I have any gripes with the game? Sort of. It is a great throwback to FFIV but the most interesting part is the boss rush in which the final chapter has...really I think this game could easily have been just that final chapter because there alot of recycled enemies and some of the characters bonus dungeons are unbelievably long-winded and sometimes frustrating.
-Final Verdict, it's an overall good game with minor flaws that I'm sure many fans can overlook (myself included).
Now I know what you're all thinking, "Why the hell are you taking stories into account when you just said that story be damned when it comes to video games?" I'll be fair, yes story is a lower priority for me. Allow me to say I'm willing to forgive MEDIOCRE gameplay if it has excellent graphics, sound, and story all rolled into one. Now to be honest I've never played too many games in where I had to say "Well the gameplay is nothing fantastic but everything else in incredible." But fun gameplay can rectify crappy plots and subpar graphics and sound. Story truly be damned for me. If this wasn't the case then I'd be bitching about Metroid: Other M just like all the other dumb bastards out there (sorry I know what I said at the beginning of the post but I didn't have a better example.). Anyway, I don't have else to say, maybe one day I'll come back and add something to this post but for now that's all. Good night.
