Blog Archives
Ray's Top 10 RPG List: Part 1
After a long absence in writing I’m back with my own response to Janai’s Top RPG list. I’ll follow the original rules of only one RPG per series and give a different look into the genre. So without further ado, prepare for an awesome trip into the world of my favorite RPGs.
#10: Mother 3
Many gamers of the SNES generation hold a special place in their hearts for the quirky, obscure, little RPG called Earthbound, or as it was called in Japan, Mother 2. This game is the sequel to that gem.
Mother 3 tweaks the Earthbound formula and fixes some of the flaws of its predecessor to become a shining achievement. The pacing of the story is expertly handled, quickly grabbing the player and pulling them in. The story also carries significant weight, dealing with heavy losses in a young boy’s family. It also delves into the dangers of increasing technology, as you see a small peaceful town blow up into a modern city. It’s hard to go into more detail without spoiling the story.
“Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure” Ranks High On the Cheese-O-Meter, But I Still Love It
I saw it at a convention on sale for $30. It looked kinda cute, and since I’m not very good at resisting the urge to buy JRPGs, I went ahead and bought it. It was Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, a game that stays true to its name. There is indeed lots of music, and it’s also very cheesy. And that’s why I love it.
Rhapsody was originally released for the Sony PlayStation in 2000 (in the US). While the game (and its entire series) has seen much success in Japan, the game hasn’t done so well overseas. This is mostly due to the large number of cutscenes, weak gameplay, and its perception as a “girl’s game.” Despite this, the Nintendo DS remake of the game managed to make its way overseas in 2008. There are notable differences between the two versions, of which I’ll go into more detail later on. Primarily, this review will focus on the PS1 version of the game, which is the version I played.
Otaku in Review Podcast – Top Ten JRPGs of All Time
On this episode we go over my recent series on this blog where I discussed my top 10 favorite JRPGs and reviewed each one. Scott, sadly, has not played many of them. Somebody please tell him that he needs to play Persona 3.
In addition to that, we discuss Japanese candy, which is every otaku’s favorite thing to eat. As for recent news, we discuss some exciting simulcasts news and also some awesome manga I’ve been reading. And Escaflowne.
Top 10 Greatest RPGs – #1 – Xenogears
Seriously. There is no other game that even comes close to the excellence that Xenogears delivers. With its deeply immersive and philosophical story in addition to great gameplay, graphics & sound, no title is more worthy of being #1 on this list. The word “epic” is thrown around a lot today, but you don’t know what “epic” is until you’ve played Xenogears.
Xenogears was published by Squaresoft and released in 1998 for the original Sony PlayStation. Because the game made controversial statements involving religion, it almost didn’t get released in the US. It was originally planned to be the fifth chapter in a series of six games. Unfortunately, this never came to be, and although it can be argued that the Xenosaga series, which came much later on, ties into the story of Xenogears, those games never quite reached the heights that Xenogears did.
The game opens up with a spaceship drifting through space on an unknown mission. All seems to be going well when suddenly, all the systems on the ship start to go haywire. The security system turns against innocent people on the ship as the message “You shall be as gods” flashes across the computer screens. Unable to avoid the imminent disaster, the ship crash lands on a nearby planet. Having somehow survived, a mysterious lone female figure rises up from the burning wreckage, and our story begins.
Top 10 Greatest RPGs – #2 – Final Fantasy VI
What, you were expecting Final Fantasy VII? Nope, sorry.
Long before FFVII came to be, before Cloud and Tifa cosplayers at anime cons were about as common as molecules of oxygen in the air, Squaresoft developed the true master of all FF games. It’s unfortunate that this game ultimately became shadowed by its successor, because it is superior in almost every way.
Due to Squaresoft’s confusing numbering system in the early FF games, Final Fantasy VI was originally known in the US as Final Fantasy III. Released for the Super Nintendo in 1994, this game essentially defined everything I grew to love about video game RPGs: a deep, moving story with a central theme of saving the world; an engaging, partially real-time battle system; and a cast of well-developed characters that have their own unique abilities in battle. Add to this the most evil, conniving, diabolical, sadistic son-of-a-bitch villain I’ve ever seen, and you have one of the best video games ever created.
Janai
Antz
OtakuAnthony
jaysteevee
vtine
matty
machineslife
Nyanman
