CANUCK'S PROFILE

I think I mentioned elsewhere that I recently downloaded FFVII, but while in my memory it was an overrated pile of poo, playing it again I realize that it's actually quite good and fun. It doesn't have any of the problems of VIII or IX.

I get not liking the Final Fantasy series, especially if you are to judge them on the GBA remakes (which are void of any sort of flair), but then to say that VIII is one of the best? If DQ is the archetype of what makes an RPG, then VIII surely is one of the worst, and V would surely be the best. However, I also got bored of V when playing it on GBA, so maybe that's why. Playing it on emulator is much better.

DQ is amazing because of it's simplicity. The areas of its expertise are areas that other games have long forgotten about it would seem: basic fundamental gameplay. It cares more about having lots of variations of monsters in an area, or slowly changing the difficulty levels of monsters, or the pricing of the inns than it does about innovative battle systems and all that. In the latter Final Fantasy games it seems that gold, HP damage and levels are something almost encouraged not to think about (started in VII when characters not used would automatically level up along with characters used), and in Dragon Quest games when a Slime gives you 2 gold, that means you'll have to battle two more until you can go to the inn and recharge your HP, so you have to stay really close to the castle to battle the easier enemies to pass a level in order to be able to face off with enemies a little further away from the castle closer to the next town. The entire concept probably seems stupid to a person who got into RPGs only for the stories.

I bought Metal Gear Solid the other day (still Japan only I think) and then my first PSX game.... Rally Cross! I don't remember it being so bloody difficult. I'm always in dead last. I think I only like it for nostalgic reasons.

My dinky little 4gig memory stick isn't really cutting it anymore, but I think I'll hold out until there's a 32gig card.

Finding out about this has put my plans to buy Dragon Quest IX on hold.

I understand the "doing good things is actually selfish" argument. I don't agree with it, but it's a solid argument. However, this is the first time I've seen the "doing good things is actually selfish" argument coupled with "selfish things piss me off". It leads to the question of what wouldn't piss you off then?

Unless you're joking, which would make more sense I guess, and then I look stupid. If so, well played.

Of the "new" Final Fantasies (VII and beyond), X is probably the best or second to VII.

I downloaded VII recently and totally forgot how much is plays similar to VI. I may have to stop hating on it.

I've started a healthy exercise kick a while back. Lost 6 of the planned 10 kilos so far.