CommodoreGroovy

A good read as always. I've tried this game once, due to its relation to the great Chrono Trigger. I got several hours in and was pretty bored, confused, and ended up falling off the wagon. I did read end up reading the lore and a cliff notes version of the game's narrative and uh... was still pretty confused. Thanks to you (and parts of a playthrough I watched), I more or less understand what this game is now and what they were going for. Still... WTF?!

I can understand wanting to take a sequel into a different direction than the original, but that's a risky move for such a beloved game. You better be damned sure you plan something worthwhile and well thought out before moving a series down such a stark path. Unfortunately, they did neither, and that's how we got Chrono Cross!

The whole Schera angle you offered, about the justification for this game to really just be an explanation to her missing whereabouts after Chrono Trigger, seems spot on, and it's really just such a bizarre thing for Kato to latch on, to go on to base an entire game's plot upon. Well, thinking about it, I guess if it was executed in a better way, maybe it wouldn't seem so outlandish, I dunno.

Now that I got the justifications and excuses for how and why this game IS what IS, I gotta say this game really is crap. Not only for the reasons you listed, but for the way it tarnishes my view of the original, of Chrono Trigger. The more I learn, the more it's as if someone is making me watch as they suck all the love and joy out of Chrono Trigger's spirit, while calling me naïve, and pretentiously babbling on about the human condition and the consequences of time travel.

I definitely did a double-take when I saw this was getting streamed today. I never really expected the series to be covered here. But well, I hope Jan enjoys it, it's not usually a game that lends itself to being streamed. Whether you like the series or not comes down to if you can tolerate its slow, novel like pace, with lots and lots of build-up that does eventually have great pay-offs.

Considering how good the Switch was in 2017, like one of the best years Nintendo has ever had, it makes sense that 2018 is a bit more sparse, acting as a filler year. HOWEVER, I think I can agree with the landscape seeming a bit TOO scarce. Just think how amazing it would be Nintendo followed up 2017 with a strong 2018? It's the missed potential that disappoints me just a little. Even just fancier ports like a Mario Maker for the switch, and maybe even a handheld styled Zelda game woulda been nice to add to the lineup.

That was a cool read! Shiny Pokemon has always seem like a cool thing that was not for me, but was interesting to observe from a distance and hear stories about how people caught their shinies (whether accidentally or purposefully). It's always a cool thing to see hidden mechanics like these in games that lengthens the experience for them. Too bad the shines weren't more flashy, maybe even to the point of a special skin, like LoL and Overwatch.

Kid Goku from Dragon Ball is a pretty endearing character. Vegeta has a more interesting character arc in DBZ, though.

@slag: Aye. Corruption is the true root of the problem and is the source for many others. Politicians in the lobbyists' pockets or that only think about their own pockets seldom make unbiased decisions. There was an anti-corruption act that was voted in by the people of South Dakota last year, but the republican politicians who were also voted in that year (and pretty much every election) put a stop to it by declaring a "state of emergency" and ended up removing the bill completely—effectively denying voters and ignoring election results. Until the push for anti-corruption laws and real changes happen, the weight of votes will continue to be overshadowed by corporate and political interests.

Great post and replies. I sorta came off Nier: Automata not really impacted in a major way. I think a little of that was because I felt the plot was flying right over my head towards the end, but also it might be because my life and mindset is so removed from things like rage, depression, and suicide, that it was harder for me to understand and connect with those narrative elements. So, I find myself hovering back and forth on how I feel about Nier: Automata as a whole. Reading your posts, and reviewing how well Automata handles those difficult topics, definitely makes me consider the game in a better light.

I'm happy you came around to FFIX being a net positive experience. As a child, it's harder to point out the inconsistencies in the plot when you don't have the experience to do so or the experience to know what's good. And yet even when I a kid, I knew Necron was complete bullshit! Still, that ending with Vivi's final letter. Man... Vivi is the best.

Since everyone else is throwing in their recommendations for the future, I nominate Suikoden 2. One of my favorite JRPGs and one that I believe still holds up. I don't know, it could be a nice change of pace since Suikoden's plot and setting are removed from the type of narrative most JRPGs fall under. Instead of a globe-trotting journey with companions on a quest to defeat an evil and save some crystals, Suikoden takes place in a historical-like war setting, like the Sengoku Jidai or the Three Kingdoms period, albeit with some magical undertones. You're basically a youth who, for a number of reasons depending on the installment, builds up an army (filled with people you've bonded or helped along the way) to confront the atrocities of these wars and ultimately end them. Personally, I feel like Suikoden 2 is the most well rounded game in the series with the best story, while still being competent gameplay wise.

Yeah, the entire series is like that. It's definitely not for everybody, and I totally get why people are turned off from a huge commitment like that. I'm the type of person who can sit through a long game (as long as the slow parts are still interesting enough) in anticipation for the more impactful story beats. I sort of reason Trails in the Sky to be something like going on a long adventure and experiencing every moment of that journey: both the quiet and exciting times. Is all of that really necessary? Not really, but I still find it enjoyable.

Your blogs about your misadventures through the Final Fantasy series are great like always! As someone who does a little creative writing from time to time, I really enjoy the way you've torn through these games with a fine analytic brush (even if it breaks my heart a little to see you tear through precious childhood memories). I would say it's even been educational, having you go through these stories, seeing what works and what doesn't in ways I wouldn't have thought of. When I see detailed critiques like yours, it really puts in perspective how much more I have to learn. Not to mention that your blogs are funny as hell. So yeah, thanks a lot for these blogs, ZombiePie! Hope you keep them coming.

Oh, a little side note, I saw that Trails in the Sky was on your list of JRPGs you purchased and planned to eventually get to. As you mentioned that you know nothing about the series, I wanted to point out that the game is effectively part one in a two-part series. The first game can stand alone by itself, as you can play it and get a complete story experience out of it, but it's fairly clear by the end that it's only the first part of a larger story and game. It's a fairly solid and straightforward JRPG, yet maybe a bit too straightforward as it stays mostly safe with its storytelling by not taking too many risks. The strongest parts of the narrative in Trails, in my opinion, are the characters and the way narrative presents and builds on the world. Also, the entire series is very long. First game clocks in around 30 hours, while the second game can take up to 70.