ramza

You can always download ROMs of old console strategy games: the best ones I know are Final Fantasy Tactics (PSOne), FFT advance (GBA), Front Mission 3 (PSOne), Vandal Hearts (PSOne)

Ditto

My problem is that FF is not what it used to be: medieval or contemporary-like settings with elements of fantasy and technology (FF VII, VIII and IX are the best illustrations for this). Since the series stared to release games on the PS2 and other consoles, they kinda lost their quality... it all became about marketing... FF chronicles sucked, FFTA was uninteresting despite a good class system, etc. FFX looked to me like a hollywood movie with a basic plot and PLENTY of special effects. I have the impression that the FF games ae just reduced to special effects and great FMVs. Just to attract a broader audience, Square has started implemeting the same formula that is used in today's hollywoodian movies. Personally, such a formula does not appeal to me and it is rather tedious to see it in every movie or game. I expect some originality from one game to another but without falling into the "banal" category. For example, I don't see why they had to include spaceships (that's what they look like) in a heroic fantasy world. They just keep adding whatever feature seems cool to the public, and the final result is usually absurd. Now, I ain't talking only about FFXII, but that's my general impression of JRPGs. And I have the bad feeling that FFXII is no exception to this general trend.

Just to continue my thread about FF XII, I am pretty happy to see that the random-combat system has been abandonned. If you ask for my opinion, I completly hate that system as it is tedious going through areas in which you enter a battle for every 5 steps you make. This has detered me from completing many JRPGs since all of them are using the same system. The only games I have managed to finish are the ones that didn't use that system and allowed you to avoid confrontations (for this, you just had to avoid running into the enemy). Grandia, Lunar, Saga Frontier, Xenogears... actually these are the only games that are different from the other JRPGs. Even in the FF series, I have only completed final fantasy tactics and FF VII. For the others, I gave up in the middle of the game as I got bored with all the fights. Fortunately, I found the BG and IWD games and liked the way the fights were managed differenly and in a much better way, making the while situations look more realistic. Especially in BG2, where you had to provoke yourself the fights or where yu just got into them just by chance (being at the wrong place, at the wrong time). After playing those CRPGs, I really wonder if I will ever be able to play again a JRPG without getting bored within the first hour of gaming time. I really hope that FF XII will show some progress compared to the other games. cheers.

are you looking forward to this game? even though I really like the final fantasy series and own almost every game, I think that the way they have been using the franchise, since the release of the PS2, completely sucks. FF X got a sequel (and I didn't like the sphere-system of FF X anyway), FF XI is online only and FF XII seems ... like too much... I like the fact that the story takes place in Ivalice but what the heck... I saw so many airships in the trailers that I had the impression that I was watching star wars (with all the visual effects, etc). I hate it when technology gets in a medieval-like setting. FF VI, VII and VIII did manage to successfully combine magic and technology but I am not very convinced by the result in FF XII. Of course, I should first play the game before making any judgements. But I feel nostalgic when I come to play the old-school FF games. cheers.

speaking of anti-heroes, I really like Max Payne! a very ambiguous character...

Thanks for promoting the greek culture! Very few people take the time to explore the greek myths, nowadays. They can however be a great source of inspiration for fantasy games or novels, and are very fun to read. I especially recommend reading Homer's Iliad (which is about the story of Troy- it is much better than the movie, believe me) and Odyssey (which is about the adventures of Odysseus - it is also some sort of sequel to the Troy drama).

Here's an interesting article: http://face-of-muhammed.blogspot.com/ It's just my opinion, but I have the impression that we have been entering in a new era of history: after the cold war, we have a conflict between the occidental world and the islamic world...

Where can I get more of these comic strips?

You can also hate him because he whines a lot... and warriors normally ain't supposed to whine! <{POST_SNAPBACK}> You were never a soldier, right? <{POST_SNAPBACK}> *cough* *cough* well, they shouldn't be whining as much as Drizzt does...

You can also hate him because he whines a lot... and warriors normally ain't supposed to whine!

Maybe we hate Drizzt because the novels are adressed to a younger, less mature, age group... When I go through them again, I realize they might be an alternative choice for people who like fantasy but who hate Harry Potter.

even superman dies in the comic books!

It would be better if the main character wasn't put at all in situation where he miraculously escapes. That way, the story will remain more credible. Even if Salvatore doesn't want to kill the source of its income, he should make some of his main characters die instead of killing only ancillary ones... for example, Wulfgar and Bruenor should have remained dead. Just look at the Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies... at least, some of the main characters die there. Those novels are good fantasy books (as opposed to Salvatore's average soap opera stories). Maybe we just hate because of companions, after all...

We could talk about the perspective of a Black Hound module... but you should ask the big J for more info... not me...

LOL funny I thought it was a link for that ninja website BUT who's Mr Rogers (the last guy standing)?

I am surprised noone punched him or slapped him in the face...

Do you really intend to play all of them? You are wasting your time, I say...

well, you are the ones responsible for bashing my thread! I just wanted to see if any of you were familiar with this trend...

Here's your friend http://perso.wanadoo.fr/pinkwars/

I don't see why I should be paid for doing this... besides, all these shows are downloadable for free... there's no financial gain for anyone. is that the american vision of things? do you need to get paid for everything you do? meh, give me a break, you just gave me one more reason to dislike americans

I found some english audio shows... they are quite good I must say: http://www.borgus.com/mp3/ http://www.cephalopod.com/ http://www.crazydogaudiotheatre.com/ http://www.darkerprojects.com/ http://www.compound-eye.org/rex/html/audio.htm http://www.vangloria.net/pureimagination/

no comment...

I have read some previews and watched some trailers at IGN... it looks AWESOME!!! Is anyone else looking forward to this game's release?