Leaper - 22:17 EST

HEY HO, all you out there in RPG land. This is Leaper, RPG/SOCK fanboy extreme, here for a co-hosting. Now, I'm an aspiring writer by trade, but I don't often get to do this interactive non-fiction stuff. But I'm certainly willing to give it a try!

It's a pretty exciting time for us RPG fans, as a previous guest host so ably pointed out. It's gotten to the point where I'm seriously thinking about springing for another system, once I can afford it (perhaps one of the Game Boy related machines). Why do I love RPGs so much? I love puzzles, for one, and I love a good story. I am also a completist of some stripe (some stuff, like trading card type subquests, I'm more likely to be inspired to complete than others, such as ultimate weapons), so RPGs definitely give me more bang for my buck than any other genre. When I encounter a game like DQ8, with a rich world to explore, or Final Fantasy V, with its myriad of character development possibilities, or Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits, with a story that makes me want to skip over all the gameplay stuff JUST to see what happens next... It's a feeling like nothin' else. I'm sure y'all know what I'm talking about!

Speaking of what you're all talking about...

~Magic Emperor Matt~

I will strive to make this interesting, yet concise, to avoid lengthening your column to any great degree, though I cannot ensure my success.

First of all, though I was already planning on investing in it, after reading RPGamer's review of Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria, my inclination toward buying it is greatly reinforced. It seems to have an interesting story, and the high-quality graphics and creative battle system have received enough exposure already to give many gamers reason to purchase it. What is your impression of the game?

Anyway, to take part in the ongoing conversation, I must write, quite frankly, that FFXII is not an action RPG. I recently bought Dragon Quest VIII. (Thank you for being so adamant about the series! I'm definitely enjoying it so far.)

After playing the FFXII demo, I must agree with you that the battle system is most certainly advanced, but I must also agree with Chris, that the combat's base is the ATB system, and at its roots, is very similar to other incarnations of the system. First of all, aside from automatic physical attacks and real-time fleeing, it is strictly menu-based. Both you and your opponent(s) have a specific amount of wait time between attacks, which varies according to what actions are executed. That wait time is displayed as a meter, which fills over time, just like any other version of ATB, the major difference being that the meter begins filling when an action is chosen, instead of choosing it after the meter is full.

Either way, moves happen after the meter fills, and the cycle repeats itself, making it decidedly turn-based. Real-time movement does not change the core of the system, but adds a more adventurous feel, giving more freedom, and essentially, "action" in a turn-based game. I must say, though, that regardless of how it is classified, Square seems to have created a very good battle system that will encourage exporation of the expansive worlds that are rumored to stretch before you in the vast world of Ivalice. I say this, because instead of sticking to the tradition of random encounters while travelling, which, in my opinion, seems to break the flow of a 3-D game more than one that is 2-D, they reward your exploration with free MP. In other words, they want to encourage you to keep moving, adding more to the "action"-like feel they seem to have successfully implimented into the game.

My original reason for writing in tonight is that I'm fairly certain my deductions are correct regarding the excellent reader-submitted SOCK question (#326)

#326: After quite a while of contemplation, my answer is [d: Tidus]

#327: I'm am still unlucky enough to never have played FFVII, but my wild guess is [e: 4], because "A" seems to be a likely addition to the name of a summon.

I now have a strange request. Please do not put me in the SOCK contest. I'm not very interested in it at this point, and I was really just showing off the fact that (I believe) I figured out the correct answer to #326, and if I did, this letter is proof of it, being sent before the answers were available.

(Yeah, sometimes showing off is fun.)

Oh, I almost forgot! How do you like the look of Lost Odyssey?

~Jopin~

From what I've seen so far, it doesn't look to bad! Definitely got a FF vibe to it, especially in the originally released trailer, and it's certainly got a lot of talent behind it. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it.

Hello Mr. Slime man

I have a bit of a dilema, and I hope that you can help. Im a ratehr big fan of adventure games, ever since my mother first bought me The Secret of Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. You know, back when the PC wasnt just for MMO's, FPS's, and RTS's. Anyway, I was wondering what you think about that Touch Detective game. It looks good to me, but what with all the new games coming out, its hard to choose between them. Currently, Im planning on getting two of the following: Touch Detective, Contact, that Rocket slime game, or the Castlevania DS game. Which do you think will be better? I know you'lle probably go for the DQ game, but after the awesomness of DQ8, I can undertstand. Those guys at Level 5 really know thier stuff, huh? Cant wait for Rouge Galaxy.

Also, whats up with SE? Specifically, the GBA FF's. Not that I MIND them releasing reports, especially for a system I actually still play, but I always thought SE had a "we wont make a remake if the game is still playable on a current system. Thats thier excuse for not remaking FFVII-IX. Except FFIV -VI ARE playable on the PS1 as well. Soo...whats up? And VP:L was technically still playable on current gen systems back on the ps1...but they remade/ported it to the PSP. Its like SE's "we will never release a sequel" policy...all lies.

Its a good thing they make such good games. (Generally...I still havent forgiven Unlimited Saga. Thank god got it free)

Well- would you really call the PS1 a current system? Surely, despite the fact that PS1 games can be played on the PS2 and the PS3, there has to be some line that can be drawn somewhere. Besides, I definitely wouldn't rule out seeing a FFVII remake sometime before the end of this decade. Square Enix bends too much to fans to not do a full remake one day. People whined for direct sequels; they got 'em. If people are whining for FFVII, they'll get it. It's just a matter of when.

Thanks for the letter!

White Knight Matt,

Have any of the latest showing from the TGS changed your mind about the PS3? Level 5's White Knight game looks extremely exciting, even more so than FFXIII. Level 5 has been so impressive, it would be hard to not get excited about this game.

Still it's probably a good ways off, so there is still no reason for me to get excited about the PS3. The Wii however...Zelda: TP of course, a new Fire Emblem game (though I would rather have a portable FE, I like to play these on the go), and maybe soon we will hear more about the FF:CC and DQ Swords games. Then you have the Mistwalker games, Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon, which seem to be countering FF and DQ respectively. Both of these titles look interesting and with Blue Dragon actually coming out in Japan this year, that's a good sign that it's closer than the rest. Well, it looks like next gen is really coming into its own, let's sit back and watch it play out.

Indeed. In just the batch you mentioned, it certainly sounds like a lot more quality RPGing than I've seen in a long time for non-Sony platforms. This may finally be the time to buckle under and get another system, depending on how it all plays out.

Dear Matt -

328) B

329) E

Black Mage rocks, but that may be because my imagined personality for him would be very, very similar to how BM is portrayed in www.nuklearpower.com's cartoon. Man, that stuff is seriously whack! *ponders why he is imitating stereotypical 80s blacks*

Honestly, if you haven't read any of that comic, you should mosey on down there and take a peeksie. So, anyone, what do you reckon is the best fan/unofficial rpg-related....stuff? You know, like comics and fan fiction and pretty, shiny pictures....

Genjuu may have caught the bug going around. He's holding it hostage until Pestilence pays its ransom!!!! Bwah hah hah hah haaaa!

Oh noes! If you want to be a real kidnapper, you're going to have to newspaper-clipping-ize your ransom notes. No one's going to take you seriously, otherwise.

Thanks for writing in!

I'm troubled by this sudden influx of RPGs for the XBox 360. This after the XBox, that had what...three RPGs total in its entire life span? If that?

Now I'm completely confused. I know I'm getting a Wii, but I also know I'm going to get one of the other two at some point...maybe this is mean-spirited of me, but I'm only really thinking of the PS3 and XBox 360 as the "real" consoles, whereas the Wii...I don't know. It seems like a fun little gadget more than a serious console. I think that's a stigma that Nintendo earned for itself after marketing practically its entire GameCube lineup at gamers 13 and under. Not that there aren't a handful of exceptions (the Resident Evils, Killer 7, Eternal Darkness, and the inexplicable Metal Gear Solid remake - why on the GC, of all things? And why JUST the GC? And why JUST THAT on the GC?)

I think I may just let Silent Hill point the way. But oh God, what if it's on multiple platforms?! And oh GOD, what if they jump consoles after doing one game?!

You know what? I'm stepping out of the thing. I may not even get a Wii at this point. I've got a dozen games backed up and half of them are RPGs; I could be tinkering with them until the NEXT console generation. I'll wait for all the typically lame launch titles to do their thing, and see which way the wind blows after that.

Plus it'll be fun to watch Sony twist in that very same wind. Lower the price in Japan but not here, will you? They must know something I don't, because everything they've done since announcing that obscene price tag has seemed like woefully bad business.

-TV's Adam

Yeah, it does smack of arrogance. Maybe they still remember what happened when the PS2 first launched. But who knows? If White Knight and games like it become the norm, they might just be right about the gullibility of the American game-buying public. :)

Dear Matt -

They gave a frickin' BLIND kid a copy of Zelda: TP? That's like giving a parapalegic a soccer ball!

Love, Josh.

Hey, at least a parapalegic has a head! And if blind kids canplay pinball, they can play Zelda!

x_x

*this column does not represent the views of RPGamer, nor does it uh, something*

This is Matt again, and I know I talk a lot about Fire Emblem here in the Nexus of little purpose, but that's just because it's one of the few games I've been playing lately. I just want to say that I think the game is made even better because the music suits the game so well. Even with Game Boy Advance quality, it sticks with me in a haunting sort of way; especially some of the more dark and creeping themes.

I'm inching towards getting to the end of Disgaea 2, too, though I've heard there's an incredible number of extra things to do in the game. Additionally, I'm "sort of" replaying Dragon Warrior II, if you haven't guessed, though I've averaged about an hour per week lately. I hate my life. :P

#328. a) Select - 650 points/1,350 for JokingChimer
A fair number of people actually got this right! The "Lords of Lunar" game is contained on The Making of Lunar CD, and the sequence was Up, Down, Left, Right, Triangle, Start. Thanks for the interesting submission, JokingChimer!

#330:
The first boss of Dragon Quest VIII is styled after a monster that has appeared in a couple other Dragon Quest games. In the first game that featured them, a less common green and yellow version of that monster had command of which spell? (700 points)

a) Beat
b) Firebane
c) Blazemore
d) Firevolt
e) IceBolt

And we bid farewell to Procne today, as she has been bested by a competitor. Another Golden Sun summon, Boreas, has topped the scoreboard to take over! What will the days to come bring?

Also, it's a co-host day! Thus, everyone that gets both of today's questions correct will be entered into a draw for Leaper's Scroll of Blue Magic.

This is what the item does: You may cast any spell on the following list. Whenever it is used, any affected players have a 40% chance of "learning" the spell and gaining his or her own Leaper's Scroll of Blue Magic. If a summon is affected by a spell, its summoner has a chance for a Scroll copy.

• Angel's Snack: Removes all status effects from every player in the Top 35.
• Bad Breath: Choose up to five players in the Top 35. Each of those players have a 15% chance EACH of gaining each of the negative statuses: Confuse, Burn, Curse, Freeze, Poison, and Slow.
• Death Sentence: Pick a player in the Top 35. That player has four columns to get both SOCK questions in any one day right. If that player fails, he or she loses half of his or her SOCK points, rounded down.
• Earth Shake: Pick up to five consecutive targets (i.e. they must all be next to each other in ranking - a Summon creature is considered next to the #1 player) in the Top 35. Those players take 2500 points of earth elemental damage and have a 25% chance of becoming Confused.
• Guard Off: All items and statuses that would reduce, reflect, or prevent damage cease to function for all players (not Summons) in the Top 35 for the next two days. Statuses affected in this way still wear off at normal rates, but breakable items like Gems and Shields will not break.
• Magic Breath: Deals 5000 damage divided equally among your choice of up to five targets, including Summons. This damage is considered to be fire, ice, and lightning damage.
• Poison Claw: Deals 5000 non-elemental damage divided as you choose among any number of targets. Each of those non-Summon targets has a (100/number of targets)% chance of being Poisoned.

Wow, that's quite something, isn't it? And of course, you might have noticed that earth elemental damage is involved here. That's because Earth and Wind are now both considered elements as of today! Be the first to grab an Earth attack by obtaining this scroll!

STRAGGLERS:
(people who I love, but who still need to check their e-mail or somehow get in touch with me because they have unclaimed items- if you fall off the list after a week, it's TOO LATE FOR YOU! Check your spam/trash folders for my messages if you're not getting them, and I'll check mine, too!)

• Dermot

Leaper did a great job, did he not? Thanks very much for joining us today! We have one more column before the weekend gets here; there aren't many more weekends before one of the most anticipated RPGs of the decade is finally unleashed upon us! Yes, Contact will be hitting store shelves, and I want to hear more from those of you who will be first in line to obtain your very own copy! If there are any other hot games on the way that you'd like to blab about, feel free to write in too.

That's all for today!

***Matt likes roasted chicken!