JuMeSyn - 3:58 CST

Lately I've become even less enamored with Eureka, California than I was prior. To anyone who has been witness to my complaints on this subject, that occurrence might seem implausible. But the sheer isolation of this area is really starting to piss me off. It's not enough that every year, without fail, a rainstorm will come along and knock out Highway 101 for a few days thanks to a landslide (101 is a two-lane highway for a fair stretch between Santa Rosa and the Oregon border). But there is exactly ONE internet cable servicing this entire isolated county. An internet cable that was severed first by a moron driving into a cell phone tower and knocking it onto the cable two hours south of here, but then by a fire two hours to the north of here. Driving east doesn't work because the hill roads get closed by snow during winter. Isolation, people. Oh, and last week a guy was shot to death two blocks from where I live on a block where people have been killed before. Isolation without friendliness. The tourism board is gonna love me.

My house is buried in snow and ice! Downside, can’t work. Upside, I have the time to send in a letter!

I got Ar Tonelico in the mail last week, and while I haven’t played the game(Disgaea 2 is taking longer than planned), I have been listening to the soundtrack, it’s one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. I don’t have a link for you, but it’s something I’d recommend any fan of video game music to check out.

Of course, the minute I manage to get my list of PS2 games to buy under a dozen, Odin Sphere is announced! It looks great. From what I’ve heard it’s a spiritual successor to Princess Crown. Have you played Princess Crown? If so, how was it?

And on the subject of imports, since your last cohost I haven’t started importing yet. The spirit is willing, but the wallet is weak. I haven’t given up, though, and I have another importing question: Is there a good English site that covers import games? RPGamer covers most of the RPGs to a degree, but is there a good place to get news, reviews, etc on import games in general?

That’s all I got. I should probably go dig out my car. It’s buried around here somewhere...

Slashlen

Dear JuMeSyn,

You picked up Rogue Galaxy or Ar Tonelico yet? Despite my 20+ game backlog, I actually want to pick these up. I finally took a whole hour and rallied through the final dungeon of Shadow Hearts: Covenant, after I had reached the final dungeon two years ago and promptly shelved the game. After finally finishing Covenant off, I promptly ran out to the local Game Force and bought Genesis Collection, Shadow Hearts New World, and Wild Arms Alter Code F. So much for making progress on ye olde backlog. Anyway, give me reasons to add to the pile!

Btw, Karin is Yuri's mom, right? That's the big secret? Unless I'm way off here, I don't know what everyone was talking about two years ago about that being the big secret of Covenant. I thought Yuri's failed attempt to resurrect Alice and eventual suicide to join her in death instead were both way bigger plot twists. I figured out Karin's role really quickly; with tons of foreshadowing, it was hard not to. Plus, whenever there's no sexual tension between male and female leads, somebody is somebody's mother/uncle/sister/cousin/brother/daddy. Heh, I actually really wish Karin and Yuri had made out at the end like they clearly wanted to. The first RPG to incorporate full-blown Oedipus Complex wins a cookie. In any event, it really would be fun to have more protagonists have mental conditions. The last one I can think of is Cloud. That guy had some serious issues... A schizo hero would absolutely rock!

Vicissitude

Hey JuMeSyn, your letter to me last time still gives me nightmares. And it gave me an insight to how much effort Josh and Matt put into these columns.

Anymanyways hows your gaming life treating you? Still playing those Sega console RPGs? Mixing them allll up?

So whats in the horizon for your gaming life? Got anything that your looking forward to?

You always ask us so what are you listening to in your IPOD/cd player/ grammerphone?

Oh and this is my current favourite game song to listen too! http://www.ocremix.org/remix/OCR00860/

I really don't have much in gaming news at the moment, though hopefully by the weekend after this i'll have FF12 to talk about in MY guest host spot. I think I still have the record for guest hostings, 7 or 8 i'm not quite sure, but another one will be added to the list that still has one of mine not listed. My kill count is still unclear untill it is officially counted (David Eddings reference there).

Bainick is guest hosting very soon. SEND LETTERS!!!

Heya JuMeSyn,

Writing in mainly because I thought it would be fun, but also because I only see letters from the same people lately. Let’s ask some questions!

Ok, today’s theme is going to be... equipments! I’ve started playing Disgaea 2 and I just had to chuckle when I saw that they’d kept a slightly altered version of their ridiculous equipment system that they used in La Pucelle (Disgaea 1 never came out where I live), there was this one chapter where you had to get through the level without killing a single monster and I just equipped Croix with 4 pairs of shoes to max out his movement range. Let’s count: two on his feet, two on his hands, two on his ears... where did he wear the last two?

Some games like to keep it to a minimum like FF8 or even non-existent like Xenosaga, but most of the times the equipment systems are rather silly if you think about them for too long. For instance, in SMT:Digital Devil Saga they equippable items are bullets for the human form, but these never run out and are compatible with every single weapon, from a handgun to a rifle to a missile launcher. Similarly, in games with large equipment systems like .hack// Balmung ends up sharing his wardrobe with Black Rose, or Freija with Steiner in FF9 and well, who would have guessed that Zidane and Quina were the same size?

Another gripe (is that a word?) I have with equips is when, in games that place heavy emphasis on their graphics, changing a character’s armor doesn’t alter their appearance. Sure, there are reasons for this, I think it’s mainly a commercial strategy, it’s easier to stick to one single striking character design when trying to promote your game. American RPGs don’t place as much value on the characters themselves since they prefer to keep them as open as possible so that the player may “roleplay” better and that’s why they usually include sprite-changing armor. Needlessly to say, I was extremely miffed with DQ8 for only giving Jessica changing clothes. It’s like saying they could have done it for the other characters (I mean, it’s cell-shading) but decided to stick to one-sided fanservice. D:

So, what are your views of equipments? Limited weight/inventories that hinder your completionism ideals or force you to make choices? Weapon synthesizing and refinement systems? Legendary weapons? Sorry for the lengthy letter, but I’m having fun with this and don’t know when to stop.

See you, then!
Angelic Monkey

Hey JuMeSyn,

I want to weigh in on the Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI remakes on GBA.

The first RPG I played through myself was FF2 on SNES, and I found the port to GBA was done exceptionally well, albeit with some slowdown in certain menus and transitioning between battles in some places. Are these petty complaints...yes, yes they are. The game itself was awesome, played well, true to the original, etc. All that good stuff.

I never finished FF V on PS1 because I accidentally nerfed my PS1, replaced it /w a PS2 that Christmas and never got back to it due to starting Suikoden III and Wild Arms 3. I have to say, the game was perfect as far as I'm concerned. The story was new to me, on account of the aforementioned accident, and all the petty system based complaints I had about FFIV were fixed it seemed. No slowdown, a built in dash button, flawless. I can't comment on the translation, as I have no memories of the former. FFV on GBA was an excellent experience.

And now we get to FF6 on GBA. Mixed emotions here. FF3/6j is tied for my all time favourite RPG (avec Lunar: SSS and Chrono Trigger....Trigger -may- actually be the forerunner, but I prefer to just go with the 3-way tie). The story, game play and the graphics are top notch, but I was a little disappointed with the lag on screen when you use the dash button, and the uber blurriness of the screen when you dash /w sprint shoes equipped. I'm not sure if I'm justified in this complaint, as Final Fantasy VI is a good deal ahead of IV and V in terms of graphical prowess, so maybe it was an inevitability. I assumed if they could remake a SNES game for the GBA system, it should be all systems go as far as performance is concerned, especially since they managed to iron out all the kinks in IV when the re-did V. What's your opinion on this admittedly fussy issue?

Translation/Localization. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the changes or not.. Some lines that I expected to see were changed for the better, and some were changed for what seems like no reason....like Celes' character bio when you first "meet" her. Kefka's lines so far are pretty kick ass, despite most of them being new (from what I can remember), they do a much better job of painting him as a sociopath early on in the game, where in the SNES version he came off as some kind of stuck up priss. Edgar's lines have changed a little, making his womanizing a little clearer (and cleverer). Cyan's distrust of machinery is a little more clearly communicated as well in the Sabin/Cyan/Shadow scenario. Other minor examples could ensue, but I'm combating brevity as it is here. What are your thoughts on the matter of changing what is basically well established dialogue (to anyone who had played and loved FF3 on SNES)? Do you think the game is/will sell better to retro gamers looking for some awesome nostalgia (such as myself) v. the current generation of gamers who may have zero exposure to the "old skool" Square games? I think the fact they changed the lines so dramatically signals it was intended for the new generation, at least as a primary market. What do you think?

Chrono Trigger. Do you think SquareEnix is just sitting on this one, waiting until all the ports/remakes/cash grabs from the Final Fantasy Series are done with before they make it available? They wouldn't tease us like that, would they, releasing FF6j back to the huddled gamer masses, while withholding its equally worthy brethren. And lastly, what are your thoughts on the aforementioned games, either in original or re-make format?

-Nick Hale

I don't think I mentioned Sakura Wars at all today. Galbadia Hotel has the soundtracks coming up to be added, so I'm happy.

Oh, and anyone who thinks the Phantom Menace was bad (which I still do) - try downloading the Star Wars Holiday Special. Aired in November 1978, never to be seen legally again. Do I need to say more than Art Carney occupies Imperial troops by showing them a Jefferson Starship music video? It's BAD.

On my second try at answering letters ever, I hope I did a fair job. Someday I'll be back, but not soon. Gotta accumulate more obscure older games to baffle people with references regarding, after all! Bwa ha ha ha ha!