| The Imperial March
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|
Hey (monks sing) PER-EG-RINE AND CHE-SED
I wonder since I got my
prerequesites.
1. What is your quest?
2. What is your favorite
color?
3. What is the air-speed velocity of an unlaiden
swallow?
Also what is the wierdest RPG cliche out
there?
Imperial Mog |
|
peregrine:
1. I seek the Holy Grail.
2. Black.
3.
African or European?
And, in all seriousness, the obsession with
the cute comedic foil character. Why is it so necessary for every
protagionist group to have some cutesy sidekick? Does every squad in the
US military have an assigned "dork"? I fail to see their necessity.
chesed:
1. Belldandy.
2. Deep metallic green.
3. Bleep
if I know. Pere's the falcon.
Well, I dunno if anyone else
experiences this, but every RPG that I play has an evil Muffin Maker
named Brad Lohr. In Final Fantasy VII he was known as Sephiroth, but if you
look closely at the credits, you'll see that it lists "Sephiroth" as
"Muffin Man." Just a little trivia there for you.*
And for crying
out loud, muzzle the monks already. |
| |
| Hook us up! |
|
i once saw something about a final fantasy tactics two in a magazine at
a super market several years ago. was it canceled, only in japan, or am i
on crack? |
|
peregrine:
I vote for crack. Perhaps it was rumor, perhaps
it's planned. Either way it's still too far off to worry about, if it
exists at all.
chesed:
I'm all for the crack too. There has been no official
word from Square about release of a sequel. If anybody does have information
to a sequel, please send it to:
Squaresoft
c/o Hironobu Sakaguchi
42 Yeahright Ln.
Goodluck, CA 13337 |
| |
| We Won't Hurt You |
|
Wuzup pere and chesed?
I couldn't really think of anything game
related to ask and I'm sure all kinds of people asked the natural "Whatcha
been up to?" questions, so I thought I'd annoy good ole pere with
something he probably hasn't heard in a long time:
When are the new
stats gonna be up?
Now that you're preparing to track me down and
kill me I'll take my leave and go hide. :) Take care and have
fun.
Barry |
|
peregrine:
You're my biggest fan! It's true, don't deny it.
I'm too lazy to even produce stats for the chans I'm still in, though.
chesed:
I'm glad you asked!
...
...well, I guess
not much of anything.
Seriously though, if I'm not hanging out with my
good buddy Myst and Googleshng, you can usually find me kickin' it with Andrew
Vestal and Thor. Usually we just sit and stare at the TV while Mr. Lohr makes
us muffins. That's pretty much our day in a nutshell. I work during the
weekends under Yasunori Mitsuda. We freelance. Our newest project is
Xenosaga. I like to fart. |
| |
| Attack of the Legimate Question!
|
|
Hi,
I have a quick question for you. I got my PS2 not too long ago
and now I'm gonna sell my PSX. I'm just wondering, will I be able to play
each and every one of my PSX RPGs on my PS2 without any problems? I know
there were some games which didn't work on the PS2, but which one were
they? I'm particularly concerned with FFA and FFC. Thank you.
~Xeros89
|
|
chesed:
Here's a quick list of games that are known to
not work (note these are Japanese PS1 games that do not work with Japanese PS2
consoles):
Artdink Best Choice Susume Pirate Bokujou Monogatari: Harvest Moon
Dead' Called Pavilions Densha Daisuki Dokapon! Dokapon! PlayStation the Best
Dragon Beat East Asia Plan Shooting Battle 1 Fishing Road Formula One 99 Gallop
Blood Master Gallop Racer Gradius Deluxe Pack Hello Kitty's Cube De Cube Idol
Promotion Suzuki Yumie Konya Mo Senryou 2000 Monster Farm Monster Farm
PlayStation The Best Music School Kana Deru 2 Namco Museum Encore Namco Museum
Encore (Limited Edition) Namco Museum Encore PlayStation The Best Not Treasure
Hunter Oumiya Treasure Tension Susume Pirate Vap Best Thanks 1800 Oumiya Treasure
Tension Virtual Pachislo EX Virtual Pro Wrestling V Virtual Pro Wrestling VI
Wing Commander III.
Whether it's the same for US games or not, I can't
tell you. Apparently Sony removed the link that was once prominent on their
site, as it was a big issue at the time. If anybody has a more up-to-date list,
please e-mail Mr. Catalyst,
and hopefully he will post them up in a later column. =) And maybe they won't
be from a foreign country.
That was way too serious. Hmmm...
I farted.
peregrine:
I am not the be all and end all authority on those
two games in particular, largely because I don't own them (I own the carts
instead :). However, I have yet to run into any trouble with the PS2 in
regards to playing PSX games. Any problems I have had have been solved by
tweaking the options (turning off fast-load and such). |
| |
| Wouldn't GameFAQs be easier?
Spoilers ahoy! |
|
Hello.
I'm having problems with Lavos...I'm in my first game,
and I've got Magus (LV. 41), Marle (LV. 42), and Robo (LV. 40). What level
should I level up to? Any strategies you
recommend?
Also...um...what IS the boss in the Sunken Desert
suseptable to?
Have a good day.
The Anonymous Loser
|
|
peregrine:
It's been a while... I recall being roughly that
level, only I used Crono, Marle and Magus. I'm assuming you're able to get
to the third form. Once there it's just a process of destroying the left
bit (very low hp), then using area attacks on the center and right bit.
Right bit being the ultimate goal. Once the center is dead, hammer the
right bit as its defense falls. It'll resurrect the other two pieces
eventually, at which point you wash rinse and repeat. Use elixirs and such
liberally, this is the last fight after all.
Secondly: Water/ice. Use it well.
chesed:
Um. I guess I don't need to say much here. Other than
Marle's a hottie.
|
| |
| Return to the Old School
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|
Hello,
I'm looking for a game that would be in the classic style
of Wizardry for the PS or PS2. I want to able to create my own characters
and have a party of these characters, you know.
any
thoughts,
Tom Wiberg |
|
peregrine:
Unfortunately, no. However, hope is not lost, keep
in mind where Wizadry originated: the PC. Therefore I lovingly direct you
towards Bioware and Black Isle. Either the Baldur's Gate
series played 'multiplayer' or Icewind Dale are fine options that fit your
needs. Excepting that whole first-person thing.
chesed:
Well Tom, I thank you for your question and your kind
words of encouragement regarding this matter, but I have no idea what
to say because despite the fact that I can usually come up with some made up
fun stuff that might sound like it's answering the question but really just
states my opinion on it... I can't.
Guess who that is an impersonation
of. =P |
| |
| (O\>|<>+-=*^_^*=-+<>| |
|
HELLOOOOOOOOOOO CHESED AND PERE BABE!!!!!! ^O^ ^_^ ^O^
How's
everything? XD XD XD How did you manage to host the letters here? O_o;;;;
Well, since your pals in ye olde secret location thought it was a good
idea, I am going to annoy you until you're drooling out of the corners of
your mouths :D~~~~~~~~~~~~
So :D Ches! XB How you doing since I
last invaded yer house? @_@ Good I hope :} and Perrrre +_+ What can I
say... >_> <_< We were dating! You just don't do that! *____*
(whaps you on the head) 8)
Well, running out of smileys. =_= I hope
this was annoying enough. #_# love you guys ~_^ TA!
n_n
m(______________)m . o O (from, Lorelai) |
|
peregrine:
... I've never handled excessive emotes well.
Blame chim for the column. But, I still love you Lore! Sorry about New
Years Eve and all... can you ever forgive that bit of shameful drunken
revelry? Oh, and were it not against policy, I'd activly plug your current endeavor. *cough*
chesed:
Ahem, cue the Shaft theme please!
Wussup, baby. Is it
hot in here or is it just you? I mean, you with all those curves, and
me with no brakes. Lately I've been doin' the school thing, but I need a little
help. Why don't you come over to my house and do some math, subtract the
clothes, add the bed, divide the legs, and we'll multiply, y'know what I'm sayin'?
=) Everything's fine. Just doin' the work and school thing. I hope you
didn't become an alcoholic because of me. =P Anytime you're in the neighborhood,
be sure to give me a call, ne? We'll do... something.
See ya in 5 minutes!
|
| |
| More Inane Banter |
|
Pere! Chesed! You damn kids were supposed to be mowing the lawn and
washing the windows today! What the hell do you think you're doing?! I
don't pay good money for you two to sit in my front yard and drink all my
beer!
Well, actually, I DO pay good money for that, come to think
of it. What's more, I probably OWE you two money in some way because of
this.
Anyway, I'd like to know who is the big kahuna in charge of
Suikoden's character designs. So then I can, you know, officially begin
worship. Don't you think those duck knights OWN?
Saki |
|
chesed:Pere stole the lawnmower. =(
Anyway, from what I
understand, the main character designer is Junko Kouno. You may begin
worship. Your best source for all the character designs and whatnot is
probably Suikosource, although
you more than likely have been there 32094823904 times. Which, by amazing
coincidence, is how many times you've turned your lover down. chesed is
sad.
peregrine:
Saki wins! Perfect! Flawless Victory! You had to
go and ask something I have no idea about. Nor did I have the time to go
beat Suikoden 1 and 2 to go check. :\ I blame chesed. |
| |
| Tifa wants the seat down, Cloud. Duh.
|
Some RPGs like Final Fantasy VII and VIII have restaurants and bars, yet
there is never a bathroom in site, or at the very least a sign pointing
you towards a bathroom. What's with the lack of bathrooms in RPGs?
- Squall Leonhart |
|
chesed: Well, I do remember in Final Fantasy VII of the one bathroom
in Midgar's Wall Market where you try to open up the bathroom door but
somebody's in it. Other than that, how many video game character's actually
take dumps? It would be a pain for the programmers, and characterization would
plummet. Just think, Sephiroth would cast his favorite summon we all know and have
come to love, and Cloud says "Screw this, I gotta go now." Poor guy is
already messed up as it is.
peregrine:
ZZz. |
| |
| The Most Astonishingtly Coherent
and Well-thought-out Letter Ever. |
|
Hey Gents,
I know that there are often questions in this Q&A
(well, more comments than questions, really) discussing the repeated use
of character traits throughout the hero parties of RPGs, especially RPGs
belonging to a series. Now, in most cases it's difficult to blame the game
authors for letting such character strings run through their works, due to
the lacking assortment of world-saving heroes we have in reality, giving
the authors not much to go on by way of example. Not to mention the fact
that as gamers, we can easily spot the general platform of a character,
making comparisons ever the more viewable.
It's not the formulaic
characters that gripe me. It's the formulaic RPG plots. It seems to me
that it has gotten to the point where events that were once considered
"plot twists" are now expected grudgingly, and the once noted cliches are
now, if they ever occur anymore, the new "plot twists." I'd hate to think
that this is merely a system of snake eating its own tail, but it's very
easy to come to such a conclusion. Given there are games that reek of
utter originality, but for the most part I feel as if I'm playing the same
regurgitated drivel again and again. Simple touches of originality aren't
enough anymore. Too many over-used themes. Too many over-used goals. It's
becoming near tiresome. I don't expect the world from RPG plots (there are
plenty other aspects of games in the genre) but what I think I should be
expecting, I'm not finding.
My Question:
Do you attribute
this overuse of similar plot event to the growing craze for graphics over
story line, or do you rather attribute it to the simple lack of original
plot line due to so many games having been put out within this genre? Do
you attribute it to something completely different? Disagree? I'm curious
as to your responses.
- Lyniad |
|
peregrine:
I've long since stopped holding overall 'plot' as
a cornerstone value to judge an RPG on. Or books. Or movies. Too many
works have been produced, making it extremely easy to draw parallels
between seemingly unrelated stories. I've found that thinking about it too
much leads to easily over-categorizing it and thereby dulling the
experience, due to one never being 'suprised' by the originality of a
given piece of work.
However, due to lessening my value on overall story (and thereby caring
less about cliche's) I put much more value in character development,
interaction, and growth. I love seeing 'real' relationships play out. The
way characters interact will forever, in my mind, be more dynamic than any
storyline can ever be.
Put simply: Yes, I do agree. It doesn't bother me, though, as my focus
for 'judgement' stands in other areas. Gameplay and characters.
chesed:
I'm all for story. I love a good story. Hook me up with
Xenogears anyday.
Hmmm... let me put it this way. There's games with original
storylines (very few). There's games with incredible graphics. There's games
that have the most lovable and hated characters that will ever grace a console.
There's no reason why they can't be combined. It's just a matter of finding
a company that can pull it off. I don't think there's a lack of creativity or
originality. Nor do I think we've been flooded with "so many games," mostly
because I think there's no such thing. =)
So to answer your question, I
think... zzzzzzzz.
|
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| ... |
|
pere...ches...why must women be so evil?
Oh, and have you heard
from Phacia lately? She left some stuff over at my house...
-Xeria
|
|
chesed:
Women are beautiful creatures that should be treated with
kindness and respect. Unless you're animated. Yay hentai.
Phacia's around.
Last I saw her was playing with a plushie Pikachu she was about to give to
Firemyst. Dunno how that went...
peregrine:
... ahahaha. I hear she's doing well. Really.
Still traveling abroad. |
Onto a more serious subject. What we consider to be some final pieces of wisdom, for both future and current readers and hosts of this once-glorious column.
The column should help build a sense of community, through friendship, banter, and casual debate. The only area more intimate than the letters column are the forums, which sorely lack any amount of official representation. It falls upon the shoulders of a scant few, whom we're proud to have been able to be a part of, to toil over this column as they offer advice and answers to those in dire need.