I am, this should be fun!

See I always thought that seeing how Final Fantasy IX was originally intended to be a tribute game for the rest of the series, I figured Nekron was an ode to the surprise last boss, from FFIV and other JRPGs. I can't remember the exact explination in game, but wasn't he there because the Crystal was destroyed or something? Largely the poorest story segment in the game, it's largely saved by the simple fact that Nekron is a cool boss to fight. Still, the game would have been ended much more cleanly had they provided some setup for the boss beforehand, regardless of if it was intended as a tribute or not. Zeromus was done much better for sure, but FFIV's issue was it used this gimmick already in the game when you find out that Golbez isn't really evil.

I've always enjoyed these differences between the two series, as despite their similarities at times it gives each their own unique flavor. I feel like Dragon Quest games are more about the journey than the end destination, with the stories you find along the way being more interesting and eloquent than the actual main plot may be. This is especially true in Dragon Quest IX, as the various towns have some truly heartbreaking and heartwarming tales, which people seem to want to ignore because of the weak main plot. Missing the forest for the trees, as they say.

Yeah I always forget that element of the Sephiroth story, that you aren't really chasing after the real one (is this ever explained well?). Wait, so does this mean Aerith is murdered by a ghost? I'm so confused now.

What I like best is when you have to deal with the fallout of his actions. There's some excellent stories that pop up, and make it really feel like this guy is really screwing up a living and breathing world. Too many games fail to get an emotional reaction out of players due to the evil actions of their villains. With it's focus on individual people and towns, Dragon Quest more than any other RPG series manages to make players feel for this little fictional towns. I'll never forget doing that quest in Dragon Quest VIII, where you have to console the young king who has lost his wife, and bring him out of his mourning.

Hey, long letters are good.  Never be afraid of length! I can always break them up between two weeks of Q&A to keep things a manageable length. Write as much as you'd like!

I can assure you that the rest of the game is not only fantastic ,but brilliant. This is why it got so many great scores. I know the beginning can be a chore, I think it's the biggest thing people complain about in the game, and it was complained about in many of the near-perfect score reviews you mentioned.  However, being such a long game by the time you reach the end you will have experienced so many amazing moments that the slow start will seem like a long distant memory. I can understand the frustration, especially having grown up with so many games that start quickly, just like you. Stick with it, and I think that you'll find it will be worth the trouble. I think Nintendo understands they made this section way too slow, as Skyward Sword has a noticeably quicker start to it. Let me know if you manage to stick with it and get to the good stuff! I'd like to hear more of your thoughts.

Wow, that was quite some time ago! Glad to see you're still following the site. As you know, we're an all volunteer site, doing our best for y'all, and we always appreciate kind words, and of course whatever feedback you all have to help us do a better job. Keep reading, and good luck with Twilight Princess!

This should be fun!

Well I'm confused, the first game has those aspects for sure, but isn't the second game more 3D? Also the SRPG game in the series has no side scrolling aspects. Regardless, it's a series I have sadly neglected, which is something I need to fix. I've heard nothing but good things about the first game and have greatly enjoyed my limited time with it thus far.

The games being connected is what originally brought me to the series, and as you know, my original experience (Star Ocean 3) did not go so well. Still, I've enjoyed the first game in the series and have heard the second is far better. I even greatly enjoy the battle system in the fourth entry. There's value in this series that I think Square Enix and tri-Ace have severely under-used. If they can make another very good entry in the series with a stronger emphasis on space exploration I think they could have something special. Of course, at this point I think they should just ditch the connected history of the original games.

Not a series yet, but as many on staff are huge fans of this game I think we're with you in hoping it does become a series.

The series is still very popular, and despite a convoluted narrative I still love the action RPG combat and the Disney nostalgia. There's a lot this series can still do, and I think people complain about it a bit too much. We of course could have done without some of the side games, but that's alright. Birth By Sleep and 3D have put the series back on the right track.

I don't think I've ever heard of this series.Looks quirky and fun, so I need to read up more on it. Shame we've never gotten an entry.

Not sure if this really counts as a series, but being a spiritual successor to Four Warriors of Light, which I loved, I'm all for more of this.

Ogre Battle is brilliant, and I don't really need to say any more about this series.

Chrono Trigger is a brilliant game that I hope most RPG fans have played by now. I'd really like to see Square Enix make another game like it, not necessarily connected by story as time travel makes that insanely difficult. Even if the series is never revived again, at least it gave us one of the best RPGs of all time.

Another Square Enix series I have not played enough of. Not sure how I really ignored 3 back in the PS1 days, but I should fix that soon. Anyway, not sure why this series has never found much of a following in the West. With so many MechWarrior fans I thought for sure it would find a big enough following. For whatever reason, that hasn't happened.

There is no doubt Dragon Quest is a classy series, and it is beloved in Japan with good reason. Thanks to Nintendo handling the series in the West, it has increased a fair bit in popularity here as well. I love the way the series sticks to tradition, even if they do so to a fault at times. Dragon Quest X is a new step for the series, so we'll see where it goes in the future.

Puff-puff!

As for my favorite Square Enix series other than Final Fantasy, I'm very particular to early Mana games, the SaGa series, and of course Thief and Deus Ex, which are now Square Enix properties. Here's hoping The World Ends With You really does become a series!