Are We as Smart as We Think?

by Barry Hudson

Many people look at FMV and prerendered graphics as a game's way of making up for its bad gameplay and plot. The way I see it, it's a game's attempt to enhance the effect of the simulated experience. I also would like to point out that it is art. I see the cities in FFVII and I think how beautiful they are, and how much I would like to be there. The art is amazing and sometimes breathtaking. Others seem to be totally unappreciative of some of the best art I've seen. This irritates me because we rpg players often like to think of ourselves as a smart and witty group of people. So then, why can't we appreciate this form of expression? Maybe some of us are not as smart as we think.

Another issue I would like to cover is recent rpg's game play. People go as far as to say that FFVII's game play is horrible, and they make it seem like you have no control over the characters and events, saying it's like a movie. Well, first off, the characters are as complex in recent games as those you might find in a movie. And they are all explored and explained very well. Back to gameplay. I would also like to point out that FFVII's gameplay is Identical to FFVI's. Only difference is the materia system. And the limit breaks were a great addition with a side quest for most of the final limits. I think that is a good attribute to that game. I would like to see more of that kind of innovation. I am entitled to my own opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but please people base it on something valid. That's my opinion, and I tried to write this in a manner that is unoffensive.