The all-too common topic for a reason

by NetHawk360@aol.com 

This is in response to "Wisdom"'s editorial of Monday last. In this piece, he claims that the SNES was, rather than being a very good game console for RPG's, actually hosted many of what he refers to as "sub-par" or "downright bad." He attacks Final Fantasy IV and VI, Crono Trigger, and Secret of Evermore. Secret of Evermore he refers to as "less appealing than a barn filled with cow manuer and human cadavers, engulfed in a torrent of burning plastic." This sentence encapsulates the whole of his argument, in my opinion. Baseless, haughty, and elitist.

I call it baseless because he offers no true evidence to support his claims. He claims that Final Fantasy VI ceases to have plot after the World of Balance. I see nothing farther from the truth. Does he consider Locke's quest to revive his lost love, Terra's concern for the children threatened by Phonbaba, or Edgar's journey to save his kingdom not plot? I am curious to know why chaos negates events that happen. He also claims that Secret of Evermore is not worthy of even a title screen. I would like to know why. The author says "I happen to love Final Fantasy IV beyond any other RPG in existence". Why he then says that Skies of Arcadia is much "better" and later dismisses FFIV as "an archetypal adventure, if ever I saw one", I have yet to figure out. Final Fantasy IV seemed to me to be different from a lot of adventures I have witnessed, being my first exposure to a crossdresser in a video game. The four Crystals, the Job system, and the kidnapped king seemed different to me than just about anything I have read before.

Which brings me to the so-called "quality" of Final Fantasy VII. I bought that game for eight dollars at Costco for my PC and I must say I got my money's worth. Cloud seemed to me to have no motivation besides Tifa and/or Aeris constantly nagging him. He would have left at they beginning (and made me a lot happier) in the beginning if Tifa hadn't dragged me through a lengthy flashback which culminated in Cloud mumbling agreement and going off to sulk. I stopped playing after Costa Del Sol and have never looked back.

The Author then goes on to rail against Nintendo's "engineered" SNES quality. My response is as follows; Quality is Quality. He says that Nintendo only gave us the games that were the most fun to play. I say thank you, Big N. Keeping bad merchandise from hitting store shelves protects the market. Need I remind any one of the Atari Age? I hope not. The Author calls the SNES Age "gilded". Gilded means covered in gold. I can live with that. He somehow thinks that it is a Bad Thing to keep Bad Games away from people. I'm still puzzling over that. Earlier in the editorial he tells us how happy he was to "light it on fire and throw it out of a moving vehicle". Perhaps he wishes the rest of America to enjoy the privilege of burning wads of plastic and silicon every Christmas and Birthday? Somehow I doubt it. The Author then says that Nintendo believes American are 'morons". I fail to grasp his meaning. Nintendo only gives us the best and he feels insulted. Perhaps he thinks that the Blizzard Entertainment programmers thinks we are idiots. Why else would they make such good games? Apparently good games are for the intellectually challenged and bad games are for the Isaac Newtons among us. I'm so confused.

      Now the author says that the Playstation has produced more;

1) Innovative games. What was more innovative than the Active Battle System or Crono Trigger's real environment battles? The Triple Combos and Espers. The Jobs and Airships. I have seen nothing but repitition and variation on the PlayStation

2) Mature games. Sure. That's what makes a game great. Swearing and sex. Mm-hm. I think I'm done with this point now.

3) More enjoyable games. Besides Skies of Arcadia and Final Fantasy IX I can't think of any. FFVII was engrossing, intriguing, maybe even interesting, but NOT "enjoyable".

In summary, I would like to say that the hardware limited the software. And sometimes a limited story, outdated graphics, and difficult controls can be more fun than eighty-plus hours of inane plot twists. Excuse me while I go annihilate an insane clown.