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I've recently taken to working my way through Final Fantasy IX, and despite its many great qualities, I'm having trouble enjoying it at the times. The problem I'm having is that despite a number of serious overtones that have permeated throughout, it has just been too lighthearted for me. The characters, the story, even the music are all striking me in exactly the wrong way, and for the all the good qualities it pulls off, I am finding myself clicking through each dialogue box just waiting for something to pop up that will interest me.
This has been a perpetual problem of mine. I am virtually unable to enjoy a game without a serious tone. While I love Final Fantasy Tactics, I hate the Tactics Advance titles. They have almost identical gameplay, but the stories in the sequels are far too little political backstabbing intrigue, and too much Neverending Story. The ironic thing is I like The Neverending Story! This restriction of mine only seems to be limited to video games. In every other facet of life I am just as likely to enjoy Dumb and Dumber as I am The Godfather. Drawn Together spends just as much time in my DVD player as Battlestar Galactica, if not more.
But when it comes to games, it's a stolid nope. I can barely even play Super Mario games, almost a requirement for gamers of any serious dedication, without going mad. Playing Mario Kart Wii recently, I just kept wishing there was some deeper meaning behind the races. I wish there was a purpose to each lobbed turtle shell that meant more than just whalloping a competing racer. I just want more and from places that I really shouldn't be wanting it.
The obvious woe that derives from this condition is the fact that the serious side of video games is still maturing. You're a lot more likely to find silly schlock than you are to come across the gaming equivilant of Gone With the Wind, and even when there is something that seeks to acheive some sort of intellectual or dramatic value, its flaws can always be easily picked out. I have been on a Metal Gear Solid 4 streak since the game came out. While I love the game and found the story very satisfying, at times I can't help but wonder if anyone read the script before they gave it to the voice actors. One can only hear, "Fulfill your destiny, Snake" so many times before you start to crack up.
So what is my point? I can't even begin to imagine. I think this week has simply served as yet another public venting session. Hopefully with this, some of my neurosis will be cured and I will be able to play Super Mario Galaxy without getting angry at Bowser for being so markedly stupid. You know you have a problem when you're jumping on goombas not to save the princess, but rather to punish them for being such one dimensional baddies.
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